ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A fundraiser named Oceans of Support will be held on Friday at the Maritime and Defense Technology Hub in St. Petersburg to support the University of South Florida College of Marine Science and the Florida Institute of Oceanography (FIO), whose buildings were severely damaged by a large fire earlier this month.
“This is just the first step to long-term help. They have needs today and they’re going to have needs far, far down the road,” said Gina Driscoll, St. Petersburg Council Member. “This is our way to step up quickly, have some rapid response and say, ‘Let’s get moving.’”
Driscoll said she came up with the idea for the fundraiser and quickly partnered with The Hub to host it less than two weeks after the fire.
“Right away, I knew we had to do something. And I’m not an expert, but I know how to help raise money for things,” she said. “So I called my friends over at the Innovation District and they said, ‘Let’s do it.’”
The St. Petersburg Innovation District CEO, Alison Barlow, said they want to help researchers and students pick up the pieces after the devastating fire.
Barlow said the public is invited to attend the fundraiser along the waterfront and that all donations go directly into the USF Marine Science Operating Fund.
“We keep pointing everybody to the USF fund because we want everybody to contribute if they’re able to, to help the college get on their feet,” she said. “We really just want to invite the community out to see the site, hear from people who were impacted, but also just have a chance to show their support physically.”
The Hub is located a half block away from the USF College of Marine Science campus along the Port of St. Petersburg. Surveillance video from The Hub shows a lightning strike that appears to be hitting the roof of the building on May 2 at 3:10 p.m. The school believes lightning caused the fire but has been waiting for an official determination from the State Fire Marshall.
The toxic plume from the fire was blowing right over The Hub into Tampa Bay as firefighters worked for 3.5 hours to get it under control.
“The smoke was coming over this way and coming over here to The Hub and also to the Coast Guard station,” said Barlow. “So those were evacuated in the course of the evening to make sure that there wasn’t any danger.”
Both Driscoll and Barlow showed up at the fire scene that night. They’re proud to host the first fundraiser for USF St. Petersburg and FIO.
“We really wanted to do it quickly,” said Barlow. “We knew how important it was to get the team, the students, the faculty members access to this kind of fund as quickly as possible.”
Barlow asks anyone who plans to attend the fundraiser to RSVP and said 200 people have already signed up. A donation dollar amount goal has not been set but Barlow said more than $100,000 has already been pledged.
The Oceans of Support fundraiser is scheduled from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday at The Hub located at 450 8th Ave Southeast. The USF food service is providing food, and Three Daughters Brewing has donated beer. There will also be a band and a raffle for gifts donated by local businesses, and a silent auction.