July 30, 2025

Tampa Bay Hosts Back-to-School Events with Florida Blue

News Summary

Florida Blue is organizing several back-to-school events in Tampa Bay on August 2, providing free backpacks and school supplies for families. The events, which will feature interactive games and wellness resources, aim to support local students preparing for the new school year. WWE Superstar Titus O’Neil’s recent Back-to-School Bash further emphasizes community commitment. The back-to-school tax holiday also supports families in need as they prepare for the academic year ahead.

Tampa Bay Hosts Back-to-School Events with Florida Blue and WWE Superstar Titus O’Neil

On Saturday, August 2, Florida Blue will hold four back-to-school celebrations across Tampa Bay offering free backpacks and school supplies for local students and families. The events will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at various locations, while supplies last. Families can attend without prior registration, although each household is limited to three backpacks, and a parent or legal guardian must be present to collect them.

Event Locations and Activities

The back-to-school celebrations will be held at the following locations:

Pinellas Park: 3758 Park Blvd., Pinellas Park, FL 33781
Clearwater: 2567 Countryside Blvd., Suite 1, Clearwater, FL 33761
Tampa: 201 N West Shore Blvd., Tampa, FL 3360
Sarasota: 285 N Cattlemen Rd., Sarasota, FL 34243

In addition to providing supplies, the events will feature interactive games, wellness resources, and opportunities to connect with local organizations that offer support to families. This initiative aims to ease the financial burden of back-to-school preparations for families in the community.

Titus O’Neil’s Contributions

The upcoming events from Florida Blue align with the recent success of Titus O’Neil’s 8th annual Back-to-School Bash, which took place on July 26 at Raymond James Stadium and served over 30,000 students. The Bash featured a range of free resources, such as haircuts, dental care, and vision screenings for students and their families, making it the largest event to date.

This year, the event expanded its offerings by providing on-site medical services for adults through AdventHealth. Free screenings included internal medicine, biometric screenings, cholesterol and glucose testing, along with cardiology consultations for family members. Additionally, TeamSmile offered dental care to children during the event, helping many receive treatment for the first time.

The Glazer Vision Foundation participated by providing mobile eye screenings, aimed at identifying vision problems early among families in need. Free haircuts were also available to help students return to school feeling confident and prepared.

Back-to-School Tax Holiday

Coinciding with these community efforts, Florida’s back-to-school tax holiday commenced on August 1, now a permanent annual event every August. This holiday enables families to save on essential school supplies and will continue until August 31. The event aims to provide financial relief as families prepare for the academic year ahead.

Conclusion

The combined efforts of Florida Blue and Titus O’Neil underscore a strong commitment to supporting Tampa Bay families as they prepare for the new school year. With free resources, wellness activities, and tax savings, these initiatives reflect a community-wide effort to bolster the educational experiences of local students.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

School Supplies Drive to Support Disadvantaged Students
Florida Lawmakers Approve Permanent Sales Tax Exemptions
Tampa Bay Educators Receive Essential Supplies for School Year
Transformations in South Florida’s Retail and Grocery Market
Tampa Schools Prepare for New Year with Supply Relief for Teachers
Tampa Hosts Annual Back-to-School Bash to Support Students
Motorcyclist Injured in Tampa Traffic Crash
Back to School Essentials for Students in Tampa Bay
Florida Repeals Business Rent Tax to Boost Economy
Florida Adopts $115 Billion Budget Focused on Tax Cuts

Additional Resources

Author: STAFF HERE TAMPA WRITER

The TAMPA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERETampa.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Tampa, Hillsborough County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Gasparilla Pirate Festival, Florida State Fair, and Tampa Riverfest. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce and United Way Suncoast, plus leading businesses in healthcare, finance, and technology that power the local economy such as BayCare Health System, Grow Financial Federal Credit Union, and KnowBe4. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREOrlando.com, HERESTPetersburg.com, and HERETallahassee.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.

ADD MORE INFORMATION OR CONTRIBUTE TO OUR ARTICLE CLICK HERE!

STAFF HERE TAMPA WRITER

Stay Connected

More Updates

Would You Like To Add Your Business?

Submit