Awards

MAY 2022 -  Don Germaise spent 18 years at ABC Action News running toward the danger. He made a name for himself as he stared down some of our worst hurricanes. 

Now, lives his life in the service of others. 

Before he retired and became a “professional” volunteer, Don used his platform as the weatherman on ABC Action News to help the community better prepare for storms, often putting himself in harm’s way to tell the story. Germaise became famous for his phrase, “hunker down” during hurricanes. No matter where he goes in the world, people still recognize and remember him for his high-octane TV style. 

“I was in London, and somebody walked up to me and said ‘hunker down!’ he says with a smile. “In London!” 

When Don retired from broadcasting ten years ago, he found a new career path, volunteerism. That path led Don to Ronald McDonald House, where he continues to serve as a house volunteer at the Tampa House. Helping families and learning their stories has made a deep impact on Don, who also enjoys a third career – professional emcee. For many years, Don has served as the voice of the charity during our largest annual fundraiser, while also lending his efforts to emcee dozens of other high-profile fundraisers in the area. 

“This is what makes me happy,” said Germaise as he cleans the Tampa House kitchen. “Having a conversation with a family member can make all the difference between a good day and a bad day for parents who are dealing with the stress of a hospitalized child.” 

“I’m a retiree that just can’t sit still. I don’t know if I would be happy if I wasn’t helping people,” said Germaise. 

Germaise lives a life of service here in Tampa Bay, volunteering at RMHC, Feeding Tampa Bay, Trinity Café, Metropolitan Ministries, and more. He enjoys planning special volunteer trips around the world to help others in need in Romania, Vietnam, Haiti and others. As a world traveler, Don sees firsthand the impact one person can make in a community. A recent trip to Mexico found Don building an outdoor kitchen in the town center of a small village. The smile on his face tells the story – he was amazed by the gratitude of the locals as they eagerly cooked their first meal with running water and utilities. 

Due to his tireless work, Don was honored as a Tampa Bay Lightning Community Hero in 2019. 

“I got famous in Tampa Bay covering hurricanes. Making sure people were safe during hurricanes. I’m making sure people are safe and well-fed now. It’s just a different kind of service.” 

“I think it’s in everyone’s soul to do something good for somebody else. Everybody wants to do the right thing,” Germaise says. 

Don Germaise is truly deserving of RMHC Tampa Bay’s Award of Excellence. We applaud him for his service to families and look forward to many years ahead working by his side. 

NOVEMBER 27, 2019 - The Tampa Bay Lightning honored Don Germaise as the 10th Lightning Community Hero this season during the first period of tonight's game versus the St. Louis Blues. Germaise received a $50,000 donation from the Lightning Foundation and the Lightning Community Heroes program. He will donate to eight different nonprofit organizations, including the Ronald McDonald House and Feeding Tampa Bay.  

For the past seven years, Germaise has dedicated his time volunteering for over a dozen nonprofit organizations in the Tampa Bay community. He has helped hundreds of children learn to read, worked with dozens of wounded warriors and provided comfort to families at Tampa Bay Ronald McDonald House. Numerous organizations have recognized Germaise for his contributions. Germaise has been awarded Volunteer of the Month by Ronald McDonald House, as well as Champion of the Forest by Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful.

Germaise travels the world multiple times a year to volunteer internationally. To date, Germaise has traveled to Vietnam, Haiti, Guatemala, Romania and Peru to help children and families. His work includes volunteering at media clinics, teaching English, building community centers and delivering school supplies to remote villages while sailing the Amazon River. In addition to actively volunteering, Germaise is also a generous donor, contributing $250,000 to help needy families across Florida.

Germaise will be donating to Ronald McDonald House, Feeding Tampa Bay, Quantum Leap Farm, Metropolitan Ministries, Crimestoppers of Tampa Bay, Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, Keep Pinellas Beautiful and Our Daily Bread.

Germaise becomes the 378th Lightning Community Hero since Jeff and Penny Vinik introduced the Lightning Community Hero program in 2011-12 with a $10 million, five-season commitment to the Tampa Bay community. Through this evening's game, in total, the Lightning Foundation has granted $18.90 million to more than 750 different nonprofits in the Greater Tampa Bay area. During the summer of 2016, the Vinik's announced that the community hero program will give away another $10-million over the next five seasons.

Don Germaise was honored at the 10th Diamond Anniversary of Tampa Bay's 'Dancing with the Starts' event with the Award of Appreciation. After over decade of volunteering with Hands Across the Bay, always jumping in to help emcee countless events from car give aways in a parking lot to fancy black-tie gala events, Germaise more than earned this award.