Facing surging community demand and an uncertain funding climate, the St. Pete Free Clinic is leveraging a landmark $5 million donation to expand food and healthcare access across Pinellas County.
Local philanthropists Trevor Burgess and Gary Hess dedicated the gift to Care Forward, SPFC’s ambitious five-year, $100 million initiative to mitigate systemic poverty, hunger and medical insecurity. The investment also accelerates construction of the non-profit’s new flagship facility in South St. Petersburg.
CEO Jennifer Yeagley noted that Burgess and Hess are “among our most generous supporters.” The $5 million donation is “one of the largest gifts that SPFC has ever received.”
“So, it’s really a momentous gift for us,” Yeagley told the Tampa Bay Reporter. “They’ve been very involved as volunteers and as donors as we’ve grown, and as our impact has grown.”
SPFC recorded 370,000 pantry visits and distributed more than 21M pounds of food in 2025. Healthcare services delivered to uninsured adults soared from 5,600 in 2020 to 18,200 last year.
Yeagley expects demand to continue increasing. SPFC plans to fund immediate service growth while ensuring long-term stability through Care Forward.
The fundraising campaign officially launched in late March, Yeagley said, and will allocate $80 million to expanding programs, $10 million for capital projects and $10 million to SPFC’s operational endowment. “We’re very clear on how ambitious this goal is.”
“As ambitious as the goal may be, and as uncertain as the time may be, we really need to move forward with expanding our programs,” Yeagley added. “A key catalyst for that is our new building. We owe that to our community. The need is greater than ever.”
Yeagley was “delighted to share” that SPFC began extensive renovations at its new headquarters, a former Badcock Furniture store, on Sept. 28. The nonprofit purchased the 54,625-square-foot building in June 2025.
SPFC should open the expansive facility next spring, Yeagley said. The nonprofit will offer specialized medical care, groceries and multiple wraparound services, including transportation assistance, from the hub.
With the new building and money raised from Care Forward, SPFC plans to serve all 260,000 food-insecure Pinellas residents and expand healthcare access to 20,000 uninsured adults and their families.
“We have excellent relationships and a demonstrated impact with our other funding partners,” Yeagley said. “So we think we are well positioned to reach our goals over the next few years.”
The $5 million gift from Burgess and Hess marks the latest chapter in a 14-year relationship with the Free Clinic that began with a $1,000 donation. Their financial support has expanded rapidly over the past decade alongside hands-on involvement.
Hess joined SPFC’s board of directors in 2019 and became a regular volunteer at its food bank. Burgess, CEO of Neptune Flood Insurance, routinely organizes corporate volunteer initiatives.
Yeagley believes the two, like many donors and volunteers, became inspired after watching their and the nonprofit’s impact “unfold in real time.” In a statement, Hess said volunteering has allowed him to “meet the people behind the numbers and see what reliable access to nutritious food can mean for a family.”
He also called it “deeply meaningful” to help bring the new facility to fruition. Burgess credited SPFC for responding “thoughtfully and decisively as the need for food, healthcare and stability support has grown.”
“We believe in Care Forward because it pairs bold ambition with a proven ability to deliver,” Burgess continued. “This gift is an investment in the people of Pinellas County and in a model of care that can change the trajectory of a life.”
Yeagley hopes their generosity sparks broader philanthropic engagement across the area. She noted that several “incredible organizations in our community are worthy of support,” underscoring her appreciation for private donors.
People choosing to dedicate some of their “hard-earned dollars” to SPFC signifies that its mission is “truly resonating,” Yeagley said. “When people choose to give, it really moves our community forward.”
Burgess and Hess previously spurred philanthropic participation by challenging others to match their $1 million gift in 2024. Yeagley believes their latest donation will also have a “ripple effect.”
“A gift like this doesn’t just move our mission forward by helping us expand programs and complete capital goals,” Yeagley said. “By taking a lead in this way, we hope Trevor and Gary inspire others to look at what they can do.”
