100% of your donation directly supports the critically underfunded research for Neuroblastoma and ATRT.
On May 8, 2026 // @ The Orlo Tampa, Florida
The Save The Kids Gatsby Gala is where style meets purpose and generosity fuels real, life-saving research for children battling cancer. Guests enjoy a premium cocktail hour, live entertainment, a high-energy casino experience, and auctions that truly make a difference—all while connecting with influential business and healthcare leaders.
Download our sponsorship flyer to explore opportunities to support our cause and position your company at the center of impact for pediatric cancer treatment.
Save the Kids Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) dedicated to health innovation for the benefit of children everywhere. We exist to educate, inspire, and connect leading disruptors in healthcare today for the benefit of our children tomorrow.
Jay Samit, Founding Keynote Speaker
Our key beneficiaries are dedicated to pediatric cancer research and its founding members amongst those impacted; we are a group of people dedicated to taking action, not just one person. Together we are changing the landscape of health and wellness and the future of all children by bringing the most innovative minds in healthcare all to one place to create new partnerships, funding opportunities, and joint ventures on products or services that disrupt the status quo in healthcare.
We know that banded together, we can make a change by funding innovative research into less toxic treatment options for children with cancer. We have witnessed the horror of kids’ cancers firsthand and refuse to allow this to continue. We have banded together to DISRUPT the status quo.
Friday | May 8, 2026
Location: The Orlo // Tampa, FL
This unforgettable event is dedicated to battling pediatric cancer and supporting health innovation for children everywhere.
November 13, 2025
at Ark Innovation Center
Our amazing team of regulars and part-time volunteers are committed to helping others. We take our convictions and turn them into action.
Chairman
About
Stan is the recently appointed Programs Chair for the HIMSS Central & North Florida Chapter. He is the founder of the boutique tech firm, No Limit Technology focusing on tech professional services and staffing along with incubating tech talent through the organization of six meetup groups in Tampa. He has a tireless craving to research applications within emerging tech ( ie. Blockchain “Carechain”, Robotics, AI, ML, AR-VR etc.) which have the capability of improving our health care system and overall the world. Stan is a devoted husband and father of 3.
Why STK?
“As a father myself, I grieve just thinking of the devastating losses caused by kids’ cancers. After watching close friends suffer the losses of their own children, I want to do everything in my power to enable cures and increase the odds for future children. Serving STK is my way of giving back.”
Board Member
About
I am a disrupter in the healthcare space. My purpose is to provide innovative solutions to directly challenge the norm by utilizing intelligent systems and agile strategies to increase efficiency, improve quality of care, promote transparency, and reduce cost. I serve as the CEO for accelEQ (aEQ) and I am responsible for the overall creation, planning, implementation and strategic direction of the company, in addition to business development and marketing initiatives for aEQ.
Why STK?
I have over 18 years of experience in the healthcare industry working for some of the largest insurance and administrative companies with responsibilities ranging from business development, organizational process improvement and healthcare fraud. I combine innovative thinking, process improvement, and business development skills to provide exceptional solutions for my clients.
Board Member
About
Jon Tavarez is an entrepreneur, investor, and community builder based in Tampa Bay. He is the founder of Pro Housekeepers, a nationally recognized company featured by outlets including Forbes, The Today Show, and Martha Stewart. He also co-founded Masterminds Tampa Bay, a nonprofit organization supporting entrepreneurs through education, networking, and community leadership initiatives.
A graduate of the University of South Florida, Jon began his entrepreneurial journey by launching his own e-commerce stores and running a boutique digital marketing agency, helping other businesses grow their online presence. He later focused on scaling Pro Housekeepers into a leading brand and building Masterminds Tampa Bay to strengthen the startup ecosystem. In addition to his entrepreneurial work, Jon is a partner (LP) in TampaBay.Ventures, a local venture capital firm investing in early-stage tech companies.
Why STK?
After losing one grandmother to cancer in 2012 and his other grandmother to COVID-19 in 2021, Jon developed a deeply personal commitment to supporting life-enhancing and life-extending initiatives — particularly those focused on preventing, treating, and curing diseases like cancer. His passion for building a healthier future led him to join the Board of Save The Kids, where he helps support efforts to fund pediatric cancer research and accelerate new treatments.
Outside of his professional work, Jon is a devoted husband and father who enjoys building new relationships and nurturing existing ones through social activities like lunches, dinners, and sports. Recently, he’s taken up golf and joined a pickleball team as new ways to stay active and connect with others. He’s also on a mission to find the best pizza spots wherever he goes — because he believes good pizza has a way of bringing people together.
Board Member
About
Mike is a long-time Tampa resident, USF grad, husband, father and grandfather. He has owned and operated PF1 Professional Services, an IT Staffing company since 1991. He enjoys meeting new people and values long term relationships and loves the challenge keeping up with the latest technology.
Mike is a long-time Tampa resident, USF grad, husband, father and grandfather. He has owned and operated PF1 Professional Services, an IT Staffing company since 1991. He enjoys meeting new people and values long term relationships and loves the challenge keeping up with the latest technology.
Why STK?
“The mission of STK aligns well with my personal desire to help in the fight against pediatric cancer. I lost my seven year old brother after a two year battle with brain cancer. STK is focused and has a team of dedicated , energetic volunteers to keep it lean and maximize the difference it can make toward the cause.”
“The mission of STK aligns well with my personal desire to help in the fight against pediatric cancer. I lost my seven year old brother after a two year battle with brain cancer. STK is focused and has a team of dedicated , energetic volunteers to keep it lean and maximize the difference it can make toward the cause.”
Board Member
About
Holly is a former “military brat”, FSU graduate, wife, and mother. She is a Technology Recruitment Specialist at Accenture and has been involved in Tech Staffing for the last five years, and in Hospitality Management for ten years prior. Holly thrives off building relationships and making an impact in her community.
Why STK?
“As a young teen I experienced my small town rally behind a family close to mine fighting for their youngest son, Tommy who was battling a brain tumor. I can still hear his infectious laugh while being tickled and remember how he was always smiling. Sadly he lost his battle and the effects of that loss extended to the entire community of school teachers, classmates, neighbors, and everyone in contact with him and his family. Unfortunately, we live in an age where everyone has a story of how pediatric cancer has left its mark on them and STK strives to make efforts in not continuing this in our future.”
Board Advisor
Coming Soon
Board Advisor
Alex is the founder & president of MTD Marketing, an award winning marketing agency in Tampa, FL. Alex previously spent time in various marketing leadership roles including managing the roll-out of modern restaurant technologies for McDonalds corporate which included the Uber EATS partnership and touch-screen kiosks.
Why STK?
“I & my company prioritize giving back to the community. STK is an incredible cause with a truly moving story. We are proud of everything we have accomplished & will continue to accomplish in the battle against pediatric cancer.”
Board Advisor
About
Rich as an entrepreneur, a leader in Research and Innovation, and Cybersecurity Specialist, is determined on disrupting how industry looks at cyber resiliency through employment of offensive security engagements to give our partners the tools necessary to actively operate both safely and securely. A disabled veteran with 10 years of service in the United States Army, Rich has over 25 years of experience in the industries of information analysis and cybersecurity with a focus on digital forensics and systems engineering for the last 10 years. As a husband and father of 3, Rich has a passion for ensuring that we continue to advance our capabilities in all facets of our society to support the health and wellbeing of our loved ones and protect and nurture the future generations.
Why STK
As we look at the threat landscape, we see a continued shift in motivations and ethics among threat actors that puts our critical health industry at great risk along with all of our critical infrastructure. This shift in ethics has had a dramatic impact on our healthcare industry over the recent years resulting in several institutions failure limiting the availability of healthcare, even further, the threats to our academic institutions cause great risk to the advancement of medical research and development. This threat to our healthcare systems needs to be a key priority in the cybersecurity community, and should never impact our children let alone those in greatest need of care. Rich and his business are highly focused on working with their partners to bring a redefined perspective on cyber resiliency to ensure our kids have the best possible care because our hospitals, schools, and the institutes conducting research are prepared to identify, engage, and overcome their cyber threats.
Board Advisor
About
Gabe is the father of two young boys, a musician and tech entrepreneur focusing in the blockchain industry. He’s the Co-founder and Managing Director of BlockSpaces helping companies of all sizes understand and use new technology to make their businesses smarter.
Why STK?
“Since having kids, I understand how much you want to enable them and prepare them for the future. Having good health is at the top of the list when you want children who are our future to succeed. It deeply pains me to have friends share their heart wrenching stories of children who have been diagnosed with pediatric cancer and have to fight for their life so early on. I’m honored to help STK and their mission to bring more awareness to this cause.”
