Word Play

a crossword puzzle gala

An evening of fun, games, and giving!

On Thursday, May 15th ,2025, Voices of Hope for Aphasia will host it’s third annual Word Play event.  Word Play is a fun-filled night of word-game competitions, dinner, and opportunities to support Voices of Hope for Aphasia, with a special tribute to Tampa Bay’s own puzzle master, the late Merl Reagle, the nationally known and syndicated crossword puzzle constructor.

Early Bird tickets are available NOW until April 1st!

Sponsorship opportunities are available! Contact Debbie , Ryan , Merrill or click here to download the 2025 sponsorship packet!

You won’t want to miss it!

 

When:

Thursday, May 15th, 2025   6:30pm – 9:30pn

Where:

Banquet Masters

13355 49th Street North

Clearwater, FL

(SE Corner of Ulmerton and 49th St)

ample & accessible parking! 

What:

Drinks, appetizers, buffet dinner

Competitive word games including custom crossword puzzle

Awards presentation

Opportunities for giving 

EARLY BIRD TICKETS PRICES AVAILABLE NOW UNTIL APRIL 1ST!

Table – $1,250 (Early Bird Table $1,000 until April 1st) includes 8 tickets, buffet dinner, 2 bottles of wine at your table, drink tickets for each guest, and the evening’s program. Include names of those attending during purchase, or update later!

Single tickets – $115 (Early Bird Ticket $95 until April 1st) includes buffet dinner, drink ticket, and program. Do you want to sit with someone in particular? No problem! Include their name on your tickets purchase!

Scroll through pictures from Word Play 2024!

Thank you to Stage Photography of Tampa, LLC (SPOT) for the wonderful photos!

To kick off our second decade of services to the Tampa Bay community,  Voices of Hope for Aphasia (VOH) is celebrating with an evening of fun, games, and giving, to enable us to help more people in the region who are living with aphasia.

Word Play, a fun-filled night of word-game competitions, dinner, and opportunities to support VOH, will feature a special tribute to Tampa Bay’s own puzzle master, the late Merl Reagle, nationally known and syndicated crossword puzzle constructor.

Aphasia, which affects more than 23,000 in the Bay area alone, is a language disorder, often following stroke or traumatic injury, that impacts a person’s ability to speak, write, and understand verbal and written language. Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, actor Bruce Willis, and recently elected U.S. Senator John Fetterman from Pennsylvania experience the effects of language disorders like aphasia. Programs at VOH are offered free both to people affected by aphasia and their families, emphasizing communication skills, life participation, and mutual understanding.

Currently, over 500 members benefit from these programs. VOH hopes to expand its capacity to help even more.

Thank you to our 2025 SPONSORS!

Sponsorship opportunities are available! Contact Debbie , Ryan , Merrill or click here to download the 2025 sponsorship packet!

PLATINUM PUZZLER SPONSOR

GOLD CONSTRUCTOR SPONSORS

Gold Sponsorship and elite branding placement available now!

SILVER SOLVER SPONSORS

Silver Sponsorship and premium branding placement available now!

BRONZE INTERPRETER SPONSORS

 

Bronze Interpreter Sponsorships availalbe!

Scroll through pictures from Word Play 2023!

Thank you to Broadwater Creations for the wonderful photos!