We celebrate the life of Bob Dillinger, a former public defender, child advocate, and philanthropist who dedicated his life to making a difference in our community. Bob was a close friend of Pinellas Education Foundation and an active supporter of our mission alongside his wife, Kay.

Bob’s impact extended far beyond his philanthropy; he was a dedicated member of the Stavros Society and a former member of the Gender Achievement Gap Committee, demonstrating his commitment to addressing critical issues in education. Together with Kay, they founded the Beth Dillinger Foundation to honor their late daughter, Beth, with boundless compassion and dedication. Through this foundation, Bob and Kay provided essential support to those in need, offering clothing, food, and educational opportunities.

Since 2010, the Beth Dillinger Foundation has supported 352 of our Take Stock in Children scholarships. Through their Foundation’s annual luncheon and fashion show, Bob and Kay rallied for community support for these scholarships to offer economically disadvantaged students tangible support in their post-secondary journeys.

Additionally, the Beth Dillinger Foundation launched Nourish to Flourish, a program in collaboration with the school district aimed at addressing weekend food insecurity among low-income students. Bob and Kay recognized the profound impact of hunger on student performance and behavior and took proactive steps to ensure that no child would go hungry.

Bob’s legacy of compassion, advocacy and transformative work will live on through the countless lives he touched and the lasting impact he made on the Tampa Bay community. To learn more about Bob’s work and the profound legacy he leaves behind, we encourage you to read the featured Tampa Bay Times article here.