Candy DeBartolo- Woman of Impact Award Recipient

Candy DeBartolo is a successful businesswoman, generous philanthropist and passionate supporter of numerous charitable causes related to education, healthcare, sports and the military.

Candy has always loved the idea of coming together around a great meal. So, when she moved to North Tampa from Ohio to find herself surrounded mostly by generic chain restaurants, she set out to fulfill a life-long dream of bringing people together around something that has always united people: food. Candy created Sacred Pepper, a Contemporary American restaurant with an Italian flare, to not only offer deliciously bold twists on old favorites in a welcoming atmosphere, but also to offer a helping hand. The restaurant supports the community and charities closest to her heart by hosting several charity events, including a Celebrity Bartender Night Benefiting the Marine Corps Scholarship Fund. Candy values the real difference that charities can make in the lives of so many and is glad that Sacred Pepper can be a place that the community can call their own.

In addition to Sacred Pepper, Candy is a founding member of the DeBartolo Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to improving the lives of the Tampa Bay area’ s most underserved populations. The philanthropic efforts of the Foundation are driven by the members of the DeBartolo family, and rooted in the strong family values that have helped them not just find success in business but leave a lasting impact on communities and the people within them.

Candy resides in Tampa, Fla., with her husband, Pro Football Hall of Fame owner Eddie DeBartolo, Jr. They have three daughters, Lisa Marie, Tiffanie Lynne, Nicole Anne and three grandsons, Asher, Milo and Jasper.

"When Off The Field requested nominations for the Women of Impact Award, I had already been encouraged by the outpouring of love Candy has for the Tampa community. I felt that honoring her for the positive impact she has had on all of us would be a wonderful way to celebrate her efforts. Candy is the cornerstone of her family, an exceptional mother, grandmother, wife, friend and an amazing role model for player wives all around the league" , said Angela Smith, 20th Annual Off The Field Players' Wives Association Charity Fashion Show Chair.