Christina Pepin
Executive Director Pepin Family Foundation
Christina Pepin, professionally known as Tina Pepin, serves as Executive Director of the Pepin Family Foundation and continues a third-generation legacy of philanthropy in Tampa Bay, Florida. Her work focuses on public safety, healthcare, education, and mental health, with an emphasis on building responsible partnerships that create long-term community impact. Through careful stewardship and collaboration, she advances initiatives designed to strengthen local institutions and support those who serve others.
Tina remains guided by the example of her grandfather, who was allowed to attend college by a family he once served. That experience shaped his lifelong commitment to giving to givers. She works to ensure that the values upheld by both her father and grandfather remain central to the Foundation’s mission and continue to influence future generations.
Over time, she and her family have supported a wide range of charitable organizations across Tampa Bay. These include the Chief of Police Foundation, Tampa Police Department, the Suncoast PBA, Hands Across the Bay, Arise Alliance, Vincent Jackson Foundation, Hook A Hero, Operation Restore, and others. Each partnership reflects a consistent investment in public safety, healthcare services, youth programs, and community-based collaboration.
Tina Pepin has also been closely connected to The Pepin Academies, founded in 1999 as a non-profit, tuition-free public charter school serving third through 12th-grade students, along with a transitional job-training program for 18- to 22-year-old students. Nearly three decades later, the academies serve more than 1,200 students and over 850 graduates at campuses in Tampa, Riverview, and New Port Richey. Qualified students receive therapy at no cost, including access to social workers, mental health counselors, occupational therapists, physical therapists, sensory integration services, and speech language programs.
She served on the board of Pepin Academies for nearly three years and values the individualized learning approach that supports academic progress and personal growth. The school environment fosters a sense of belonging and inclusion while preparing students for future opportunities. The Foundation also contributes to local engagement through Pepin’s Hospitality Centre, providing space for community culture and cuisine.
Tina actively supports the mission of the Pepin Heart Institute as part of the Foundation’s longstanding healthcare commitment. Established in 1986 by Tom and Arthur Pepin, the Institute focuses on research and patient-centered cardiac care to eradicate heart disease. She continues to support initiatives that improve cardiac outcomes and broaden access to advanced treatment options.
Public safety remains a central priority within the Foundation’s efforts. Mental health and resiliency programs are designed to assist law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, and other front-line professionals who frequently experience traumatic events. These programs emphasize sustainable support systems that reinforce wellness and long-term stability for first responders.
Tina Pepin believes that serving those who protect and care for the community is essential. During a nursing crisis in Tampa, the Foundation partnered with the University of South Florida to support young nursing professionals. It partners with the Tampa Police Department to enhance resiliency, officer wellness, and mental health programming. It collaborates with Sun Coast Police Benevolent Association President Jonathan Vazquez and General Counsel and Executive Director Sasha Lohn, Esq., to launch a first-of-its-kind law enforcement mental health college certificate program for active and retired officers to earn college credits and an applied mental health certificate. In January 2026, she was recognized with an award for her support of Rise Tampa, the official Foundation for the Tampa Police Department.
Christina Pepin continues to strengthen collaboration among healthcare providers, educators, and public safety leaders throughout Tampa Bay. She has supported initiatives such as the USF Pepin Family Summer Nursing Pathway Program and the expansion of mental health resources for first responders. A 2021 graduate of Belmont University, Jack C. Massey College of Business with a Bachelor of Business Administration BBA, she also participated in the Winterline Global Education program, pitching a business venture at MIT in Boston, and studying management and international business in the United States and Asia. Through steady commitment and thoughtful leadership, she remains dedicated to meaningful and lasting community impact.
