A Season of Milestones, Mission & Community
Spring 2026 at MacDonald Training Center was nothing short of remarkable. From April’s fine art installation, our annual gala, and community celebrations to May’s safety milestone and graduations, our team, our participants, and our community partners showed up with extraordinary energy and purpose. MTC is in motion every single week – elevating talent, empowering individuals, and employing possibility at every turn.
This is MTC: Mission at Work.
Enjoy the Spring 2026 Update: macdonaldcenter/mtc-2026-spring-into-action
But Wait – There’s More!
Spring at MacDonald Training Center had even more moments worth celebrating than one email could hold. So we’re bringing you the rest of the story right here – including a once-in-a-lifetime honor for one of our Fine Artists, two meaningful gifts from generous community partners, and a month full of moments where MTC showed up for the community we love.
A Lightning Puck, Two Generous Donors, and a Month of Showing Up
A LIGHTNING-SIZED HONOR
How do you celebrate Autism Awareness Month in a way that brings together a city, a hockey team, a global corporate sponsor, and an entire community of advocates? On April 13, 2026 – You light up the Benchmark International arena for Neurodiversity Night with the Tampa Bay Lightning presented by Jabil. But the real magic? The night’s commemorative puck was designed by one of our own.
MTC Fine Artist Austen Settecasi’s artwork was selected as the official 2026 Neurodiversity Night puck design, and his piece, titled “Floral Spirits,” scored a goal.
Austen uses an expressive representation of flowers to reflect the idea that flowers, flowers, like people, come in all shapes, colors, and sizes. “It is the combination of these unique elements,” the puck’s official description reads, “that creates strength among individuals on the spectrum.”
It’s joyful and unmistakably Austen.
To have an MTC Fine Artist’s work carried into the rink, into the hands of fans, and into the spotlight of a major professional sports celebration – that’s not just elevated or an opportunity. That’s a milestone. Congratulations, Austen. We are so proud of you. 
SUPPORT IN ACTION
Spring also brought two wonderful reminders that mission-driven work is fueled by mission-minded partners. We are so grateful.
- On April 23, 2026, Courtesy Cares at Courtesy Automotive Group presented MTC with a donation!
Just weeks later, we were honored to receive a generous donation from Katherine Racoma, Human Resources Manager, Courtesy Cares program at Courtesy Automotive Group. Programs like Courtesy Cares are what make corporate citizenship real — and we’re so grateful to Katherine and the entire Courtesy team for believing in our work and putting that belief into action. - On April 3, 2026, CU Autobranch presented MTC with a donation!
It started with an email and ended with a check. Bea Lindsay, who works at CU Autobranch – a dealership that partners exclusively with credit unions – let us know that MTC had been included in a community giving program through Suncoast Credit Union. The deal? MTC received $50 for every car sold during the event.
A simple structure. An enormous impact. Thank you, CU Autobranch team, for thinking of MTC and turning car sales into mission support.
COMMUNITY IN ACTION
April had MTC out in the community nearly every week – showing up, connecting, and celebrating alongside the partners and neighbors who make Tampa Bay stronger. From a coffee morning with law enforcement to a high-energy basketball game, here’s where you would have found us:
- April 29, 2026: Gathering for Good – We closed out a remarkable month at Gathering for Good, surrounded by mission-driven organizations and the people who champion them.
- April 26, 2026: Councilman Luis Viera Support Group at Coffee Uniting People (CUP) Dale Mabry – MTC joined Council Member Viera, Hillsborough County Public Schools Board Member Patti Rendon, CUP Founder, Greg Jones, and Carlos, a CUP Employee and MTC graduate, for a meaningful gathering at CUP Dale Mabry. Conversations rooted in relationship and shared purpose – that’s how real community change begins.
- April 24, 2026: 2026 Real Estate for All Alliance (REFAA) Summer Social hosted by the Suncoast Tampa Association of REALTORS® (STAR). STAR has been a valued partner for over 20 years and graciously invited us as a guest speaker for this event.
- April 21, 2026: Power of Connection: 2026 AGEDD Summit Brings State and National Leaders Together in Kissimmee. MTC provided a presentation that represented our mission beautifully. The Summit program features a quote from Karenne Levy, MTC president/CEO!
- April 19, 2026: CUP’s 3rd Annual Slam Jam Basketball Game! Our MTC team showed up, cheered loudly, and soaked in every moment of a day built around community and joy. We love our partnership with CUP and seeing our program participants engaged in healthy competition and good, clean fun.
- April 7, 2026: Tampa Police Department: Sip, Smile & Support for Autism – The Tampa Police Department showed up for the autism community with their Sip, Smile & Support event at CUP Downtown – an event built around awareness, community, and genuine human connection. MTC was happy to participate as a vendor.
Five community events. One month. Every one of them a reminder that MTC’s mission lives well beyond our walls.
A hockey puck. A car sale. A Councilman’s support group. A basketball game. A Summit.
It might look like a random list. But pull the thread, and they’re all connected. Every one of them is a moment where our community chose belonging, where someone with a disability was seen, celebrated, employed, or empowered, where a partner showed up. Mission at Work. That’s MTC. That’s what we do.
🔗 Stay Connected
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Thank you for uniting with us to make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities. Because of you, MacDonald Training Center (MTC) can continue to create opportunities and build brighter futures.
To learn more about how you can support MTC, visit: macdonaldcenter.org
