Earlier this year, the Tampa Bay Lightning honored Wayne Johnson as the 36th Lightning Community Hero of the season during the first period of tonight’s game against the Detroit Red Wings. Johnson, who received a $50,000 donation from the Lightning Foundation and the Lightning Community Heroes program, will donate the money to the YMCA and New Life Tabernacle.

For 25 years, Johnson has been an advocate for people in underprivileged situations and those who have experienced domestic violence. While in college, he had to cope with the death of his roommate due to a domestic dispute. This situation led him on the journey to his current vocation. Johnson has served as an educator speaking to the youth on dating violence. He also serves at the Senior Program Director for the YMCA’s Teen Achiever’s Program working with over 750 at risk youth in the Tampa Bay region.

Tonight’s Lightning Community Hero is also a retired member of the United Sates military serving eight years in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Joint Endeavor. He received the Army Achievement Medal, National Service Defense Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal with three Bronze Stars, Kuwait Liberation Medal and the NATO Medal.