Word Play
a crossword puzzle gala
An evening of fun, games, and giving!
We recently finished our 4th Annual Word Play! A fun-filled night of word-game competitions, dinner, and opportunities to support Voices of Hope for Aphasia.
This year’s Word Play event brought together an extraordinary mix of voices, stories, and creative energy. From breathtaking spoken word performances to thought-provoking writing workshops, our community reminded us just how powerful words can be when we share them together.
To everyone who took the stage, attended a session, or cheered from the audience—thank you. You are the heartbeat of Voices of Hope, and you made this year truly unforgettable.
Relive the Moments: 2026 Video Recap
Coudn’t make it or just want to feel the magic all over again? Check out the official Word Play 2026 recap video below, featuring highlights from our main stage, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and exclusive interviews with this year’s featured artists. Thank you to Palm Tree Content for the video.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words—which is pretty fitting for an event like Word Play. Browse through some of our favorite snapshots from the weekend. Thank you to Chaz D Photography and Lana’e Hernandez for the wonderful images!
Scroll through pictures from Word Play 2025!
Thank you to Michael Schuhmann Photographer for capturing the evening!
To kick off our second decade of services to the Tampa Bay community, Voices of Hope for Aphasia (VOH) is celebrating with an evening of fun, games, and giving, to enable us to help more people in the region who are living with aphasia.
Word Play, a fun-filled night of word-game competitions, dinner, and opportunities to support VOH, will feature a special tribute to Tampa Bay’s own puzzle master, the late Merl Reagle, nationally known and syndicated crossword puzzle constructor.
Aphasia, which affects more than 23,000 in the Bay area alone, is a language disorder, often following stroke or traumatic injury, that impacts a person’s ability to speak, write, and understand verbal and written language. Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, actor Bruce Willis, and recently elected U.S. Senator John Fetterman from Pennsylvania experience the effects of language disorders like aphasia. Programs at VOH are offered free both to people affected by aphasia and their families, emphasizing communication skills, life participation, and mutual understanding.
Currently, over 500 members benefit from these programs. VOH hopes to expand its capacity to help even more.
