Word Play
a crossword puzzle gala
An evening of fun, games, and giving!
We are looking forward to seeing you at our 4th Annual Word Play! Join us for a fun-filled night of word-game competitions, dinner, and opportunities to support Voices of Hope for Aphasia.
Event Details
- When: 6:30PM, Wednesday, July 1st, 2026
- Where: USF St. Petersburg Student Center (200 6th Ave S, St. Petersburg, FL 33701)
- Sponsor: Presented by the University of South Florida Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and The Off-Central Players
Word Play 2026 Parking Info: Skip the Stress!
Make your arrival at the USFSP Student Center seamless by securing your parking ahead of time. Prepaid parking passes for the parking garage directly across the street from the venue are available for just a $5 donation to Voices of Hope for Aphasia.
Can’t Make It to Word Play 2026 in Person? You don’t have to be in the room to make a massive difference! You can support Voices of Hope for Aphasia from anywhere by bidding in our virtual Silent Auction. From one-of-a-kind handcrafted treasures by our members to unique experiences, there is something for everyone.
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.
