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Dotti Groover-Skipper, founder of the HeartDance Foundation, will receive the Tampa Bay Ethics Award from the Center for Ethics, part of the Sykes College of Business, at University of Tampa at a luncheon and ceremony on Friday, April 11.

In Groover-Skipper’s career, she has influenced positive policy change for issues such as substance abuse, addiction and sex trafficking and founded the HeartDance Foundation to aid in the recovery of survivors of these experiences. A few of her recent achievements include selection as one of “100 Women to Know in America” by the national KNOW Women organization; a lifetime achievement award from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office; and delivering a TEDx Talk about human trafficking.

The Tampa Bay Ethics Award from UTampa’s Center for Ethics celebrates integrity, virtue and character by recognizing outstanding individuals in business, professional services or government who exemplify moral qualities and the highest standards in their daily activities. Some past winners of this award include former Florida Gov. Bob Martinez ’57; NFL wide receiver from 1975-1985, Freddie Solomon ’75; former Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio; Columbia Restaurant owner Richard Gonzmart; and businessmen John Sykes and James Ferman Jr.

The ceremony honoring Groover-Skipper is from noon to 1:30 p.m. on April 11 in Fletcher Lounge in Plant Hall. The event is free for UTampa students, faculty and staff. Individual tickets are $30 per person; a table of eight is $175; and corporate sponsorships are available for $850 or $1,750.

For more information or reservations, go to ut.edu/TampaBayEthicsAward or contact Leshell Santiago, the Center for Ethics assistant, at lsantiago@ut.edu or (813) 257-3039.