Suncoast Charities For Children Announces Suncoast Summer Fest
Suncoast Charities for Children, longtime organizer of the Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix Festival, has rebranded the iconic Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix Festival to Suncoast Summer Fest.
The traditional Grand Prix Race, presented by Visit Sarasota County, will be organized by Powerboat P1 this year. Powerboat and AquaX (personal watercraft) races are scheduled for June 26 & 27 off Lido Beach. In addition to the Grand Prix Race, various fundraising events for Suncoast Charities for Children will continue to be an important part of the Festival. Additional events will be announced soon.
Suncoast Charities for Children’s Executive Director, Lucy Nicandri, stated: “Rebranding into a Summer Festival enables the charity to focus on its mission to raise money for six area non-profit agencies. Suncoast Summer Fest will not only provide a better infrastructure to sustain our fundraising efforts in the future, but also allow us the ability to include new events and partnerships.”
Each year, special event net proceeds raised by Suncoast Charities are granted to the Suncoast Foundation to provide support to six area non-profit agencies serving over 8,000 children, teens, and adults with special needs. These agencies include Sarasota Special Olympics, Loveland Center, Children First, The Haven, The Florida Center for Early Childhood, and Venice Challenger Baseball.
In addition to the scheduled powerboat and AquaX races, other Suncoast Summer Fest events currently scheduled include a “Waves & Wheels” Festival Kickoff Party, “Red, White, & Blue” Motorcycle Poker Chip Run, a “Boats On The Block” Downtown Block Party, and the “Suncoast Summer Fest” Boat Fun Run. For event updates and additional information visit the website.
From the website: Suncoast Charities for Children is a 501(c)(3) that provides funding support to the Suncoast Foundation which over the years has constructed area facilities valued at over $20 Million. These facilities are located in North Port, Venice, and Sarasota and last year provided services to approx. 5,000 special needs children, teens, adults, and their families. Net proceeds raised from special events and donations help maintain some of these aging facilities and support special project requests. This is beneficial so that the non-profit agencies who occupying these facilities for only $1 per year, can direct their program and service money towards the clients they serve. Special project requests submitted by these five non-profit agencies listed below are also reviewed and considered for future funding.
Photos from Suncoast Charities