Lucy Nicandri Honored with Lifetime of Leadership Award for Decades of Sarasota Community Service

For nearly three decades, some of Sarasota’s most recognizable festivals, charitable events and waterfront celebrations have shared one important connection: Lucy Nicandri.

That lasting contribution was recognized on August 5, when Nicandri received the Lifetime of Leadership Award during the 2026 Celebrate Outstanding Leadership Awards Luncheon at Michael’s On East.

Presented by Leadership Sarasota and the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, the award honors a Leadership Sarasota graduate whose career, community involvement and long-term commitment to service have created a meaningful legacy.

Nicandri has served as executive director of Suncoast Charities for Children since 2009. In that role, she has helped raise money and build community support for programs serving children, teens and adults with physical and cognitive challenges.

Her path to nonprofit leadership began after she moved to Sarasota from upstate New York in 1982. She initially spent 12 years in banking before moving into the nonprofit sector.

Nicandri later worked for United Way of Sarasota County, where she held leadership positions involving major gifts, corporate giving, marketing and special events. After 13 years with United Way, she joined The Florida Center for Early Childhood as vice president of marketing and special events.

Those experiences prepared her for a career that would eventually include directing or helping produce more than 300 fundraising and community events.

Building Events with a Purpose

Nicandri’s work has extended well beyond organizing festivals. Her events have connected local businesses, volunteers, sponsors and government agencies while generating charitable support and attracting visitors to the Sarasota area.

One of her most enduring accomplishments is Thunder By The Bay, which she founded in 1997.

The annual music and motors festival has grown into Suncoast Charities for Children’s largest fundraiser. According to the organization, Thunder By The Bay has raised more than $3.3 million for charity during its first 28 years. The next festival is scheduled for February 19–21, 2027.

Nicandri has also played a leadership role in several other prominent Sarasota events, including:

• The Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix Festival
• The Sarasota Holiday Boat Parade of Lights
• The July 4 Bayfront Fireworks Celebration
• The Sarasota Comedy Festival
• The 1996 Olympic Torch Relay through Sarasota

The former Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix Festival raised millions of dollars for charitable causes during its long history while bringing competitors, race teams and spectators to the region.

Nicandri’s ability to combine entertainment, tourism and fundraising has allowed these events to produce benefits that continue long after the crowds have gone home.

A Career Centered on Community

Nicandri has received several honors during her career, including recognition from the Sarasota Convention and Visitors Bureau, WEDU and the Rotary Club of Sarasota Sunrise.

In 2024, she was also honored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Southwest Florida Chapter. Children First nominated her for her community impact and support of early childhood education, therapeutic services and family advocacy programs.

The Lifetime of Leadership Award recognizes the cumulative effect of that work: millions of dollars raised, hundreds of events organized and decades spent supporting people with special needs and the nonprofit agencies serving them.

Five Sarasota Leaders Recognized

Nicandri was one of five community leaders honored at the 2026 luncheon.

The other recipients were:

• Fiona Farrell — Impact in Action Award
• Kari Queen — Leadership Sarasota Dedication Award
• David Verinder — Community Catalyst Award
• Heather Todd — Civic Champion Award

The Community Catalyst and Civic Champion awards were introduced in 2026, expanding the recognition program beyond Leadership Sarasota alumni and allowing it to honor influential leaders from across the community.

For Nicandri, the Lifetime of Leadership Award celebrates more than longevity. It recognizes a career built around transforming community events into opportunities to help others—and ensuring that Sarasota’s growth includes meaningful support for people and families who need it most.

Related Stories

• Leadership Sarasota Names Five Honorees for 2026 Outstanding Leadership Awards
• Thunder by the Bay 2026 Raises $310,000: Sarasota Festival Delivers Record Support for Special Needs Community
• Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix Canceled for 2025 Amid Construction and Budget Concerns

Photos from Suncoast Charities for Children