It began in 1960, with a few Sarasota business men searching for a charitable way to give back to the community where they successfully involved.  They came up with the idea to put together a picnic for the handicapped children. A trip to the country would be a good experience for those special children, who usually say little more than the inside of a clinic.  As the number of kids grew each year, friends of the original group stepped forward to help make a special day.

In 1977, a Christmas Party was added to the calendar, and the picnic had grown so large it had to be moved to Coquina Beach.  By 1980 a third event was added for the children.  But the sponsors were not satisfied.  They wanted to do more, so building plans were initiated for a  multi-phased group of houses surrounding a training center where the handicapped could live and work in the real world.

Financial commitment necessary to acquire the land needed to build these structures was tremendous.  Numerous fundraising plans were discussed, then in 1985 during a casual conversation, the Suncoast Offshore Grand Prix Festival was born.  At that same time, SORA (Suncoast Offshore Racing Association) had been liking for a way to bring offshore racing to Sarasota.  A win-win opportunity was born.  SORA now had a viable benefactor and the combined muscle power to do the impossible:  organize and accomplish a major offshore event in just six weeks.

The original group of businessmen obtained a $50,000 letter of credit to guaranty the race purse and both groups began working together immediately.  In no time dozens and dozens of individuals, corporations, small businesses, and volunteers were involved, and the race was successful beyond the hopes and dreams of all those involved.  Financially, the result was a mortgage-free building of “phase one” where eight handicapped individuals could live while receiving therapy and training.

The Suncoast Offshore Grand Prix Festival directly provided the funding for work spaces, therapy treatment rooms, classrooms and residential facilities which resulted in the Child Development Center, Child Evaluation Center, United Cerebral Palsy’s Center for the Independent Living and a 2,500 sq. ft. building expansion for the Loveland Center in Venice.