Based in Venice, Fla., the Loveland Center serving special needs children and adults will soon have a new sensory room, as well as upgrades to its existing sensory space, thanks in large part to this summer’s inaugural Sarasota Blast On The Bay Fun Run. The event raised $50,000 for Suncoast Charities For Children, a nonprofit organization that helps fund several organizations in the area including the Loveland Center.

As if helping support the inaugural Sarasota Blast On The Bay Fun Run (above) with a $6,000 donation weren’t enough, the Rangoonwala Foundation has kicked in an additional $8,000 earmarked for the Loveland Center. Photo by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

To help the event reach its $50,000 fundraising total, the United Kingdom-based Rangoonwala Foundation donated $6,000. Led by Powerboat P1 chief executive officer Azam Rangoonwala, the Foundation recently donated an additional $8,000 to Suncoast Charities for Children. That money is earmarked for the Loveland Center projects and was donated in the name of his late grandmother, Banu Rangoonwala

“We are so grateful for the philanthropic work that the Rangoonwala Foundation has shown over the years toward Suncoast Charities for Children, and those with special needs,” said Lucy Nicandri, the executive director of Suncoast Charities for Children and the former key organizer of the Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix Festival, which was cancelled in 2020. “This year has been difficult on everyone, but especially on individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Their generosity will have a significant impact on so many individuals that need our help now more than ever since the pandemic.”

Azam Rangoonwala has worked closely with Nicandri for the past several years on the Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix and personally has donated to Suncoast Charities for Children.

“The Rangoonwala family always teaches the importance of giving back in your conmunity and around the people you work with as well as to invest charitable funds with people that you know and trust,” said the Powerboat P1 head. “They say charity begins at home—having worked with Lucy and Suncoast Charities for Children for over five years—Sarasota and the surrounding area feels like home to me. I am grateful that we were given the opportunity to make these contributions on behalf of my grandmother.”

Azam Rangoonwala (third from left) has a history of supporting Sarasota Suncoast Charities for Children.

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