Graci McGillicuddy will be inducted into Florida Women's Hall of Fame

Graci McGillicuddy, co-founder of the All Star Children’s Foundation, has been selected to be a 2024 inductee into the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame, it was announced July 2.

Each year, the governor selects three nominees from recommendations presented by the Florida Commission on the Status of Women, recognizing women who have made significant contributions through their professional and philanthropic endeavors.

The All Star Children’s Foundation is a Sarasota-based child advocacy center that combats child abuse and provides a safe place for foster children.

Courtesy image

“She has dedicated her life to advocating for the rights and welfare of abused children,” a news release from the Foundation said. 

In 2022, she was recognized by The KNOW Women as a member of their “100 Women to Know in America” and was honored with the “Spirit of Service” Award by the Florida Senate in 2009.

In 2008, McGillicuddy spearheaded a $6 million capital campaign to build a state-of-the-art Child Protection Center in Sarasota, where she is currently a lifetime director.

“Graci McGillicuddy’s tireless work and unwavering commitment have transformed the lives of countless children and families across the region,” Douglas Staley, executive director of the Child Protection Center, said in the news release. “We’re thrilled her achievements have been recognized with this honor.”

According to the news release, the induction ceremony will take place later this year, celebrating the accomplishments of McGillicuddy and two other women:

• May Mann Jennings, president of the Florida Federation of Women’s Clubs from 1914-1917, who used her political prowess to fight for causes including women’s suffrage, environmental conservation and prohibition.
• Penny Thompson, a pioneer in women's aviation in the 1940s and 1950s and a member of the Florida Aviation Hall of Fame.