2026 Spirit of Marco Island Award Honorees Announced

The Rotary Club of Marco Island Noontime is proud to announce the first honorees of the 2026 Spirit of Marco Island Awards. Linda Cassens has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Spirit of Marco Island Award, and Dave Rice has been honored with a special Legacy Award. Both honorees were surprised by the announcement at the recent Y Gala, attended by several hundred community members.

The Spirit of Marco Island Award was presented to Linda Cassens by Linda Sandlin, Spirit Award co-chair and past president of the Marco Island Rotary Club. The Legacy Award was presented to Dave Rice by George Abounder, also a past president of the club, joined by a group of fellow Rotarians.

Linda Cassens was recognized for her many years of dedicated service and generous support of numerous community organizations, including Our Daily Bread Food Pantry, the YMCA, the Marco Island Historical Society, and Marco Dementia Respite. She also serves as a grief counselor for the Marco Island Presbyterian Church and is a devoted member and supporter of the Noontime Rotary Club.

Her selfless commitment to improving the lives of others, exemplary volunteerism, and unwavering dedication to community service made her a unanimous choice for the 2026 Spirit of Marco Island Award.

Dave Rice was honored for his long and distinguished legacy of service to the Marco Island community. His contributions include 17 years as chair of the Christmas Island Style events, extensive fundraising efforts for numerous local organizations, and one of his most notable achievements—the rescue and revitalization of the Art Center, now known as the Marco Island Center for the Arts.

Rice was also the visionary behind the Marco Island Sports Festival in the late 1990s, which became a highly successful fundraiser for the YMCA for several years. Through collaboration with Collier County, he helped elevate the festival into an international event. In addition to these accomplishments, Rice has served as Past President of the Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club, and the Marco Island Chamber of Commerce.

Additional honorees will be announced in the coming weeks.

The Rotary Club of Marco Island, Noontime, which will celebrate its 60th Anniversary of Community and International Service this year, will host the 2026 Spirit of Marco Island Awards during its 16th Annual Awards Dinner and Diamond Anniversary Gala. The event will take place on Saturday, April 11.

Numerous sponsorship opportunities are available for the Gala, including the opportunity to sponsor one of the honorees and receive a VIP table at the event. For sponsorship opportunities, tickets, or additional information, please contact Al Diaz at 239-438-5285 or via email at manager@royalmarcoway.com.

This annual gala honors individuals and organizations that demonstrate exceptional civic involvement through their contributions of time, talent, and financial support to the Marco Island community.