The SC Ports Authority today announced $30,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations through its annual Community Giving Program, which provides grant funding to programs across South Carolina that positively impact education, maritime commerce, economic development and the environment.
"The SC Ports Authority is proud to announce $30,000 in grants to 25 worthy nonprofit organizations whose efforts strengthen the communities where we operate terminals," said Jim Newsome, SCPA president and CEO. "The port's mission extends beyond our involvement in commerce and economic development, and the Community Giving Program enables us to be a better neighbor and community partner."
This year's awards include:
American Lung Association of the Southeast
The American Lung Association of the Southeast received a $500 award for its fifth annual Fight for Air Climb in 2015, an event with three step-climbing challenges for firefighters and civilians.
"We are very excited to partner with SCPA for the 2015 Fight for Air Climb. The Climb is a fun way to educate people on the importance of lungs and lung health. We greatly appreciate the port's support and dedication to improving the lives of the people in the Coastal community." - Melanie Baker Matthews, Development Manager at American Lung Association of the Southeast
American Red Cross
The Carolina Lowcountry Chapter of the American Red Cross received a $2,000 award for its "Heroes of Fire Victims" program, which provides disaster assistance for families who are displaced by fire.
"We are honored to have been chosen for the 2014 Community Giving Award by the South Carolina Ports Authority. Companies who are committed to their community like SCPA enable Red Cross to touch 1 in 12 lives in South Carolina by teaching lifesaving skills, providing emergency messaging for members of our military and their families, providing blood products to hospitals and responding to disasters an average of every 4 hours." - Louise Welch Williams, CEO of American Red Cross Carolina Lowcountry Chapter
Avian Conservation Center
The Avian Conservation Center received a $1,000 award for its injured bird rehabilitation efforts and STEM education program. The Aviation Conservation Center's primary operating division is the Center for Birds of Prey.
"The Avian Conservation Center is genuinely grateful for the recognition from the SCPA implied in this award of the relevance and importance of protecting wild bird species and for the endorsement of the Center's conservation efforts that this contribution helps make possible." - Burwell Boykin, Director of Development of the Avian Conservation Center
Be A Mentor
Be A Mentor received a $2,000 award that will provide a college field trip to participants during the spring semester. Be A Mentor works with the Charleston County School District to provide career path mentoring for high school students.
"Be a Mentor could not operate its programs without generous community support from organizations like South Carolina Ports. Through its community giving, South Carolina Ports supports local workforce development and enabling all South Carolina students to have a chance at a great career and future!" - Kristin Cunningham, Executive Director of Be a Mentor
Camp Rise Above
Camp Rise Above received a $1,000 award to support its camp session for child patients of sickle cell anemia.
"Camp Rise Above is honored to be a recipient of the South Carolina Ports Community Giving award. This generous award enables us to expand our reach to provide life-changing camp experiences to children with serious illnesses, disabilities, and life challenges." - Erin Marie Ulmer, Executive Director of Camp Rise Above
Charleston Symphony Orchestra
The Charleston Symphony Orchestra received a $500 award for its 2014-2015 Concert season, which includes six masterworks, pops concerts and the Chamber Orchestra.
"The Charleston Symphony Orchestra Orchestra is grateful for the continued support of the SC Ports Authority." - Monica Jenks, Development Director at the Charleston Symphony Orchestra
Charleston Waterkeeper
The Charleston Waterkeeper received a $2,000 award for its Recreational Water Quality Monitoring Program. The SCPA grant covers the cost of three water quality sample runs and supports the protection of Charleston's local water quality by tracking pollution issues in the Charleston Harbor.
"Charleston Waterkeeper is grateful to the South Carolina Ports Authority for their support of our Recreational Water Quality Monitoring Program. The funds will allow us to continue testing bacteria levels in Charleston's favorite tidal creeks and at hotspots for swimming, paddle boarding, sailing, and kayaking." - Andrew Wunderley, Program Director & Staff Attorney of Charleston Waterkeeper
Chucktown Squash
Chucktown Squash received a $2,000 award to provide academic supplies, meals and weekend enrichment opportunities for its after-school tutoring program.
"On behalf of Chucktown Squash, we would like to thank the SC Ports Authority for their generous support. The port's contribution and dedication to our program allows us to continue expanding our mission; preparing low-income, low-resource middle school aged kids for successful advancement in high school, college, and in life." - Lauren Herterich, Executive Director of Chucktown Squash
Communities In Schools
Communities In Schools received a $2,000 award to support its drop-out prevention efforts and to help fund specialists in area schools who work with at-risk students.
"We are so honored to receive a Community Giving award from the Ports Authority and sincerely value their belief in Communities In Schools and our mission. This support will help us provide our program in 28 Charleston Area schools, giving students the assistance they need to stay in school and graduate on time. The support of our business community is invaluable to us, and we look forward to this important partnership with SCPA." ¬- Jane Riley Gambrell, Executive Director of Communities in Schools
Community Pride of Charleston County
Community Pride of Charleston County received a $500 award to provide supplies for Adopt-A-Highway program volunteers, who collect litter from roadsides.
"This will be a tremendous value for providing materials and supplies to volunteers that are dedicated to a cleaner more attractive environment for citizens and visitors to the area." - Angela N. Crouch, Adopt-A-Highway County Coordinator of Community Pride of Charleston County
Engaging Creative Minds
Engaging Creative Minds received a $1,000 award for its eighth-grade participants to visit the Art Institute of Charleston and attend a dress rehearsal of a Spoleto Opera performance.
"Funds from the Ports Authority will allow our eighth-grade students to attend a Spoleto Festival dress rehearsal of the opera, Porgy & Bess, in the recently renovated Gaillard Performance Hall. Students will participate in a 9-week, in-depth, curriculum which teaches the history of the opera and its relationship to the Charleston area as well as the 'behind the scenes' technology at the Gaillard." - Robin Berlinsky, Executive Director of Engaging Creative Minds
Gavalas Kolanko Foundation
The Gavalas Kolanko Foundation was awarded a $500 Patron sponsorship for the 2014 James Island Connector Run. The funds will be applied directly to scholarships for students with disabilities.
"On behalf of our board, I want to thank the team at SCPA for your generous donation to our event. The Ports Authority's support of our efforts adds the expanding nature of our program, which includes attendees at six institutions of higher learning in graduate and undergraduate programs." - Nick Gavalas, Founder, Vice President & CFO of the Gavalas Kolanko Foundation
Harvest Hope Food Bank
Harvest Hope Food Bank received a $1,000 award to purchase food for their emergency food pantry in Greenville, which serves 100 families daily.
"With this Community Giving award from the SC Ports Authority we can provide 5,000 meals to struggling families in South Carolina. We truly appreciate their efforts to bringing the best the world has to offer to everyone in South Carolina, and this award will mean so much to those who struggle now to have food on their tables." - Stephen Fray, Government Relations & Grant Manager of Harvest Hope Food Bank
Historic Rotary Club of Charleston
The Historic Rotary Club of Charleston received a $500 award to support the Holiday Parade of Boats. This December, Rotary will host an inaugural ticketed event for viewing the parade at the Maritime Center.
"The Holiday Parade of Boats is a festive annual event that circles Charleston Harbor and brings the holiday spirit to thousands of shore-side spectators. Proceeds from the Holiday Parade of Boats support the Rotary Club of Charleston Fund (RCCF); a charitable grant-making fund that makes contributions to support local community needs in the areas of health, education, welfare and other philanthropic purposes." - Jeanne Jamme, Parade of Boats Coordinator of Historic Rotary Club of Charleston
Hobcaw Barony (Belle W. Baruch Foundation)
The Hobcaw Barony Education Center in Georgetown received a $1,000 award to upgrade its website with online reservation capabilities.
"Hobcaw Barony aspires to be the premier learning center for coastal ecology and history in the Southeast. This grant from SCPA enables us to create a new, mobile -ready website with online reservation capabilities. We expect participation in our tours and programs; school field studies and events to increase dramatically through this improvement and move us closer to that goal." - Tory Mackey, Director of Development of the Belle W. Baruch Foundation
Jenkins Institute for Children
The Jenkins Institute for Children received a $500 award for a music history event held at the Charleston Library Society to benefit the orphanage.
"The affair that the Port is supporting through their grant will celebrate and continue acknowledging the history and musical legacy that Reverend Daniel Joseph Jenkins and the Historical Jenkins Orphanage Band worldwide made. We thank the Authority for this contribution." - Johanna Marten-Carrington, Board Member at The Jenkins Orphanage
Lowcountry Open Land Trust
The Lowcountry Open Land Trust received a $2,000 award to support the Lowcountry Conservation Initiative, a private land conservation effort that includes the connection of existing protected land tracts along Cooper River Corridor.
"The Lowcountry Open Land Trust is committed to protecting the irreplaceable landscapes, working farms and critical habitats that make the Lowcountry unique. This support from the South Carolina Ports Authority will help to ensure that this important work continues for future generations." - Adrian Cain, Director of Development of The Lowcountry Open Land Trust
Lowcountry Orphan Relief
Lowcountry Orphan Relief received a $1,000 award to purchase school supplies and other basic needs items for children identified as at-risk for abuse and neglect. The kits are designed to reduce financial strain on families.
"Lowcountry Orphan Relief is the proud recipient of funds from the South Carolina Ports Authority. Not only does receiving these funds impact the lives of these children directly, but they stand to prove that our community can work in partnership to meet a common goal." ¬¬- Regina Sharpe, Chief Operating Officer of Lowcountry Orphan Relief
Push-Up & Up
Push-Up & Up received a $500 team sponsorship for their 2015 push-up competition held annually in Marion Square. The funds cover the registration cost for a community or neighborhood team to participate in the challenge.
"Thanks so much for your support of Push-Up & Up. We'll gladly connect SCPA with a school team for the Push-Up & Up Challenge!" ¬- Mindelle Ziff, Founder and CEO of Kaleidoscope
SC Aquarium
The South Carolina Aquarium received a $2,000 award to develop educational materials and interpretative information about the bottlenose dolphin, the most common marine mammal in our local waters and the designated state marine mammal of South Carolina.
"We're so pleased that the Port has stepped up to partner with NOAA and the South Carolina Aquarium to tell the story of the challenges our local bottlenose dolphins face. With the Ports' contribution, this project will allow 430,000 visitors a year to discover the bottlenose dolphin, an important and charismatic species in the Charleston Harbor, and learn about how we can help protect them." - Kevin Mills, President & CEO of the South Carolina Aquarium
SC Maritime Museum
The South Carolina Maritime Museum received a $2,000 award to construct an exhibit and scale model of the steamboat PLANTER, a commissioned steamboat used to haul cargo between Charleston and Georgetown from 1830-1930.
"The South Carolina Maritime Museum in Georgetown, SC is proud to receive a Community Giving award from the South Carolina Ports Authority. This award enables our organization to have a quality model of the famous steamboat PLANTER built and displayed in our museum." - Robert "Mac" McAlister, Board member of the South Carolina Maritime Museum
Sewee Association
The Sewee Association received $1,000 for its 10-week Earth Stewards Program for elementary and middle school students in Charleston and Georgetown. The program provides hands-on science investigations and data collection opportunities on field trips to local ecosystems.
"Giving children a chance to experience, and make a meaningful connection with, nature is key to not only their development and learning but also to cultivating the knowledgeable and engaged stewards who will value and protect our natural resources well into the future. We are delighted the SCPA will be partnering with us to provide students along the South Carolina coast with this experience through our environmental education programs." ¬- Grace Gasper, Executive Director of SEWEE Association
USS Yorktown Foundation
The USS Yorktown Foundation received a $2,000 award to provide field trips for 200 fifth-grade students from Title I schools to visit the Yorktown's Institute of Science, History and Technology at Patriot's Point.
"The USS Yorktown Foundation is both pleased and honored to be selected as a recipient of a SCPA Community Giving Award. This support that enables 5th graders to experience the Institute of Science, History and Technology at Patriots Point will have a positive impact on South Carolina Students. It also demonstrates SCPA's leadership and service to our community." - Todd Cummins, Executive Director of USS Yorktown Foundation
Water Missions International
Water Missions International received a $1,000 award to participate in the Charleston STEM Festival. Water Missions International's activities raise awareness of the global water crisis, importance of water and water conservation.
"We are excited to partner with the South Carolina Ports Authority for the second year in row in their Community Giving program. Their support has allowed our education initiatives in the Lowcountry to reach new heights, including our participation in next year's Charleston STEM Fest." - Julie Johnson, Director of Public Relations and Marketing at Water Missions International
Wounded Nature-Working Veterans
Wounded Nature-Working Veterans received a $500 award to support its volunteer-driven efforts to clean tidal areas only accessible by boat.
"Removing coastal debris is important to Charleston's recreational and commercial fishing industry's economic future. We are very grateful to obtain SCPA's support for carrying out our mission." - Rudy Socha, CEO of Wounded Nature - Working Veterans
