Category: Nominations

Active members identify local nonprofit groups that will benefit from our donation pool. Organizations currently available for consideration are listed below. Members have suggested these groups and are willing to make a presentation at our next meeting for a vote.

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Kairos Prison Ministry

Kairos Brings God’s Light into the Darkness of Prison

The prison environment is a dark place, where prisoners face violence, anger, gangs and loneliness daily.

Kairos Prison Ministry volunteers step into this darkness to hold a 3 ½ day weekend, with the majority of participants made up primarily of negative leaders within the prison. Through talks, discussions and Chapel meditations prisoners learn that they are worthy of God’s love, light and grace. That no matter who they are or what they have done, God forgives them.

When a former negative or gang leader accepts Christ, it can influence the very atmosphere of a prison for the better. As the Kairos Christian community inside a prison grows and begins to gain influence, the incidence of violence often decreases.

Nominated by David Burke. EIN#59-1970458

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Backpack Buddies

Hunger Coalition was nominated by Jackson Massey with their focus on the BPB. Backpack Buddies of Hilton Head was designed to fight weekend hunger and has grown to help children in all public schools on Hilton Head Island. Elementary aged children at partner schools receive nutritious food each Friday during the school year. Backpack Buddies of Hilton Head works to fill that gap by providing nutritious, child-friendly food for school children to take home over the weekend and older children to have during the week.

BackPack Buddies Story

Awarded October 2021

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HHI Deep Well Project

A predominantly volunteer-based non-profit, with a minimum of paid staff, The Deep Well Project has been helping neighbors in need since 1973.  The organization was founded by Charlotte Heinrichs as a service to the local community that suffered illness as a result of drinking contaminated water from shallow wells.  Over the decades, other needs evolved and so did “Deep Well” (as it’s known on the island).  We help people in emergency situations by giving them an immediate hand up so that they can continue to help themselves.  EIN# 57-0566098

Nominated by Dan Clare

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Becky Francis Dignity Project

The Becky Francis Dignity Project is an effort to help our homeless neighbors and those without access to running water in their homes access a shower and laundry facility. This is a 24 ft self-contained trailer that has 2 shower stalls (1 ADA compliant), laundry machines, a 400-gallon water tank, a water heater, and a generator.


The trailer can be located almost anywhere. It can even be employed for all residents in the event of a natural disaster. The mission is to reach out to those in need, allowing them to regain and retain their dignity, and helping them reintegrate into society. The project is being operated by the United Way of the Low Country, working with partner agencies to reach as many of our neighbors in need as we are able. We are asking for a donation to help with the cost of perishables. Items like towels, underwear, soap, toothbrushes, razors, and the like.

Nominated by Marc Stuckart EIN 58-0405847

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Osprey Village

When Osprey Village Inc. formed in 2008, the founders aimed to create safe neighborhoods for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Initially focused on their own adult children, they soon realized the immense need in the Lowcountry. As word spread, inquiries poured in from across the country, transforming their vision from a few homes to full neighborhoods.

Nominated by Matt Huber. EIN# 26-2967726

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SOAR


In 2016, Kathy Cramer, a dedicated special education teacher, saw a need for recreational opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities in the Lowcountry. Starting with 53 athletes, Soar has grown into a vibrant community serving over 450 athletes across Beaufort and Jasper Counties. The recognition of Special Olympics as a school sport by Beaufort County and Jasper County marked a significant milestone in our journey. This designation not only facilitated transportation during the school day but also opened doors for after-school participation, mirroring the opportunities presented in traditional sports.

Nominated by Pam

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Operations Patriot Forward Operating Base

OPFOB‘s Mission is to help save lives of our local veterans. Sadly, we lose 22 veterans every day to suicide. We have lost 4X the number of post 9/11 veterans to suicide (30,000) than on the battlefields (7,000). We have lost between 50,000-100,000 Vietnam veterans to suicide. OPFOB is the only facility in The Lowcountry offering recreational therapy for veterans and their families to deal with PTSD, the scars of battle, nightmares, etc.. Within a 90 minute drive of our 268 acre facility, there are 114,000 veterans. We are all volunteers; zero payroll; our facilities and services are totally free of charge to our veterans and their families. Since our inception in July 2020, thankfully we have not had one of our veterans who has been to OPFOB commit suicide.

Nominated by Steve Caywood. Presented April 2022

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Lowcountry Legal Volunteers

Often, to create access to something, you must clear a path and remove obstacles. At Lowcountry Legal Volunteers, that is the mindset we have when making sure everyone has access to quality legal representation. We are here to help our clients remove the obstacles in their paths and achieve the best possible outcomes. EIN#56-2202319

Nominated by David Ruckno

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LowCountry Alliance for Healthy Youth

The LCAHY brings together representatives from the community sectors (see Community Board) to develop a comprehensive solution to preventing and reducing youth substance use and abuse and related risk behaviors by 1) identifying the causes/conditions that put our youth at risk and 2) identifying protective factors/strategies that will prevent our youth from engaging in substance use/abuse and related risk behaviors

https://www.lcahealthyyouth.com

Nominated by David Martin, Presented Jan 2024