Mission
Bluffton Community Soup Kitchen will feed and provide shelter for the hungry, seniors, sick and shut-in, homeless and underserved members of our community.
Nominated by Kurt Geisteimer
EIN# 82-3282038
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
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
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
Pregnancy Center and Clinic of the Low Country
Our mission is to provide pregnancy related healthcare to women in a welcoming, safe and confidential setting.
Medical care provided by advanced practice registered nurse/midwife; nursing staff, professional counselor, interpreters. Services provided include pregnancy/STI testing, ultrasound, vitamins, 16 weeks of prenatal care, and counseling. EIN#57-0923523
Nominated by Gary Bezilla
Awarded July 2024
Spring Meeting Impact – Meals on Wheels
As the island’s golf event pushed our meeting a bit more toward summer, sixty members and guest met to hear how we helped Memory Matters start off the year and listen to members share the needs for three charities.
We learned how The Children’s Center, The Boys and Girls Club, and Meals on Wheels are helping the different age groups in our community.
The group raised over $28,000 with a few more pledges scheduled to be received. The majority of the funds will be awarded to Meals on Wheels and we will be looking forward to hearing during our next meeting how we helped MOW accomplish their mission.
Meals on Wheels
Delivery of meals to homebound clients in Hilton Head and Bluffton who lack capacity to prepare nutritious meals without regard to their ability to pay. Warm meals are delivered five days a week. We not only deliver meals, but we also make sure our clients are doing well as part of daily engagement with them.
Nominated by Tom
Presented May 3rd by Matt
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
Memory Matters
Since 1997, Memory Matters’ staff have provided memory care to Lowcountry families with compassion and understanding. Today, Memory Matters continues that care but has enhanced its service to educate the community, of all ages, on what can be done to keep the brain healthy, and what can be done to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. It’s a balance of brain health education and memory care services. We are unique in the Lowcountry, and our expertise is unsurpassed. Memory Matters serves individuals living with Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia, caregivers, family and friends, and health professionals.
Nominated by Kelley Jewett Awarded Jan 2024
Hilton Head Hospital Auxiliary
HHIAux was nominated by Bob Elliott as a local opportunity to be selected in one of our next meetings. The Hilton Head Hospital Auxiliary provides communication and support for our nearly 200 volunteers and through our fundraising efforts, we assist people and families in our communities who are most in need.
Auxiliary programs have had a significant impact on thousands of people over the years. Most importantly, our Nursing Scholarship Program is helping to address the nursing shortage which currently exists in the U.S, state of South Carolina, and Beaufort County.
Awarded February 2022