Shared Passion

SHARING A PASSION

BY TIM WOOD | PHOTOS BY ROB KAUFMAN

PALM TREES AND PISTONS GIVES CAR JUNKIES AN OUTLET TO SHOW OFF THEIR COLLECTIONS

When Eric Riseman moved to Hilton Head Island full-time in 2015 one of the biggest plusses in escaping western Massachusetts winters was the ability to show off his classic cars year-round.

But when he began looking to join car clubs in the area, he didn’t find the fit he was looking for.

“Every club had financial requirements to join, membership and fees,” said the founder of the Palm Trees and Pistons Car Club. “I wanted to do something that gave an outlet for folks who just want to get out and show off their cars in a bit more informal setting.”

He saw a similar mindset with the show that meets the first Saturday of the month at Lucky Rooster Kitchen and Bar but saw a need to fill the rest of the monthly calendar. So, he went to the management at Sea Turtle Marketplace and said he had the perfect way to bring in new faces to fill the parking lot near the now-empty former home of Stein Mart.

“We approached all of the shop owners and just preached the benefits of bringing some new faces in that might not otherwise stop at their stores, and it was a win-win,” Riseman said.

The club started showing on the second Saturday of the month in October 2021. Slowly but surely, the show has built a loyal following.

“I think the owners appreciate just getting together for free, talking cars, showing off their beauties and learning from other collectors,” Riseman said. “I’m a wannabe mechanic but I don’t have the garage for it. So, I’m constantly learning from our group.”

Riseman is a retired tech sales and marketing executive who is working part-time for American Airlines at Hilton Head Island Airport. He isn’t a volume collector like some you might see at the Concours, just a car junkie who worked hard, stowed some dollars away after putting two kids through college and began to invest in his lifelong passion.

“I had the Matchbox cars like every other red-blooded male of the ‘60s and ‘70s, and I wanted to make those dreams a reality,” said Riseman, who has mostly been a Corvette collector before purchasing a 2015 McLaren, his first foray into the world of exotic cars.

Palm Trees and Pistons Car Club has been a go-to spot for car enthusiasts.

“McLaren isn’t as well known; I think I have one of two on the island from what I’ve seen. You see them racing Formula 1, but you don’t see them as much at the shows,” he said. “Everybody has a Ferrari or a Lamborghini. I just like to zig when others zag.”

Riseman recently bought his first Matchbox in 50 years, a McLaren that matches his real-life model. It’s one of the more unique photos on the group’s Facebook page.

The zigging can be costly, especially when it comes to repairs.

“A ’67 Corvette, it was easy to work on. My 2014 Corvette was impossible to work on and this ’15 McLaren is even trickier to find parts for,” he said.

That proves to be a mixed bag for he and his wife Karen, a nurse at Hilton Head Hospital.

“We both love riding around in it; it’s a fun toy that makes us feel good. My kids joke that I’m spending their inheritance, but it’s time to enjoy all the years of providing and working hard,” he said. “Of course, when it’s time for repairs, my wife wants to put a size 8 shoe up my you-know-what.”

In its year of existence, Palm Trees and Pistons has average about 15-20 cars per month, mostly antiques and exotics.

Riseman said he just hopes to continue to spread the word and organically grow Palm Trees and Pistons.

“We just want to be a conduit to show off your vehicle. I’d love to fill every spot in the parking lot,” he said. “More than anything, we just want to be an unobtrusive way for new and veteran collectors to learn and share their knowledge and their passion.”

The club’s next show is Nov. 12 at the Sea Turtle Marketplace. Check out their Facebook page (search Palm Trees & Pistons) for more information.

GIVING

& GIFTING

We are fortunate to have many organizations dedicated to help make our communities a better place. This holiday season consider supporting local non-profits by giving your time, talent or treasure.

Celebration Projects 56 Hopeful Horizons 56 Community Foundation 57 Memory Matters 58

Hospice Care 58 Pregnancy Center 59 Legal Center 60

Deep Well 60

Second Helpings 61

We are looking for more volunteers and always donations. You can donate unwrapped toys, clothes, or other gifts to stock our “gift closet.” Things like art materials, sporting equipment, basic clothing / sweatshirts and sweatpants, toys, baby dolls, books for ages 3-13, and board games are always welcome. Note: we do not give electronics or video games. To donate these things, email libby@thecelebrationprojects.org for a pick up or arrange a drop off.

GIVING IS SIMPLE: You can donate your time or donate money to help fund more birthday parties for children in need. Visit: thecelebrationprojects.org/ donate.html to make a tax-deductible donation. OUR MISSION Our mission is to give deserving children in need the gift of a birthday party! It’s a day that they do not share with anyone else – the party is all about celebrating the child and is 100% paid for by our organization. There is no cost to the family and a very special day for the birthday girl or boy! WHO WE ARE The Celebration Projects is made up of four board members, Libby O’Regan, Mick Kuehn, Ashley Gluck and Amanda Spencer. We also are starting to get volunteers to help plan and coordinate the parties. WHAT WE DO We mostly work with The Boys & Girls Club of Hilton Head to connect with children who are deserving of a celebration! We plan their birthday party at a special location on Hilton Head or Bluffton (a ropes course, pottery studio, movie theater, for example) and pay for the activities, food, drink, an amazing cake, and of course – lots of birthday presents! We go big and aim to get a variety of things that children need (listed on their preference sheet) and also that the children want. They can invite friends & family and celebrate with loved ones. WHO WE HELP The children selected are residents of Hilton Head and Bluffton whose family may be experiencing financial hardship, or otherwise wouldn’t be able to throw their children a big birthday party!

HOPEFUL HORIZONS

WHO WE ARE Hopeful Horizons is a children’s advocacy, domestic violence and rape crisis center that works to create safer communities by changing the culture of violence and offering a path to healing. The organization provides safety, hope and healing to survivors through therapy/counseling, outreach, prevention and education. Hopeful Horizons serves Beaufort, Allendale, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties.

WHAT WE DO We provide safety, hope and healing to survivors of child abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault through evidence-based practices and aim to end abuse through primary prevention and education. WHO WE HELP We provide services to victims/survivors of child abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault, at no cost.

HOW TO HELP: Give | Volunteer | Wish List on Amazon

GIVING IS SIMPLE: Your gift can help make hope happen. To give visit Hopeful Horizons online at www.hopefulhorizons.org/donate

hopefulhorizons.org 24/7 Support Line 843-770-1070 Offices in Beaufort, Bluffton, Okatie and Walterboro Main office: 1212 Charles St., Beaufort, SC 29901 Visit thecelebrationprojects.org to learn more about us, volunteer and donate! libby@thecelebrationprojects.org

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

OF THE LOWCOUNTRY

OUR MISSION

Strengthening community by connecting people, resources, and needs.

WHO WE ARE

Created in 1994, Community Foundation of the Lowcountry is a committed philanthropic partner, providing leadership, support, and resources to help donors, nonprofit organizations, and other community members make a difference in the lives of Lowcountry citizens in need.

WHAT WE DO

We make it easy to channel your philanthropic passion into effective and impactful giving. We know the community, we understand its challenges, and we are familiar with the organizations addressing them. We have the tools, knowledge and personalized service to help you find the most effective way to make an impact in our community.

WHO WE HELP

The Community Foundation of the Lowcountry serves a four-county region – Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper. We awarded over $800,000 in scholarships to deserving local students for the 2022-23 academic year, and over $7.3 million in grants to nonprofits in FY 2022, plus offer workshops and programs for nonprofit leadership.

GIVING IS SIMPLE

Our knowledgeable staff help generous people every day set up and manage charitable giving funds that best fit their philanthropic wishes, including Donor Advised, Scholarship, Designated (or Endowed), and Field of Interest funds. You can currently support these funds by visiting our website at cf-lowcountry.org. You can also donate to the Community Foundation’s Touch Tomorrow Endowment Fund For The Lowcountry, which benefits multiple nonprofits in our four-county region. Gifts of any size can have an impact on our region for years to come.

4 Northridge Drive, Suite A | P.O. Box 23019 Hilton Head Island, SC 29925 843-681-9100 | cf-lowcountry.org

HOW TO HELP

» The Community Foundation cherishes our role as a resource to regional nonprofits and the residents they serve. In partnership with United Way of the Lowcountry, we manage LowcountryVolunteerConnections.org, which links people interested in volunteering with nonprofits who have staffing needs.

There are many ways to make a difference for Memory Matters. You can do this through time, volunteering your time and effort in our day program, in our office, or at our events. You can donate items to our day program or pens and paper to our administrative office. You can also do this through monetary gifts that can easily be given on our website at www.mymemorymatters.org. Anyone interested in helping Memory Matters can do visit our website, calling 843-842-6688, or emailing at info@mymemorymatters.org OUR MISSION Memory Matters provides compassionate services for those experiencing cognitive decline, offers caregiver respite, supports families, and educates those who want to maintain or improve their brain health. WHO WE ARE We have a small staff here at Memory Matters, but we all have large hearts and the will to help this community. We are all truly devoted and skilled to serve those whose lives have been affected by memory loss. Each staff member, though assigned to different aspects of the organization, works together to ensure we meet the needs of our community. WHO WE HELP We serve individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, caregivers, family and friends, and health professionals. While we offer a variety of programs, support, and training opportunities, most importantly, we offer care, kindness, and inspiration to those who need it at a time memory issues have disrupted their life. WHAT WE DO For 25 years we have educated 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

117 William Hilton Parkway Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 843-842-6688 info@mymemorymatters.org

HOSPICE CARE OF THE LOWCOUNTRY

OUR MISSION to give comfort and honor dignity for end-of-life patients and their families through compassionate physical, emotional and spiritual care, regardless of their financial circumstances. WHO WE ARE Hospice Care of the Lowcountry is a not-for-profit hospice and palliative organization serving Beaufort and Jasper counties for 40 years. WHAT WE DO We provide a team approach to hospice and palliative care through quality care planning and dynamic programing. Our team is trained to access the patient and the family to create an individualized care plan that fits what the patient and family wants and needs. We offer specific programming to help cater to our patient and family needs such as: Hospice Care, community based Palliative Care, We Honor Veterans, the Jenny Brasington Final Wishes Program, Bereavement services and so much more. WHO WE HELP Currently our hospice program serves any person with a terminal diagnosis with 6 months or less to live. Our palliative program is designed to serve individuals who suffer from chronic conditions and need chronic symptom management. GIVING IS SIMPLE You can give three ways. On our website at hospicecarelc.org/donate/, over the phone: 843-706-2296, Mail in your donation to Hospice Care of the Lowcountry PO BOX 3827 Bluffton, SC 29910 Hospice Care of the Lowcountry PO BOX 3827 Bluffton, SC 29910 843-706-2296 hospicecarelc.org/donate/

HOW TO HELP:

The easiest way to help is to spread the word that Hospice Care of the Lowcountry is your local not-for-profit hospice that can serve you and your family in your time of need. Other ways to help is to volunteer with our other 111 volunteers or donate to a program that is dear to your heart such as our Final Wishes program.

PREGNANCY CENTER & CLINIC

OF THE LOW COUNTRY

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to provide pregnancy related healthcare to women in a welcoming, safe, and confidential setting.

WHAT WE DO

PCCLC provides free prenatal medical care through the first sixteen weeks of pregnancy including pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, prenatal vitamins, counseling, STD testing and education, prenatal and parenting classes, nutritional guidance, food, diapers, referral resources, and infant layettes. We are here to listen to our clients’ needs and concerns, answer their questions honestly and completely, and provide care, support, and a listening ear.

WHO WE HELP

We help uninsured, underinsured, and underserved women in Beaufort and Jasper Counties. We are committed to serving all those who turn to us for help with warmth and compassion. Since our founding, the PCCLC has assisted over 20,000 women in Beaufort and Jasper Counties.

WHO WE ARE

The Pregnancy Center & Clinic of the Low Country (PCCLC) was established in 1990 as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization to help women and families struggling with pregnancy related issues get the help and care they need. Our services are completely confidential and non-judgmental. We are certified by the South Carolina Free Clinic Association and are a member of the South Carolina Association of Pregnancy Care Centers; National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA); and Heartbeat International.

GIVING IS SIMPLE

We rely on the ongoing support of many generous individuals, Churches, foundations, and community organizations to make this possible.

HILTON HEAD LOCATION 1 Cardinal Road, Suites 1 & 2 Hilton Head Island, SC 29926

MOSS CREEK LOCATION 19 Moss Creek Village Hilton Head Island, SC 29926

RIDGELAND LOCATION

11332 N. Jacob Smart Blvd Ridgeland, SC 29936

(843) 689-2222 // WWW.PREGNANCYCENTERHHI.ORG

» There are many ways to help us! We look to the community for their time, talent, and treasure. We seek volunteers to help us with our daily operations, we search for individuals and groups to provide their talent such as graphic designers, photographers, DJ’s, interior designers, boat captains, and we welcome anyone to contact us--we will find a place for you at one of our three locations.

» Lastly, we need financial support. You can scan the QR code below to make a gift. We encourage local Churches and organizations to hold a Baby Bottle Blessing Campaign. We will provide you with the empty bottles, design graphics/ flyers, and guidance to help run a successful campaign.

Lowcountry Legal Volunteers is always looking for new volunteers to join our dynamic team! Many of our volunteers are retired attorneys, paralegals and administrative assistants. We also have local attorneys that take on cases pro bono. Give us a call and we are happy to discuss volunteer opportunities or give the grand tour of our office. GIVING IS SIMPLE There are many ways to give to Lowcountry Legal Volunteers and we make it easy! Contact us at our Okatie Office by calling 843-815-1570 or go online to lowcountrylegalvolunteers.org to donate or find out more about how you can help. OUR MISSION Lowcountry Legal Volunteers provides free, vital legal services to low-income residents of Beaufort, Jasper and Hampton Counties.

WHO WE ARE We are a 22 years running, volunteer-based organization with a dedicated staff. We have offices in Okatie as part of the 14th Circuit Victims Services Center and in the City of Hardeeville on 36 Main Street. WHAT WE DO We help people living in the Lowcountry, who are surviving at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, who are at their darkest hour with their essential legal needs. We represent people in all types of family law matters, provide eviction defense and housing issue counseling, and even draft simple wills and health care powers of attorney for clients. WHO WE HELP Our clients are amazing, hard-working people, most of whom are raising their young children. They are people who deserve equal access to justice and the chance at a brighter future.

DEEP WELL PROJECT

WHO WE ARE For almost 50 years the Deep Well Project has provided a safety net for people in our community experiencing an emergency situation. Our small and committed staff is supported by hundreds of volunteers and a generous network of donors who provide things like food, hygiene items, furniture, new toys and children’s items for Santa Shop, and financial gifts – all of which power our services and programs. WHAT WE DO Our programs range from a 5-day a week food pantry, to critical nature home repairs for low income home owners. Deep Well’s Food impact feeds 300-500 people per month. Shelter assistance, rent/mortgage emergency payments, home repairs and re-homed furniture, keeps about 2000 people a year safe in their homes. Deep Well has a School Readiness program with new school uniforms and school supplies to help children start off their school year on a high note, as well as Holiday programs – Thanksgiving and Christmas special meals and the amazing Santa Shop. WHO WE HELP All of Deep Well’s programs are available to Hilton Head Island residents, and some specific services are available across Beaufort and Jasper Counties. Deep Well’s clients are almost exclusively the working poor – people who are employed and have income, just not enough income to make ends meet when they hit even a small bump in the road.

80 Capital Drive, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 843-785-2849 // deepwellproject.org Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm 108 Traders Cross,Okatie, SC 29909 843-815-1570 | lowcountrylegalvolunteers.org

LOWCOUNTRY LEGAL VOLUNTEERS

GIVING IS SIMPLE :

Financial, as well as specific item gifts, are welcome! Checks may be mailed to Deep Well Project, PO Box 5543, Hilton Head Island, SC 29938, or credit card gifts can be made online at www.deepwellproject.org/donate. Deep Well’s Food Pantry accepts non-expired, unopened food items as well as hygiene items – drop these off in the red wagon by the front door, or for a large volume of items, ring the bell at the Pantry door. At Christmastime, the Santa Shop accepts new toys, games, clothing and books for children ages 1 – 12.

SECOND HELPINGS

Second Helpings is a nonprofit organization that has been working to eliminate hunger and food waste in the South Carolina Lowcountry since 1992. We rescue and distribute food that would have otherwise ended up in landfills. We also acquire funding to buy healthy food to supplement our food rescue efforts.

Our more than 325 volunteers provide three million pounds of food each year, free of charge, to 54 food pantries, soup kitchens, churches, and family and senior programs who feed the hungry in our community. That’s 50,000 meals per week – every week. And thanks to our volunteer-driven operation, we are able to rescue food at a cost of 18 cents per meal.

According to Feeding America, there are 20,000 persons in need in our three-county area, including 4,000 who live on Hilton Head Island and many more who commute to work here. They are children and their families, senior citizens, and workers whose paychecks don’t stretch far enough to cover their expenses. Many of them work in the hospitality industry, making our paradise possible for local residents and visitors.

We operates several programs, including:

FOOD RESCUE

Volunteers drive our eight refrigerated trucks about 90,000 miles per year across our service area, “rescuing” food from 42 grocery stores and other outlets that donate food deemed unsellable. Maybe this food is reaching its “sell by” date; perhaps it’s an apple that is bruised, lettuce that is wilting, or a product that just isn’t selling. Whatever the reason, they donate it to us. An array of food is picked up daily by our teams of volunteers.

FILL THE NEED

Fill the Need provides groceries every week to those who commute many miles and hours each day to work on Hilton Head Island in hospitality, foodservice, retail, landscaping, and similar industries.

The program is a true partnership between Second Helpings and Palmetto Breeze Transit.

Each week, Second Helpings delivers rescued food and purchased healthy food to Palmetto Breeze’s Bluffton bus depot, where Palmetto Breeze staff unload and store it. Every Thursday, a cadre of Second Helpings volunteers arrive, and, with the help of Palmetto Breeze staff, sort and distribute the assortment of food to the transit agency’s regular commuter passengers.

Second Helpings and Palmetto Breeze have been recognized by community leaders for this program.

HEALTHY FOOD INITIATIVE

Often, a limited amount of produce is available for rescue. Because produce is essential to a healthy diet, Second Helpings launched this program to solicit grants to purchase and supply additional fresh produce and protein to our agency partners to feed the hungry. • Working with Dempsey Farms in the Beaufort area, produce is harvested, packaged and delivered on Second

Helpings trucks. • Between growing seasons, and whenever there is a need, Second Helpings purchases produce, protein and other items from a wholesaler. We may also partner with local food donors to buy fruits and vegetables at discount prices. » Giving to Second Helpings is simple! Details – and a link to donate online – can be found at secondhelpingslc.org

» You can help Second Helpings in other ways as well:

» Volunteer: we have opportunities for truck volunteers, as well as volunteers to help out in committees, with events, and in the office. Please visit secondhelpingslc.org/get-involved/volunteer to learn more and to sign up.

» Hold a food drive or fund-raising event. Visit secondhelpingslc.org/getinvolved for more information.

4 Northridge Drive, Suite C, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 // P.O. Box 23621, Hilton Head Island, SC 29925 secondhelpingslc.org // (843) 689-3689

community connection

HHI RESIDENT RECOGNIZED FOR COMMUNITY COMMITMENT

Eleanor Lightsey was recognized by Beaufort County Council for her “commitment and dedication to the community” in making it a better place to live, work and play. She served the Lowcountry on various boards such as South Island Public Service District Board, Programs for Exceptional People, Forest Beach Owners Association, Board of Osprey Village, Community Vision of Hilton Head, Lowcountry Autism Foundation, Hilton Head Heroes and Safe Harbor and Turtle Trackers. In her professional career, she was named executive vice president of the Hilton Head Area Association of Realtors and became business manager for LowCountry InsideTrack, Ltd.

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE LOWCOUNTRY AWARDS $500,175 IN GRANTS

In the third and final cycle of the Town of Hilton Head Island’s American Rescue Plan Act State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds COVID-19 grant process, Community Foundation of the Lowcountry awarded $500,175 in grants to 15 nonprofit agencies. The latest grants awarded to local nonprofits were $236,110 for food programs; $92,665 for education and childcare; $89,400 for health and mental health; and $82,000 for emergency housing assistance. For more information, visit cf-lowcountry.org

MOSSY OAKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL’S NURSE NAMED SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR

Mossy Oaks Elementary School’s nurse, Jodi Knorr, was named Beaufort County School District’s 2022 “Support Staff of the Year.” Knorr was selected based on a support staff application consisting of essays describing one’s role within the district; how they contribute to student achievement; and how they inspire, motivate, challenge others, and encourage excellence.

THE HOSPITAL AUXILIARY AWARDS GRANT TO TCL NURSING STUDENTS

The Hospital Auxiliary awarded Technical College of the Lowcountry nursing students Chelsea Selner and Dean Smith $2,000 each, funded through Power:Ed. The Power:Ed grant given to local nonprofits to help South Carolina students succeed is a philanthropy of South Carolina Student Loan Corporation. Selner and Smith attend TCL’s nursing program while working at Hilton Head Hospital.

LONG COVE FUND AWARDS $290,300 IN GRANTS

Long Cove Club said the Long Cove Fund has awarded $290,300 in grants to 46 area nonprofit organizations. The Long Cove Fund provides grants in the areas of health, housing, hunger and education in Beaufort and Jasper counties. Since 2003, $1,850,541 in grants has been awarded to local nonprofits. For more information, visit longcoveclub.com.

MICHAEL ANTHONY’S HOSTS CHARITABLE COOKING CLASS

Michael Anthony’s Cucina Italiana recently sponsored a hands-on pizza-making class for members of Pockets Full of Sunshine, a charitable organization dedicated to providing vocational training and social opportunities to adults with disabilities and special needs.

STUDENT RECEIVES GIRL SCOUTS GOLD AWARD

Hilton Head High School senior Delcie Swift received the Gold Award from the Girl Scouts of the USA in recognition of her in-depth study of shark species. Her presentation is on display at the Coastal Discovery Lab at the Coastal Discovery Museum. Swift’s project includes charts, diagrams, books and craft activities – including shark teeth – and focuses on issues such as extreme overfishing, poaching of sharks worldwide, and the general lack of understanding about sharks.

TCL’S HEALTH SCIENCES PROGRAMS ACHIEVE 100 PERCENT PASS RATES

Several of the Technical College of the Lowcountry’s health sciences programs recently achieved a 100 percent pass rate on national licensing exams: radiologic technology, physical therapy assistant, massage therapy, nursing (2nd quarter cohort) and medical assisting programs. Of the 49 students enrolled in the programs, all passed the various national licensing exams required to work in their fields, said TCL’s Dean of Health Sciences Joey Swearingen.

USCB NAMES FIRST MEN’S BASKETBALL COACH

Ron Fudala will be the first men’s basketball coach at University of South Carolina Beaufort. Fudala had been the associate coach at NCAA Division II Indiana University Pennsylvania for the last four seasons. He helped the Crimson Hawks win 91 games during the last three seasons. USCB, which will compete in the Peach Belt Conference, will begin play in the 2023-24 season.

MEMORIAL HEALTH EARNS EMERGENCY CARDIAC CARE CENTER DESIGNATION

Memorial Health University Medical Center has been designated a Level I Emergency Cardiac Care Center by the Georgia Department of Public Health. The hospital is the first in southeast Georgia to earn this distinction, which recognizes the state’s highest level of emergency cardiac care.

TECHNICAL COLLEGE OF THE LOWCOUNTRY