KEEPING ROGER'S MEMORY alive

Roger Ackerman loved the arts, he loved people, and he loved Sumter. He may no longer be with us, but those dear to him are making sure his love of life, his passion for the arts and his impact on the Sumter community continue on in his memory with this 10-day celebration of some of what he held most dear.

When Roger passed, his friends, with the blessing of his wife, Deane Ackerman, a talented artist herself, established the Inspire! Festival in his memory. All the events celebrate what he loved and would have attended and financially supported. All the proceeds benefit organizations and causes he either focused his philanthropy on or helped found himself. The Inspire! committee ensures that by having established the Ackerman Legacy Foundation, a nonprofit that funnels money to the four beneficiaries you will find more information about throughout this book.

“Roger loved people. He was best at connecting people,” Inspire! committee member Johnny Hilton said.

Roger served on a variety of boards and community groups, including the Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce, Sumter Family YMCA, Sumter Little Theatre, Sumter County Gallery of Art, Sumter County Cultural Commission, Sumter Industrial Association and Covenant Place of Sumter. He served as co-chair of the 2002-03

Building Fund for the gallery and was named the YMCAʼs Humanitarian of the Year in 1997.

He was an active member of the Sumter Rotary Club for more than 50 years and served as president from 1978-79. He was recognized as Rotarian of the Year in 1982 and 2017 and was named District 7770 Rotarian of the Year in three different decades. He has received Rotary Internationalʼs Distinguished Service Award and was given the Service Above Self Award in 2006, the highest honor given to an individual Rotarian.

Roger received the Order of the Palmetto in 2008, the highest civilian honor awarded by the governor for excellence in service. He received Sumterʼs highest honor, the Gamecock City Society Award, in the last months of his life. Instead of receding in illness, he spent his last years dedicated to preserving Temple Sinai and opening the Jewish History Center in June 2018 with an assurance it would be maintained by the Sumter County Museum for its long-term viability. Roger died in September 2018.

“He had a goal to make the world a better place,” Hilton said shortly after his friendʼs passing in 2018. “You know the saying leave a campsite better than it was when you arrived? His campsite was the world.”

To all who knew Roger, he was an inspiration.

Sumter County Museum - 122 N. Washington St.

Sumter County Gallery of Art - 200 Hasel St.

Sumter Little Theatre - 14 Mood Ave.

Patriot Hall - 135 Haynesworth St.

Temple Sinai Jewish History Museum - 15 Church St.*

Sumter Original Brewing (Walk of Art check-in) - 2 S. Main St.

Swan Lake Iris Gardens - 822 W Liberty St.*

Sumter High School Drama Room Theatre - 2580 McCrays Mill Road*

*not pictured

THURSDAY • MARCH 23

Exhibit from the Anne Frank Center Temple Sinai Jewish History Center

1-4 p.m.

Firebringer: All Ages Version Sumter High School Drama Room Theatre

7 p.m.

Into the Woods Musical Sumter Little Theatre

7 p.m.

FRIDAY • MARCH 24

Concert in the Park, featuring Band of Oz Swan Lake Iris Gardens

6 p.m.

Exhibit from the Anne Frank Center Temple Sinai Jewish History Center

1-4 p.m.

Firebringer: All Ages Version Sumter High School Drama Room Theatre

7 p.m.

Into the Woods Musical Sumter Little Theatre

7 p.m.

SATURDAY • MARCH 25

Walk of Art Historic Downtown Sumter

4-7 p.m.

Exhibit from the Anne Frank Center Temple Sinai Jewish History Center

10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Firebringer: All Ages Version Sumter High School Drama Room Theatre

7 p.m.

Into the Woods Musical Sumter Little Theatre

7 p.m.

SUNDAY • MARCH 26

Inspired by Millican: The Life and Legacy of Arthenia J. Bates Millican Sumter County Museum

2 p.m.

Into the Woods Musical Sumter Little Theatre

3 p.m.

THURSDAY • MARCH 30

Gallery After Hours Sumter County Gallery of Art

6:30 p.m.

Exhibit from the Anne Frank Center Temple Sinai Jewish History Center

1-4 p.m.

Into the Woods Musical Sumter Little Theatre

7 p.m.

FRIDAY • MARCH

Praise Fest Gospel Celebration 2023 Patriot Hall

7 p.m

Exhibit from the Anne Frank Center Temple Sinai Jewish History Center

1-4 p.m.

Into the Woods Musical Sumter Little Theatre

7 p.m.

SATURDAY • APRIL 1

Exhibit from the Anne Frank Center Temple Sinai Jewish History Center

10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Into the Woods Musical Sumter Little Theatre

7 p.m.

SUNDAY • APRIL 2

Into the Woods Musical Sumter Little Theatre

3 p.m.

The Band of Oz is one of the most successful groups in the Southeast and continues to get the very best reviews from the top people in the entertainment business. The band now features a full horn section to total a dynamic eight-member group. They perform at well over 200 shows per year all across the Carolinas Virginia, and Georgia. Thank you for supporting the Ackerman Legacy

Date and time

Friday, March 24, 6-9 p.m.

Location

Swan Lake Iris Gardens, 822 W. Liberty St., Sumter, SC 29150

Foundation and Inspire! Festival. All sales final. No refunds or exchanges. Limited capacity. Free parking. Food and beverages will be available for purchase onsite.