scott wierman

Community Foundation Of The Lowcountry

There are gifts – and then there are gifts that keep on giving.

When Hilton Head Regional Hospital was sold, community leaders used proceeds in 1994 to establish a charitable organization – the Hilton Head Island Foundation. A decade later, the foundation was expanded to include all of Beaufort, Jasper, Colleton and Hampton counties under a new name: the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry.

The result has been a powerhouse organization dedicated to improving life throughout the four counties in an array of approaches.

The foundation last year eclipsed a milestone in surpassing the $100 million mark in total grants and scholarships awarded since its work began.

The foundation’s financial support is evident wherever you look in the Lowcountry. Grant recipients in the past year, for example, included support for adult day care, mental health, the Port Royal Sound ecosystem and transportation for participants in a program for adults with intellectual, physical and developmental disabilities.

As Hilton Head and the Lowcountry have expanded, so has the charitable giving of the Community Foundation.

“Community foundations evolve as community needs and opportunities evolve,” said Scott Wierman, foundation chief executive and president.

“By having endowments which are flexible, the Foundation’s board has the ability to address the most pressing needs of the time. The Foundation has always been responsive to the needs of our nonprofit partners.”

Among the diverse, current examples are projects for public art, affordable housing and access to link households to the public sewer system.

“Community Foundation has the pleasure of connecting charitable individuals with causes that matter,” Wierman said. “Our partnerships with donors and nonprofits allow us to connect community resources with solutions to issues facing our region. We are fortunate to live in a community with so many charitable individuals and strong nonprofits that address these issues.”

After a February jam-packed with special events, you’d think the Native Island Business and Community Affairs Association would take a breather.

Not a chance.

Established in 1994, the association is on the go with a busy calendar that includes sponsorships, partnerships and support for an array of needs, activities and opportunities. Among those: art shows, concerts, a holiday market, food events, book and author gatherings, craft events and more.

At the heart of the association’s agenda is the annual Gullah celebration, coinciding with Black History Month. The association has hosted the event since 1996, offering opportunities to experience everything Gullah.

The association also worked closely with town planning officials to research and post signs noting historic Gullah neighborhoods on the island. The association also collaborates with the Mitchelville Preservation project to assure that Gullah history and culture are shared with the community.

Moreover, the association is a community resource committed to improving the quality of life for native islanders. Those efforts include mortgage assistance, small business development, a back-to-school backpack program providing students with food and supplies, and training in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, health and home ownership.

“Moving forward, we will continue to align with the community and the business community to offer assistance – basic business blocking and tackling – to start and manage businesses,” said Eric Turpin, executive director.

The COVID pandemic disrupted a number of events, Turpin said, but this year the association is back in high gear.

The heart of the association’s mission, he said, is “we need to run the organization like we are going to leave it to our grandchildren.”