2019 Columbia Regional Business Report Giving Guide

Giving YOUR GUIDE TO COMMUNITY GIVING IN THE MIDLANDS 2019-20

COLLABORATING FOR A CAUSE Sponsored by:

Nonprofits join forces for greater good

Your guide to community giving in the Midlands

CONTENTS Editor, Custom Media Division - Steve McDaniel smcdaniel@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3123

QUICK FACTS

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Associate Editor, Custom Media Division - Jim Tatum jtatum@scbiznews.com • 864-720-2269

AFP AWARD WINNERS

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PERSPECTIVES

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COLLABORATION NONPROFIT NEWS

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NONPROFITS JOIN FORCES

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TAX REFORM'S IMPACT

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SETTING THE TABLE RETURNS

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UNITED IN GOOD TIMES AND BAD

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FLIPPING FOR A CAUSE

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PHILANTHROPY IN PICTURES 26 NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHTS

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ABOUT THE COVER: Young Leaders Society donors volunteering with Home Works Park. (Photo/United Way of the Midlands)

Dear Readers,

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elping those in need is a mission that requires significant commitments of time, money and other resources.

The poor, the hungry, the sick or injured depend on those commitments from the generous people and organizations that make up the Midlands’ philanthropic community.

The work is much more than one group can possibly do by themselves — no matter how big, wellfunded or well-orgaSteve McDaniel nized they are. In light of that fact, this annual issue of the Columbia Regional Business Report Giving Guide celebrates the collaborative effort across numerous agencies and individuals that makes so much good happen in the Midlands.

That collaboration has helped thousands of residents displaced by the devastation of the 2015 floods, the underserved communities that lack the education and income to secure health care, stable jobs and housing for themselves and their families, and minority groups and women seeking equal footing when it comes to fair pay and opportunity for career advancement.

And it’s not only in crisis management or community outreach that nonprofit collaboration shines. Major recent events in the Midlands, including the NCAA basketball tournament and the 2017 solar eclipse, offered unique opportunities to showcase the area and all it has to offer. By uniting efforts and resources, the area’s nonprofit agencies were key players in promoting the Midlands as a tourism destination.

Another main purpose of the guide is to shine a light on all the hard work that goes into the effort of supporting the people and communities in need. The Association of Fundraising Professionals, Central South Carolina Chapter, annually acknowledges the work of a select few in the Midlands whose philanthropic efforts stand out. The 2019 recipients of the AFP National Philanthropy Awards are highlighted in the following pages.

This guide would not be possible without the support of our sponsors, the Central Carolina Community Foundation, United Way of the Midlands, the AFP, Complete Employee Services and others. Their support, along with the hard work and generosity of Midlands residents, makes this a truly giving community.

NWS Company LLC A portfolio company of BridgeTower Media

Giving: Your guide to community giving in the Midlands 3

QUICK FACTS

GIVING IN THE

MIDLANDS

Source:

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AWARD WINNERS

2019 AFP HONORS

NATIONAL PHILANTHROPY DAY AWARDS

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very year the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Central South Carolina Chapter, recognizes exemplary individuals, corporations and organizations involved in giving and volunteering in the Midlands. These winners demonstrate what philanthropy means to our community. AFP Central South Carolina is proud to present seven awards in 2019.

OUTSTANDING CORPORATION AGFIRST FARM CREDIT BANK, NOMINATED

BY UNITED WAY OF THE MIDLANDS

AgFirst Farm Credit Bank aims to enhance the quality of life in the community they serve by allocating a portion of the bank’s

resources to support nonprofit organizations.

AgFirst is focused on organizations supporting critical issues facing our communities like the needs of low-and moderate-income individuals, affordable housing, neighborhood preservation, economic development and neighborhood revitalization.

Since 2010 AgFirst Farm Credit Bank employees have donated over $750,000 to United Way of the Midlands, with annual double-digit increases. Beyond United Way of the Midlands, AgFirst Farm Credit Bank financially supports many other nonprofits in the Midlands including: American Heart Association, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Club, Boy Scouts of America, Civil Air Patrol, Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia

6 Giving: Your guide to community giving in the Midlands

Urban League, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, EdVenture Storybook Ball, Fast Forward, Girls on the Run, Home Works, JDRF, Junior League of Columbia, LRADAC (Alcohol & Drug Addiction Center), Midlands Housing Alliance, Richland County CASA, SC Ag & Art Tour, Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands, Sistercare, St. Baldrick’s, The Cooperative Ministry, The Nurturing Center and Harvest Hope.

In addition to giving, employees are encouraged to take part in local volunteer opportunities. Community engagement is a value of AgFirst Farm Credit Bank, so much so they host monthly volunteer opportunities through United Way of the Midlands Volunteer Center. AgFirst has organized teams of

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AWARD WINNERS volunteers to support Harvest Hope Food Bank, HomeWorks of America, the SBC Project, Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kids, Big Brothers Big Sisters Big Little Run, the Boys and Girls Club Garden, Girls on the Run event, JDRF, the American Heart Walk, the American Heart Ball, multiple blood drives for the American Red Cross, Lexington Medical Center – Adopt a Resident, March of Dimes Run/Walk, and the Palmetto Health Foundation Walk for Life.

AgFirst exemplifies outstanding commitment through their service as well as philanthropic leadership in the communities they serve. We are thrilled to celebrate AgFirst Farm Credit Bank as our 2019 Outstanding Corporation!

OUTSTANDING PHILANTHROPIST JT GANDOLFO, NOMINATED BY THE SALVATION ARMY OF THE MIDLANDS

JT Gandolfo is a familiar face in Columbia and the Midlands. As the owner of JTs Automotive Group, JT regularly appears in his own advertisements. However, JT is better known as an active volunteer, board member and supporter of many nonprofits throughout the Midlands.

JT and his wife, Mary, are longstanding supporters of The Salvation Army of the Midlands. JT volunteers and is an Advisory Board Member for the nonprofit. Before jumping on the Board, JT was a dedicated volunteer, ringing bells during the red kettle campaign. Even more, JT and Mary have started an annual tradition of donating $100,000 to The Salvation Army during the Annual Christmas Kickoff event at the SC State House.

He encourages his employees to engage through volunteerism with The Salvation Army of the Midlands. JT’s employees serve meals at Transitions monthly. He also encourages donations of toys, school supplies and clothing through the year.

JT is a dedicated member of the Basilica of St. Peter and Columbia Rotary Club. He encourages members of his faith and civic groups to volunteer with The Salvation Army.

Throughout the year, JT works to ensure children have the clothing and supplies they need to succeed by hosting several drives through his automotive group. He is generous with his resources and motivates others

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Historic Columbia over the past five years.

In addition, Palladium plans quarterly Renovation Rodeos. These educational events aim to highlight recently renovated homes in various downtown neighborhoods OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER GROUP with the goal of encouraging ColumFUNDRAISER bia’s residents to invest in historic homes and neighborPALLADIUM, NOMINATED hoods. Countless hours

BY HISTORIC COLUMBIA The funds raised go into planning all asPalladium, an affiliby Palladium have pects of these events, ate membership group been directed to the including sponsorof Historic Columbia, areas of greatest need for ship solicitation, lowas founded over 20 Historic Columbia. This has gistics and volunteer years ago to engage recruitment. young professionals included projects such Outside their busy in the historic preseras the Traveling Trunk event schedule, the Palvation, education and educational program. ladium board brings in advocacy work of Histornew members to Historic ic Columbia. This volunteer Columbia. In the past year, group works tirelessly to bring Palladium membership revenue awareness of Historic Columbia’s work while raising funds to support the orga- accounted for 27% of Historic Columbia’s total membership revenue and 27% of total nization’s projects and initiatives.

Palladium is run by a board of 20 dedi- event ticket sales. The funds raised by Palcated young professionals who have a variety ladium have been directed to the areas of of backgrounds and careers. Board mem- greatest need for Historic Columbia. This bers are required to give to Historic Colum- has included projects such as the Traveling bia financially as well as through their time Trunk educational program, improvements and talent. In addition, they attend monthly at the Woodrow Wilson Family Home and board meetings, serve on at least one board Hampton-Preston Mansion, and historic subcommittee, and volunteer at Palladium’s garden enhancements. Palladium has been fundraising events. Most Palladium board an incredible asset to Historic Columbia and members go above and beyond these require- is extremely deserving of this award. ments — showing up at as many Historic Columbia events as they can, soliciting oth- OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER INDIVIDUAL ers to become members, and advocating for FUNDRAISER Historic Columbia to their local political representatives.

DR. TODD CRUMP, NOMINATED BY Palladium strives to engage young pro- LEXINGTON MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION fessionals in volunteering for nonprofits and Dr. Todd Crump’s passion for helping to become philanthropists at an early point those in need has been a cornerstone in his in their careers. The Palladium board works holistic approach to patient care. As an emerto plan two annual fundraising events to gency medicine physician with Lexington benefit Historic Columbia, the Fall Tour and Medical Center, Dr. Crump goes above and Spring Silent Auction. The Fall Tour, held beyond for patients in dire circumstances, in November, allows guests to tour historic working to heal ailments but also ensuring buildings within a certain area or theme. the most vulnerable have an ear to listen to The 2019 tour will focus on Columbia’s Mid- them and a shoulder to cry on.

Century Modern architecture. The Silent Dr. Crump is a staunch advocate for LexAuction, held in March, brings together over ington Medical Center Foundation, donating 400 guests in one of Historic Columbia’s to their programs for nearly 20 years and algardens to network and bid on hundreds of ways urging his peers to do the same. auction items, which are solicited by the PalAfter finishing his “day job,” Dr. Crump ladium board. Combined, these two fund- moves onto his second, serving as Medical raising events have raised over $121,000 for See AFP HONORS, Page 8 to do the same. He is an outstanding philanthropist and a great friend to The Salvation Army.

Giving: Your guide to community giving in the Midlands 7

AFP HONORS, from Page 7 Director of The Free Medical Clinic where he’s volunteered since 1997. He originally agreed to serve as director for two years. That was 17 years ago. At the clinic, he oversees operations, recruits other clinical volunteers, and steers the Doctors Lounge signature fundraising event.

It’s not unheard of for Dr. Crump to work more than 100 hours a week, leaving a 10hour shift at LMC, heading to The Free Medical Clinic to review charts, and even driving to patients’ homes to deliver necessities and ensure medications are taken properly. As a fundraiser, advocate, and friend, Todd Crump has transformed patient care in the Midlands, and we live in a better community because of him.

OUTSTANDING FUNDRAISING EXECUTIVE MARY DELL HAYES

Mary Dell Hayes learned about the importance of service as a Girl Scout in her childhood. Her mother served as her troop leader for over 10 years and later inspired Mary Dell to volunteer as a troop leader.

Mary Dell was inspired to volunteer as on on-call hospital accompaniment advocate at Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands after seeing an ad in The Free Times in 2008.

After six short months of enthusiastic volunteer work, she was hired as the Volunteer Services Coordinator. This was her first taste of philanthropy. In addition to developing a volunteer program that worked annually with more than 120 community members

and generating volunteer hours valued at more than $25,000, Mary Dell was able to support development strategy in assisting with special events and small grant applications. Soon, Mary Dell accepted a position as Development Associate at Pawmetto Lifeline. She was responsible for special events generating more than $550,000, she created and launched a gift campaign generating more than $130,000 annually and coordinated direct mailing campaigns that raised more than $150,000 annually. Mary Dell returned to STSM in 2013 as the Development Coordinator, quickly being promoted to Director of Development and eventually Executive Director in 2016. Since then, Mary Dell has grown the agency’s budget from $650,000 to nearly $3 million. This was the result of strategic investment in relationship cultivation with a variety of funders and investment in fund development efforts.

Mary Dell Hayes started her own company, StopGap Solutions, to help nonprofit organizations fill gaps in leadership and development. StopGap Solutions uses a practical and replicable approach to interim executive leadership, board support and development strategy to ensure that nonprofit organizations continue to hit critical objectives during times of transition and change.

Mary Dell has constantly pursued professional development throughout her career.

She was awarded the Governor’s Robin Burns Award for Volunteer Administrators in 2012.

She is an active member of AFP and received the Charlotte Berry Spirit of Philanthropy award in 2013. Mary Dell completed her MBA

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at the University of South Carolina in 2016, was recognized as a Woman of Influence in 2017, and is a 2018 graduate of Leadership Columbia.

Mary Dell and her husband, Wes, live in Columbia with their daughter.

OUTSTANDING RISING STAR MARGARET DEANS GRANTZ, NOMINATED BY CAMP COLE

Margaret Deans Grantz is the co-founder and Director of Development & Marketing at Camp Cole. She has worked tirelessly to build, design, create and fundraise for the state’s first camp and retreat catered to children, teens and adults with illnesses, disabilities and life challenges, Camp Cole.

In just one year, Margaret Deans has elevated the mission of Camp Cole by planning fundraising events that raised over $100,000.

On top of organizing fundraising events, Margaret Deans has aided in raising over $5 million for Camp Cole’s Shine On Capital Campaign since May 2018. She is also responsible for the creative, informative and engaging content that is featured on Camp Cole’s interactive pages — in one year she has grown Camp Cole’s social media to 1,000 followers.

Prior to Camp Cole, Margaret Deans worked at Transitions Homeless Shelter and the Ronald McDonald House Charities Columbia. She has a compassionate, selfless heart for helping others and serving the Midlands community.

Given her strong background working with nonprofits, Margaret Deans is extremely

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She speaks at many schools and the biggest stories around South community events and enCarolina. An award-winning Prior to Camp joys making regular visits journalist, Judi has won Cole, Margaret to mentor teenage girls three Emmy awards. In Deans worked at in the transition pro2012, Judi was honored Transitions Homeless gram at the Departto be named Reporter Shelter and the Ronald ment of Juvenile Jusof the Year by the McDonald House Charities tice. Judi understands National Alliance on and leverages her Mental Health, South Columbia. She has a platform to support Carolina. She’s also won compassionate, selfless and raise awareness for several Associated Press heart for helping many causes on behalf awards for business/conothers ... of the American Heart Assumer reporting and educasociation. tion reporting. In 2014, Judi and Judi majored in Business Manageher family were honored by The March of Dimes SC Chapter with the African Ameri- ment at Georgia Tech. After getting married can Achievement Award. In 2018, Judi was in her senior year and becoming a military recognized for her support of Meals on Wheels spouse, she moved to Indianapolis with her and in 2019 she was the keynote speaker for the husband and transferred to Indiana University-Purdue University. After completing her OUTSTANDING MARKETING PROFESSIONAL Midlands Heart Ball. college internship at WTHR in Indianapolis Outside of WIS, Judi is tremendously inIN SUPPORT OF PHILANTHROPY volved in the community. She has served on Judi decided to pursue a career in broadthe boards including Healthy Learners, Pal- casting and landed her first job as a reporter JUDI GASTON, NOMINATED BY THE metto Health South Carolina Cancer Center for WIS News Radio — and the Midlands AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION Judi Gaston is a familiar and comforting and Palmetto Center for Women. She is an has been lucky ever since. Judi is married face to many in the Midlands. Since joining active member of Brookland Baptist Church. to Dwayne Gaston and they have two sons, Judi is a source of inspiration to so many. Aidan Kash and Nicholas Jax. WIS News in 1995, she has reported on some of knowledgeable of the importance of understanding the ever-changing nonprofit landscape. She is constantly coming up with innovative events and ways to engage supporters.

In April 2019, she created a new event called Happy Campers Food Truck Festival, which was a free event that included bands, food trucks and local Forest Acres merchants.

The Happy Campers Food Truck Festival raised over $40,000 and more than 600 people attended the event.

Margaret Deans has participated in leadership programs such as Leadership Columbia and United Way’s Blueprint for Leadership. A member of the Hammond School’s Alumni counsel and the Hammond girls varsity cheerleading coach, Margaret Deans prides herself on serving the school she graduated from.

AWARD WINNERS

PREVIOUS PHILANTHROPY DAY WINNERS SINCE 2011 Outstanding Corporation 2018 - Boeing 2017 - Aflac 2016 – The Michael J. Mungo Foundation 2015 – Wells Fargo 2014 – Colonial Life 2013 – Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union 2012 – SCANA 2011 – Enterprise Holdings Outstanding Fundraising Executive 2018 - Wendy Broderick 2017 – G.B. Olsen 2016 – Louis Fawcett 2015 – Maria H. DeHart

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2014 – Ginny Waller 2013 – Denise Holland 2012 – Kathy Hill, CFRE 2011 – Mary Balbach Outstanding Youth/Youth Group Fundraiser 2015 – Heathwood Hall students 2014 – Cardinal Newman School 2013 – Hammond School Student Body; Megan Marie Reardon 2012 – Rotary Club of Vista Night 2011 – Trinity Cathedral Youth Group Outstanding Marketing Professional in Support of Philanthropy 2018 - Nimai Garrett 2017 – David Campbell 2016 – Ashley Dusenbury 2015 – Joey Wallace Outstanding Philanthropist 2018 - Darnall W. and Susan F. Boyd Foundation 2017 – Barbara Livingston and Gen. Robert Livingston 2016 – Frank and Sarah Brown 2015 – Norman and Gerry Sue Arnold 2014 – Debbie Zvejnieks

2013 – Melissa and Joe Blanchard 2011 – Phillip Edwards Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser 2017 – Zoe Miller and Brianna Kennedy 2016 – Mike Brenan and Sara Fawcett 2015 – Mollie Taylor 2014 – Bishop Redfern II 2013 – Barbara and Roger Blau 2012 – Sharon Bryant and Michael Seezen 2012 – Ron and Hannah Rogers 2011 – Bill McDaniels Outstanding Volunteer Group Fundraiser 2018 - University of South Carolina Dance Marathon 2017 – Employees of BlueCross BlueShield of S.C. 2016 – Palmetto Health Foundation Board of Directors 2015 – Junior League of Columbia 2014 – Pink Posse Philes 2013 – Richland Library Friends 2011 – Women in Philanthropy Outstanding Rising Star 2018 - Lizzie Smith

Giving: Your guide to community giving in the Midlands 9

PERSPECTIVES

COLLABORATION IS THE KEY TO A BETTER MIDLANDS COMMUNITY

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or 35 years, Central Carolina Community Foundation has been valued for our history of service and viewed as the essential expert on philanthropy for an everwidening audience. We’ve taken the leadership role in educating our community about the importance of giving locally and, through the generosity of our donors, distributed more that $160 million in grants and scholarship.

Today, our Foundation is creating a new reality of collaborative philanthropy. We realize that no single organization or tactic can adequately address a significant community issue.

When we harness the power of the collective, philanthropy has the power to save lives and change the world.

We believe it takes smart investments in each other to make life better. We start with identifying our community’s most significant issues and the collective assets we have to address them. This allows us to bring people, capital and resources together to create sustainable impact.

The One SC Fund illustrates collaborative philanthropy at its best.

In November 2015, after the Thousand Year Flood devasted many regions of our state, then-Gov. Nikki Haley established the One SC Fund at our Foundation to help South Carolinians recovering from a disaster. The fund has awarded $4,867,500 in grants to nonprofits to support disaster recovery and rebuilding projects across our state, helping more than 2,400 families return home.

The One SC fund tells the story of collective support. Individuals, faith-based organizations, companies, schools and foundations from across the country have made donations ranging from $1 to $500,000 to support our efforts. Our Board of Trustees has waived our fees — which currently total over $75,000, to ensure that every dollar donated supports those in need.

The One SC fund tells the story of collective knowledge. The nonprofit grant recipients are selected by a grants committee made up of board members from five Community Foundations in South Carolina. These individuals know their communities well and distribute the funds to areas where the dollars will have the greatest impact.

The One SC Fund tells the story of collaborative efforts. Foundation staff, grantees, regional long-term recovery groups, and the SC Disaster Recovery office team work together to identify individuals and communities facing the greatest need. Collaboration. Sustainable impact.

Collaboration drives action. In order to help our community mobilize action, we must engage everyone and discover what’s possible.

One way we’re accomplishing this is On the Table.

Our foundation, with support from the Knight Foundation, launched On the Table Cola last year to help members of our community realize they have a voice in shaping the future of Richland and Lexington counties.

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By JoAnn Turnquist

On Oct. 24, 2018, more than 240 conversations took place and approximately 1,500 voices were heard. Surveys were taken and information collected on who participated in the conversation, what they felt about our community, and where they saw opportunities for improvement. The results were shared with community members, elected leaders, organizations and funders to inform their decisions about priorities and budgets that affect our counties.

To ensure that voices were heard beyond the table and ideas could take root, the Community Foundation awarded 11 Beyond the Table mini-grants. The funded projects were inspired by On the Table conversations and addressed an area identified as a community priority in the survey.

We also hosted three Table Talks — panel and audience discussions that addressed three of the priorities identified through On The Table — Poverty, Economic Development and Race Relations. A number of collaborative actions have sprung from these discussions.

This year’s conversations take place on Oct. 22. Join us to identify how we can collaborate to make a difference.

JoAnn Turquist is president and chief executive officer of the Central Carolina Community Foundation.

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FEATURE STORY

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Giving: Your guide to community giving in the Midlands 11

PERSPECTIVES

COMING TOGETHER TO MEET OUR COMMUNITY’S NEEDS

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ooking back over the past few years in the Midlands, the moments that have stood out to me are the moments when we’ve united around a cause with common goals.

Whether we were helping our neighbors who were affected by the flood in 2015 or supporting the families displaced from Allen Benedict Court, we had a larger impact because we worked together.

Whether we were showing our hospitality to basketball fans visiting for March Madness or families who traveled here to watch the eclipse, we succeeded because we came together as a community.

We have challenges as a community, too. At times, they may seem daunting, but we must remember that we do not face them alone.

One of the problems we’ve chosen to tackle affects most of us — trauma. More specifically, we’ve chosen to address childhood trauma, also referred to as adverse childhood experiences or ACEs. ACEs include physical, verbal, sexual abuse, and physical or emotional neglect, and more than two-thirds of adults in Richland County

have experienced at least one ACE. Fourteen percent have experienced four or more.

These numbers are astounding, and the effects of trauma experienced during childhood can impair development and can last a lifetime. Childhood trauma is at the root of almost every negative outcome, including poor educational, health and economic outcomes.

But there’s hope.

We are partnering with school systems, hospitals and other community organizations to train them to recognize the symptoms of trauma and respond appropriately through Resilient Richland. More than 20 agencies are now engaged in planning strategies to address childhood trauma, including Children’s Trust of South Carolina, Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina, The Nord Family Foundation, Richland County government and Richland school districts 1 and 2.

Through these efforts, we have launched a pilot program placing a Resiliency Team in two schools: Jackson Creek Elementary in Richland School District Two and Watkins-Nance Elementary in Richland County School District One.

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By Sara Fawcett

The Resiliency Team includes a behavior interventionist and a social worker. The interventionist will be based at the school and be available to provide immediate support to children exhibiting disruptive behavior and ideally prevent disciplinary responses that can re-traumatize the child while at school. A social worker will be based in the community to provide case management and connect families to resources in the community based on specific needs.

But you don’t need to have a degree in social work to help. You just need to be a caring adult who can support this work through volunteering, advocating or giving. Training sessions are being offered year-round that cover a variety of topics from mindfulness to being an “askable” adult. To learn more and find out how you can help, visit resilientrichland.org.

Let’s come together as we have in the past to solve other challenges. Let’s work as a community to solve childhood trauma and its negative effects.

Sara Fawcett is president and CEO of United Way of the Midlands

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PERSPECTIVES

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Giving: Your guide to community giving in the Midlands 13

COLLABORATION HELPING OUT

COLLABORATING FOR A CAUSE MIDLANDS NONPROFITS JOIN FORCES FOR THE GREATER GOOD

By Licia Jackson

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ollaboration has always been a guiding light for nonprofit organizations such as United Way of the Midlands and the Central Carolina Community Foundation. It’s becoming even more important in a world that’s increasingly interconnected.

“To promote impactful philanthropy, no one organization, no one individual or initiative can address the needs within a community,” says JoAnn Turnquist, president and CEO of Central Carolina Community Foundation.

Bringing people with shared values and vision together to solve community problems is critical.”

The United Way has always focused on collaborating with nonprofit partners to solve community issues, says Sara Fawcett, president and CEO of United Way of the Midlands.

What is changing is the relationship with corporations, who want more direct involvement in community impact work.

“They want to support nonprofits, but they are more interested in investing in programs that align with their corporate values and their corporate goals,” Fawcett explains.

An example: A corporation with a goal to improve workforce readiness might partner with technical colleges and with nonprofits that have college and career preparatory programs, such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

Just identifying the issues of concern to the community requires assembling people from diverse backgrounds to talk in a place where they feel comfortable. The Central Carolina

Community Foundation’s On the Table, part of a nationwide initiative, is a focused effort to do just that.

In its second year, On the Table invites area residents, nonprofit organizations, places of worship and businesses to bring groups of six to 12 people together on Oct. 22 over a meal to identify and discuss community issues of concern. The location can be a park, community center, library, home or restaurant and the meal can be breakfast, lunch or dinner. Issues are reported back to the foundation for further action.

Last year, Turnquist says, three concerns uncovered in On the Table sessions were the subject of larger Table Talk discussions, with panel members representing a range of organizations. The three topics were poverty, economic opportunity and race and racism.

MIDLANDS EXPERIENCED AT COLLABORATION

Harvest Hope Food Bank, which provided food and other supplies Richland County Recreation Commission, which hosted a Resource Fair and provided recreation vouchers and activities for children Richland Library, which partnered with the Salvation Army and the Columbia Housing Authority to provide support and case management as well as assistance with reestablishment expenses United Way of the Midlands, which administered a relocation assistance fund to help find private housing. The Salvation Army managed the fund, created with a $15,000 grant and a matching $5,000 grant from BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina.

Christ Central Ministries, which provided support to United Way, Harvest Hope and other organizations.

A collaborative fundraising effort in the region is Midlands Gives, an online donation day coordinated by Central Carolina Community Foundation that has raised $9.3 million for nonprofits since 2014. The nonprofit organizations receive training and help promote the day, which includes an actual event that people can attend. Local businesses provide matching gifts and prizes to help the effort.

The Midlands can reflect on a number of examples of collaborative efforts to solve community problems in recent years, including Transitions Homeless Center and WellPartners dental and eye care clinics.

Earlier this year, community partners joined Richland County to help more than 400 residents displaced when Allen Benedict Court apartments closed following a IMPORTANCE OF A SAFETY NET deadly gas leak. Richland County governBusinesses understand the importance ment provided $150,000. Taking part in the of having a sound safety net for vulnerable effort were: people in the community, Fawcett says. “It’s

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critical to economic development opportunity. If you don’t have that safety net, more public resources will have to be spent on emergency needs, redirected from somewhere else. And a part of that safety net should also provide for economic mobility and workforce readiness.”

More and more, companies want to involve their employees in the community efforts they support financially, giving them time off to volunteer, Fawcett says. Getting employees involved is a good way to retain them.

“Working for a company that is involved in something bigger than itself ” is of great value to an employee, she says. “And volunteering together as a team is one of the best ways to build camaraderie.”

The benefits to the company and its workforce are employee engagement, retention, teamwork and leadership development, as well as branding, media exposure and enhanced reputation in the community.

Among Midlands companies with strong community engagement is Colonial Life, which focuses its support on organizations in the areas of public education, health and well-being, and arts and culture. According to a report on its 2018 impact, the company and its employees gave nearly $3 million and

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provided more than 10,000 volunteer hours.

Bank of America is another company that is good at partnering with nonprofits to meet its social responsibility goals, Fawcett says.

The company meets with nonprofit leaders to assess community needs each year.

Sometimes a corporation’s outreach goes nationwide. Wells Fargo made a major investment in fighting hunger, with United Ways across the nation participating, Fawcett says. “This allows broader collaborations.”

THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX

Both companies and nonprofit organizations are thinking outside the box in their efforts to help the community. A partnership with BB&T provided United Way with funds for extra help to give people the opportunity to succeed, Fawcett says. For example, the fund paid fees for a high school student to take part in band and bought laptops for students who needed them.

One of the top-rated libraries in the U.S., Richland Library sees itself as a community hub and tries to fill the needs it sees. That’s how the library came to provide Books on the Bus for riders of the COMET transit system, provided free flu shots to library patrons

in a partnership with Walgreens, and hired an entrepreneur in residence, using funds from a Google Impact Challenge grant, to share knowledge about business and selfemployment. The library has also partnered with Richland County Emergency Services to join the Richland County Weather Information Network Data System (RCWINDS), with weather stations at four library locations among other county locations providing realtime weather data.

Nonprofit organizations are being challenged to think differently across the board, says Turnquist, as they work with five distinct generations of Americans who have unique ideas about giving.

She pointed to activist, blogger and nonprofit leader Vu Le of Seattle, who spoke recently at the conference of TogetherSC, the state’s organization of nonprofit leaders. Le says that in order to build relationships that engender collaboration, you have to establish trust and examine your personal motivations and biases, Turnquist says.

“Collaboration allows people to bring their skills to bear on a particular issue,” Turnquist explains. “It expands the table. Not everyone has to have financial means in order to make a difference.”

Giving: Your guide to community giving in the Midlands 15

COLLABORATION HELPING OUT

TAX LAW’S IMPACT ON PHILANTHROPY STILL TO BE SEEN

D

iscerning the impact of changes in tax law on charitable donations will probably take two more years of tax returns, local nonprofit leaders predict.

As standard deductions were substantially increased for the 2018 tax returns, many taxpayers were expected to stop itemizing deductions, including charitable contributions.

To a person who made gifts to help reduce his tax bill, the incentive to make charitable donations went away.

“We saw some bundling of donations,” said Sara Fawcett, president and CEO of the United Way of the Midlands. If the donor planned to itemize for this tax year, they add-

ed to donations.

The nonprofit industry as a whole has seen donations go down slightly each year, Fawcett said.

Reports on national trends in giving for 2018 back up that assessment. Forbes reported that individual giving declined 1.1% in 2018 to $292.09 billion, a decline that increases to 3.4% when adjusted for inflation. The numbers cited came from Giving USA’s Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2018.

The decline is the first since 2013, when the country was still recovering from the effects of the Great Recession. The drop in 2018 giving levels also marked a dramatic contrast

The nonprofit industry as a whole has seen donations go down slightly each year.

16 Giving: Your guide to community giving in the Midlands

to the 5.7% increase in giving in 2017.

There are still tax benefits for individuals who donate to nonprofits. The Central Carolina Community Foundation’s blog has some suggestions for donors at higher income levels. They can donate stocks, which usually provide more value than if the owner sold them, paid taxes on gains and then gave the cash balance.

A person or family can also establish a Donor Advised Fund at a higher level than their standard deduction, which allows them to save on the tax bill for the year in which the donation was made. Then, in the years following, the donor can gift from that fund to chosen charities.

Also, a person who is 70½ or older can have donations made directly from the required minimum distribution of their IRA, which saves on the tax bill while helping a favorite nonprofit.

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COLLABORATION

SETTING THE TABLE ON THE TABLE INITIATIVE SET FOR 2ND YEAR F

or little or no cost, people across Richland and Lexington counties can join a national movement — a grassroots effort to strengthen our communities from within — by hosting a gathering on Oct. 22, 2019, as part of the On the Table initiative powered

by Central Carolina Community Foundation.

Hosts can sign up at www.onthetablecola.org to view pictures, listen to testimonials and learn how to join the movement.

For the second consecutive year, Central Carolina Community Foundation, the Midlands’ center for philanthropy, encourages Richland and Lexington County residents, businesses and organizations to continue the conversation by signing up as table hosts for On the Table.

“We are incredibly grateful for our new and returning On the Table hosts who are working with us to make our communities stronger,” says JoAnn Turnquist, president and CEO of Central Carolina Community Foundation. “In year two, we are hoping to expand our reach and allow more voices to be heard. By listening to our neighbors, we are able to learn from one another and have a greater impact on our region.”

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FINDING YOUR PLACE ON THE TABLE

Hosts determine the place, guests, time and topics of their respective conversations.

All Richland or Lexington County residents, nonprofits, places of worship, businesses and other organizations can participate. The hosts can choose who to invite as guests (six to 12 per table) or open their table to the public.

Hosts also determine the location and time for their On the Table conversations, that can be held in homes, restaurants, parks or community spaces at any time on October 22 — breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even before or after work or late in the evening. Food can be provided by the host or guests can purchase their own food, contribute to a potluck, or bring their own.

Additionally, Panera Bread is supporting conversations at its Lexington and Richland county locations. The restaurant is offering a 10 percent catering discount as well as waiving the setup and delivery fee for all hosts. A list of On the Table sites open to the public are available at www.onthetablecola.org/public-tables.

New this year, a survey specifically for youth On the Table participants will be distributed in an effort to capture the distinctive views of the

generations that will shape the future of our region. Young adults, youth-serving organizations and schools interested in hosting or participating in a conversation should contact onthetable@yourfoundation.org.

AFTER ON THE TABLE

Following On the Table, participants will be asked to complete a brief survey inperson or online about their experiences and discussed topics. The survey results will be compiled by national research partners Hart Research Firm and Public Opinion Strategies. The Foundation will release a community report that highlights the survey findings to the public, community leaders and elected officials to provide information about the conversations and guide decisions about our communities in the future.

ON THE TABLE AND BEYOND

Nonprofit groups and individuals with a fiscal sponsorship can apply for grants up to $2,000 for a project that addresses an issue identified through the 2018 On the Table report. Applications open Oct. 22. Information can be found at www.onthetablecola.org.

Giving: Your guide to community giving in the Midlands 17

COLLABORATION

IN GOOD TIMES AND BAD NONPROFITS UNITE IN EVENT PROMOTION, CRISIS SUPPORT

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hether they are responding to a crisis or promoting quality of life, Columbia area non-profits continue to demonstrate that the ability to do the most good for the most people is rooted in the spirit of cooperation, collaboration and inclusiveness.

DISASTER RESPONSE

In October 2015, a slow-moving weather system stalled over South Carolina, inundating the state with record amounts of rain — Columbia received 21 inches in three days — causing widespread catastrophic flooding.

The United Way of the Midlands took a lead role in assisting recovery efforts in Columbia and the Midlands, helping deploy the more than 1,300 volunteers who responded to help

By Jim Tatum

in the aftermath of the disaster.

“We are a convener,” Jennifer Moore, a senior director with UWM said. “Our role is to bring partners together, to help direct service providers and government entities. Our goal is to streamline and coordinate so that we do not duplicate services.”

And, they are in it for the long haul; four years later, UWM is still engaged in floodrelated recovery efforts, she said.

“We switched very quickly from initial response to long-term relief efforts,” Moore said.

“We raised more than $2.5 million for flood recovery efforts. We have repaired around 250 homes in the area and will be up to about 270 within the next six months. We’ve worked with more than 200,000 volunteers — we lost track of actual numbers at 200,000.”

18 Giving: Your guide to community giving in the Midlands

UWM works to address social services issues for the greater Columbia area and the Midlands. The key to success, Moore said, is collaboration and communication. For example, UWM has formed strong partnerships and coordinated resources to deal with issues such as affordable housing and health care, forming a regional trust fund in 2010 to be a funding mechanism to help find and preserve affordable housing. UWM also has developed a collaboration with several entities, including Prisma Health, Richland County, Lexington Medical Center and Blue Cross/Blue Shield, to help bridge gaps in the community in health care access, especially in dental care.

EMPOWERMENT

The Women’s Rights and Empowerment

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COLLABORATION Network of South Carolina works to empow- many individuals and that er women through many different approaches organizations, and on multiple levels, from lobbying activi- day, and the weekend ties at the statehouse to neighborhood level leading up to it, would engagement and education. These efforts be one of the most sucrequire extensive collaboration and partner- cessful showcases for ship development, says Megan Plessmayer, Columbia in the hisWREN’s community engagement coordina- tory of the city, noted Merritt McNeely, vice tor.

“We have a strong legacy of collaboration president of commubecause we know we need as many voices at nications for the marthe table,” Plessmayer said. “I am very focused keting firm of Flock and Rally. on partnerships.”

McNeely, who at One important effort launched earlier this year is the Columbia City of Women map, the time was marketwhich is part of WREN’s story core initiative, ing/membership director for the S.C. State which is an ongoing education/engagement Museum, said she and the museum’s director program designed to celebrate and elevate of education, Tom Falvey, started discussing women by teaching them to showcase their the eclipse in 2013, but it wasn’t until USA own stories in a variety of mediums. The proj- Today published a story naming Columbia ect was inspired by a map of the New York as one of the top five places in the country subway system given to WREN founder Ra- to view it that she realized the potential for the city. chel Hodges.

Shortly after the article came out, “It was a gift from my son — a map McNeely met with Columbia that featured all the stops of the Mayor Steve Benjamin on New York City subway sys“… the keys an unrelated matter and tem, but with one signifitook the opportunity to cant alteration. All the to making these broach the subject of stops were named for efforts successful the eclipse with him. women rather than are inclusiveness, “At that point, I men,” Hodges said. collaboration, shared my vision — The Columbia City we needed to get every of Women project communication, and business, every nonrecognizes Columbia’s ultimately, community profit, every organization, trailblazing women, past pride.” every attraction, every inand present, via points, sites dividual that had some sort of and landmarks highlighted on involvement in tourism in this city a map of the city.

“We are thinking of ways to continue on board,” McNeely said.

At the mayor’s request, she formed a steerto build on the map, adding historical and modern-day figures, and thinking of ways to ing committee. At first, discussions focused bring that map to life, possibly with markers on hosting one major viewing event on the — public art displays, commemorative sig- day of the eclipse, but it wasn’t long before evnage — bring it physically into public spaces eryone realized there were too many entities and heighten community engagement,” Pless- that should be involved to effectively commayer said. “It has been a really thoughtful bine for one event. Instead, they would host process, with many partners across the com- multiple events across Columbia and market it under one banner. People could go to one munity.” website and see information on all events being hosted by each stakeholder.

CELEBRATING THE DARKNESS “We had a giant stakeholder list — we had On Aug. 21, 2017, the entire city of Columbia went dark during the middle of the never on this scale, under one brand, tried to day as the region celebrated a rare total solar represent everyone in this city and use it deploy this message — it had never been done eclipse of the sun.

Thanks to a major collaboration between before,” McNeely said. “We ended up with

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over 120 events from Friday to Monday and we really tried to maximize everyone’s specific talents and expertise. We were in close contact with all these entities to make this happen, not just business and attractions but law enforcement, first responders, EMS. We had many, many meetings and conversations. We constantly shared information and tried to ensure that everyone who wanted to be involved was kept in the loop. And, truly, everyone came together, and it turned out to be the most calm, joyful, amazing event.”

The results exceeded all expectations. Not only did visitors enjoy a smorgasbord of events for virtually all areas of interest, the weekend generated the largest economic impact ever seen by the city — more than $48 million generated for the area — but the entire strategy has become a model for similar efforts. Most recently, McNeely made a presentation about the eclipse campaign to the National Public Relations Foundation.

In fact, the same principles were used to bring the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament to Columbia, said Kelly Barbrey, vice president of marketing and communications for Experience Columbia, who also worked extensively with the eclipse steering committee.

Ultimately, the keys to making these efforts successful are inclusiveness, collaboration, communication, and ultimately, community pride. Columbians want to show off the wonderful place they call home with the rest of the world, but it takes organization and communication, Barbrey said.

“Columbians are very proud of their city, and should be, so any chance we get to show the city and roll out the red carpet, we want to take it,” Barbrey said.

Giving: Your guide to community giving in the Midlands 19

COLLABORATION

A GRAND DESIGN

By Melinda Waldrop

I

n the beginning, an unassuming bungalow sat at 3317 Duncan St., blue paint peeling off its porch steps as it awaited a new life.

The house’s transformation captivated a community, withstood threats from hurricanes and termites, and eventually generated $100,000 in donations to Midlands charities.

Graeme Moore, owner of Columbia real estate firm The Moore Co., and business partner Justin Drafts purchased the two-bedroom, one-bath house on something of a whim, drawn by its location and plummeting price.

The pair knew something could come of the 1920s-era, 1,348-square-foot structure, but it wasn’t immediately clear what that would be.

Preliminary social media posts about the house and its architectural future drew such a response that an idea sparked: Why not let online voters redesign the house? And, having already involved the community, why not donate the net proceeds from the house’s eventual sale to charities also picked by popular vote?

The Moore Co. announced the Flip & Give project in July 2018, and Midlands companies jumped on board, with architects, contractors and roofers, to name a few, donating their services. Nearly a year later, the journey culminated in five checks and countless smiles as grateful charities accepted money and curious onlookers milled through the four-bedroom, three-bath showpiece.

“We took the house down to the studs and added a major addition that doubled the size of the house,” Moore said. “Save a few bricks on the front and a couple of original stud walls, the house is essentially brand new.”

The original low-sloping lines of the house were shored up with a front-porch gable and vaulted ceiling. The house’s foundation was stabilized and its plumbing and wiring replaced.

The roof, windows, doors, lights and sheetrock are all new, as are high-end Bertazzoni appliances, and the yard was re-landscaped.

“The home still keeps the charm of Shandon's architectural bungalows while improv-

20 Giving: Your guide to community giving in the Midlands

ing the flow and functionality,” Moore said.

THE DESIGN

Asheley Scott St. John, president of Columbia-based architecture firm 1x1 Design, oversaw the design of the now-2,800-squarefoot house.

“Working with older structures in general is always a fun and difficult challenge all at the same time,” St. John said. “You don’t want to take something that’s got a lot of character and just totally transform it into something that looks mismatched.”

Online voters picked elements including bathroom tile patterns, kitchen cabinet colors and roof options, but St. John said the process wasn’t much different than the usual backand-forth of more traditional collaboration.

She said permitting and inspection processes also gave 1x1 a good idea of what to expect.

“We don’t just have a blank slate that we get to go and do everything,” she said. “We have to listen to the clients. ... Working on the

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Giving: Your guide to community giving in the Midlands 21

back. Columbia has helped us, so we want to help Columbia.”

Buckner has worked on several projects with Moore and Drafts during the past five years. While impressed with the final result of the Flip & Give house, he expected nothing less than excellence.

“It looks beautiful, and I’m really not that surprised,” Buckner THE CONSTRUCTION said.

“I’ve seen Graeme and Justin Contractor S2K battled the remnants of Hurricane Florence do some things over the years. ... and a significant termite infesta- It’s really remarkable.” tion to deliver the finished product 11 months after The Moore THE REWARDS Co. announced the initiative.

On June 4, The Moore Co. div“It’s definitely fulfilling to see vied up $100,000 in donations to it come to this,” S2K vice president five Midlands charities.

Harper Krantz said. “Graeme and Online voters nominated more I and Justin always had the vision than 100 nonprofits, and The of how it would turn out, but it’s Moore Co. whittled those down nice to see it come to fruition.” to five finalists. Another round Krantz took special satisfaction of voting drew more than 30,000 in how the new design elements responses and determined which merged with the original charac- organization received the most ter of the house. money.

“We tried to keep the Shandon Achieve Columbia, which charm,” he said. “The new part is works with at-risk students in area pretty seamless, how it turned out.” high schools, pocketed a check for Despite the challenges, Krantz $50,000. never doubted the project’s even“Achieve Columbia has only tual success. survived because of local support,” “The hurricane kind of messed executive director Robert Lomiup us a couple of weeks when we nack said. “I am still shocked at were just trying to get a roof on, how many people every year con(but) I always knew we’d get here,” tinue to give money to us, and to he said. have something like The Moore Co. do this is just beyond words for us.”

THE MONEY The Midlands Fatherhood CoMidland Mortgage Co. loan officer Danny Buckner is a Co- alition received $25,000, while The lumbia native who jumped at the Women’s Shelter received $12,500. chance to give back to his com- The Therapy Place, which provides physical, occupational and munity.

The mortgage company speech therapy for children, took charged no interest on loans for home $7,500, while Camp Cole, the renovations, allowing more an inspirational retreat for Midmoney to eventually flow into the lands families, received $5,000.

“It’s unbelievable. It brings selected charities’ coffers.

“This is original and unique, tears to your eyes, really, seeing and we definitely wanted to get in- what these folks do,” Moore said. volved,” Buckner said. “We’ve been “These are the people who do the in Columbia for 37 years, and this hard work in our community. … where we started. This is where we This is the most rewarding part of plan on being, so we want to give this project.” residential side of things and with the city of Columbia, you know which of those critical design decisions have to be made upfront that are really going to drive the whole project, (and) we work together to figure out what those pieces will be.”

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HELPING OUT

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Giving: Your guide to community giving in the Midlands 23

NONPROFIT NEWS

SAMSUNG DONATES $100,000 TO FISHER HOUSE COLUMBIA Staff Report

S

amsung donated $100,000 to help build a Fisher House on the campus of the Dorn Veterans Administration Medical Center in Columbia.

Samsung presented the donation Aug. 28 at the Statehouse in a ceremony attended by S.C. first lady Peggy McMaster and Bill Dukes, chairman of Friends of Fisher House Columbia. Fisher House is a national foundation that provides homes near hospitals where veterans or military personnel are receiving treatment so their families can stay for free.

The Columbia Fisher House project is in the fundraising stage.

Samsung has supported the construction of four new Fisher Houses since beginning a partnership with the foundation in 2015, according to a news release. The Columbia lo-

cation is the third of the four Fisher Houses Samsung has supported, including a Fisher House in Charleston.

Samsung provides technology, appliances and devices for the homes.

There were more than 400,000 veterans living in South Carolina as of 2017, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Samsung opened a $380 million, 450,00-square-foot home appliance manufacturing plant in Newberry in January 2018.

“Since making Newberry our home to Samsung’s first (U.S.) home appliance manufacturing facility, we have continued to support the local community, and more specifically veterans and their families, across the Midlands,” said Megan Pollock, vice president of strategic communications at Samsung.

MIDLANDS GIVES DONATIONS SURPASS $2M

D

Staff Report

onations to the fifth annual Midlands Gives charitable challenge surpassed $2 million, breaking last year’s record.

Preliminary figures from the Central Carolina Community Foundation, host of the 18hour online giving challenge, show that 14,272 donations to 410 registered charities totaled $2,028,966.

The day of giving began in 2014 and its part of a nationwide focus on philanthropy.

In its first four years, Midlands Gives raised more than $7.25 million for area charities, including a then-record $1.75 million via 14,665 donations last year.

Segra Park, next door to the Central Carolina Community Foundation’s new headquarters at the First Base Building in the BullStreet District, served as the physical host for Midlands Gives activities on May 7. Area philanthropists gathered to support their favorite causes and take part in events such as a putting challenge sponsored by Dominion Energy and a pitching contest sponsored by Nephron Pharmaceuticals.

24 Giving: Your guide to community giving in the Midlands

PALMETTO INFUSION SERVICES INVESTING IN STATE FREE CLINICS

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Staff Report

almetto Infusion Services is partnering with the S.C. Free Clinic Association, investing $600,000 annually to raise more than $3 million in grants to be shared among the organization’s 41 clinics in 25 counties.

“It has always been a huge goal of ours to improve the quality and access of health care to South Carolina’s medically underserved,” Palmetto CEO David Goodall said in a news release. “We searched high and low, and this was the best place for us to leverage our dollars and ensure that it was distributed to qualifying people throughout the entire state of South Carolina.”

In 2018, the S.C. Free Clinic Association provided more than $152 million worth of direct and indirect services to medically underserved patients in the state, according to its website.

“We are extremely excited about our new partnership with Palmetto Infusion and look forward to working with them,” chairwoman Patsy Whitney said. “This is the first time that we have partnered with a private company to this extent, and we are anticipating a very high return on Palmetto’s investment.”

Each state free clinic is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit with its own governing board and eligibility requirements.

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NONPROFIT NEWS

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Giving: Your guide to community giving in the Midlands 25

PHILANTHROPY

Helping Out

In the community 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

1) Always United volunteers with Meals on Wheels at Senior Resources. 2) Women in Philanthropy members volunteer with Salvation Army. 3) HDR employees supply totes for Be a Book Bunny. 4) Recruiting Solutions employees volunteer with Family Shelter. 5) United Way Day at Segra Park.

(Photos/United Way of the Midlands)

26 Giving: Your guide to community giving in the Midlands

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HELPING OUT

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Giving: Your guide to community giving in the Midlands 27

PHILANTHROPY

Helping Out

In the community Volunteers with the Columbia office of design-build firm Miller-Valentine Group help repair and renovate a home in Columbia in partnership with SBP, an nonprofit initiative that started rebuilding homes in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2006 and has expanded to other parts of the country. (Photos/Jeff Blake)

28 Giving: Your guide to community giving in the Midlands

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Giving: Your guide to community giving in the Midlands 29

30 Giving: Your guide to community giving in the Midlands

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NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHTS

The following Midlands nonprofits are featured in this section: 33 �����������������������������������������������������Communities In Schools

47 ����������������������������������������������������Harvest Hope Food Bank

35 �����������������������������������������������������������American Red Cross

48 �������������������������������������������Midlands Fatherhood Coalition

37 ����������������������������������� Mental Illness Recovery Center Inc.

49 ������������������������������������������������������������ The Animal Mission

39 �������������������������������������� Nancy K. Perry Children’s Shelter

50 �����������������������������������������Susan G. Komen South Carolina

41 ������������������������������������������������������������� City Year Columbia

51 ������������������������������������������������������������������ March of Dimes

43 ���������������������������������������������� The Free Medical Clinic Inc.

53 ���������������������������������������������� American Heart Association

45 ������������������������������������������������������������Curing Kids Cancer

55 ������������������������������������������������United Way of the Midlands

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Giving: Your guide to community giving in the Midlands 31

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

MISSION STATEMENT: Our mission is to surround students with a community of support empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.

QUICK FACTS: NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION: Communities In Schools of the Midlands YEAR ESTABLISHED LOCALLY: 1987 TOP LOCAL EXECUTIVE: Tanika D. Epps, CEO 2712 Middleburg Dr. Suite 219, Columbia, SC 29204 803-254-9727 Fax: 803-254-0320 www.cism.org CORPORATE GIVING CONTACTS: Tanika D. Epps, CEO 2712 Middleburg Dr. Suite 219 803-254-9727 tepps@cism.org AVERAGE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS IN 2019: 46 GEOGRAPHIC AREA OR SPECIFIC POPULATION SERVED: We serve students and families within Lexington and Richland Counties, and the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (SCDJJ).

GREATEST NEEDS: • Financial contributions to sustain and expand our service impact in public schools.

• Volunteers to provide 1-on-1, small group, or in-class assistance primarily in math and ELA courses.

• In-kind donations of school supplies, backpacks, new clothing and shoes for elementary to highs school aged youth.

A CLOSER LOOK: 2019 TOP ACHIEVEMENTS: Communities in Schools of the Midlands focuses on helping to improve student success by providing intervention support and community resources. Our goal is to improve graduation rates by supporting youth in academic achievement, postsecondary school readiness, reinforcing positive behavior, and connecting students and families with resources available in their communities. With this in mind, our goals include creating social and emotional supports tailored for elementary aged students and develop a college and career readiness pathway for middle and high schools prior to reaching 11th and 12th grade. CISM has developed a relationship with flagship universities and technical colleges to ensure students are provided with education and career resources that encourages continued learning. For the 2018 – 2019 school year we were able to provide extended day services through our new partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of the Midlands. This partnership allows us to provide 2 hours of additional intervention support after school for students with learning disabilities and are failing core classes. For the 2019 – 2020 school year we have adapted the Sanford Harmony Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Curriculum into our intervention services to build healthy relationships and develop elementary students into compassionate and caring adults.

2020 GOALS: Expand services into school sites in Richland, Lexington counties who are on the South Carolina Priority Schools list as well as expanding into Orangeburg and other counties within the Midlands.

FUNDRAISING EVENTS: Annual Oyster Roast Fundraiser – Thursday, April 9, 2020 at 6 pm, The Hall on Senate 320 Senate St. Sponsorship opportunities available. Tickets go on sale in January 2020.

CORPORATE GIVING OPPORTUNITIES: Communities In Schools of the Midlands brings community resources into schools to: • Collaborate with school districts and schools to address student’s urgent needs.

• Remove barriers for underserved youth who face roadblocks in life.

• Keep kids in school every day and on the path to graduation.

• Increase relationships with stakeholders, local businesses, social service agencies and volunteers.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Oyster Roast Fundraiser April 9, 2020. Email ltwalker@cism.org for sponsor levels.

DONATION OPPORTUNITIES: Donate Silent Auction Items, Midlands Gives Champion Page, Giving Tuesday December 3rd, Employee Matching Contributions.

Contact Latasha Taste-Walker, Director of Development, at ltwalker@cism.org.

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT SPONSORED BY:

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Giving: Your guide to community giving in the Midlands 33

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

MISSION STATEMENT: The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and generosity of donors.

QUICK FACTS: NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION: American Red Cross of Central S.C. TOP LOCAL EXECUTIVE: Rebecca E. Jordan, Executive Director 2751 Bull St., Columbia, SC 29201 803-312-5176 www.redcross.org/sc AVERAGE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS IN 2019: Nearly 800 PERCENT OF REVENUE DEDICATED TO PROGRAM SERVICES: An average of 90 cents of every dollar the American Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs.

GEOGRAPHIC AREA OR SPECIFIC POPULATION SERVED: Central South Carolina including: Richland, Lexington, Calhoun, Orangeburg, Clarendon, Sumter, Lee, Kershaw, Fairfield, Newberry, Saluda, Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell and Edgefield counties.

GREATEST NEED: Financial contributions are needed to invest in our humanitarian services and programs. We also have a need for new volunteers, blood donations and growing our community partnerships.

A CLOSER LOOK: 2019 TOP ACHIEVEMENTS: In FY19, the American Red Cross of Central S.C. assisted 1,300+ individuals affected by disasters – primarily home fires; collected 30,400+ units of blood for area hospitals; trained 8,300+ in lifesaving skills, such as CPR/AED, First Aid and more than 1,500 people in Water Safety; and through our global communication network, provided 2,000+ emergency communications and other services, provided nearly 4,200 services to military, veterans and their families including counseling and financial assistance, to support military families. Additionally, we helped created a more resilient community by installing nearly 3,500 free smoke alarms and made nearly 1.000 homes safer through educational visits and creating preparedness plans. To date, 65 lives in South Carolina have been saved by the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign Thanks to the generosity of our compassionate donors, volunteers and community partners, your Red Cross was able shelter nearly 5,000 people in the path of Hurricane Dorian and help dozens of families recover after their homes were damaged. That generosity and support also brought relief and comfort to thousands of South Carolinians after Hurricane Florence’s high winds and torrential rains uprooted

lives and destroyed homes. Thousands of American Red Cross workers — over 90 percent volunteer — mounted a massive response to help people devastated by Hurricane Florence across South Carolina and North Carolina, which continues today.

2020 GOALS: Expand our volunteer base, grow our financial support and increase blood donations.

CORPORATE GIVING OPPORTUNITIES: The Red Cross accepts financial donations throughout the year. Anyone interested in donating can call 1-800-REDCROSS or go to www.redcross.org or mail a check to their local chapter. Corporate donors are encouraged to contact Rebecca E. Jordan, executive director of the Central S.C. Chapter, at 803-312-5176 or Sarah Dow, regional chief development officer with the Palmetto S.C. Region at 864-901-9973.

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT SPONSORED BY:

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Giving: Your guide to community giving in the Midlands 35

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

MISSION STATEMENT: MIRCI is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that assists individuals with mental illness to recover in the areas of their lives impacted by their illness through housing, behavioral health care and assistance with obtaining and managing their disability income.

QUICK FACTS: NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION: Mental Illness Recovery Center Inc. YEAR ESTABLISHED LOCALLY: 1960 TOP LOCAL EXECUTIVE: Julie Ann Avin, President & Executive Director CONTACT INFORMATION: 1408 Gregg St. Columbia, SC 29201 803-786-1844 Fax: 803-939-2646 www.mirci.org CORPORATE GIVING CONTACTS: 1408 Gregg St. Columbia, SC 29201 803-786-1844, ext. 102 AVERAGE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS IN 2018: 150 TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET (2018): $6,026,817 PERCENT OF REVENUE DEDICATED TO PROGRAM SERVICES: 95% GEOGRAPHIC AREA OR SPECIFIC POPULATION SERVED: The Midlands area of South Carolina; individuals with mental illness and/or co-occurring substance use disorders, many of whom were homeless upon service entry.

A CLOSER LOOK: 2018-2019 TOP ACHIEVEMENTS: o MIRCI's adult services department received awards from United Way of the Midlands, Palmetto Health, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, the Nord Family Foundation, the Leon Levine Foundation, and Colonial Life to support behavioral healthcare and homeless street outreach for adults experiencing or formerly experiencing homelessness. o MIRCI's youth services department received awards from the Administration of Children and Families, the S.C. Department of Mental Health, the S.C. Housing Authority, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of South Carolina, United Way of the Midlands, the Parrish Family Foundation, the Carolina Children's Home Foundation, and the Dabo's All-in Team Foundation to support the Midlands' first Homeless Youth Drop-in Center, first youth-specific homeless outreach, and first Transitional Living Program.

• MIRCI's Youth Drop-In Center accommodated 3,706 visits, issued 1,534 bus passes, 900 van rides, 4,695 meals, 600 showers, 684 skill building activities, 425 therapy sessions, 468 loads of laundry, and 464 hours of computer time in 2018.

• T he 2018 audited total of MIRCI's clinical division and all housing programs was $3,576,943. This total cost provided housing with behavioral health care, including the evidence based best practices of Housing First, ACT treatment, and supportive services to 335 individuals and families in 2018. The average cost per day for these 335 individuals to receive housing and services was $29.

2020 GOALS: • Continue to reduce inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations and emergency department visits for individuals in its housing and services.

• Begin developing a new training program.

FUNDRAISING EVENTS: • Merry MIRCI Holiday fundraiser benefiting housing and homeless programs, 6 p.m.

Dec. 4, 2019, at Hotel Trundle.

• 52 Windows – An Evening of Art gala and silent auction to support housing and homeless programs, 5:30 p.m., May 14, 2020, at 701 Whaley St. CORPORATE GIVING OPPORTUNITIES: Corporate sponsorships are available for 52 Windows. Sponsor benefits include recognition in printed material and on MIRCI’s website as well as tickets to the event.

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT SPONSORED BY:

GREATEST NEED: Additional housing subsidies to house homeless individuals and families, including homeless youth and young adults age 17 to 24, with mental illness and/or co-occurring substance use disorders.

www.columbiabusinessreport.com

Giving: Your guide to community giving in the Midlands 37

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

MISSION STATEMENT: We believe that children can thrive and find success when the right environment is created. The Nancy K. Perry Children’s Shelter strives to create a family-style environment for children who are in crisis, allowing them an opportunity to heal and grow.

QUICK FACTS: NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION: Nancy K. Perry Children’s Shelter YEAR ESTABLISHED LOCALLY: 1972 TOP LOCAL EXECUTIVE: Ryan Taylor, LPC (Executive Director) CONTACT INFORMATION: P.O. Box 344 Lexington, SC 29071 803-359-8595 Fax: 803-359-8518 www.nkp4kids.org CORPORATE GIVING CONTACTS: Ryan Taylor, LPC (Executive Director) P.O. Box 344 803-359-8595 info@nkp4kids.org AVERAGE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS IN 2019: 400+ TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET (2019-2020): $590,000 PERCENT OF REVENUE DEDICATED TO PROGRAM SERVICES: 80%

A CLOSER LOOK: 2019 TOP ACHIEVEMENTS: • Nancy K. Perry Children’s Shelter had a successful site visit by the Council of Accreditation, a national accreditation body to improve service delivery outcomes by developing, applying and promoting accreditation standards.

• Nancy K. Perry Children’s Shelter has partnered with several organizations, including Southeastern Freight, Publix and Amazon to update and remodel the facility and make it more child-centered.

• Nancy K. Perry Children’s Shelter has improved its service delivery and organizational culture by creating a performance improvement plan, enhancing our onboarding and training process, and developing a behavioral program that assists in improving the success of our children.

STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS: • Increase Community Awareness, Education and Engagement • Enhance Quality Improvement & Data Collection • Create a community-based prevention service programs in the efforts of strengthening individuals, families, and communities • Develop program targeting community needs directed toward transition-aged youth 18-25 years of age FUNDRAISING EVENTS: Please check our website and Facebook page, and sign up for our quarterly newsletter for event information: www.nkp4kids.org, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ NKP4KIDS.ORG/ CORPORATE GIVING OPPORTUNITIES: Nancy K. Perry Children’s Shelter graciously accepts corporate donations of any size.

Corporations are also welcome to gift the Shelter in-kind. A needs list is available on our website at www.nkp4kids.org.

GEOGRAPHIC AREA OR SPECIFIC POPULATION SERVED: The State of South Carolina GREATEST NEED: Monetary and in-kind donations make our service to the children possible. We also offer many volunteer opportunities.

www.columbiabusinessreport.com

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT SPONSORED BY:

Giving: Your guide to community giving in the Midlands 39

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

MISSION STATEMENT: City Year is an education-focused nonprofit organization and AmeriCorps program that partners with public schools to keep students in school and on track to graduation. In Columbia, and 28 other communities across the United States, this innovative public-private partnership brings together teams of young AmeriCorps members who commit to a year of full-time service in schools. Corps members provide individual support to students who need extra care and attention, focusing on attendance, behavior and course performance through in-class tutoring, mentoring and after-school programs.

QUICK FACTS: NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION: City Year Columbia YEAR ESTABLISHED LOCALLY: 1993 TOP LOCAL EXECUTIVE: Gail Wilson-Giarratano, Executive Director and Vice President CONTACT INFORMATION: 1122 Lady St., Suite 600, Columbia, SC 29201 803-727-1578 Fax: 803-727-1579 www.cityyear.org/columbia CORPORATE GIVING CONTACTS: Shawn Caraballo Special Projects Manager 1122 Lady St., Suite 600, Columbia, SC 29201 803-727-1561 scaraballo@cityyear.org AVERAGE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS IN 2018: 300 TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET (2018-2019): $1,186,000 PERCENT OF REVENUE DEDICATED TO PROGRAM SERVICES: 80% GEOGRAPHIC AREA OR SPECIFIC POPULATION SERVED: Richland and Lexington counties www.columbiabusinessreport.com

A CLOSER LOOK: GREATEST NEED: Research shows that struggling students can succeed with the right support at the right time, but teachers and schools don’t always have the time and resources to meet students’ needs. City Year fills this gap with our Whole School Whole Child intervention model — a proven strategy that includes math and literacy tutoring, extended-day programming, and behavior, attendance and school-climate initiatives to reinforce academic learning and social-emotional skill development.

City Year Columbia is committed to increasing local graduation rates and nurturing the development of 21st century skills to help students become critical thinkers, effective communicators, collaborative team members, strong leaders and self-advocates, and engaged community members — important skills that educators and employers identify as key to post-secondary education and workplace success.

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS: City Year has been a member of the AmeriCorps network for more than 20 years, annually receiving diverse, idealistic corps members with a deep commitment to public service. City Year Columbia corps members and alumni are well-suited to teaching careers in high-need schools and we encourage them to remain in the local workforce. City Year has developed

more than 60 partnerships with graduate schools and teacher certification programs that actively recruit our corps members. In fact, City Year now contributes more corps members to the Teach for America program than any single college. Today’s City Year Columbia corps members have the potential to continue their careers in Columbia and become our next generation of education leaders.

LONG TERM IMPACT GOALS: City Year has a national long-term impact goal to serve more students, turn around more low-performing schools and increase the number of youth who graduate from high school, ready for college and career — over the next 10 years 80% of students in the City Year schools will reach 10th grade successfully (up from 44%).

Students who achieve this milestone are four times more likely to graduate than students who do not.

FUNDRAISING EVENTS: Beloved Community Gala, Nov. 20, 2019 GIVING OPPORTUNITIES: All information can be found on our website at www.cityyear. org/columbia. For more information about City Year giving opportunities, please visit our national website or contact Shawn Caraballo, Special Projects Manager, at 803727-1561 or scaraballo@cityyear.org.

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NONPROFIT HELPING OUT SPOTLIGHT

42 Giving: Your guide to community giving in the Midlands

www.columbiabusinessreport.com

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

MISSION STATEMENT: To provide quality health care, at no cost, to residents of the community who cannot pay for such services and who have no health insurance.

QUICK FACTS: NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION: The Free Medical Clinic Inc. YEAR ESTABLISHED LOCALLY: 1984 TOP LOCAL EXECUTIVE: Freddie Strange CONTACT INFORMATION: 1875 Harden St., Columbia, SC 29204 803-765-1503 Fax: 803-779-6178 www.freemedclinic.org CORPORATE GIVING CONTACTS: Caryn Little, Director of Development 1875 Harden St., Columbia, SC 29204 803-765-1503 development@freemedclinic.org AVERAGE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS IN 2019: 53 medical professional 135 general volunteers (mostly college students)

A CLOSER LOOK: 2019 TOP ACHIEVEMENTS: • Provided high quality health care to 1,481 unique patients through 8,041 on-site visits and procedures.

• Dispensed 43,465 prescriptions; wholesale value of those prescriptions was over $5.1 million.

• 53 medical professionals (physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses and pharmacists) volunteered on-site; value of their donated services was $543,480.

• 5,550 hours of volunteer time was served on-site by medical professionals and students enrolled in health sciences-related majors.

• Continue to aid students enrolled in health sciences-related majors in developing the skill sets in caring for and working with vulnerable populations.

2020 GOALS: Serve at least 1,500 unique patients through over 7,500 on-site visits and procedures.

Dispense over 40,000 prescriptions.

Continue to provide volunteer opportunities for those interested in serving the working poor.

FUNDRAISING EVENTS: The Doctors Lounge 7 p.m., Nov. 7, 2019 The Township Auditorium The Doctors Lounge 7 p.m., Nov. 5, 2020 Location to be announced CORPORATE GIVING OPPORTUNITIES: The Clinic is privately supported by corporations, foundations, individuals and churches; we are also a United Way Partner Agency. We welcome unrestricted gifts of any size and limited in-kind gifts. Our signature fundraiser, Doctors Lounge, has sponsorship opportunities that range from $1,000 - $10,000. This event attracts over 500 attendees annually and raises nets in excess of $50,000 for patient care and Clinic operations.

TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET (2019-2020): $864,000 PERCENT OF REVENUE DEDICATED TO PROGRAM SERVICES: 95%

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT SPONSORED BY:

GEOGRAPHIC AREA OR SPECIFIC POPULATION SERVED: No restriction as long as individual meets admission criteria (income at/below 175% federal poverty level & uninsured) GREATEST NEED: unrestricted funding

www.columbiabusinessreport.com

Giving: Your guide to community giving in the Midlands 43

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

MISSION STATEMENT: Our mission is to fund innovative research and treatments to find cures for all childhood cancers in our lifetime.

QUICK FACTS: NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION: Curing Kids Cancer YEAR ESTABLISHED LOCALLY: 2005 TOP LOCAL EXECUTIVE: Abigail Pait CONTACT INFORMATION: PO Box 50863, Columbia, SC 29205 404-465-2916 curingkidscancer.org CORPORATE GIVING CONTACTS: Abigail Pait, Public Relations Manager PO Box 50863, Columbia, SC, 29205 404-465-2916 abigail@curingkidscancer.org AVERAGE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS IN 2019: 25

A CLOSER LOOK: 2019 TOP ACHIEVEMENTS: Curing Kids Cancer’s Fire Truck Pull had a record 46 teams and moved to a premier location with Soda City Market, raising nearly $40,000.

Curing Kids Cancer hosted a new event called Cocktails and Cockabooses, a fun tailgate at two cockabooses for the South CarolinaAlabama football game that raised nearly $20,000.

2020 GOALS: To have more teams compete at the Fire Truck Pull (Goal is 60 teams total) as well as raising more than $50,000.

Another goal is to make another significant gift to the endowment. This comes from support from the community with our fundraising efforts. Last year’s gift was $170,000.

FUNDRAISING EVENTS: Curing Kids Cancer Fire Truck Pull, Saturday, April 25, 2020, Columbia. This will be the seventh annual fire truck pull, and we are looking to have more than 50 teams compete. Two fire trucks will be arranged side by side as teams of 10-12 people pull the fire trucks in honor of a child with cancer.

Teams are encouraged to dress up in the child’s favorite things, whether it be cats, tutus, firemen or superheroes.

CORPORATE GIVING OPPORTUNITIES: We are always looking for sponsors for our Fire Truck Pull. Those interested can email Abigail Pait at abigail@curingkidscancer.org or call 404-465-2916. Many opportunities can also be found at our website, curingkidscancer.org.

TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET (2019-2020): $2,101,750 PERCENT OF REVENUE DEDICATED TO PROGRAM SERVICES: 93.51% GEOGRAPHIC AREA OR SPECIFIC POPULATION SERVED: South Carolina as well as the rest of the United States

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT SPONSORED BY:

GREATEST NEED: In South Carolina, we are currently funding a $1.2 million endowment at Prisma Health Children’s Hospital-Midlands for the Gamecocks Curing Kids Cancer Clinic, which will bring cutting-edge cancer therapies to families in South Carolina. It will also help families navigate the clinical trial process.

www.columbiabusinessreport.com

Giving: Your guide to community giving in the Midlands 45

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

MISSION STATEMENT: To provide for the needs of hungry people by gathering and sharing quality food with dignity, compassion and education.

QUICK FACTS: NAME OF ORGANIZATION: Harvest Hope Food Bank YEAR ESTABLISHED LOCALLY: 1981 LEADERSHIP: Wendy Broderick, Chief Executive Officer Erinn Rowe, Board Chair CONTACT INFORMATION: PO Box 451, Columbia, SC 29202 803-254-4432 www.harvesthope.org CORPORATE GIVING CONTACTS: Mia Thomas, Director of Financial Development & Marketing 803-254-4432 ext. 1114 mthomas@harvesthope.org AVERAGE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS: 11,200 TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET (2019-2020): $51.4 million

A CLOSER LOOK: GREATEST NEED: Too many South Carolinians have to choose between meals and vital living expenses, like utilities or medical costs. From youth and families to seniors and veterans, Harvest Hope Food Bank works to end food insecurity by gathering and sharing quality food to ensure our hungry neighbors are nourished and thriving in any stage of life. All Harvest Hope programs are funded through generous philanthropic support and led by volunteers, so that there is no charge to any recipient.

Give back or register to volunteer today at harvesthope.org.

2019 TOP ACHIEVEMENTS: In the past year, Harvest Hope provided almost 27 million meals throughout the 20-county service area in partnership with 450 partner agencies — that’s equal to five meals for each citizen of South Carolina.

2020 GOALS: Harvest Hope will continue to gather resources to provide for our hungry neighbors across South Carolina. This includes a 3% increase in contributions, an

8% growth in volunteer hours and 10% more food drives throughout our service area.

GIVING OPPORTUNITIES: • Annual – An annual gift to Harvest Hope Food Bank ensures our hungry neighbors of any age have access to vital nourishment in their times of need.

• Capital – A capital gift will support facility updates and equipment to keep food properly stored moving throughout Harvest Hope’s four facilities.

• Endowment – A gift to Harvest Hope’s endowment fund will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.

• Food Drives – Hosting a food drive for Harvest Hope is an engaging way for any individual, family or organization to make an immediate impact in our community.

• Volunteering – Volunteers allow Harvest Hope to save over $1 million a year in salaries. Individuals or groups can assist in sorting, packing mobile boxes, serving Emergency Food Pantry clients and more.

PERCENT OF REVENUE DEDICATED TO PROGRAM SERVICES: 98% GEOGRAPHIC AREA OR SPECIFIC POPULATION SERVED: 20 South Carolina counties throughout the Midlands, Pee Dee and Upstate

www.columbiabusinessreport.com

Giving: Your guide to community giving in the Midlands 47

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

MISSION STATEMENT: The mission of Midlands Fatherhood Coalition is to engage fathers in the positive support of their children and to enhance community support for fatherhood throughout the Midlands.

QUICK FACTS: NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION: Midlands Fatherhood Coalition YEAR ESTABLISHED LOCALLY: 1999 TOP LOCAL EXECUTIVE: Angela McDuffie, MA 1410 Colonial Life Blvd., Suite 80 Columbia SC 803-933-0052 Fax: 803-933-0042 www.midlandsfathers.com

A CLOSER LOOK: GREATEST NEED: Community support — sharing the message of fatherhood that dads make a difference, along with financial support.

2020 GOALS: Remodel headquarters space, develop volunteer program and strategic plan. Enhanced work around programmatic key performance indicators.

2019 TOP ACHIEVEMENTS: Served 1,183 fathers and impacted 2,348 children.

450 parents participated in parent-child activities, saved $3.47 million in state funds through Jobs Not Jail program, increased corporate giving over 50%, launched Everyday Dads campaign, moved to a new headquarters.

FUNDRAISING EVENTS: Daddy and Me 5k w/ Serve & Connect, Giving Black Day, Giving Tuesday, Midlands Gives, An Evening with The Fireflies.

CORPORATE GIVING OPPORTUNITIES: Sponsorship of Daddy and Me 5k, An Evening with the Fireflies, and Sponsor a Dad for $2,500.

CORPORATE GIVING CONTACTS: Eleanor Boyd, Director of Development 1410 Colonial Life Blvd Suite 80 Phone: 803-933-0052 eboyd@scfathersandfamilies.com AVERAGE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS IN 2019: 20 TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET (2019-2020): $1,777,965.39 PERCENT OF REVENUE DEDICATED TO PROGRAM SERVICES: 88% GEOGRAPHIC AREA OR SPECIFIC POPULATION SERVED: Fathers in Richland, Lexington, Sumter, Fairfield counties

48 Giving: Your guide to community giving in the Midlands

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NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

MISSION STATEMENT: The Animal Mission is a South Carolina-based 501(c)(3) charitable organization committed to providing free or low-cost spay and neuter procedures for all pet owners in our area, in an effort to help achieve ‘No Kill’ status for our local municipal shelters.

QUICK FACTS: NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION: The Animal Mission YEAR ESTABLISHED LOCALLY: 1991 TOP LOCAL EXECUTIVE: Jen Coody, Executive Director PO Box 50023, Columbia SC 29250 803-479-2096 info@animalmission.org animalmission.org TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET (2019-2020): $290,000 PERCENT OF REVENUE DEDICATED TO PROGRAM SERVICES: 89% GEOGRAPHIC AREA OR SPECIFIC POPULATION SERVED: Our program provides free spay and neuter procedures for all pet owners and shelter animals in Richland County.

GREATEST NEED: Our greatest need is in the area of unrestricted financial support for our spay and neuter campaign for all Midlands residents. With additional funding, we hope to expand our reach and impact geographically, including outreach to more rural communities in the Midlands. We are in search of new community and corporate partnerships to help support this expansion of our mission.

www.columbiabusinessreport.com

A CLOSER LOOK: 2019 TOP ACHIEVEMENTS: In FY 2018/2019, we funded 3,992 spay/ neuter procedures for residents of Richland County – the most ever in the program’s history. Since 2006, through fundraising events, corporate and individual donations, we’ve provided approximately $1.9 million in spay/neuter vouchers, resulting in over 43,000 procedures. Thanks in large part to this effort, the City of Columbia Animal Shelter has achieved a live release rate of 80% for FY 2018/2019, up from only 21% when the program began. Euthanasia due to lack of space or resources has decreased by over 81% in that time. Those numbers continue to improve each year, and the shelter’s intake numbers have also decreased for the last 10 consecutive years.

to our spay and neuter program. This event is the Animal Mission’s single biggest fundraiser annually, and draws upwards of 4,000 attendees throughout the day. For sponsorship information, please visit our website at animalmission.org.

Fill the Red Truck (May 2020) - Started in 2009 by Shandon neighborhood residents, the Fill The Red Truck event is hosted at the corner of Heyward and Holly streets annually to help fill the supply needs of the City of Columbia shelter through the busy spring months. Over the last 11 years, the group has been responsible for collecting nearly 17,000 pounds of pet food, truckloads of supplies, and more than $20,000 in monetary donations. For sponsorship information, please visit our website at animalmission.org.

2020 GOALS: In 2020, we hope to expand our program to include residents of Lexington County, based on the demonstrated effectiveness in Richland County over the last decade.

Such an expansion of our mission would be a significant step forward in our goal of elevating the entire Midlands area a pet-safe, 'No Kill' community.

CORPORATE GIVING OPPORTUNITIES: Our continued progress toward achieving ‘No Kill’ status for the Midlands relies solely on the generosity of our community in the form of corporate and individual contributions. Financial donations are welcome year round through our website at animalmission.org. Corporate donors are encouraged to contact us at info@ animalmission.org to discuss planned giving, major gifts and employee giving opportunities.

FUNDRAISING EVENTS: 13th Annual Palmetto Peanut Boil (September 2020) – Hosted each September on the 2900 block of Devine Street, this day-long festival celebrates the official state snack of SC, the boiled peanut, with a family friendly cooking competition and entertainment. All proceeds go directly

Giving: Your guide to community giving in the Midlands 49

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

MISSION STATEMENT: Susan G. Komen’s mission is to save lives by meeting the most critical needs in our communities and investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer.

QUICK FACTS: NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION: Susan G. Komen South Carolina YEAR ESTABLISHED LOCALLY: 1993 TOP LOCAL EXECUTIVE: Lucy Spears, Interim Executive Director 127 King St., Suite 205, Charleston, SC 29401 843-556-8011 www.komensouthcarolina.org CORPORATE GIVING CONTACTS: Lisa Jones, Community Engagement Manager 127 King St., Suite 205, Charleston, SC 29401 843-556-8011 lisa@KomenSC.org AVERAGE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS IN 2019: 200 TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET (2019-2020): $798,000 (no in-kind) PERCENT OF REVENUE DEDICATED TO PROGRAM SERVICES: 77%

A CLOSER LOOK: 2019 TOP ACHIEVEMENTS: • Provided more than $88,000 in community health grants serving at-risk populations.

Grantees include S.C. Cancer Alliance, Allendale County Hospital, McLeod Health and Greenville Cancer Society • Reached more than 50,000 South Carolinians with breast health education and financial aid resources • Trained more than 60 community ambassadors to educate their local communities • Surpassed $11 million in total funding of community health programs since our inception • Surpassed $2.1 million investment in breast cancer research since inception 2020 GOALS: • Implement direct service program including lay patient navigation and financial aid for men and women in need of screening and diagnostic services as well as treatment support for breast cancer patients • Increase breast health education reach in Richland and Lexington counties by 10% • Increase training of ambassadors and provide state wide meetings in Columbia

• Increase overall presence and impact in Columbia FUNDRAISING EVENTS: • Pink Tie Power People – January-March 2020 - Columbia, Charleston, Greenville • Swing for the Cure – Wild Dunes, Isle of Palms – Feb. 4-6, 2020 • Laugh for the Cure- Greenville - May 2020 • 2020 Lowcountry More Than Pink WalkOct. 24, 2020, Charleston • 2020 Mountains to Midlands More Than Pink Walk - Greenville (date to be determined) CORPORATE GIVING OPPORTUNITIES: • Sponsorships of any or all affiliate events • General donations and planned giving • Third-party fundraising events (business hosts fundraising event on behalf of Komen S.C.) • Matching donations of employees • Year-round sponsorship of mission programs (direct services, ambassador and educational outreach programs) • Sponsor and/or financially support a team at the More Than Pink Walk

GEOGRAPHIC AREA OR SPECIFIC POPULATION SERVED: the state of South Carolina, with the exception of York County GREATEST NEED: Financial support for direct services, including lay patient navigation and financial assistance for transportation, co-pays and deductibles, housing and utilities assistance.

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NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

MISSION STATEMENT: March of Dimes is a champion for families, focusing on communities with the greatest need and fighting for the best possible care for all moms and babies. In the state of South Carolina, 1 In 9 babies is born too soon and we are working to change that. We support research, lead programs and provide education and advocacy so that every baby can have the best possible start. Building on a successful 80-year legacy of impact and innovation, we empower every mom and every family.

QUICK FACTS: NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION: March of Dimes YEAR ESTABLISHED: Jan. 3, 1938 TOP LOCAL EXECUTIVE: Laura Goodwin, Executive Director www.marchofdimes.org CORPORATE GIVING CONTACTS: Julie Heyward, Development Manager (Signature Chefs Auction) 803-603-8262 jheyward@marchofdimes.org CORPORATE GIVING CONTACTS: Ashley Edmunds, Senior Development Manager (March for Babies) 803-707-4560 aedmunds@marchofdimes.org AVERAGE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS IN 2019: 3,000 GEOGRAPHIC AREA OR SPECIFIC POPULATION SERVED: Central South Carolina.

GREATEST NEED: Each year in SC, 57,209 babies are born too soon, 1,720 babies are born with a birth defect and 402 babies will die before their first birthday. In order to reduce these numbers, funding the March of Dimes' mission is essential to support our prematurity research centers, education, advocacy and community services. In addition to funds to support our crucial mission, corporate leadership and volunteers are also needed.

www.columbiabusinessreport.com

A CLOSER LOOK: 2019 TOP ACHIEVEMENTS: • Maternal Blood Testing - March of Dimes funded research at Stanford University where a blood test was developed using biomarkers in maternal blood that accurately identified 75 to 80 percent of pregnant women who would deliver babies up to two months prematurely.

This finding may help predict, and prevent, premature birth.

• Extended Our Global Reach - March of Dimes welcomed the first European Prematurity Research Center (PRC) at the Imperial College London. Brilliant minds are working together at the six PRCs to find the causes of prematurity and develop lifesaving solutions.

• Integrated a Prematurity Database Leadership at our Prematurity Research Center at Stanford created an openaccess database to integrate the work of researchers and clinicians to accelerate discoveries and advance research for all moms and babies.

• Advocacy - March of Dimes called for #BlanketChange and Congress passed the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act and the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act, two top advocacy priorities that have the potential to improve the lives of moms, babies and families across the country.

• Unite - March of Dimes serves on the Vision Team for the South Carolina Birth Outcomes Initiative. We also serve in an advocacy advisory role on the South Carolina Tobacco Free Coalition. March of Dimes works to strategically align our initiatives and activities to complement these ongoing efforts to address infant and maternal mortality and morbidity in South Carolina.

2020 GOALS: • NICU Family Support Program - NICU Family Support helps more than 50,000 families each year in more than 65 hospital partner sites by increasing families’ knowledge and confidence to care for their baby. We are working to bring this program to central SC hospitals in 2020.

• Decreasing Racial Disparities - As part of its Prematurity Campaign, the March of Dimes has funded research to understand the causes of racial and ethnic disparities, and interventions to help increase health equity. The March of Dimes is concerned about inequities in health and health care that contribute to higher rates of preterm birth among different racial and ethnic groups.

FUNDRAISING EVENTS: • Signature Chefs Auction, Nov. 7, 2019, 701 Whaley St., 6:30-10 p.m.

• March for Babies, May 1, 2020, Segra Park Registration 5:30 p.m.

• Prematurity Awareness Month Activities (Month of November) CORPORATE GIVING OPPORTUNITIES: The generosity of local businesses helps March of Dimes to fund research, education, advocacy and community services in South Carolina for healthy strong babies. The Columbia March of Dimes team can work with your business to develop a strategic plan to best fit your philanthropic goals and mission. Corporate sponsorships and gifts, local leadership opportunities, individual giving and local mission investment opportunities are just a few of the ways our Columbia chapter collaborates with local businesses to fight for strong moms and healthy babies.

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NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

MISSION STATEMENT: To be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives

QUICK FACTS: NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION: American Heart Association YEAR ESTABLISHED LOCALLY: 1989 TOP LOCAL EXECUTIVE: Crystal Kirkland, Executive Director 190 Knox Abbott Drive, Suite 301 803-806-3020 Fax: 803-787-0804 www.heart.org/Midlands AVERAGE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS IN 2019: 5,000 TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET (2019-2020): $1.22 million PERCENT OF REVENUE DEDICATED TO PROGRAM SERVICES: 81.8% is dedicated to the program services, including research, community services, public health education and professional education

A CLOSER LOOK: 2019 TOP ACHIEVEMENTS: • $2,574,440 was funded in cardiovascular research in South Carolina in 2019.

• Over 30,569 people trained in hands-only CPR in the Midlands • 22,415 students in the Midlands participated in activity-driven initiatives led by the AHA. • A Comprehensive Stroke System of Care was created in South Carolina. The Stroke Registry was created to capture stroke data and treatment in the state and all EMS authorities will begin using the same stroke transport protocols for stroke patients in line with a stroke facility designation plan.

2020 GOALS: To raise awareness and funds in the fight against the No. 1 and No. 5 killers of Americans — heart disease and stroke.

FUNDRAISING EVENTS: • 2020 Midlands Heart Ball: Friday, Feb. 21 at the USC Alumni Center, midlandsheartball. heart.org • 2020 Midlands Heart Walk: Saturday, March 28 at Colonial Life Arena, www. midlandsheartwalk.org • 2020 Midlands Go Red For Women Luncheon: Thursday, April 30 at the USC Alumni Center, goredmidlands.heart.org CORPORATE GIVING OPPORTUNITIES: Corporate donations are an essential piece to helping the American Heart Association fund its mission. Local event sponsorships are available at a variety of levels. In addition, the American Heart Association accepts financial contributions throughout the year. Corporate donors are encouraged to contact Crystal Kirkland, Executive Director of the Midlands Chapter, at 803.806.3020 for additional information.

GEOGRAPHIC AREA OR SPECIFIC POPULATION SERVED: The counties of Kershaw, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg and Richland GREATEST NEED: Heart disease is the No. 1 killer worldwide. Stroke ranks second globally and is the leading cause of severe disability.

Some form of cardiovascular disease affects more than one in every three adult Americans.

To fight these diseases, we fund innovative research, advocate for stronger public health policies, and provide critical tools and information to save and improve lives.

Financial contributions are needed to fund education, programs and life-saving research.

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NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

MISSION STATEMENT: We unite people and resources to improve the quality of life in the Midlands.

QUICK FACTS: NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION: United Way of the Midlands YEAR ESTABLISHED LOCALLY: 1925 TOP LOCAL EXECUTIVE: Sara Fawcett, President and CEO 1818 Blanding St., Columbia, SC 29201 803-733-5400 Fax: 803-758-6992 uway.org CORPORATE GIVING CONTACT: GB Olsen, Vice President, Resource Development 1818 Blanding St., Columbia, SC 29201 803-733-5422 golsen@uway.org AVERAGE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS IN 2018-2019: 3,204 direct service volunteers TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET (2019-2020): $9,440,534 PERCENT OF REVENUE DEDICATED TO PROGRAM SERVICES: 81.5% GEOGRAPHIC AREA OR SPECIFIC POPULATION SERVED: People in Calhoun, Fairfield, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg and Richland counties.

GREATEST NEED: In addition to funds to support our mission, our needs include volunteers for the Midlands Reading Consortium, K-2nd grade books for home libraries, toothbrushes for dental patients and volunteers and supplies for the annual Point-in-Time (PIT) count of people who are homeless.

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A CLOSER LOOK: 2019 TOP ACHIEVEMENTS: United Way-supported programs served more than 44,500 Midlands residents last year, nearly 90 percent of whom were at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.

United Way strives to have children ready for school, reading by third grade and involved in programs and services that maintain and improve their academic success.

• 21,136 parents demonstrated increased knowledge about their children’s development through school readiness and parent engagement programs.

• More than 570 children were tutored through United Way’s Midlands Reading Consortium program.

• 2,254 students participated in quality in and out of school time programs.

• United Way-supported programs placed more than 1,000 people experiencing homelessness into housing. An additional 115 youth ages 17-24 also were placed in housing.

• United Way and hospital partners established WellPartners to serve Richland, Lexington and Fairfield counties.

Services provided through WellPartners include eye and dental care for adults and dental care for children. All services are provided to people who are under insured or uninsured and have limited income.

• 2,970 adults and children visited the dental and eye clinics in 2018-2019, totaling almost 6,500 visits.

FUNDRAISING EVENTS: • December 13, 2019 - Women in Philanthropy Leadership Breakfast featuring Kathy Izard, 7:30-9 AM. Contact Sarah Brennecke, 733-5107, sbrennecke@ uway.org.

• January 2019 - Young Leaders Society Oyster Roast. Contact Kay DuGuay, 7335113, kduguay@uway.org.

• February 20, 2020 - Humanitarian of the Year, USC Alumni Center. Contact Becky Morrison, 733-5419, bmorrison@uway.org.

• March 2019 – LIVE UNITED Awards, Contact Alisa Wolf-Rogers, 803-733-5439.

• May 2019 - Women in Philanthropy Power of the Purse. Contact Sarah Brennecke, 733-5107, sbrennecke@uway.org.

CORPORATE GIVING OPPORTUNITIES: • United Way welcomes individuals and organizations to increase community capacity to care for itself through individual, leadership and major gifts, corporate gifts and sponsorship, and employee giving.

FOR INFORMATION ON: • Corporate Giving, Workplace Giving, Legacy Gifts, Major Gifts – GB Olsen, 7586992, golsen@uway.org • Individual/Retiree Giving - Claudia Brooks, 733-5112, cbrooks@uway.org • Leadership, Affinity Groups, Sponsorship and Co-Marketing Opportunities – Becky Morrison, 733-5419, bwych@uway.org.

2019-2020 GOALS: United Way of the Midlands’ threeyear strategic plan advances resource development and strategic impact goals in our focus areas of education, economic mobility and health. One key issue moving forward is a county-wide initiative to recognize, treat and prevent trauma among children and youth through the launch of a new program called Resilient Richland.

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