Nonprofits in SC

The work that Wings for Kids does for children is phenomenal and so critical. Teaching kids life lessons and mentoring to them at such as impressionable ages is absolutely necessary. The staff at Wings for Kids deserves all the credit in the world; especially during this pandemic. Thank you for all that you do for our communities!

Pleased to follow Asia Wild’s launch here in the United States. Impressed that the mission not only follows and supports Asian animals abroad, but their care and support domestically. Cheers for your great work.

A play about the USS Liberty takes the stage this month. It is the heart wrenching story of what happened to the USS Liberty on that fateful day June 8, 1967. It is entitled "Enemies Within" and is adapted by Candie Johnson from the screen play by Clint Burnette. It tells the story of the ship that came under fire by Israeli forces and those who survived, especially three particular sailors Ernie Gallo, Ron Kukal, and Phill Tourney who tell their particular personal stories. It is a tribute to the 34 sailors who were killed and the 174 who were wounded. Their story will be told.

I have been associated with the NAPAL Boxing Club since the 1990s. It is rare to have a Boxing program that has been in continuous operation for that long and under the same leadership. The late Noah Newman and his wife have managed to do just that in North Augusta South Carolina. I have personally lost count of the (probably thousands) kids that have been impacted by the program. Boxing seems to attract and service at-risk kids perhaps more than many other sports. At the NAPAL there is a real family atmosphere which is needed and appreciated by the kids, many of whom come from lees than ideal family situations. JoAnne is referred to as Ma and Noah was known to the kids as Pops. And when their real mothers and fathers were not there for them, they always knew that they could, and still can, count on Ma and Pops. Boxing is important and the club has a tremendous record of producing outstanding boxers; but winning was the icing on the cake. The important thing has always been the kids. Maybe a bit unusual as you see videos of some youth sports competitions where winning is everything. So this is definitely a Winning Program and a Great Non-Profit.<br>Nelson Sayford<br>Augusta Georgia

From Victim to Survivor: A Story of Hope<br>Hope Haven of the Lowcountry<br>www.hopehavenlc.org<br><br> A young woman is raped by her boyfriend. She tells him no, she does not want to have that type of sex with him, but he doesn&rsquo;t listen and he forces her. Afterwards, she is bruised, beaten and betrayed. She calls the police and is taken to the nearest hospital. Her boyfriend is arrested, but he may not even be held overnight and could be home before her. Already feeling violated and exposed, her clothing is taken from her as collection of evidence in the investigation and she is asked to wait in a room she can&rsquo;t leave in nothing but a hospital gown, which after her assault makes her feel more exposed. The nurse shows a stranger into the room. He says he&rsquo;s a volunteer advocate from Hope Haven of the Lowcountry, a child advocacy and rape crisis center. He begins telling her what Hope Haven is, how they offer counseling, legal services, medical referrals, and advocacy for her. He tells her that what happened to her is not her fault, and that what she was wearing, how sober she was, or who she had sex with in the past should ever be used as reasons to justify her rape. Rape is never justified. He tells her that the doctor is going to collect evidence from her body and it is going to make her feel more violated, but it is the best option to make sure she gets justice for the crime committed against her. She has the option to not report or to collect the evidence and report later. She decides to go through with the exam and all the evidence is collected. Afterwards, the advocate asks her about her safety and whether or not she wants to go home. She says she doesn&rsquo;t feel safe. So, the advocate gives her the contact information for a local domestic abuse shelter and she calls and makes the arrangements. She spends the night at the hospital. But, before she goes to sleep she knows that tomorrow she has somewhere safe to go, that an advocate was by her side when no else could be, that her evidence was handled properly by the hospital and the detectives, and that tomorrow someone from the Hope Haven staff would be there for her.<br> As a volunteer advocate, I&rsquo;ve seen assault victims just like this one. I&rsquo;ve been that stranger who had to walk into a hospital room and tell a victim that everything would be okay. I became a volunteer two years ago after graduating from college and moving back home to Beaufort, SC. I started volunteering at my church and that is where I learned about Hope Haven. After going to Mercer University and where I learned about the horrors of rape, sexual assault, and sex trafficking throughout the world, I wanted to do my small part to help within my community. After 25 hours of training, I learned how to be an advocate for victims of sexual assault, and how many obstacles they face when reporting their assault. I learned that most victims don&rsquo;t report for fear of being blamed. I learned that 1 in 4 women will be assaulted in their lifetime and 1 in 6 men will be assaulted in theirs. I learned that only 6% of assailants will ever be convicted for their assault. And, I learned that rape and sexual assault are not far flung problems in big cities, foreign countries, and differing cultures across the sea, but is an epidemic worldwide, even in our own community. While this is usually a subject that many people choose to ignore, I stand with Hope Haven that it is an issue that needs discussion and more importantly needs action.<br>Hope Haven is the road to recovery for children and adult victims of trauma in 5 counties of the South Carolina Lowcountry. Last year, they serviced 544 clients with counselling, support groups, and advocacy, while also furthering prevention efforts in at-risk homes and local schools to stop the epidemic from spreading. While I hope I can make a small difference in the life of a victim, I know that Hope Haven makes all the difference in the world. Their biggest goal is to make every victim, their friends, family, and society around them, no longer see themselves as victims, but to empower them as survivors and help them get back to living life.<br>

Habitat Greenville is a wonderful organization. I love the Habitat model, where families go through a homeownership preparation program, and participate in building their own home and the homes of others. When you volunteer with Habitat, you know you're having a direct impact on someone's future!

This organization has been on the forefront of improving and impacting the lives of individuals and their families living with issues concerning disabilities in the state of South Carolina.

I volunteered with the construction team. It was the most rewarding experience ive ever had. They are the best.

I adopted my dog, Frida, from the Greenville Humane Society. They rescued her from a bad situation and their foster manager took care of her for a few months before she was ready to be adopted. I am so thankful to have my wonderful little dog, and for the big hearts who took care of her to make her well again.

Excellent help for children with special needs. My wife volunteers there and we support this wonderful institution wholeheartedly

I am a member of the museum. I love the interesting and education exhibits they bring to Greenville. Even better are the lectures they bring! I cannot find the right words to describe how much I love this place.

They killed a pregnant momma kitty's babies by spaying her before she could give birth. This happened even after I offered to foster her until her babies were born and weaned but was told no because they had plenty of room to take care of her . This is NOT a no-kill shelter!!

ACTS in Aiken, South Carolina, provides temporary emergency service as well as helping the clients develop a plan and path forward for becoming self-secure. I am involved in two distinct ways: as a staff member at the major contributing church of the large number involved, I am grateful for the resource which is ACTS. When clients in need come to our very large church for emergency help, it is comforting to know that sending them to ACTS begins the process of helping with the urgency. Further, the client can share with the trained interview the whole picture with which they are dealing, leading to referrals and coordination with sister agencies in our community. I am also a member of the Board of ACTS, devoting support for 5 years in this formal sense. Area Churches Together Serving is well run, and critically important to our community. We have just opened 2nd ACTS, and would be thrilled to receive your $10,000!

Celebrating 50 years of service to Seniors in the Lowcountry! <br> <br>Charleston Area Senior Citizen's Services, Inc. was founded November 29, 1967 and led by founding chairman Nicholas J. Sottile, to help frail impoverished seniors in the Lowcountry. <br>Overseeing the Charleston Area Meals on Wheels program, during our 2016-2017 fiscal year 161,500 meals were delivered to frail seniors in their homes by delivery technicians that check visually on each seniors well-being; 310 clients were provided a thirty day Emergency Food Box; 378 at-risk seniors were provided help in finding emergency shelter, food and medications; 8925 hot lunches were served at our Senior Center located at 259 Meeting Street; 60 Foster Grandparents volunteered over 46,000 hours at 38 sites benefitting over 400 at-risk children ten years of age or younger; and, 61 Senior Companions volunteered more than 48,000 hours to assist 150 frail elderly residents and help allow them to continue to live independently. <br> <br>Charleston Area Meals on Wheels serves frail seniors in Charleston and parts of Berkeley and Dorchester counties. <br> <br>Volunteer opportunities abound in the following areas: <br>Meals on Wheels: packaging and assisting on delivery routes <br>Senior Center Activities and stocking Food Pantries <br>Foster Grandparents--senior stipends available <br>Senior Companions--senior stipends available <br>Ansonborough House--assist with phones and food mart <br> <br>Thank you for donating. Just $5.50 will cover the cost of food, packaging and delivering one meal to the home of a hungry senior. For many of our seniors this delivery is their #OneHotMeal Monday through Friday, and the delivery technician the only human contact they will have each day. Please donate today! Thank you! <br> <br> <br>

Kiawah Island Natural Habitat Conservancy is an accredited land trust. Accreditation means Kiawah Island Natural Habitat Conservancy meets national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. Kiawah Island Natural Habitat Conservancy has demonstrated to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission its commitment to excellence. Accredited land trusts meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. These land trusts demonstrate their commitment to excellence by adopting Land Trust Standards and Practices, the ethical and technical guidelines for the responsible operation of a land trust, and meeting the accreditation requirements drawn from them. Learn More: http://www.landtrustaccreditation.org.

Please choose this center over the center for counseling and wellness. They are honest and provide services despite your lack of income.

my friend rose higgins was killed in six mile. a bycyclist ran her over she was 6 months pregnant because of her injuries she died and the baby also died .her family has no insurance and no money to bury her and the baby as of right now she is at dillard funeral home in cold storage .i am trying to contact anyone and everyone that may possibly help.any amount would be greatly appreciated.please contact me at...... collinscher50@gmail.com thank you for your time cher cole

Edisto Island Open Land Trust is an accredited land trust. Accreditation means Edisto Island Open Land Trust meets national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. Edisto Island Open Land Trust has demonstrated to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission its commitment to excellence. Accredited land trusts meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. These land trusts demonstrate their commitment to excellence by adopting Land Trust Standards and Practices, the ethical and technical guidelines for the responsible operation of a land trust, and meeting the accreditation requirements drawn from them. Learn More: http://www.landtrustaccreditation.org/about.

Beaufort County Open Land Trust is an accredited land trust. Accreditation means Beaufort County Open Land Trust meets national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. Beaufort County Open Land Trust has demonstrated to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission its commitment to excellence. Accredited land trusts meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. These land trusts demonstrate their commitment to excellence by adopting Land Trust Standards and Practices, the ethical and technical guidelines for the responsible operation of a land trust, and meeting the accreditation requirements drawn from them. Learn More: http://www.landtrustaccreditation.org/about.

For over 100 years, South America Mission has served God through missionaries and partners working to share the gospel, reproduce authentic disciples of Jesus, plant churches, train leaders and equip God’s people to minister transformationally. Over 150 dedicated missionaries serve in five countries in South America impacting that region for the sake of the Gospel.<br><br>I love so many things about this fine organization! What stands out is the organization's mission to equip leaders and to enable the people of God in this great continent to multiply churches and to spread the Gospel. Redeemed lives, beautiful churches, transformed communities! I am delighted to support this fine mission organization.

The operator of this facility ,gave my wife a contract with a clause which states you must give a 14 month notice to cancel a day event . My wife had started planning a wedding about 9 months in advance. The individual named Lynn Thompson, failed to inform my wife personally, it was on the contract . It was different from the Parks and recreation of North Augusta, (Lynn Thompson) took a check for $1200.00 and only would refund $300.00 for trash pickup . And refused to return the remaining $900.00 after my wife tried to get her money back after 2months and some days. Lynn Thompson has plenty of time to re schedule another event. I believe she is not running this facility to the best interest. That's very harsh ,when she admitted she had actually presented the wrong contract, and failed to tell my wife her contract differs from other parks in North Augusta,S.C.. The contract was non-cancelable once signed. She has had an attorney draw up this contract , to make it difficult to give patrons their money back .BEWARE

While most of what RMSCA does is to sponsor active and hands-on lessons in science and social studies to school classes Monday-Friday, some of the same exciting programs are open to the public. The planetarium shows every Friday night are awesome in the full-dome setting, enabling us to really see and learn about our heavens. The monthly Second Saturday events, such as Engineering Day, STEM Fest and even the Blueberry Festival, are a great way to be introduced to and explore all fields of science, math and engineering. We are lucky to have this entity focus on STEM learning as well as provide a natural setting with the Living History Farm right in the city. They seem to operate very effectively, being frugal with limited resources, as they plan to upgrade and expand with the future. They are welcoming to volunteers and need additional ones.

I know this organization helps many in need, but my personal experience trying to attain assistance for my 89 year old grandmother left me disappointed. I went in to ask about the commodity supplemental food program and was told by the receptionist the program was closed. I asked for an application and she said she would give me one but they were not accepting new members. No one else was visible on 10/17/2013 when I entered the building, just a large empty room with the desk clerk. She didn't offer any help with other programs or ask if she could assist me in any way. It seemed to me that I was wasting my time even though my grandmother fell well within the eligibility guidelines and struggles with her limited income to make ends meet. I hope that my experience was an aberration and not the kind of help someone in need would get when they contact the organization in person

It's great that the city of Orangeburg has such dedicated volunteers to run and perform in the wonderful plays and musicals that are done at this playhouse. Without this here, the citizens would have to go many miles to find plays of this caliber.

Here is just a quick observation from looking at the data: they laid off two people this year under the pretense of budget concerns, while nearly tripling the tuition revenues in the last ten years. And, as I pointed out in detail below, administrative salaries have risen much faster than faculty salaries. All of the following is from the 1997-1998 and 2007-2008 form 990s: Tuition 1997-1998 $3.6 million 2007-2008 $10.2 million Net Assets (line 21, page 1) 1997-1998 $2.2 million 2007-2008 $13.98 million Total Expenses (IV-B e) 1997-1998 $4.4 million 2007-2008 $11.95 million Salaries (line 26) 1997-1998 $2.6 million 2007-2008 $6.4 million Administrative salaries (2008-2009): 1) De Pencier - $277,611 (+$35,000 = $312,611?) || 2007-2008: $204,750 || 2006-2007: $195,000 2) Michael Collins - $234,291 3) Bob Davis - $167,512 || 2007-2008: $161,408 || 2006-2007: $155,350 4) Chris Angel - $129,485 || 2007-2008: $113,530 || 2006-2007: $104,420 5) Julie Brooks - $101,047 In other words, every single administrator received a pay raise every year. Some were substantial (Chris Angel got 14%!). This is after raises from the previous year, and while faculty pay was frozen! Here are the year over year percent changes in salaries for the same positions from 07-08 to 08-09: (calculated as increase divided by original) 1) De Pencier: +35.6% ($204 to $277) 2) Bob Davis: +3.8% ($161 to $167.5) 3) Chris Angel: +14.1% ($113.5 to $129.5) Here is what some other top people made in 2007-2008. Blair Lowery: $91,000 Matt Radtke: $81,000 Tracie Ifkovits: $85,500 Herb Barks: $75,000 (part V-B) Paul Ragan: $72,800 Here's 2006-2007: Herb Barks: $113,000 (section V-B) Rick McCormick (MS Head): $84,892 Julia Moore (Admissions): $66,720 Tracie Ifkovits: $75,850 Paul Ragan: $69,600 Here are the year over year percent changes in salaries for the same positions from 06-07 to 07-08: Adam De Pencier: +5.0% Bob Davis: +3.9% Chris Angel: +8.7% Blair Lowery: +7.2% Matt Radtke: +21.4% Tracie Ifkovits: +12.7% Paul Ragan: +4.6% Check out the "Mortgages and Notes Payable" section near the end of the 2007-2008 form. They increased the debt load of the school by $8.7 million dollars in June 2005 with two loans from Carolina First Bank, ostensibly for construction. While the $3.7 million loan has a 5.7% interest rate and is being repaid normally, strangely enough, the other $5 million loan is being paid interest only and neither of the forms (2007, 2008) have the interest rate listed for that loan. So one has to wonder how much the school is spending by having an interest-only loan at an unknown rate?