Effective philanthropy requires due diligence and real communication with the community needing services, with those providing services, and with the donor community. Kiawah Cares hits a home run on every aspect. Because they are active in their service community, they have a first-hand knowledge of what is needed and what services are redundant. Because they foster regular interaction with local nonprofits, they know which ones are effective and how they can best help them fulfill their mission. By doing its share to understand why and how nonprofits are serving the community, Kiawah Cares has streamlined application and reporting requirements that are often so burdensome to nonprofits. As a recipient agency (BEGIN WITH BOOKS), this is truly appreciated. Finally, by sharing the needs and successes of area nonprofits with their community of donors, they have become trusted stewards of the area’s philanthropic dollars. It is a synergy that really works to benefit our community. Thank you, Kiawah Cares!
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Because of Kiawah Cares, the nonprofits serving Johns and Wadmalaw Islands (SC) are aware of the work other nonprofits are doing and work more effectively together. Kiawah Cares recently hosted a Volunteer Appreciation Event, which brought together many of the organization it supports. Through networking at this well-orchestrated event, BEGIN WITH BOOKS discovered a new way to partner with "Made With Love" to have a doubly positive impact on the children we serve: Made With Love provides hand-made newborn gift bags and cuddly back-to-school book-bag pillows for local children. BEGIN WITH BOOKS is providing brand-new, age-specific books to put in all the bags. Funding from Kiawah Cares is of course very important to our work, but Kiawah Cares is more than just a funder; it is the local "Synergizer Bunny"!
KCF has helped Haut Gap Middle tackle issues that are often not thought of as "school issues". From hunger to clothing to access to field trips. KCF continues to enhance and improve our school climate and the experiences of our students year to year.
Kiawah Cares is an active nonprofit on the sea islands. We often see their name associated with the senior center, the local schools and more. The John's Island Regional Library hosts Kiawah Cares bimonthly meeting (CASI)for all local organizations working to help our community. Community Association of the Sea Islands meets in order to share the needs they are seeing and the organizations work together to meet these needs. Kiawah Cares often support the library in publicizing our events, funding projects for us when our budget does not stretch far enough and overall is a great support organization.
When we renovated our house, we had cabinets, appliances and other household goods in good condition ready for a new home. Kiawah Cares was so easy to work with, and it was a pleasure to provide value for other homes in need of new equipment.
Kiawah Cares helps us in many ways: volunteers and financially. They are so willing and generous of spirit, time, and financial resources.
Kiawah Cares is an excellent organization that help the schools and nonprofits on the Sea Islands. I am the executive director of Soulfully Creative Kids and Kiawah ares sponsored our event. We were able to have professional lighting and sound for our event and it really brought the community together. They allowed our kids to recreate special memories and moments by paying tribute to the music from the 60s-90s. We are proud to be partners with Kiawah Cares.
The amazing efforts of Kiawah Cares provides wonderful opportunities for our island's students and families. Keep up the good work!
Barrier Islands Little League has had a successful 2017 baseball season. Without Kiawah Cares support we could not have given our young players the opportunity they received. The impact Kiawah Cares made on the League was at all levels:
- Team Sponsorship of the Kiawah Cares Bobcats T-Ball Team.
- Actually attending the games, not just writing a check.
- Residents Rick Flarity & Jim Mieszala assisted in work weekends and coached our players ages 6 to 12.
- Reaching out to all your contacts to find more team sponsors.
- Purchasing our Majors team uniforms for tournament play to participate in the Little League World Series when our funds were low.
- Having an open door policy to allow the League to call at any time for your assistance.
Baseball has been played on our fields going back to the 1950's. We are devoted to fair play and sportsmanship. Our number one priority is that players who choose to play in our league enjoy their experience and create lasting, positive memories. We expect that all participants in our league including Coaches, Players, Parents and Officials have the same mindset and contribute to building the exceptional experience for all those involved in the game.
Our goals will always be the same each year. We have some aggressive goals for 2018 for building the leaders of tomorrow. We will continue to ask for your help to make this happen. The donations and sponsorships allow us to give our players the physical experience of playing with the best equipment to be played on the best fields. The one thing we love the most is the experience and time that your volunteers have given and will continue to give the Barrier Islands Little League in 2018. Play Ball!!!!
Your Team,
Barrier Islands Little League
Kiawah Cares is wonderful. They volunteer and provide financial support for the Back-to-School distribution at Hebron Zion Presbyterian Church and its Hands of Christ program where children in need receive clothes and school supplies.
Our foundation’s 5 year partnership with Kiawah Cares has helped provide weekend food for children at risk of hunger on neighboring islands. Their assistance with our fundraising has helped feed approximately 300 children every week. They are the best!
Yo Art Inc is very grateful for the support that Kiawah Cares has given to us over the past four years that allowed us to initiate ten week programs in media arts at Angel Oak Elementary and last year a coding program at Mt Zion Elementary , another Title One school. Both of these programs have helped fifth graders to engage in their studies in a better way and raise test scores.
These schools have benefited greatly from Kiawah Cares funding to our organization and in turn helped us with our mission i.e. to encourage students to discover their creative potential.
We are so very thankful for the support of Kiawah Cares provides at Angel Oak Elementary School! They have been instrumental in supporting so many wonderful opportunities for our students in the areas of literacy, summer programming, classroom support and more! As a Title I school, we feel blessed to have the support of such a committed and caring foundation that truly cares about the well-being and success of all of our students.
Being a Sea Island resident and seeing first hand the disparity throughout, I applaud the efforts of Kiawah Cares. With partners in education, community goodwill, elder and impaired care and veteran interests they reach a broad range of needs.
As a volunteer with our church's Community Home Improvement Program I have worked with the folks from Kiawah Cares in a number of important ways. They have made available hundreds of household items, furniture and appliances donated by caring people on Kiawah for us to provide to our neighbors in need. They have also contributed significant funding to our ministry that helps pay for building materials used to repair and make safe our neighbor's homes. Without a doubt they always live up to the "CARES" element of their name. We are blessed to know and work with them.
Kiawah Cares has been a tremendous partner and support for the Communities In Schools of the Charleston Area. Their dedication to assisting students and their families in the Johns Island schools has had a lasting impact. We can't thank the Kiawah Cares team and the Kiawah community enough for their extensive generosity.
Music For Life an academic music academy sponsored by The Companion Foundation worked closely with Kiawah Cares on a fundraiser for another non profit Communities In Schools. Kiawah Care organized the event including communications, space and food. They did a highly effective job and the event was very successful.
This group is comprised of miracle workers ! I work with two non-profits that KC partners with on many of our projects. No matter what we find ourselves needing ( materials or funds to repair houses, replace burned or flooded furniture or start a cottage industry to help break the cycle of generational poverty, even providing material to help educate our participants on ways to help themselves) they have always found a way to help us or find someone else who can help us. Their enthusiasm and energy to find solutions for helping the community seems boundless.
This group has strong leadership focused on doing the best work on behlf of its community. As the principal of St. John's High School, I count on them for all types of support and have been so impressed with their willingness to lean in and support!
As Angel Oak Elementary school’s Community Partner, Kiawah Cares supports our students, parents, teachers, and administrators. With their help, our students can attend exciting education field trips. They make possible conversations between the principal, and our mothers, fathers, and grandparents through the breakfast times they assist in providing. Our hard working teachers receive aid with bus services for off-campus events and supplies for school performances. Administrators are encouraged by Kiawah Cares thoughtful donations to the teachers’ classrooms which enhance the learning environment and builds morale.
Our partnership with Kiawah Cares has helped change the trajectory for many struggling K-5 readers on Johns Island. Kiawah Cares has helped us recruit community volunteers to provide one-on-one instruction for over 100 Johns Island students who are reading below grade level. The commitment has helped produce proud, confident learners who are ready for success in school and in life.
In just a few years, Kiawah Cares has become a force on South Carolina’s sea islands. Their meetings bring local nonprofits together on a regular basis and have our increased visibility and collaboration. The organization has been proactive in offering volunteer and financial support almost before we knew we needed it. Kiawah Cares is professionally run with a generous spirit – a powerful combination! Patty Bennett, co-director, BEGIN WITH BOOKS, Charleston County affiliate of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
Kiawah Cares has been an invaluable resource to both Frierson and Mt. Zion Elementary schools. They are in constant communication with us about the resources they have to offer, and are always inquiring about any holes that need to be filled. Their efficiency and reliability has been a great service to our students. They have "adopted" over 60 students in need over the past two years to provide school supplies, uniforms, and holiday gifts. This particular program has been so appreciated by not only our faculty and staff, but the families as well.
- Corinne Crawford, Communities In Schools of the Charleston Area
Kiawah Cares has been an active resource for Haut Gap Middle for many years. They have supported our students and families in a number of ways made it possible for some of our students to have life experiences they otherwise could not afford. They are experts in connecting people with community resources and tangible items. We are lucky to have them so close by! -Lee McLeod, Communities in Schools at Haut Gap Middle School
Kiawah Cares has been a huge support in helping find volunteers for our program, but also in funding our program benefitting children in Elementary and Middle schools.
Kiawah Cares has continued to be an incredible resource for the community- providing connections, visibility and support towards projects that directly benefit those living on the islands. I highly recommend reaching out to them and seeing if there are opportunities to collaborate.
As a non-profit community partner, we have always had highly positive and beneficial experiences with this organization. They have helped us spread the word about what we do in the community, and we have seen the many great things they have helped organize and accomplish in a large rural area with many needs.
Kiawah Cares makes a difference in our community. By supporting other local groups that manage the many needs on our islands, KC expands its reach and its impact. The Point has benefited from the Foundation. Thank You!
Kiawah Cares has been incredibly helpful in bringing awareness of the needs of the Sea Island communities to those of us who call Kiawah home. The KC team identify and vet the needs and then help harness the incredible resources available through the residents of Kiawah. The Kiawah Cares staff are capable, enthusiastic, well organized and have such great hearts for our communities. In addition to being able to help those in need, we are so very proud of the image and perspective the KC team present of Kiawah to the general area. We participate in many KC programs: We have engaged our grandchildren in the KC annual Coats Drive for elementary school kids (see photo) and work throughout the year with the KC team in their efforts to coordinate making cards, blankets (see photo), shawls, scarves, hats, and assembling toiletry items to provide basic necessities and comfort to those less fortunate. All this is possible thanks to the initiative, caring hearts and quality work of the Kiawah Cares teams.