Love Where You Live

By JoAnn Turnquist

 

 

There’s a lot to love about the Midlands. From vibrant festivals and weekend events to beautiful parks and places to gather, our community offers much to do and many places to enjoy.

Recently, the Community Foundation announced our new grants initiative, Connected Communities. Inspired by the Knight Foundation and Gallup’s “Soul of the Community” report, our grants fund innovative projects that knit the community together, drawing people here and encouraging current residents to stay. Focusing on the reports’ three most important elements for an attractive community, the Foundation has funded nine projects that will indeed, help connect our communities. Some of the projects, including the new ADA accessible playground being built in Kershaw county, help make our community a welcoming place for all people. Others, like West Columbia’s city street beautification project, will help improve our public places. And still others will provide vibrant community events and arts and culture opportunities, from art exhibits to pop-up concerts.

But at the heart of what makes our community a wonderful place to live, work and play are the folks who live here-the individuals who care for the place where they live and want to make it better- the everyday philanthropists.

Philanthropy means “love of humanity,” so by definition, anyone who acts to improve human conditions is a philanthropist. When someone takes time to help a friend, shares ‘smarts’ with students learning to read or donates to a charity, they become a philanthropist. The more folks give, the more vibrant our community becomes, making it a place where people love to live and others want to join them

As we work to improve our community, we want to recognize the good work that is already being done. So, during the next twelve months our blog will tell the stories of the everyday philanthropists in our community, folks who love where they live and who through their actions are helping build a connected community.  We look forward to sharing these stories and hope they inspire you to love where you live and invest in its future.

 

Cheers!

JoAnn Turnquist

 

 

 

JoAnn M. Turnquist is the President & CEO of Central Carolina Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization that links charitable people and businesses with areas of need in the Midlands. To learn more about the Foundation and view more blog posts, visit yourfoundation.org.

 

 

 

 

 

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