CCCF Celebrates 30 Years with Acts of Giving Across Midlands
October 22, 2014
What “Acts of Giving” Are Next for Central Carolina Community Foundation?
Celebrating 30 More Years of Giving with Fun, Kind-hearted New Initiative
#WhyIGiveSC
COLUMBIA, SC – In a spirited move intended to create little (and big) “Wow!” moments throughout the Midlands, Central Carolina Community Foundation is doing something out of the ordinary. There are two parts to the plan, both designed to engage our community:
1. 30 More Years of Giving: a series of not-so-random “Acts of Giving”
To celebrate its 30th anniversary as the Midlands’ expert on philanthropy, Central Carolina Community Foundation has launched 30 More Years of Giving, an initiative devoted to giving back via multiple “Acts of Giving” in partnership with an array of local nonprofits throughout Fall 2014. (See below for detailed descriptions.)
2. The $10,000 #WhyIGiveSC Social Media Contest
As its biggest, most visible Act of Giving, in late October the Foundation will announce details of a $10,000 social media contest that asks the question, “Why do you give?” Track the latest Acts of Giving and stay tuned for contest alerts via the #WhyIGiveSC hashtag on Twitter and, after November 3rd, via www.yourfoundation.org/whyigivesc.
In leading by example, 30 More Years of Giving encourages everyone to become a philanthropist by donating their time, talents or treasure to making our community a more caring and appealing place to live. Generous acts, no matter the size, add up and have a huge impact on the community. That’s exactly the frame of mind the Foundation hopes to inspire among citizens of the Midlands.
“30 More Years of Giving follows on the footsteps of Midlands Gives, the Foundation’s 24-hour online day of giving.” said JoAnn Turnquist, President & CEO. “In our community, we watched in early May as over 5,000 small gifts were “magnified” on Midlands Gives day. The simple act of selecting a charity and pushing a button online resulted in over $705,000 raised for local nonprofits. This example proves what we see time and time again – that simple acts and small gifts add up quickly and really do make a difference.”
Acts of Giving, Stories of Impact
While the icing on the 30th anniversary cake will be the $10,000 contest announced later in October, the Foundation is partnering with local organizations on these Acts of Giving:
INNERSOLE Tip Off with Dawn Staley in Sumter, S.C.
The anniversary celebration tipped off on August 16, 2014 with a back-to-school bash in Sumter County with University of South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley. The Foundation partnered with INNERSOLE, Staley’s charity, to give away 59 new pairs of athletic shoes to low-income children from the M.H. Newton Family Life Center. Staley still remembers how she felt when she received her first pair of brand new athletic shoes – shoes that were squeaky clean and all hers – and she is devoted to sharing that feeling with all children.
Going to the Dogs at Saluda Shoals Park in Irmo, S.C.
The Foundation also celebrated its birthday in style on Sept. 25, 2014 by donating a gift – a new spray fire hydrant for dogs in Saluda Shoals Park, the second most visited tourist attraction in the Midlands. Event attendees and their furry companions received homemade dog biscuits while they checked out the new spray hydrant in the dog park. The Foundation hopes the new spray fire hydrant will encourage people and their pets to stay active and enjoy all that Saluda Shoals Park has to offer.
Keeping Cool at Rhythm on the River
On Oct. 10, the Foundation sponsored a Fall Rhythm on the River concert featuring Bob Michalski & Friends, with jazz saxophonist Andy Shull, at West Columbia’s Riverwalk Amphitheater. This event brought folks together for a foot-tapping evening of great music. Good places for people to meet and enjoy vibrant nightlife are what make communities like ours thrive.
Finding More than Just Fun at the SC State Fair
During the South Carolina State Fair, the Foundation provided entry fees and unlimited ride passes to the fair on special event days for high school students via a partnership with the University of South Carolina Department of Physics and Astronomy, and for senior citizens in cooperation with Senior Resources. Physics Day, Oct. 14, gave students the opportunity to see physics at work in the real world. Through their STEM education, students are learning skills that prepare them for today’s engineering and science careers. Senior Day, Oct. 15, gave seniors the opportunity to enjoy a fun social outing outside of their homes, encouraging them to remain physically and mentally active.
Conservation for the Future
On Oct. 24, the Foundation will host a luncheon with Palmetto Conservation Foundation to thank Youth Challenge Academy and other Palmetto Trail volunteers for their commitment to conserve the natural and cultural resources of South Carolina and promote outdoor recreation through trails and greenways. Their project brings together conservationists young and old, giving future generations some of the best gifts possible – a clean environment and the commitment to preserve it.
Sending Thanks to our Veterans
In celebration of our Veterans, the Foundation is connecting middle school students with active military personnel to thank them for all that they have done for our country. With the help of the Auntie Karen Foundation, an organization that educates students through the arts, these students will sew a pouch to attach to the Olivia the Octopus toy, donated by Central Carolina Community Foundation and inspired by Auntie Karen’s book, A Hug While I’m Away. The pouch will hold the recorded voice of the parent who is being deployed – a special treasure for the child to hear and hug.
Family Fun at Elloree Heritage Museum
Elloree Heritage Museum and Central Carolina Community Foundation are partnering in November to celebrate the joy of spending time with loved ones. The Foundation will sponsor free admission to the museum on Saturday, November 22. The museum will provide fun and educational activities for families to enjoy together.
Healthy Harvests, Healthy Community
Throughout Fall 2014, students in the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice’s Blazers and Camp Aspen community programs are learning how to grow and harvest their own fruits and veggies with help from Historic Columbia and its gardens. They will celebrate their hard work in early December with a chef-prepared dinner at Terra featuring fresh ingredients from their very own garden. Central Carolina Community Foundation hopes this event will provide students with the knowledge they need to support themselves and maintain healthy lifestyles.
What’s Next? Find Out About the Latest Acts of Giving via #WhyIGiveSC
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CentralCarolinaCommunityFoundation
Twitter: @CCCFtweets | https://twitter.com/cccftweets
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/cccfpics
Website: http://www.yourfoundation.org
Jump In
Midlands residents are encouraged to visit www.yourfoundation.org to learn how they too can get involved and give back to their community. The Foundation’s online guide, “Make the Most of Your Giving,” provides information about philanthropy and provides the tools for everyone to give to causes they care about in a safe, responsible way.
To learn more about Central Carolina Community Foundation and 30 More Years of Giving, please contact the Foundation at [email protected] and (803) 254-5601, or visit www.yourfoundation.org.
Happening Now at the Foundation:
• JoAnn Turnquist, President and CEO, was awarded the Palmetto Vision Award by the S.C. Chamber of Commerce on Sept. 18, 2014.
• Registration for participating nonprofits is underway for Midlands Gives, May 5, 2015.
• Over $150,000 in scholarships were awarded by the Foundation across its 11-county service area in the Midlands this year.
• The Foundation’s annual Best of Philanthropy Awards will be held Nov. 13, 2014 in Columbia, S.C.
• The Foundation is celebrating its 30th year as the expert in philanthropy in the Midlands.
About Central Carolina Community Foundation
Central Carolina Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization serving 11 counties in the Midlands by distributing grants and scholarships and linking the resources of donors, nonprofits and area leaders to communities in need. For more information about the Foundation, visit www.yourfoundation.org or call 803.254.5601.
