Jefferson Awards Foundation adds three community leaders to its board
November 19, 2015
CHARLESTON, SC – The Jefferson Awards Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building a culture of service across America, announced today that three new members have been appointed to the organization’s statewide board from the Lowcountry: Claire Gibbons, Sharon Graci, and Leigh Handal.
“We are thrilled to have Claire, Sharon, and Leigh joining our board from the Lowcountry,” said chair Cameron Blazer. “These three women bring with them a wealth of expertise and a passion for our mission that will help drive the organization forward in 2016 and beyond.”
Claire Gibbons is the Director of Marketing & Communications for the Charleston Regional Development Alliance (CRDA), the economic development agency for the three-county Charleston metro. She directs a multi-tiered global branding and communications program positioning Charleston as an international destination for business, talent, and entrepreneurs. A member of the Leadership South Carolina Class of 2016, she is a recipient of the 2012 Influential Women in Business – Rising Star Award and a 2013 Forty Under 40 Award winner for outstanding leadership.
Sharon Graci is the Founder and Artistic Director of PURE Theater. She is a member of the Liberty Fellowship’s Class of 2011 and serves on the Board of Directors of the South Carolina Theatre Association. Sharon is the recipient of a South Carolina Artist Fellowship in Acting and a member of the Lincoln Center Director’s Lab. She is a founding member and past president of the League of Charleston Theatres and is also a member of the Screen Actors Guild.
A 2012 graduate of Furman University’s Riley Diversity Leadership Institute, Leigh Handal has 30 years’ experience in communications and development, having led advocacy initiatives in the preservation, coastal sustainability, higher education, and animal welfare fields. She has won numerous awards for her public awareness programs as well as for her volunteer work. In addition to joining the Jefferson Awards, Leigh currently serves on the board of the SC Lowcountry Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Gibbons, Graci, and Handal join the Jefferson Awards Foundation board in South Carolina during a period of exponential growth within the organization’s long history. This year WCIV News Channel 4 joined the Jefferson Awards’ nationwide network of media partners and has recently launched programming that honors local community members for their outstanding service to the Lowcountry. Additionally, the Jefferson Awards’ flagship youth service-learning and leadership development program, Students In Action, has expanded to high schools in Charleston, Dorchester, Berkeley, Georgetown, Colleton, and Hampton Counties—among others throughout the state. The Lowcountry committee of the Jefferson Awards board in South Carolina provides governance for these programs across our region.
“The Jefferson Awards Foundation remains committed to its mission of building a culture of service by honoring local heroes through WCIV while cultivating the next generation of Lowcountry leaders through Students In Action,” said Heather Love, the South Carolina State Director of the Jefferson Awards. “The addition of experienced and dedicated individuals like Claire, Sharon, and Leigh to our board is further demonstration of our foundation’s growth and dedication to fulfilling this mission in the greater Charleston area.”
About the Jefferson Awards Foundation
The Jefferson Awards Foundation (JAF) is the country’s longest standing and most prestigious organization dedicated to activating and celebrating public service. Founded in 1972 by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, former Senator Robert Taft, Jr., and Samuel S. Beard, JAF trains and empowers individuals to serve and lead in their communities, amplifying their impact through the organization’s vast network of media, business, and youth-service partners. To learn more about the Jefferson Awards Foundation, visit JeffersonAwards.org or follow them on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
Click here to nominate someone for a Jefferson Award to be recognized on WCIV, ABC News 4.
Additional information on Students In Action can be found at http://studentsinaction.jeffersonawards.org
