The Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation awards $180,000 to six South Carolina organizations

More than $4.1 million in grants awarded since Foundation’s inception

Each year, the band donates to different organizations that align with the priority areas that the band selects for the year.  This year, six organizations with projects focusing on housing, recovery, community arts, and arts education have been granted $180,000 by The Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation. Each organization will receive a yearly grant of $10,000 for three years, amounting to $30,000 per organization. The Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation has awarded over $4.1 million in financial support to South Carolina nonprofits and public schools since 2000.

“We are honored to be able to support local schools and community programs with the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation. When we get to see the positive impact the Foundation has in the community, it makes us want to work harder and keep pushing forward. I’m proud of what we have accomplished and am grateful for our corporate partners and friends who continue to support us in our mission.” -Dean Felber, Hootie & the Blowfish

This year’s grant recipients are:

• The Courage Center (Orangeburg County)
  • Project: To build a comprehensive system of care for Orangeburg County residents who struggle with alcohol and drug use, The Courage Center (TCC) will conduct evidence-based screening methods for high-risk alcohol and drug use among youth, young adults, and adults in rural parts of the county. Linkages to community providers for a full assessment and possible treatment options will also be provided.  Funding will also be used to contract with licensed counselors in Orangeburg to provide counseling services to TCC participants and family members.

• University of South Carolina School of Music (Richland County)
  • Project: Hands-On Harmonies, an educational music outreach program initiated by students in the Music Industry Studies (MIS) program at the University of South Carolina School of Music, aims to bridge the gap in music education for underserved communities across South Carolina. The program will provide live performances and “instrumental petting zoos” featuring guitars, drums, and keyboards for students to explore and play. These experiences will engage students who lack consistent access to in-school music education programs, igniting their creativity and broadening their musical horizons.

• School of the Arts Band and Boosters (Charleston County)
  • Project: The goal of this project is to provide much needed investments in new instruments to replace the currently aging inventory, modernize the music library by providing new and relevant literature, and provide increased opportunities for students to learn and develop their skills from master instructors. All students enrolled in the Charleston School of the Arts Band program will directly benefit from these investments, which will improve student’s musical outcomes.

• Family Promise of the Midlands (Richland County)
  • Project: Tomorrow’s Promise is a program that, in addition to financial assistance for rental assistance and eviction prevention, supports families experiencing housing insecurity with enrichment activities for children such as athletics, music, and art.  The program also provides community engagement events including financial training, professional development, and entertaining activities for families in the midlands area who are homeless or are at risk of becoming homeless.  This comprehensive approach helps build stability and resiliency, which strengthens our families and our community.

• Georgetown County School District (Georgetown County)
  • Project: This project will provide percussion instruments to students at Andrews, Maryville, McDonald, and Sampit Elementary, all rural Title I schools. This initiative will enhance the music education curriculum for all K-5 students, offering hands-on experience with rhythm and performance. Fostering inclusivity and cultural enrichment aims to enrich the educational experience of these students.

• Veterans Welcome Home and Resource Center (Horry County)
  • Project: The Tiny Home Village is located at 3rd Avenue North in Myrtle Beach South Carolina across from the sky-wheel. In phase 1, this village will provide safe, stable and temporary housing for 25 homeless veterans and will foster a supportive and inclusive community environment, where veterans can connect, heal and regain a sense of belonging. The village will provide a place where veterans can rebuild their lives, regain their footing and chart a path toward a brighter future.

Darius Rucker, Mark Bryan, Dean Felber and Jim “Soni” Sonefeld created The Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation to even the playing field in educational funding and lend an encouraging hand to all those in need. The band sought to give back to the state that has nurtured their dreams since the start of their career.

Hootie & the Blowfish established their donor advised fund at Central Carolina Community Foundation to increase their philanthropic impact. The Community Foundation is the point of contact for all grant requests and manages its grant administration, evaluation, outreach and distribution.

About Central Carolina Community Foundation

Central Carolina Community Foundation, the Midlands’ leader in collaborative philanthropy, is a nonprofit organization serving 11 counties in the Midlands of South Carolina by distributing grants and scholarships and linking the resources of donors, nonprofits and area leaders to communities in need. Major initiatives include the online giving challenge Midlands Gives, Connected Communities grants, the One SC Fund and annual scholarships. For more information about the Foundation, visit www.yourfoundation.org or call (803) 254-5601.