The Spartanburg County Foundation announces recipient of the 2020 Mary L. Thomas Award

The Spartanburg County Foundation hosted its 2021 Annual Meeting on Tuesday, March 23rd. This year’s theme, “Responding to the Call” set the tone for an evening full of celebration, reflection, and honoring those who positively impact Spartanburg through philanthropy. The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Mary L. Thomas Award for Civic Leadership and Community Change which honors an individual who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to improving the quality of life in Spartanburg County.

“I am delighted to present the Mary L. Thomas Award for Civic Leadership and Community Change to Chip Walters, Founder and Executive Director of Sidewalk Hope,” said Mary Thomas, Chief Operating Officer with The Spartanburg County Foundation. “After 29 years as an educator at the SC School for the Deaf and the Blind, Chip felt called to minister to children in the city of Spartanburg. We appreciate her vision to see the untapped potential in our inner-city children, uplifting hurting and often forgotten families, and improving the lives of those in need in Spartanburg County.”