Kiawah in the Community
Kiawah Island Club Members and employees are dedicated to making a difference, not only on Kiawah Island but also throughout the wider Lowcountry community. Whether through the investment of time, expertise, or financial resources, there are abundant opportunities to affect change. We are so pleased to share this snapshot of just a few of the new and established philanthropic initiatives that benefit from Kiawah involvement, a testament to the impactful contribution and support made by our Kiawah community.
Angel Oak Elementary
The spirit of giving thrives annually through the Angel Tree tradition at Kiawah Island Club, benefitting Angel Oak Elementary School on Johns Island. Club Members and Kiawah Partners employees selected a child’s name from the tree and fulfilled their holiday wishes, ensuring that nearly forty kids received gifts. Support extends beyond the holiday season with the Back-to-School Drive for the teachers of Angel Oak Elementary. In 2023, Club Members and employees collectively provided over $10,000 worth of essential supplies, empowering educators and enriching the educational experience for the students.
Our Lady of Mercy
Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach focuses on fostering equitable communities by providing essential resources, like basic necessities, education, employment aid, and healthcare services. The Kiawah community has long supported this local organization. Recently, Kiawah Partners employees took on a significant project at Our Lady of Mercy, revamping the grounds for the new playground and updating the landscaping and amenities, like benches and picnic tables. Additionally, many employees volunteer beyond planned projects, showcasing their giving spirit throughout the year.
The Gift Today
Founded by Kiawah Island Club Members Bonnie Kelly and Karen Burger, The Gift Today is a philanthropic venture that convenes quarterly to allocate funds to charitable causes. With quarterly individual contributions from each member, the cumulative donation grows throughout the year. Since its inception in 2018 starting with twelve members, The Gift Today has organically grown to over 135 members and has donated over $330,000 to charitable organizations in the Johns Island and greater Charleston areas. This ongoing commitment underscores the group’s dedication to effecting positive change through collective generosity.
Backpack Buddies
The Backpack Buddies program actively combats childhood hunger, focusing on economically disadvantaged students from preschool to eighth grade on Johns and Wadmalaw Islands. It supplements local schools’ weekday meal programs, providing crucial nutritional aid outside of school hours. Identified by school counselors, students receive weekly provisions throughout the school year, with each bag containing two to three breakfast items, two to three lunch items, assorted fruits, and snacks. Last year, around eight thousand food bags were distributed, benefiting almost three hundred students directly. Recently, the program organized a dental kit drive, welcoming contributions from Club Members and staff, aiming to provide essential dental hygiene items. These endeavors underscore an unwavering dedication to battling hunger and ensuring the well-being of local kids.
The HEARTest Yard
The HEARTest Yard, affiliated with MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital, supports families affected by congenital heart disease. Founded by NFL player Greg Olsen and his wife, Kara, it provides comprehensive care, emotional support, and resources to families navigating the complexities of pediatric cardiac conditions, offering financial assistance, counseling, and access to specialized medical services. In 2023, profits from Kiawah Island Club’s Rock the River concert with Lionel Richie directly supported The HEARTest Yard. Members also donated directly, further amplifying the assistance provided to this vital cause. In addition, Kiawah Partners employees assembled over thirty holiday goody bags destined for the patients in The HEARTest Yard ward at the hospital. These thoughtfully prepared bags—full of toys, books, art supplies, and gift cards—were part of the ongoing effort to bring joy and support to The HEARTest Yard’s community.
The Giving Tee
The Giving Tee, a recent initiative by Kiawah Island Club, featured an online auction in mid-November of 2023 benefiting the youth of Johns and Wadmalaw Islands that raised $80,106. Funds were distributed to six local beneficiaries: Communities In Schools of South Carolina, WINGS for Kids, St. John’s High School Athletics, Reading Partners of Charleston, Yo Art!, and Fetter Health Care Network. The Giving Tee aims to empower local children, offering assistance in crucial areas like education, health, and sports opportunities.
Sea Island Habitat for Humanity
The third oldest affiliate of the global nonprofit Habitat for Humanity, the Sea Island chapter was founded in 1978 and provides affordable housing and invaluable homeownership skills to local low-income families of Johns, Wadmalaw, and James Islands. The organization works in partnership with families to build better lives for themselves and their children. The Sea Island chapter has constructed over 350 homes in its forty-five years of operation. Habitat’s mission extends beyond home building, ensuring that new residents are prepared for the responsibilities that accompany homeownership by providing resources and help on everything from property taxes to home upkeep. Year after year, numerous Members and staff contribute and volunteer to ensure families have what they need for safe and affordable shelter.
Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic
Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic (BIFMC) on Johns Island provides healthcare options to uninsured, low-income adults who live or work on Johns, Wadmalaw, and James Islands, and it has more recently expanded into other areas surrounding the Sea Islands. The clinic helps patients address their medical needs, from a common cold to chronic diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, coronary disease, and depression. BIFMC has had a long, successful relationship with Kiawah Island, and a number of the organization’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors seats are held by Kiawah Island Club Members and employees. The BIFMC Golf Invitational is an annual fundraiser held at the Kiawah Island Club, and several members of the community support the event through sponsorship or play. The tournament is the largest fundraiser of the year for BIFMC and provides the operational costs for more than 450 monthly patient visits.
In Addition
Kiawah Island Club’s women golfers raised $2,500 for the Lowcountry Food Bank, contributing over six hundred pounds of food. Kiawah Island Real Estate employees provided 150 meals that fed six hundred individuals this past Thanksgiving through the annual Feeding the Multitude initiative. These impactful gestures underscore the community’s commitment to addressing food insecurity in neighboring communities.