phi l anthr opy philanthropy i n in our our community community
SPRING 2011
What’s in a Word?
enrich by Tonia Cochran
The Glenforest School alaG event is certainly appropriately named. It offers a festive celebration of the work that teachers, administrators and members of the wider community are doing every day to ensure that SPRING 2009 Vol. 5, No. 1 children and youth with learning differences receive the best education possible. I was fortunate to attend Glenforest School’s alaG event on March 17 and my eyes were truly opened. I never realized how many of South Carolina’s students struggled in a traditional classroom setting. This school is providing a much needed service to children who learn differently. Since 1983, Glenforest School has served and educated students with a variety of learning differences. Not everyone learns exactly the same, and thus the instruction is not conventional. Students who have ADD, ADHD, Aspergers, Autism, CAPD, Cerebral Palsy (CP), Dyslexia,
inside
Dysgraphia, and Dyscalcula are all welcome at Glenforest. Due to their learning differences, these students have typically struggled or failed in other school environments. Glenforest provides a positive, nurturing environment where students and teachers build relationships which help to repair the students’ self-confidence. With self-confidence and a safe environment, students are willing to take the risk to ask questions in class, express opinions and challenge their
Glenforest Alumnus Ryan Brown and Dean of Athletics William Knopf Bruce Flashnick/www.bruceflashnick.com
classmates in class discussions. Time outside the classroom is equally important, and students are exposed to a range of clubs, sports
New Staff Members
page 2
Having a Ball
page 3
President’s Letter
page 3
Coming Full Circle
page 4
The Spirit of Philanthropy
page 5
One Book, One Columbia
page 6
and special events. Students are encouraged to use their time and talents for community service projects both in school and out. I heard firsthand the difference the school has made in the life of alumnus Ryan Brown. After graduating from Glenforest School, he attended Wingate University where he received his degree in Communication Studies. Ryan now serves as the Director of Broadcasting and Sports Information Assistant at his alma mater and is the play-by-play voice for Bulldog sports. “Glenforest changed my life forever,” said Ryan. “I owe all of my success to the teachers, staff and administration that put me on the track to success. I never dreamed of being student body president, captain of a team or getting a college scholarship. I don’t know where my career ends, but I know it all started because I found Glenforest school.” I applaud all of the teachers and administrators at Glenforest for the difference they are making in the lives of these youth and their families. And I encourage you to visit their website at www.glenforest.org or contact the school for to see firsthand the amazing work going on inside their classrooms.
philanthropy in our community
We are a nonprofit organization serving 11 counties in the Midlands by distributing grants and scholarships and linking the resources of donors, nonprofits and community leaders to areas of need. Join us on Facebook for the latest news Our page is public, so you don’t have to join Facebook to view it.
A GROWING IMPACT
Welcome Our New Team Members As the Community Foundation enters our 27th year, we continue to grow and evolve in many ways. This growth and evolution includes our role in the community, our assets, our charitable impact and, as a result, our staff. Please join us in welcoming the newest members of our team.
Ellen Shuler Hinrichs
Kelly Rogers
Kristin W. Williamson
Ellen most recently served as the Executive Director for the South Carolina Center for Children’s Books and Literacy where she was responsible for all operations, programs and staff. Ellen has a strong development background along with her program management and evaluation skills.
Kelly comes to us from the Disability Action Center, where she served as the Quality Improvement Coordinator. There she worked closely with the Executive Director to manage the day-to-day operations of the nonprofit organization, focusing on the financial and human resource aspects of the company.
Kristin most recently served as an Account Supervisor at Gibbs & Soell Public Relations where she managed a multi-million dollar account for a leading agribusiness corporation. She has a decade of experience working in government agencies and public relations firms.
Our role in the Midlands is evolving from community building to also include its inverse: building community. As a community builder, we will continue to provide grants and scholarships designed to meet critical needs. In addition, we will increasingly focus on building community by fostering collaborative relationships and facilitating conversations to address emerging challenges in the Midlands. As Director of Community Philanthropy, Ellen Shuler Hinrichs is helping to make this transition a success. Building a substantial endowment to provide for community needs for generations to come requires strong financial oversight. We are rapidly approaching $100 million in assets which will allow us to make a larger charitable impact in the community. The ability to analyze, process and provide recommendations to streamline operations is increasingly important as the Foundation strives to be a proactive organization. As Staff Accountant, Kelly Rogers plays a critical role in accomplishing this goal. As we advance our mission, our focus continues to be on promoting philanthropy in the Midlands to make the philanthropic pie bigger. As the article on page five details, our Talk About Giving initiative was created to help ensure our future generations learn the joy of giving. Through a full array of traditional and digital communications vehicles, we want to spark a philanthropic movement and help families teach their children the joy of giving. Our new Interactive Marketing Manager, Kristin Williamson, is ensuring this program does just that.
Board of Trustees Scott R. Adams Cheryl L. Behymer J. Mac Bennett R. Jason Caskey Chris D. Christiansen Love Collins III Aubria Corbitt Michael C. Crapps Judith M. Davis
Eric M. Elkins John S. Goettee L. Marion Gressette III Henry B. Haitz III C. Carroll Heyward David G. Hodges Jackie Howie Katharine M. Hubbard Bruce W. Hughes
D. Michael Kelly Ellis M. Knight James K. Lehman John H. Lumpkin Jr. Ted O. McGee Jr. Catherine R. Monetti Barbara Rackes George W. Rogers A. Eugene Rountree page 2
Terry K. Schmoyer Jr. Martha Scott Smith David C. Sojourner Jr. Nancy Spencer J. Hagood Tighe Susie H. VanHuss
Sue Odom and Chris Koon
JoAnn Turnquist and Gary Schmedding
Bud and Pat Lewandowski
Having a Ball Chapin area residents came together
by about 60 people. This year, over
for 12 young men and women from
again at the beginning of February
200 people gathered to enjoy food,
the American Legion Post 193 Chapin
for an evening of dining, dancing and
drinks and music performed by Two
to attend Palmetto Boys State and
bidding. The 4th Annual Groundhog
Gentleman and a Lady.
Palmetto Girls State.
Ball was held by the Greater Chapin
This annual gala assists the GCCE
“We certainly appreciate the
Community Endowment (GCCE)
in providing resources for a broad
support this event receives each
and raised more than $12,000 to
range of existing and future charitable
year from individuals and businesses
assist with the organization’s local
needs in the Greater Chapin area.
in the Chapin community,” said
grantmaking efforts.
Most recently, funds have helped the
committee chair Toni Brown. “Their
The Groundhog Ball began in 2008
Explorer Post #11 to purchase new
support allows us to continue to
with several local families hosting
fire equipment used to train young
increase the grant awards to nonprofit
private dinners in their homes before
men and women about the field of fire
organizations and the positive impact
coming together for dessert at a local
service as a career choice. Funds were
we can make through those grants.”
church. This first event was attended
also awarded to provide scholarships
Linda and Billy DuRant
Joan and Gary Marco
Toni and J.B. Brown
Letter from the President One important role of our Foundation in the community is to connect those who wish to give with those who are in need. By encouraging more giving, we create more philanthropic dollars. More needs being addressed leads to stronger families and a healthier, more sustainable community. Talk About Giving, a new program launching this month, is a key component in our efforts to “increase the philanthropic pie.” With the generous support of the Cassels’ family, we hope to help future generations understand the importance of giving. Throughout our 27 year history, we have worked with donors to shepherd their charitable goals and have also awarded competitive grants to meet the needs within our 11-county service area.
JoAnn Turnquist
During this time, over 9,300 grants totaling more than $61 million have been made to nonprofits that cover many fields of interest from the arts and education to health and the environment. Without the philanthropic spirit of our donors and fundholders these grants would not have been possible. We invite you to join our program and cultivate this spirit of philanthropy in your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. True philanthropy is more than giving money or service — it’s equally about teaching our children how to give of themselves.
PHILANTHROPY page 3
In November, the Community Foundation received news that
routinely sat outside her quarters
Douglass College and Johns
and waved to the members of the
Hopkins, along with Tuomey
our organization would be
Regional Medical Center in her
receiving an unexpected gift
home community of Sumter. She
from the estate of Lt. Col. (Ret)
also contributed in bringing
Ruth Kay Sidisin of Sumter.
Covenant Place to Sumter.
Although we did not have the
Virginia served as the
opportunity to meet this remark-
director of Sumter County Adult
able woman, we have learned a
Education (SCAE). In the early
great deal about her and her life
1990s, the organization received
of service.
a grant from the Community Foundation to train certified
Ruth`s mother, whose family
nursing assistants (CNAs). The
came from Minsk, Russia, had
instructor was the Director of
been in the Red Cross during World War I. “She had helped out in the hospitals and did private duty after the war. And I wanted to be a nurse from the time I was three or four, when my brother cut his finger and I put a Band-Aid on it,” [said Ruth.] (Marshall 28) Three years after graduating
Nursing at Covenant Place.
Lt.Col. (Ret) Ruth Kay Sidisin
“You could always count on her to help out a student
377th Security Police Unit in Tan
in need,” said Virginia. Ruth
Son Nhut. The troops nicknamed
attended graduation ceremonies
her “The Waving Nurse.” Her
and often helped anonymously
friendly manner stuck with many
with graduation and tuition
of those troops for years. During
expenses for young nurses and
a Security Policeman reunion in
nursing assistants.
2009, some of the troops asked
While Ruth was living at
from Johns Hopkins Hospital
about “The Waving Nurse.”
Covenant Place, many of the
School of Nursing, Ruth Sidisin
They learned of her whereabouts
young nursing assistants who
joined the Air Force Nurse
and several went to visit her in
cared for her were graduates
Corps. Her tours of duty took her
assisted living at Covenant Place
of the SCAE program. She was
to the combat zone in Vietnam
in Sumter.
impressed with the attention and care she received from those nursing assistants. When preparing her new will, she chose to donate to the Community Foundation in appreciation for our role in starting the training program. Said President & CEO JoAnn Turnquist, “Our original grant has gone full circle; the initial grant provided training. The folks who were trained provided service and that service resulted in a gift that will be used to provide grants. We are grateful for Ms. Sidisin’s gift — she has
Ruth receives a plaque during her service at the Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Vietnam.
and many others areas of the
“Ruth was a very charitable
truly created a legacy that will continue to give.” Marshall, Kathryn. In The Combat
world before she settled at Shaw
woman,” said her friend Virginia
Zone: An Oral History of American
Air Force Base. There she retired
Ray, “and was committed to
Women in Vietnam, 1966-1975.
in 1980 after 25 years of distin-
improving medical care long
Boston: Little Brown, 1987.
guished service.
after her retirement.” She gave
While serving in Vietnam, Ruth
generously to her alma maters,
page 4
INVESTORS
Coming Full Circle — How a Grant Became A Gift
ENGAGING OUR COMMUNITY
Are You Instilling the Spirit of Philanthropy in Your Family? According to a Cone/Roper
company and our success wasn’t
each other, and some are
Raising Charitable Children
given to us for our pleasure,”
getting involved with the causes
survey, an overwhelming
remarked Bill. “That is not why
they care about most. Tobin’s
majority of Americans (85%)
God entrusted this to us.”
daughter taught kindergarten at
agree that children should be
Several years ago, the Cassels
Heartworks Ministry one summer
introduced to charities by the
began a tradition at Christmas
after learning about
age of thirteen. Yet almost three
dinner. Bill informed his children
the organization.
out of four (70%) parents admit
and grandchildren that each
their children are not involved in
year they would be allowed
When we presented the concept of TAG to the Cassels,
any charitable activities. With the help of the Cassels family, we are hoping to improve those statistics for our community. W.T. “Bill” Cassels Jr. and his son W.T. “Tobin” Cassels III have graciously underwritten the cost of our new initiative, Talk About Giving (TAG.) TAG is designed for families who have a desire to pass along to their children and grandchildren a healthy understanding of the need to give to others. Through ongoing conversation
Bill and Tobin Cassels
and active participation in family giving, children recognize
to donate a certain portion
they were immediately drawn
philanthropy as a part of their
from the Cassels Foundation to
to the idea. “We are so excited
family’s value system. And
organizations of their choice.
about this program,” said Bill.
studies show children of parents
They were required to do due
“We would have loved to
who give are much more likely to
diligence on the organizations
have had this guidance when
continue giving as adults.
and encouraged to become
our children or grandchildren
personally involved if possible.
were growing up. I wish that
They would then give a report
we had not waited until our
The Cassels family has made giving back a priority for themselves and for their company, Southeastern Freight Lines. They have embraced the concept of talking openly about the needs of the community and how to help address those needs. The Cassels are in a position now to give generously to
“We may not have had a lot of money, but what we had, we shared,” said Bill.
grandchildren were teenagers to actively engage them in the process; I would have loved to have started earlier.” It is our hope that TAG will encourage parents to start the conversation about giving at an early age and provide tips and resources to assist in doing so. Visit www.
others, but it wasn’t always that
the following year on how they
talkaboutgiving.org to find out
way. Bill is a child of the Great
spent the money.
what you can do to ensure that
Depression era. Growing up, his
The tradition has now been
philanthropy is a part of your
family was rich in faith, if not in
incorporated into a biannual
family’s value system and that
wealth. “We may not have had
family meeting. At the meetings,
your children know it.
a lot of money, but what we had,
family members discuss company
we shared,” said Bill.
business, but they also dedicate
As the company grew, so did
time specifically to discuss their
the Cassels’ ability to give back
charitable giving. Everyone
to those less fortunate. “This
is sharing and learning from
page 5
PRSRT STD US Postage PAID Columbia, SC Permit #562 Central Carolina Community Foundation 2711 Middleburg Drive, Suite 213 Columbia, South Carolina 29204
One Book, One Columbia The City of Columbia and Richland County Public Library
Times bestseller list for 105 weeks in the 1990s, Having Our
have joined forces to launch Columbia’s first citywide
Say is a compelling narrative of family, education and
reading adventure, One Book, One Columbia. One Book,
social justice.
One Columbia is designed for residents who believe that books and reading can connect people in powerful
“As literacy is one of the Community Foundation’s focus areas, we have signed on as a community partner to assist in connecting our community through this shared reading experience,” said Foundation President & CEO JoAnn Turnquist. In March, the Foundation hosted a Reading Advocate orientation reception at the library. Reading Advocates pledged to read the book and promote it within the community by encouraging family, friends, neighbors and colleagues to read the book. These advocates are easily identifiable by the special badge featuring the One Book, One Columbia logo that they will be wearing during the official reading period. We invite all the residents of Columbia and Richland
Melanie Huggins, RCPL Executive Director
County to read the book between April 1 and May 15. And then we encourage you to share your experiences with
ways and is patterned after similar programs launched in
friends and neighbors. Numerous discussions and programs
communities across the country.
centered around this remarkable book will take place
The book selected for this inaugural year is Having
during this period.
Our Say: the Delany Sisters First 100 Years by Sarah and Elizabeth Delany, with Amy Hill Hearth. On the New York
For a complete list of activities, visit www.myrcpl.com/book.
ON THE WAY page 6