‘Somebody should do something’ – Tracy Swinton Bailey inspired to form organization to help improve kids’ reading skills 8 Jan 2025, 1:28 am

As a high school substitute teacher in Horry County, South Carolina, in the mid-2000s, Tracy Swinton Bailey grew more and more concerned with some of the students in her classes.

There was the high school senior –- already a mom with her second child on the way — who couldn’t write a complete paragraph. Then there was a group of students so used to an ever-changing lineup of substitute teachers they struggled to get the steady guidance needed to learn enough for their senior project.

“It was stories like that that made me feel like students were falling through the cracks,” Bailey said.

The stories of struggle continued to gnaw at Bailey, who would often say, “Somebody should do something about this,” during conversations with her husband, who finally jokingly said, “Well, you do it.”

The off-handed remark planted a seed.

“I kind of thought, maybe I could do it,” Bailey said. “The idea was born.”

Bailey started an effort that would become Freedom Readers, a nonprofit organization with a mission to help kids in low-income communities develop crucial reading skills needed to be successful adults.

It grew from a small group of volunteers delivering books to kids in public housing in Conway, S.C., to a network of 18 in-person tutoring sites in Horry, Georgetown and Williamsburg counties; three full-time employees; more than 100 volunteers; online learning labs and the potential to grow into other regions of the country.

Chapter 1

Armed with books and a stack of fliers, a determined Bailey started the effort with about 20 volunteers from Christ Community Church in Conway. They went door-to-door in the Huckabee Heights and Darden Terrace communities, neighborhoods recommended by the Conway Housing Authority.

Though they encountered some skeptical parents, many of the residents embraced the volunteers’ offer to read with their kids and provide books they could keep. Every Monday and Wednesday, Bailey and the volunteers gave individual attention to the children to help them not only develop their reading skills, but learn that reading can bring joy.

Soon, parents started to notice improvement in their kids and were eager to see Bailey and her books arrive.

While the reading effort was taking off, Bailey struggled to juggle it and the demands of her already busy life. She was raising two kids while earning her master’s at Coastal Carolina University, followed by her doctorate in language and literacy from the University of South Carolina, which required regular travel back and forth to Columbia, S.C., for classes.

Her schedule became so demanding, she nearly abandoned her successful grassroots volunteer reading program.

“I was so exhausted trying to manage all of this,” Bailey said. “I said I cannot do this anymore. The minute I said that, the phone rang and it was a mom from Huckabee Heights.”

Initially reluctant to welcome the volunteers, the mom gushed over the drastic improvement in her kids’ reading skills and wanted to know when Bailey would be back.

Knowing she was making a difference, Bailey found the drive to not only keep going, but do more.

“I could not stop,” she said. “I had to find the energy…The more I invested in it and the more I got calls from parents saying, ‘this is helping my kid,’ the more I realized I wanted to do it as a profession, not just a hobby.”

While she had the skills in reading and education and the determination to help children, she didn’t know much about forming and operating a nonprofit. She recruited board members to help with the business and technical aspects, including registering as a 501(c)(3) with the S.C. Secretary of State in 2010, managing a staff, setting up accounts and filing taxes.

“Everybody who has good intentions and the wherewithal to make something like this happen doesn’t necessarily have the business background to run a nonprofit,” Bailey said. “The thing that drove me crazy was trying to wear 50 hats at one time. There are so many demands on your time.”

Soon, the organization was expanding. It grew to Myrtle Beach, then Georgetown. Learning sites were being set up in churches and community centers, with 18 sites by 2020. School guidance counselors refer students who need extra help developing their reading skills, while others discover it through friends.

“It just grew by word of mouth,” Bailey said.

Life lessons

Some of the Freedom Readers curriculum is inspired by the transformative lessons Bailey learned growing up in the North Santee community in Georgetown.

She recalls vivid memories of reading her favorite book – “The Monster at the End of this Book” featuring Grover from Sesame Street – as a nightly ritual with her dad before bed. His way with words rubbed off on his young daughter, and she remembers being surrounded by Dr. Seuss and Berenstain Bears books, among many others.

“I’d always ask my dad to read it again,” she said. “He instilled in me a love of words and how they can be joyful.”

Her mom also had a strong impact. Every Easter, she had her children memorize a speech to give during the holiday service, with the speech getting longer and more complicated each year. Bailey excelled and remains an inspiring public speaker today.

Sessions focused on the development of those types of skills are part of the Freedom Readers program. Students are required to give a speech each week to the roughly 40 volunteers and tutors. One kid was so shy, he had to turn away from the audience, his back to them, to give his speech – until the last session, when he surprisingly faced the crowd.

“Everybody was just cheering and crying,” Bailey said.

‘Forever free’

Freedom Readers has many more chapters left to write.

The formation of online reading labs during the COVID-19 pandemic led to the expansion to other areas of the country. Inspired by Bailey’s book, “Forever Free” about the formation of Freedom Readers, volunteers are coming forward to tutor through online labs in states including New Hampshire, Maine and Colorado.

Needing to dedicate efforts to the organization’s rapid growth, Bailey created her new role as national director in January 2024. Freedom Readers, which offers programs for elementary and middle school students, also aims to develop a program for high school students.

As it grows, Freedom Readers will stay true to the words of Frederick Douglass — an African-American social reformer, author and speaker in the 1800s — that inspired the group’s name, “Once you learn to read, you are forever free.”

“I really wanted the kids to have the freedom to make choices about their future and how they wanted to contribute to society and how they wanted their lives to be,” Bailey said. “Everybody should have the chance to go as far as they can.”

Want to volunteer or donate to Freedom Readers? Learn more at freedomreaders.org.

The foundation of success: Tim Tilley’s hard work, passion for education help HGTC grow 25 Sep 2024, 9:42 pm

A successful engineer and business owner in Georgetown County, Tim Tilley had many interactions with Horry-Georgetown Technical College through the years before the unexpected phone call from a college leader in 2009.

Tilley accepted the provost’s invitation to join a meeting with leaders at the college and the HGTC Foundation – a meeting that ignited a passion and mission in Tilley to support the college, its students and the way it gives back to the community.

“I was massively impressed,” Tilley recalls feeling after the meeting. “I was really blown away at what all the college did — and still does.”

Shortly after that meeting, Tilley joined the board of directors of the HGTC Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to raising funds to support the college’s programs, services and activities while raising awareness of the college’s vast contributions to the community.

With 15 years on the Foundation Board including a two-year stint as Chairman, Tilley continues to take on the challenges to help ensure the ongoing success of HGTC and its students.

“I like to see the college grow. I like to see the college expand new programs. I like to see the college contribute to the local area,” said Tilley, immediate past chairman of the foundation board. “I completely believe in community college and the technical college system, and I think it’s of the best value.”

Fundraising and raising awareness

During that meeting in 2009, Tilley knew a lot about HGTC but was still surprised at the college’s number of programs, graduation statistics and success stories.

The college trains students to meet the workforce needs of the region, with more than 75 associate degree, diploma and certificate programs. With campuses in Myrtle Beach, Conway and Georgetown County, HGTC partners with local businesses to identify workforce needs and create training programs to prepare students to fill those in-demand jobs. Since its first class in 1966, 90 percent of graduates have remained in Horry and Georgetown counties, according to HGTC.

HGTC programs support jobs in manufacturing, health care, hospitality, food services and more. The college continues to expand, adding programs for advanced manufacturing, surgical technologists and boat builders, among others.

“It just branches all over the place,” said Tilley, founder and CEO of Envirosep, an engineering and manufacturing business in Georgetown County that works closely with HGTC on apprenticeship and training programs.

As a foundation board member, Tilley works behind the scenes raising money to support college programs, student scholarships and even capital projects for new buildings. He watched proudly when HGTC opened the International Culinary Institute of Myrtle Beach and the Advanced Manufacturing Center in Georgetown County.

He works closely with a variety of donors, including families wishing to establish endowments honoring a loved one through ongoing support to HGTC.

In addition to his time and expertise, Tilley donates financially to support HGTC. He has contributed $25,000 personally, and his company, Envirosep, also donated $25,000 to support the Georgetown Center for Advanced Manufacturing, which aims to advance workforce development and manufacturing education in the Lowcountry.

“We are proud to support HGTC and its commitment to providing students with the skills needed to thrive in today’s advanced manufacturing landscape,” Tilley said in making the donation on behalf of Envirosep. “As a company that values innovation and local talent, we believe in the power of education to drive economic growth and create sustainable career opportunities in our community. This donation is a tribute to our commitment to both the region and the next generation of skilled professionals.”

While you’ll often spot Tilley among the group of leaders posing for photos accepting donations for the college, he’s not one to enjoy the spotlight. He shies away from talking too much about all of his philanthropic efforts, instead focusing on the causes he supports.

“It’s not about me,” he said.

Hard work

Growing up in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Tilley learned the value of hard work and being a good steward of every dollar earned. It’s also where the calling to serve others took root.

“With me, it’s Biblical,” Tilley said. “Being brought up in a faith-based environment, it’s more that it’s an expectation, a mission. I do look for different faith-based opportunities.”

After graduating from N.C. State University with an engineering degree, Tilley moved to Georgetown County in 1990 to work in the textile industry. By 1996, he was eager to be an entrepreneur and founded Envirosep.

The company has evolved through the years, now specializing in engineering and building custom modular fluid handling, heat transfer and energy recovery systems. His business has thrived.

What started in the upstairs of Tilley’s house with just a few employees now has 250 employees (including subcontractors) and boasts a 100,000-square-foot, four-story manufacturing facility, which opened in 2022.

He credits the success to one of the traits he learned early in life.

“Working longer hours than anybody else out there,” Tilley said. “It takes hard work every single day.”

Tilley doesn’t take his blessings for granted and is driven when he wakes up every morning to give it his all. Tomorrow isn’t promised, and life can change in a moment, fueling him to make the most of the day.

“Every day, I think I’m one day from failure and one day from success,” he said.

Find your passions

Those lessons instilled in a young Tilley carry over through his service on the HGTC Foundation board today.

He continues to put in the long hours, feels called to serve and makes sure every donation is used wisely and with meaning. Tilley takes pride in the high degree of professionalism that HGTC and the foundation board exhibit.

“It becomes about stewardship for me,” Tilley said.

He doesn’t have plans to let up any time soon, just like the college’s needs. Serving one of the fastest-growing areas in the country, HGTC continues to have needs for new programs, buildings and additional student scholarships.

Watching state-of-the-art training facilities open and hearing the stories of the scholarship recipients – many of them heart-wrenching – add even more purpose to his role raising funds for HGTC and educating the community on all the college has to offer.

When he’s not serving or spending time with Rose, his wife of 36 years, you’ll likely find Tilley outdoors – spending time on the beach, hunting or fishing. He also gives back through his involvement in conservation and wildlife management groups.

With his business success, Tilley is often asked to donate or volunteer time to support a variety of organizations, groups or individuals. But he weighs every request, only agreeing to a few that connect with him, then gives it his all. He’s cautious of taking on too much and spreading himself too thin – advice he gives to anyone looking to serve others.

“I recommend you look for two or three things within your mission in life that fits with you and your belief structure,” Tilley said. “Don’t try to be something to all organizations that have needs. Find things that are meaningful and you have a passion and mission toward, and do those.”

Bonnie Silk’s Road Led to Neighbor to Neighbor 17 Apr 2024, 9:29 pm

When Bonnie Silk’s beloved husband Tom was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, she suddenly found herself literally in the driver’s seat.

“He was the driver – always,” Silk said. “I became the driver. It hit me how dependent he was on me. He was so independent, and now, all of a sudden, I was the one who had to take him where he needed to go.”

Doctors’ appointments. Grocery shopping. Every time they left the house for six years until Tom passed away on Thanksgiving in 2018, Bonnie was gladly behind the wheel, eager to support her husband of 37 years.

After months mourning her loss, the road led her to Neighbor to Neighbor, a nonprofit with a mission to provide connections for homebound adults through transportation and companionship. Now, she’s driving for other seniors just like she did for Tom.

“I do it in his honor,” said Silk, 73. “It’s filled a very big void in my life, and I’m happy to do it in his honor.”

‘There is a huge need’

When Silk went searching for volunteer opportunities to help her find purpose after Tom’s passing, she stumbled on Neighbor to Neighbor through a random internet search.

She quickly felt a connection to the nonprofit’s mission and was eager to again take the wheel for those who can no longer do it themselves. After experiencing first-hand her husband’s dependence on her, she brought an understanding of the clients’ needs and knew the importance of the transportation service.

Mary Lou Brown, a local social worker, created Neighbor to Neighbor (N2N) in 2005 to meet the needs of elderly and chronically ill people, offering rides, helping with Medicaid application assistance and more. By 2018, N2N was providing more than 700 rides a month thanks to an army of dedicated volunteers like Silk who must pass N2N’s strict screening process. The need was so great, N2N expanded to Georgetown County in 2010 and Brunswick County in 2019.

Seniors turn to N2N for rides to their doctors’ appointments, the grocery store, bank, barbershop or hair salon and more.

Silk and other volunteers regularly receive a list of the needed rides and who needs them. Volunteers can select the rides that work with their schedule and location, a flexibility Silk finds especially beneficial. Many become the regular driver for specific clients.

While rides are the primary focus, N2N strives to meet other needs. Its pantry program delivers nutritious food, supplies and toiletries. Volunteers also support homebound seniors with regular phone calls to check in and chat, as well as companion visits in their homes to ease loneliness and isolation.

“They are not able to drive to get any services. There’s a lot of different things they need,” Silk said. “When you can’t drive, that really cuts you off. There is a huge need.”

More than a ride

After providing the transportation for her husband for six years, Silk felt like serving as a volunteer driver for N2N was meant to be.

While she was carrying on Tom’s legacy of kindness and giving to others by volunteering, she was also finding a new purpose.

“Just knowing I was getting out of the house for the first time and doing something for somebody else was a great thing,” said Silk, a New York native who moved to Longs in 2017.

Since she started volunteering in April 2019, Silk has provided more than 430 rides to Neighbor to Neighbor clients and an untrackable number of smiles and laughs along the way.

Silk and the other volunteer drivers offer more than just crucial transportation. They provide much-needed companionship through a listening ear and a caring heart.

Clients quickly become friends. Even on first meeting, Silk is often greeted with a hug from the grateful senior when she arrives to pick them up.

After they get settled in Silk’s Honda CR-V, they hit the road, chatting along the way until they reach their destination. It’s a connection she values as much as her clients do.

“You hear about their families, their health issues – it’s just a nice conversation,” Silk said. “I try to keep it light so we laugh.”

During her clients’ appointments, Silk doesn’t leave the parking lot. She’s always prepared with a book to pass the time sitting in her vehicle – whether the appointment lasts 30 minutes or three hours. Often, clients are apologetic if the appointment lasts longer than expected, but Silk reassures them it’s OK, reminding them it’s beyond their control.

“I want to be there when they are ready to go home,” she said.

Feeling grateful

The client isn’t the only one in the vehicle who is grateful.

Providing rides brings joy to Silk, a reassuring feeling that she’s making a difference while honoring her late husband.

“They are so grateful but they don’t realize what they give me,” Silk said. “It really is a purpose. I get my rewards from taking them.”

Though she’s never considered herself outgoing, Silk finds herself easily bonding with her clients during the rides. She picks up wisdom, discovers new places and is inspired by her passengers.

One client in her 90s – always dressed impeccably, not a hair out of place – inspired Silk through her friendly, spunky personality.

“She would greet everybody,” Silk said. “What an example for me to see how to treat other people. It was so heartwarming and touching. It just warms my heart.”

With the take-off of more delivery services for food and groceries during the COVID-19 pandemic, seniors now have more options to fulfill their basic needs without having to rely on a ride to get them. But the need for rides – and the companionship that comes with them – is still growing as the population ages.

Even independent adults, like her husband Tom, could end up needing the reliable transportation from a trusted individual as their bodies age.

“Someday that might be me needing that ride,” Silk said. “It’s a great comfort to know there is an organization that cares and provides this service.”

She can’t help but think of Tom, with every mile driven in honor of him, and his giving spirit, positive attitude and sense of humor.

“He gave of himself,” she said, adding that he was a volunteer firefighter and volunteered at a hospital repairing wheelchairs. “He just enjoyed life. He didn’t want anything, need anything. He just got pleasure in living. I’m so thankful for the years we had together.”

While no one can replace her Tom, every N2N client is helping fill the loneliness that his passing left. She focuses on her clients and what she can do for them to improve their quality of life.

“They get attached to you, and you get attached to them. I need that personal connection with somebody,” Silk said. “I found the perfect thing for me, and want it for others, too.”

Want to volunteer for Neighbor to Neighbor? Go to N2Ncarolinas.org to complete an application.

Heather Edwards’s Vision for Change, Becoming an Advocate for the Visually Impaired 1 Feb 2024, 1:26 am

“When I was 8 years old, it was my second grade teacher who first started to notice that something was wrong,” says Heather Edwards, President of the South Carolina Chapter of the Foundation Fighting Blindness (“FFB” or “Foundation”). “I was holding books really close to my face, and the fluorescent lighting made it especially difficult for me to see in the classroom setting.”

Heather was soon diagnosed with Cone Dystrophy, a visual impairment affecting the cones of the eye, impairing color vision, light vision, and central vision. “It leaves me legally blind,” Heather elaborates. Her affiliation with the FFB traces back to her childhood, where she grappled with the realities of disability, often with minimal support, igniting her commitment to advocate for those facing similar challenges. At just eight years old, Heather began a myriad of clinical testing in search of a diagnosis for her visual impairment. “We ended up going to my local eye doctor, Dr. Royal. She suggested that we go to the Storm Eye Institute in Charleston,” she recalls. “They ran a day’s worth of tests on me. They injected dye into my veins with various needles. It was so scary and so traumatizing,” Heather remembers, emphasizing her vulnerability as a child being thrust into the reality of her diagnosis.

The outcome of Heather’s evaluation was Cone Dystrophy. “I remember thinking ‘what is happening to me right now?’ It was so much to process at such a young age. Being in second grade and having to try to deal with what this diagnosis means for the rest of your life was terrifying,” she recalls.

After her diagnosis, Heather’s world was turned upside down as her family, doctors, and school administration began preparing her for a lifelong journey of adaptation. “At these appointments, they would tell me, ‘you should probably start training with a white cane, learn braille, look into a guide dog, start preparing for the future, because these conditions often become degenerative,’” she says. “I couldn’t even grasp what that meant at the time. I just wanted to be on the playground and be a normal kid.”

Preparing for the Future

Though overwhelmed by her diagnosis, Heather embarked on a journey to acquire life skills through alternative means, hoping that these newfound abilities would grant her independence in adulthood. “This is when I met Clair Turbeville, a teacher for the visually impaired in the Horry County School District. She was an angel sent from Heaven and my greatest advocate. She was always looking for new tools that could help me,” Heather said. Heather’s introduction to Clair provided her with a true example of what an advocate looks like, connecting her to an orientation and mobility specialist who could help her develop the skills necessary for independent and safe travel. “I would get taken out of class to start doing training. We would go onto Main Street in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I would close my eyes and start to learn how to listen for traffic,” Heather said. Clair’s advocacy for Heather not only provided her with support, but also instilled a newfound sense of confidence during an exceptionally challenging transitional period. “It can be so depressing in high school,” Heather explains. “You see all your friends getting ready to go to college and getting their driver’s licenses. They’re getting their freedom and their independence, and I was still getting dropped off by my parents. It was such a gut punch to not be able to participate in that. I was realizing that I was never going to get that same independence.” Reflecting on her journey, Heather yearns for the support and community offered by organizations like the Foundation Fighting Blindness during her diagnosis, recognizing that such resources could have provided her with hope and reassurance that her life would be just as meaningful as it was prior to her diagnosis of Cone Dystrophy.

Heather enrolled at Coastal Carolina University with the goal of earning a Bachelor’s degree in psychology, aspiring to become a licensed therapist. Upon graduating, a different job opportunity presented itself. “I wanted to be a therapist, but right after college I was hired at a bookkeeping position at an apartment complex. I stayed there for three years and found myself loving the financial aspect of the job,” she recalls. “I went back and got my accounting degree at Horry-Georgetown Technical College. Soon after, I was approached by First Baptist Church of Conway, who was looking for a new finance director. I worked there for about 2 years and had an awesome experience.”

Heather spent the next few years of her professional life navigating through workplace challenges such as finding reliable transportation to work, having to use magnifiers to see company documents, and harsh lighting in offices that irritated her vision, before finally being introduced to workplace accommodations. After leaving her role at the church, she began working at the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce in the accounting department. “I found a great community there. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend night school to receive my Masters of Business Administration from Coastal Carolina University at that time,” she says. When the pandemic hit in 2020, Heather began remote work for the Chamber. “I found that remote work better suited my needs, because I was able to control my environment and didn’t have to worry about transportation to and from work. I stay involved in the Chamber by keeping in contact with my coworkers, remaining a member of Grand Strand Young Professionals, and attending Chamber networking events to raise awareness about the Foundation,” she explains.

Since leaving the Chamber, Heather has found a place to call home in a remote position with her current company, Community Solutions International. “I was always ‘Heather with the visual impairment,’ or ‘Heather with the disability.’ Now I’m just Heather from Finance,” she laughs, thrilled to be a part of a company that both accommodates and encourages her. With a glimmer of normalcy arising in her professional life, Heather began reflecting on all of her challenges since her diagnosis, and started searching for an opportunity where she herself could become an advocate for others.

Becoming an Advocate

“I was approached in December of 2022 to be a part of the leadership team in South Carolina for the Foundation Fighting Blindness.” Her excitement was immeasurable, knowing that she would finally be able to be that pillar of support for those in need in her community. “I just love the foundation’s mission,” says Heather. “The mission is not ‘let’s wallow in sorrow because we all have this disability,’ but instead, ‘let’s fund research so we can find a cure, while at the same time supporting those who have retinal diseases so that we can encourage them throughout their journey.’”

The Foundation Fighting Blindness operates at both national and state levels, with the chapters serving as the local branches or subdivisions. Within each state chapter is a leadership team consisting of six different roles, including Heather’s current role as President. “The chapters are all about engagement,” Heather explains. “Giving resources, making connections, and organizing events and speakers for those struggling in the community is what we do.” One of Heather’s main goals as chapter president is to give people hope and show them that they are still capable of achieving their dreams, even with a visual impairment. “I never had these people to look up to. When I was diagnosed, I always wondered, ‘What do people like me do in life?’” Heather hopes to eliminate this question for others by organizing events within the chapter where the community can connect, receive information about potential clinical trials, and share knowledge about the resources that work for them.

“One facet to the Foundation is a program called ‘My Retina Tracker,’ a digital program that provides free genetic testing and community connection for those with visual impairments. When you get genetically tested, you can upload your results to a tracker to be connected to clinical trials that relate to your condition. You can go on a map on the tracker and see how many people in the United States, your county, and even your city, share your same disability. It creates this sense of not being alone,” she explains, highlighting the importance of community. To Heather, community means everything. Having other visually impaired people to share resources and communicate with is essential to empowerment and a sense of belonging. “My former teacher, Clair, connected me with a young girl who was just diagnosed. Her mom was having a hard time dealing with it, and we invited them to our vision seminar. They stayed for 3 hours to chat with speakers and myself, and we were able to provide them with some great resources. I think it soothed them, and gave them some hope,” she highlights. “She was really touched that we invited her. Now she’s a member of the South Carolina Chapter, which was such a cool experience.”

A Vision for the Future

After struggling with mental and physical health issues throughout her life and finding medicine through food, health, and yoga, Heather has found stability and peace. This past year, Heather, through her tireless efforts, has received her 200 hour yoga teacher certification, and hopes to combine her love for health and yoga with her desire to support and uplift the visually impaired community by teaching various classes and workshops through the Foundation.

Heather’s passion for helping others also extends her support to several other local nonprofits, including the New Directions of Myrtle Beach, whose mission is to help people recover from the crises of homelessness, poverty, and addiction by providing basic needs, connections to resources, and community. She is particularly proud of her participation in the ‘Over the Edge’ fundraiser, where she rappelled down a 17-story building to help raise funds to support the New Directions’ efforts to help people recover from homelessness. Heather is looking forward to several future fundraising events within the FFB as well, including a Macular Degeneration seminar that will take place in Columbia, SC, in February 2024. Heather is hopeful that the South Carolina chapter of the Foundation will be selected for a ‘Vision Walk’ in the near future, and is currently focusing on fundraising efforts through a candle collaboration with Lucid Coast Candle Bar of Myrtle Beach, which has created a special candle for the FFB, donating fifty percent of all proceeds back to the Foundation. While reminiscing on her philanthropic journey, Heather notes one specific theme that has always drawn her to philanthropy, “You never know when you’re going to need someone’s help. Why not help other people now, because you never know when you might need that same help reciprocated to you in the future.”

To support the South Carolina Chapter of the Foundation Fighting Blindness, please visit fightingblindness.org/chapters/south-carolina-chapter

Lou Zeller’s Navigation of Environmental Advocacy, A Journey of Transformation and Impact 18 Dec 2023, 9:35 pm

Life’s journey is often punctuated by pivotal moments that can unexpectedly alter the course of one’s path. The same is true for Lou Zeller, former Executive Director and current Strategic Advisor of the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League (BREDL), who underwent a transformative experience in 1969, coinciding with his enlistment in the Navy.

“It sounds a little funny, but I woke up and had an epiphany,” Lou reminisces. “I just had this ‘aha moment’ where I got up before dawn, marched into the offices of the Naval lieutenant, and said I can’t do this. I can’t kill. That was the beginning of a life-changing event.”

In a moment of profound realization, Lou awoke to a stark opposition between the tasks expected of him and his moral judgment. “I also became a conscientious objector in 1969, the same year I joined the Navy,” he recalls, reinforcing his commitment to standing up for his beliefs. This event marked the commencement of an important journey for Lou, underscoring the deep-seated commitment that has defined his lifelong dedication to environmental justice.

Pioneering Environmental Activism

Over his illustrious 30 year career in environmental defense, Lou has been a community advocate, actively engaging in and organizing various demonstrations, marches, and protests. His unwavering commitment revolves around safeguarding communities from exploitation by companies and industries that aim to introduce harmful elements in or around the environment where people reside, initially beginning with the defense of his own community in 1978.

“I was working and living in Western North Carolina in 1978, after finishing Physician Assistant school at Emory University. I was working at a small rural clinic, raising a family, and doing some farming on the land that I lived on when the Department of Energy Project of ‘92 was targeting various types of communities to take all the high-level radioactive waste from nuclear power plants and find a dumpsite for it,” Lou recalls. “One of those 12 targeted sites was about 15 miles from my home in Madison County, North Carolina. We contacted BREDL, who was about 100 miles away, and they had the expertise and organizing capacity to work with groups like ours.”

Lou’s transformative encounter with BREDL propelled him into a dedicated life of environmental defense. This journey commenced with his acceptance of a job offer from the organization, marking the beginning of a series of impactful events. Lou actively engaged in environmental demonstrations in the following years, particularly notable for his participation in the protests against radioactive waste dumpsites in Barnwell, South Carolina, between 1979 and 1980. These demonstrations stood as a collective response to the environmental injustices associated with radioactive waste disposal. Further showcasing his commitment to social causes, he took part in the monumental 1982 anti-war march in New York City, where a million people flooded the streets, culminating in Central Park, to show support against the use of nuclear weaponry. Playing a pivotal role in mobilizing support, he organized a busload of participants from Asheville and Western North Carolina to attend the march alongside him. Concurrently, Lou was involved with Plowshares, a Christian pacifist organization that, during the same period, focused on various anti-war efforts, such as painting crosses at intersections as a creative and symbolic expression against the potential invasion of Nicaragua.

A Unique Approach

In discussing the role and significance of BREDL, the organization’s unique approach stands out to Lou. “It’s unique as a singular organization. I don’t know of another group that works the way we do. If there are some, I’d be happy!”

BREDL distinguishes itself by its collaborative and educational efforts. With two organizers on staff, the group focuses on teaching new activists and residents how to strategically address, publicize, organize, and harness their inherent power when confronting powerful opponents. “We work to alter the balance of power in the community’s favor,” Lou affirms.

BREDL’s commitment to community empowerment stems from the recognition that decisions on the siting of environmentally harmful facilities are not always for scientific reasons. “As we learned during our first fight with the radioactive waste dump, the decisions on where to site these facilities are not based on science. They try to justify it on those grounds, but it’s mainly a political decision. That’s why Madison County was chosen in the 80s,” he argues. “That’s where we come in to aid community groups that request help. We give them advisors and consultants, resources they wouldn’t otherwise have access to.”

Lou highlights the organization’s responsive approach, where communities in need can reach out for support, emphasizing the importance of being physically present to address their concerns effectively. “People call us and say, ‘Can you come help?’ and we say, ‘When can you meet? Are your neighbors interested in this issue, too? Have them come along.’ That’s how we spend a lot of time in our communities because there is no substitute for being there,” he says.

The financial resources allocated by BREDL go toward essential elements such as telephones, salaries, and mileage, ensuring that community groups receive the necessary expertise and experience tailored to their specific needs.

Boots on the Ground

Discussing the essence of “boots on the ground” efforts, Lou emphasizes that the universal need for these community groups is strategy. “If they’re a group of farmers, homemakers, academics, or business people, many of them already have experience organizing community events, but relatively few have experience dealing with an environmental issue that they are confronted with,” Lou notes. “The first thing that people will need, whether they know it or not, is strategy. You can work very hard, day and night, getting organizers in your community to work on something, but if you’re only following in your own strategy, it might not lead anywhere.”

Recognizing that many groups may have experience organizing community events but need more expertise in handling environmental challenges, BREDL adopts a hands-on approach. The organization collaborates with groups, understanding their specific goals and initiating immediate work within the context of their issues.

In the realm of environmental advocacy, the significance of BREDL’s assistance in public relations cannot be overstated. The way a community presents its argument holds the power to shape perceptions and influence impactful change. “One of my favorite metaphors for when we are teaching people to write professional newspapers or professional work is when they tell me they’ve reached out to newspapers and that no one came. I say, ‘Well, why would a journalist come if you don’t have any news? If you were to write a press release about King Kong, you wouldn’t start with the handsome sea captain! The first line of your press release is, ‘Today, King Kong fell off the Empire State Building,’” he laughs, emphasizing the importance of BREDL’s support in ensuring a clear and meaningful press release.

Meaningful Moments

In 1992, Lou received a call from a member of the Cherokee tribe that marked a pivotal moment for him. “He was trying to put together a march in downtown Cherokee, North Carolina, to stop a commercial trash dump from being built on his reservation,” Lou recalls. “He said, ‘Can you be in Cherokee? I said yes, we can be there, and we can even share our homemade ‘No Mega Dump’ banners.’” At that time, the local government was veering towards an agreement with a commercial trash company, posing a threat to the reservation. Over the subsequent seven years, Lou successfully campaigned not only to thwart the waste dump in Cherokee, but also to restore the Lloyd Welch constitution, a previous governing document that would have prevented the trash dump, fostering a more democratic and respectful environment for tribal members.

Despite this victory, BREDL later faced opposition to a stance on the gaming industry’s plan to construct a casino in Cherokee on that same reservation, which proved unsuccessful. This experience underscored a lesson for Lou that even when efforts align with principles, success is not guaranteed. “You can do everything right and still lose, but if you don’t do anything, you will certainly lose,” he says.

Lou’s dedication to making an impact extends beyond the realms of environmental defense, extending to the community of people he has touched. When asked to reflect on BREDL’s growth over time, Lou says, “It’s wonderful. I’m filling out holiday cards, and I have scores of people that I keep up with, some of whom we worked with for decades. We still have members of our board who go back 30 years and more. The organization that we have established has that kind of longevity.”

For Lou, the impact extends not only to the tangible successes in environmental advocacy but also to the enduring connections and community that stand as a testament to the legacy he strives to create. “I have a letter from a woman in Wilson County, North Carolina, from 2020, thanking us profusely for providing the power and the vision that she could stop the natural gas pipeline that was slated to come into her community,” he says. “We didn’t stop the pipeline for them like a lawyer would do; our people only provided the expertise and leadership. Those seeds have been planted for the last 40 years, not only for the immediate campaign but for the next one in the future. That’s the organization I want to leave behind. Our founder, Janet Marsh, said, ‘One person speaking alone may not be heard, but many people speaking with one voice cannot be ignored.’ She said that in 1984, at the first public meeting of BREDL. This still guides our program on a day-to-day basis.”

To support the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, please visit https://bredl.org/.

Kristy Bostick’s Journey from Career to Compassion, Supporting Myrtle Beach’s Law Enforcement Heroes 11 Oct 2023, 4:59 pm

“Growing up, 911 was the first number I was ever taught,” says Kristy Bostick, civilian board member of the Myrtle Beach Police Foundation (“MBPF” or “Foundation”). “We have police officers that come in, without hesitation, and do their jobs to the fullest. I am so glad to be a part of a Foundation that gets to help the people who help us and ask nothing in return.”

Kristy Bostick is more than a dedicated member of the board; she is a true embodiment of selflessness and commitment to her community. Through her unwavering dedication, Kristy plays a pivotal role in ensuring that the law enforcement officers of Myrtle Beach have the vital resources they need. Her involvement with the Foundation underscores a profound belief in the importance of supporting those who protect and serve, showcasing a compassion which resonates deeply within the community and beyond.

A Journey of Compassion

Kristy’s involvement with the MBPF is a direct result of her rich and compassionate work history. As a dedicated neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) respiratory therapist, she honed her skills in caring for the most vulnerable and fragile infants, showcasing her unwavering commitment to improving lives. Her journey took a pivotal turn when she transferred to the San Antonio Military Medical Center, where she joined the burn unit to aid soldiers wounded in the Iraq War. This profound experience exposed her to the physical and emotional challenges these brave individuals faced, fueling her determination to make a lasting impact. “I’m the type of person that if I am asked to do something, I want to help. Being a part of that burn unit was an honor,” she said. Kristy’s unique blend of expertise and empathy now drive her efforts within the Myrtle Beach Police Foundation, where she channels her dedication to provide support and healing to those in need.

From Career to Calling

After a move from Las Vegas to Myrtle Beach, that same dedication drove Kristy to search for yet another opportunity to help those in need while raising her son, Jackson.

“Medicine was all I ever knew until I got married and had a child. It’s amazing where life takes you. When you think you’ll be working and then all of the sudden you have a child, it changes you,” Kristy admits.

Her journey of service in Myrtle Beach began with a desire to make a positive impact on her son’s education. As she watched him navigate his school years, she became acutely aware of the challenges faced by both students and teachers. Recognizing the need for additional support and supplies in her son’s school, Kristy knew she had the skills and determination to help bridge that gap. As her involvement in the community deepened, she heard about a pressing need from the Myrtle Beach Police Department for new vests to ensure the safety of officers on duty. Through her network, Kristy was connected to Chief Amy Prock, igniting a partnership that would further amplify her commitment to serving her community and ensuring the safety and well-being of those who protect it. “We got a hold of Chief Prock and we wanted to help. They needed new vests. It takes a lot of money, but if we can get the word out that we have a Foundation, I think people would be willing to help. With more community involvement, things would go a lot smoother. If we’re divided, we fail. If we’re divided, we fall.”

A Pillar of Support

The Myrtle Beach Police Foundation came into existence on April 30, 2021, marking a significant milestone in its journey to make a positive impact. Its founders, driven by a deep sense of purpose and a vision for a better future, established the Foundation with a commitment to serve their community. About a year ago, the organization received its official nonprofit status, a crucial validation of its mission to support and uplift the officers and their families. The Foundation’s Board is composed of three civilians, two retired police officers, and four active duty officers, who gather to organize events, allocate funds, and handle administrative tasks.

“The whole purpose of the Foundation is to get more community engagement and increase awareness for our officers that are in need,” Kristy says. These funds then have profound impacts on the lives of law enforcement in Myrtle Beach. “We’ve had a police officer whose house was on fire and he lost everything. Sometimes insurance doesn’t cover everything, and that’s when the Foundation is there to help,” she said.

Their budget is maintained through sponsorships, donations, and community events, then distributed to various causes including, but not limited to, the maintenance of the Myrtle Beach Police K-9 Unit, First Responder Fund, Memorial Fund, and Scholarship Funds. “The Foundation is dedicated to supporting officers through funding for equipment, training, scholarships, projects, injured officers, and unfortunately some of the officers that may pass in the line of duty. We are here to support them and their families,” Kristy says.

The Myrtle Beach Police Department has been fortunate to have had a remarkably low number of line of duty deaths throughout its history, with only three tragic instances documented since 1949. The most recent loss occurred in 2021 when Officer Jacob Hancher, a dedicated and courageous member of the force, made the ultimate sacrifice while serving and protecting the community. These rare and solemn occurrences serve as stark reminders of the inherent risks that law enforcement officers face daily, highlighting the importance of supporting and honoring the brave men and women who commit their lives to safeguarding our cities. “My dream vision would be to raise as much money as we can so that the Department is not lacking in any equipment or supplies,” Kristy notes. “I would hate for an officer to go to work and there’s a shooting and he only has the front vest because we didn’t have enough money to purchase the back. I want to see the Department fully stocked with all the supplies they need, including scholarships. We need to have recruits and people who aren’t afraid to join the police force,” she urges. Kristy says that the Foundation is so new that one of the ways to best support the Force is to spread awareness of their needs. “We are so new that just creating awareness and getting the word out is a really big thing,” she said. Through word of mouth, Kristy believes that spreading the importance of the Foundation can help garner the most support for the organization, leading to additional funding, an increase in community events, and a bigger scholarship fund that will help promote the growth of new recruits at the Myrtle Beach Police Department.

Community Service in Her Own Backyard

Myrtle Beach, known for its sun-kissed shores and vibrant atmosphere, is also a place where the bonds of community run deep. In this coastal haven, residents share not just the beauty of their surroundings but also a tight-knit sense of belonging. It’s a place where neighbors know each other’s names, and where the spirit of togetherness thrives. In such a close-knit community, volunteering time and effort can be incredibly impactful, and it certainly is for Kristy. “They love their jobs. It’s an honor to be sitting beside them. They all have hearts of gold,” Kristy explains about the officers the Foundation helps to serve. “I’d love to be a part of this Foundation for as long as I can. Coming from medicine, this is completely out of my wheelhouse; it’s taken me out of my comfort zone, but I’ve seen how much help we’ve been able to provide in the short time the Foundation has been around.”

Kristy, deeply embedded in the Myrtle Beach community, firmly believes that spreading the word about the Foundation can have extraordinary impacts. With the community’s strong sense of unity and support, raising awareness about the Foundation can not only amplify its reach but also strengthen its mission. The upcoming events, including the Jacob Hancher Memorial 5k on November 4, and the eagerly anticipated Golf Tournament in February 2024, are not just occasions for remembrance and enjoyment but also vital fundraisers that will provide the necessary funds for the Foundation to continue its essential work in supporting officers in need. Kristy knows that the community’s involvement in these events can create a meaningful and lasting legacy, ensuring that the Foundation can continue its vital mission of care and support for those who protect and serve. “It’s not about yourself,” Kristy says, regarding the importance of service in one’s own community. “It’s about helping those in need. To see them when they don’t have to worry, it does something inside that just makes you feel really good. There’s nothing like it.”

To learn more about how you can help the Myrtle Beach Police Foundation, please visit MBPDFoundation.com.

Luke Sharp brings joy to people with disabilities by taking them surfing. 8 Feb 2023, 3:48 am

Surfer Luke Sharp is always eager to share the stoke.

So when a friend was organizing an event to help people with disabilities ride the waves, Sharp didn’t hesitate to volunteer for the area’s first Wheel to Surf a decade ago.

You read that correctly – people who happen to rely on wheelchairs, are blind or have other disabilities can experience the joy and freedom of catching a wave. Sound impossible? That’s not a word in Sharp’s vocabulary.

That day on the beach sparked a passion that led Sharp to create the Adaptive Surf Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that not only organizes six Wheel to Surf events along the S.C. coast every year, but is helping create similar organizations in coastal North Carolina, Costa Rica and other places. It also works to make beaches more accessible with the installation of mats to accommodate wheelchairs in the sand and the addition of beach wheelchairs on every pier along the East Coast.

“We want to do big things now,” Sharp said. “We’re inspired.”

‘IT’S ORGANIC’

Sharp didn’t set out to form a charity, he simply volunteered at an event in this new adaptive surfing effort organized by his friend Brock Johnson, who fractured his neck in a diving accident years ago but longed to get out of his wheelchair and ride the waves again.

After that first day on the beach, Sharp spearheaded an effort to replace the paddleboards they used with custom-made boards for Johnson and two other adaptive surfers designed to meet their specific needs. For example, some are made wider and equipped with handle grips at the front of the board so the adaptive surfer can lie on his or her stomach and use the handles to maneuver the board through the waves. Other boards are equipped with a chair for the adaptive surfer.

Sharp managed to raise the needed $3,000 to pay for the three custom boards. He thought, “mission accomplished.”

But then others emerged needing custom boards. Johnson envisioned bigger and better Wheel to Surf events. And having beach wheelchairs equipped with large inflatable wheels to better maneuver adaptive surfers through the sand would help, too.

As the needs piled up, Sharp couldn’t let up. He formed the Adaptive Surf Project around 2014 and started raising money for custom boards and recruiting volunteers to help staff the Wheel to Surf events.

He’s been riding the adaptive surf wave ever since, adding more events, setting ambitious goals and showing others in beach communities how to create their own adaptive events – all while working his full-time job teaching at SOAR Academy alternative school in Horry County, South Carolina.

“There’s no such thing as not having time,” Sharp said. “You just wake up in the morning and choose to do whatever you want to with your time, right? And what’s more rewarding than to give your time to help an individual experience joy. That’s better than anything.”

PURE JOY

Participation in Wheel to Surf events has swelled to 100 adaptive surfers who travel from other parts of South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Georgia and other places for the chance to experience 30 minutes in the waves under the close guidance and safety of the expert surfing volunteers. Each adaptive surfer has a team alongside the board at all times. Sharp gives credit to the bravery of the adaptive surfers and the trust they have for the volunteers.

“It takes enough for people to get out of the house when they don’t have a disability, but someone who happens to have a disability, surfing, that’s pretty brave. That takes a lot,” Sharp said.

Want to see pure joy? Look at the smiles and hear the excited squeals of the adaptive surfers as they glide in on a wave – free of their wheelchair or other usual support. It’s the reason Sharp and the volunteers do what they do.

“At one Wheel to Surf, I looked on the beach and all the photographers were taking pictures, and there was a little group of cheerleaders cheering people on and there was someone who had cooked food,” Sharp said. “I realized that everyone was showing up and whatever talent they have, they were giving it for these people so they could surf. It was very moving.”

Sharp and the volunteers have taken hundreds of people surfing, from young children to a fearless, local blind man who routinely elicits applause from beachgoers as he glides in standing solo on a board to a frail, 97-year-old World War II veteran riding the waves for the first time.

“He couldn’t really walk that much. We put him on a surfboard where he could sit down,” Sharp said of the veteran. “We picked up the surfboard, and I looked over and saw a bunch of dudes carrying the surfboard with this guy on it, and tears were running down their eyes. It was just a moving experience. It’s hard not to get choked up when you see these strong men carrying this guy and they are all crying. No one was speaking, just tears in their eyes.”

Those moments help fuel Sharp on long Wheel to Surf days. He, along with the other in-water volunteers, battle the waves for hours with little to no break, determined to create a memorable surfing experience for every adaptive surfer patiently waiting their turn on the beach.

“You just go into beast mode, and at the end all your muscles are shaking and you are worn out,” Sharp said. “But it’s worth it because you bring so much joy to everyone who shows up.”

FROM THE BEACH TO BIKES

Soon, Sharp wasn’t satisfied with just adaptive surfing. What about bike rides? Again, making the seemingly impossible possible. There are now specially designed bikes available for the monthly bike rides at the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex.

Today, Adaptive Surf Project is thriving, with ambitious goals to share the stoke not only locally, but along the East Coast and expanding opportunities for adaptive activities in cities across the country and overseas. Nearly a half dozen adaptive surfing organizations have formed in coastal North American communities thanks to guidance from Adaptive Surf Project. Sharp envisions adaptive bike rides in Atlanta, adaptive surfing in New Jersey and more.

“As soon as they see it, they are going to want to do it,” he said.

A BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY

Adaptive Surf Project isn’t just a charity, it aims to nourish a community that goes beyond its official events.

Those who volunteer and participate in the adaptive activities have become a tight-knit community who experience life together. They play music together, offer rides to doctor’s appointments and even help each other move to a new house. Many informally gather on the beach in Cherry Grove every Sunday just to hang out and surf.

“It’s just turned into a really big community,” Sharp said. “We go to concerts together, cook, hang out. We are just friends now. Sometimes it doesn’t even feel like an organization.”

For Sharp, he’s just sharing the stoke and bringing joy. While he’s been honored with awards, including the Jefferson Award from Sinclair Broadcast Group for extraordinary community service last year, he’s quick to downplay his efforts while applauding the brave adaptive surfers, the loved ones who care for those with disabilities, the volunteers who donate their time and the donors who hand him a check after watching an adaptive surfing event.

“And all I do is blab,” Sharp said. “It’s not even like I’m volunteering or doing anything. I’m just hanging out with my friends, hanging out with my buddies.”

Want to donate to, or volunteer with, Adaptive Surf Project?  Learn more at AdaptiveSurfProject.com.

Gina Trimarco Finds Helping Others Is The Way to True Success 6 Mar 2022, 8:01 pm

Chicago born and raised, Gina Trimarco moved to South Carolina at age 39. Immediately involving herself in the community, Gina became a resident who dove into the business community and led by example, offering her talents with numerous nonprofit efforts and business ventures to improve her community.
“I live by the philosophy of a Giver’s Gain. I believe there is always a way that we can help each other and that helps us. I always try to stay in that mind frame of giving without receiving anything and you always get something back,” Gina said.

As an entrepreneurial business owner who incorporates humor into her work and lifestyle, Gina said she doesn’t always have a lot of time or money to give, but she truly believes that helping others is always the way to improve oneself.

“At the end of the day,” she said, “we always have time to give of ourselves and it is a mindset.”

HER EARLY LIFE

Gina said she grew up in an interesting family. Her dad, a first-generation Italian, was 25 years older than her mother who was born in Germany but came to America at age 10.

“My grandparents came from Italy and grandfather was a bootlegger. All my aunts and uncles had something to do with the Mafia in some way or the other during the depression,” she said.

Gina said her dad had his kids — which included her brother and two half-sisters — working flea markets as young as age 10. Gina began working at a bakery at age 13. Stricken with congestive heart failure, her dad’s sickness caused family financial struggles. He died young but not before instilling in his children how to work hard, be loyal and show up on time with a good attitude, she said.

“We learned to communicate and how to sell things,” she said. Those are talents she has been able to utilize throughout her career.
While her family’s thoughts about women in college leaned more toward the old tradition of “you go to college, get married, and have kids,” Gina wanted something more that would carry her through life.

“I wanted to make sure I had a life path,” she said. So, her half-sister and brother-in-law paid for her first year in college to give her a start and she worked her way through to graduation.

That work ethic set the stage for Gina to work her way up in everything else she has done since she said.

ESTABLISHING A CAREER PATH

Gina began her career as an intern in radio and television. Those experiences led her to open her own video and film production company at age 23.

“One thing led to the next and the next,” she said of her career.

She worked in entertainment marketing for a long time, which took her to IMAX in Chicago, one of the top five theaters in the world. In 2007, Gina was recruited to move to Myrtle Beach and take over operations of the IMAX there. That theater was under construction to become a 3D theater. There were no employees and she started from scratch. Things were going well until the economic crash of 2008.

“Emotionally, I struggled with letting people go. I had built an amazing team and people had accepted me into the community. When I refused to fire my staff, I was fired and that was ok because I had trained my team to run things without me. I wanted to grow my own career and the only way to do that is to train others to take over for you.”

Gina said she had begun to feel that as a leader, she was struggling. Having taken improv classes while in college, she decided to reach out to an improvisation teacher in another city to learn how to teach. That helped her open her imagination and see possibilities.

“Improv is second nature. It didn’t exist in Myrtle Beach so to have it here, I had to create it. I reached out to get a curriculum and was going to do it as a hobby,” she said.

But it turned out to be an inspiration for her next step in life. A high-energy individual, Gina said it had never occurred to her to start an improv theater. She began her new company with the creation of a website for Carolina Improv. For the next 12 years, Gina utilized her talent for humor, coaching and motivation to run the Carolina Improv theater inside an area mall.

VOLUNTEERING AS SHE GREW

Gina said she was always involved with volunteer work in some way. In Chicago, she had volunteered with the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. After moving to Myrtle Beach, she took part in Leadership Grand Strand, a 10-month, 100-hour community service program of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce focused on the development of young leadership.

Always the person ready to give back, Gina squeezed out time to stay involved in some way with organizations like the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, and numerous others.

When Gina hit another snag in her career due to the COVID pandemic that shut the doors on live performances and in-person training, again leaving her unemployed, she regrouped and served as a committee volunteer to brainstorm the idea of a co-work space in Myrtle Beach.

“We introduced and came up with a plan to provide this space in the Arts and Innovation District off Main and Ninth in the city,” Gina said. Her 12 years of volunteering with the local Chamber kept her positive and moving forward while she sought employment.

“After being a business owner for more than 12 years, I had to find a job,” she said. “I didn’t know what to do so I just focused on helping other businesses, coaching, training, and consulting.”

For four months, she ran a weekly virtual coaching meeting through the chamber to help small businesses navigate through the pandemic.

Before long, she landed on her feet, as usual, in a position that utilized her humor and coaching talents. She has also been able to continue a podcast venture she had begun with an associate called “Women Your Mother Warned You About.”

She became a trainer, podcaster, and improviser as Director of Coaching Programs & Master Sales Trainer for Sales Gravy, the Sales Acceleration Company based in Georgia. She was able to work from her Murrells Inlet home office combining her entrepreneurial sensibilities with the backing of a well-established coaching and sales training company.

“The trickle-down effect of COVID has been horrendous,” Gina said. She said she now is focused on getting out of debt. Closing the theater she had worked so hard to establish was a real blow but she drew on her ability to use humor to cope with the difficult things in life.

“If you can find humor in your situation, then your life won’t be too bad. Improv teaches you not just to be funny but to be relatable. That’s where the humor comes in, because you are relatable. If you cannot take time to laugh at yourself and find humor, you are not living your best life.”

For her dedication during the pandemic to help other businesses thrive while hers had tanked, Gina received a surprise award as Volunteer of the Year from the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.

“I was taken off guard by the award,” she said. “It still makes me emotional. I was never doing the work to build a resume. I just believe if you have talent and you can help others, you should be doing it,” she said. “And do it joyfully.”

Charlene Dougherty Works Hard to Keep Ballroom Dance Viable 19 Nov 2021, 8:30 pm

Dancing was never a part of her early life, but today — just shy of 65 — Charlene Dougherty cannot imagine life without it. Her love is for ballroom dancing, an activity for all ages but one that allows seniors like her and her husband, Steve, to enjoy improved mental and physical health as well as the social aspects dance provides.

Co-founding the Ballroom Dance Preservation Society in 2017 with a local dance instructor meant Charlene and Steve could become more involved with keeping ballroom dance opportunities alive in the area of their North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, home. And, as President of the nonprofit organization, it meant Charlene could share the joy she and Steve receive from dancing while helping to grow the local dance community.

FROM PA TO SC

Charlene grew up in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, and lived there until she and Steve married and moved to work in Washington, D.C., in 1979. They settled in Northern Virginia where they remained for the next 30 years. Charlene had worked in accounting and bookkeeping and was encouraged to start her own company after her first son was born in 1981. While in D.C., she provided accounting for numerous nonprofit agencies and government contractors. After 10 years, Steve, a CPA, joined her company.

“It took off and we were working so many hours at home, we decided we could pick up and transfer to Myrtle Beach,” Charlene said.

Busy with careers and raising two sons, they were tired of the fast paced D.C. area and by 2005 they made their decision to start a new life at the beach. While they continued to work, they began dance lessons around 2008.

“It was one of the things I always wanted to do but when you are establishing a career and raising kids and so forth, you just don’t have the time,” Charlene said.

She said the idea in moving was that they would both cut back their hours and work their way into retirement. They kept a handful of clients from their Washington business and went part-time.

With their now less hectic lifestyle, the couple started dance lessons but Charlene admits there was little ballroom activity going on in the area at that time. However, both she and Steve had gotten involved in the social dance network. They both served on the USA Dance Nationals organization that has chapters across the country for social and competitive dancing. With their appetites whetted, they wanted more and with Charlene’s experience with nonprofits, she knew any organization she would be willing to spend her time developing would have to be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

PRESERVING BALLROOM DANCE

As they began seeking out opportunities to dance in the Myrtle Beach area, Charlene said they found the typical age of the individuals interested in ballroom was around 80. There was on average one dance a month and about 35 people who would show up, she said. Perhaps in part it was a selfish desire to have more ballroom dance activities and networking that led Charlene to co-found an organization that would promote the health benefits – both mental and physical – of dance and help grow the ballroom dance community.

However, it was hard work and dedication that made the idea come to fruition. Creating the Ballroom Dance Preservation Society meant Charlene and Steve could contribute to preserving ballroom dancing for future generations through education and events.

“We started from scratch,” Charlene said of the organization. “We brought 10 people together and each turned over $35 for a total of $350 to go towards filing fees so we could get our federal ID number, etc.”
The hardest part, she said, was finding places to hold dances. There were no big ballrooms in the area so they settled for senior centers, churches and recreation centers. However, in mid-2019, the group found St. John’s Hall at the Greek Orthodox Church in Myrtle Beach.

“It has a beautiful 6,000 square foot dance floor,” Charlene said. “We started dancing there the first Tuesday of every month. Everyone loves the dances we host there and attendance has taken off.”
Now after a year of being unable to host dances due to the COVID pandemic, the opening of 3001 Nightlife, a dance club in Myrtle Beach once popular as 2001 Nightlife, has provided more opportunities for dances and community awareness, she said.

FINDING JOY IN VOLUNTEERISM

Another big problem Charlene has faced is finding volunteers who can help with some of the physical and social media aspects of running the organization since most members are senior citizens in their later years. Charlene said she has always been an active volunteer and enjoys the time she spends organizing events and helping to promote her favorite pastime. She feels volunteering for worthy causes is a crucial part of a life well lived.

While raising her sons, she was a team mom for sports and school parties. Before she got so involved with managing the Ballroom Dance Preservation Society, she served on the Barefoot Caring Council and helped with fundraisers for the North Myrtle Beach Teen Angels project, a program that benefits homeless teens in the area.

She has found true joy, however, in her volunteer work with ballroom dance. Charlene said ballroom dance offers health benefits of improved muscle and bone strength, posture, balance and motor skills, as well as the joyfulness it brings into people’s lives. Taking measures to help preserve membership during the pandemic, Charlene said the group has grown to some 180 members with 800 people on the email list including “snow birds” and Canadians who travel to the beach during winter. Now the average attendance at dance activities is around 125 and the group is drawing more “empty nesters” that have retired and moved to the area.

While some dance organizations folded due to the lengthy pandemic that kept people apart, Charlene worked tirelessly to maintain membership. With the help of some other members, she made phone calls to check on members; she made facemasks for everyone with a ballroom logo on them; she sent newsletters, cards and pictures and sent out ballroom dancer magnets.

“I was worried I would lose a lot of people but I knew we would be back and we have come back stronger than ever because we are ballroom dancers,” she said.

She also thinks the organization has thrived because it is built on the premise that there will always be a “welcoming atmosphere” for anyone walking through the door.

“I know the names of all 180 members,” Charlene said. “We treat people like they are guests in our house. We help new people find a connection and it has worked.”

Charlene said the most rewarding part to her is the people and their appreciation.

“It has grown the dance community and as new people come in, we are able to promote the physical, mental and social benefits. The social part is big because there are so many people moving here. Single people are meeting people and the dance instructor business has grown,” she said.

Charlene said many dance instructors come to the social events to dance with their students and give them a chance to practice what they learn. “Even if they don’t get to dance, they enjoy the social aspect,” she said of those attending.

While Steve continues to serve as treasurer, utilizes his talents as a disc jockey at the social events and enjoys dancing, Charlene said he does not share her desire to continue learning or to do performances.
“He enjoys just having fun dancing,” Charlene said.

There are 13 different ballroom dances and levels from bronze to silver to gold. But dancing and helping to spread the joy of dancing, Charlene said, remains their primary goal.

“We have always liked that it is something couples can do together,” Charlene said. “And, we can do it for the rest of our lives. It’s our thing. This is our thing now and it keeps us close!”

While senior citizens have made up the primary membership of the Ballroom Dance Preservation Society to date, Charlene and the other nonprofit board members are hopeful that continuing to provide educational information on the health and social benefits of dance will help to attract individuals of all ages. Drawing younger individuals would help ensure the future of ballroom dance while also providing some much-needed volunteers for the organization.

For more information on the Ballroom Dance Preservation Society visit ballroomdancepreservation.com.

Woody Ford Focuses on Achievement in His Philanthropic Work 8 Sep 2021, 7:00 pm

For a quarter of a century, Woody Ford has volunteered with the United Way of Horry County, South Carolina. That sounds like a very long time, but Woody — who has given of his time, talents and financial support to numerous nonprofit efforts — has plenty of time left to help people in need.

“I always say time is like money,” Woody said. “You rarely find it, but you always have to make it. If you have a hobby, you make time. You have to do the same thing with philanthropic work.”

For Woody, who retired in 2019 at age 55 from BlueCross and BlueShield of South Carolina after 34-½ years, working to help agencies that focus on achievement is a continuing and very important part of his life.

“It is always about achievement; achievement in every field of human endeavor, which is the motto of my fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.,” he said.

GROWING UP MILITARY

Growing up in a military family taught Woody at a young age how important it is for people to help each other.

“My mother, Rose Ford, was always involved in the community and she kept her children involved,” he said.

No matter where they lived, his mother worked with the recreation and youth centers on base where her seven children used the services. She later retired as Director of Parks & Recreation in Sumter, South Carolina. She also chaired the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club of Sumter.

“She was always involved and wherever we were, my dad would bring home some soldier for dinner or to take to church that had no other family in the area. We learned to be involved in the community and to take an interest in the welfare of others,” Woody said. “I grew up where people helped each other.”

His dad, Woodrow Ford, Jr., spent 29 years in the Army, and every time his family moved, it was time to make new friends and learn new things. Born in the Panama Canal Zone, Woodrow Ford III (Woody) lived in various places around the country and abroad. One constant in his life, however, was the family connection to Sumter, which was home-base to both his parents. While his dad was deployed three times to Vietnam, his family lived in Sumter where Woody spent much of his elementary and middle school years. However, he graduated in 1982 from high school in Frankfurt, Germany.

Having to adjust to diverse places and cultures gave Woody a different perspective on life in general, he said.

“It instilled in me not to have too many limitations. I try to get involved in a wide variety of things. My wife, Doris, says I have a hard time saying no.”

HONORED TO BE INVOLVED

Woody began his work with the United Way in 1995 as part of his company’s employee drive while in his position as Director of Operations.

“We had a very successful drive at BlueCross and BlueShield of South Carolina and I was invited to join the board of directors of the agency in 1996,” he said. Still active on that board today, he has served several three-year terms, rolling off for the mandatory one year before returning for another term.

His other involvements include his most recent appointments as Vice Chair of Grand Strand Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees and to the board of A Father’s Place in Conway. Other activities include service on the Coastal Carolina University (CCU) Alumni Association; as chairman of Southeastern Province of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Health and Wellness; Bridgewater Academy Public Charter School board; the Long Bay Symphony board and as board chair of the Boys and Girls Club of Conway. He also served on the American Heart Association Heart Ball Committee.

He is also involved in Conway/Myrtle Beach Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and Lambda Kappa Chapter of the Delta Mu Delta International Honor Society in Business.

Although he does not seek notoriety for his volunteer work, he has frequently been recognized for it and for his ability to work with others. Comments by agencies he volunteers with include that he “sincerely wants to know how to make the community a better place.” He has been called “caring, affable, funny and inspiring” and an “above and beyond type of guy.”

In 2005, Woody, who earned his BA in Business Management at CCU and later his MBA at Webster University, was named Outstanding Alumnus of the Year for the E. Craig Wall School of Business at CCU. He has put his education to use by joining the teaching staff at Miller-Motte College in Conway where he said he truly enjoys teaching.

In 2015, he was surprised by his selection as the first African-American recipient of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year award.

He said he is thankful to his employers through the years, his wife and two children, for the support they have offered him that has allowed him to be so involved in community efforts. Since the birth of his autistic grandchild that he and Doris now raise, he has also taken a serious interest in Autism Spectrum Disorder.

GUIDED BY HIS INTERESTS

Woody said he never entered any aspect of his volunteer work lightly. To those who think they have no time to spare, he advises looking into volunteer work that interests them.

“If you are interested in helping youth, which is a top interest of mine, then get involved with an agency that has that focus. You don’t always have to do it monetarily. There are so many nonprofits looking for volunteers and they would be happy to utilize your talents. Find your interest first and let that guide you.”

Woody said he always challenges people to do their research before volunteering for or donating to any organization.

“Find out what their focus is and where their money goes. Make sure the money actually goes to the programs you are going to be working with and promoting. For me, United Way is one of those agencies that are locally focused to support people and services right here in Horry County.”

Woody said knowing he is spending valuable time helping agencies that truly help others, makes his commitment and hard work well worth his time.