SEGMENT #1: Treats For Our Troops
GUEST: Suzi Kopp, Coordinator
ISSUE: Community Service
After October 3, candy piles up in many Lowcountry households. Eight years ago, Suzy Kopp teamed up with Guardian Angels to collect that candy for a good cause. Today, that continues through “Treats For Our Troops.”  Originally the program collected leftover Halloween candy which was then delivered to our troops overseas. Now, the program has changed to a local focus, delivering to area military members and first responders. Kopp explained why the adjustment was made and how donations will be accepted for this year’s campaign.  She also shared the involvement of Sullivan’s Island Elementary and groups receiving the candy.

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SEGMENT #2: Lowvelo
GUEST: Chris Winn, Event Manager
ISSUE: Health & Human Services
Lowvelo is the annual bike ride that takes place in the Lowcountry on the first Saturday of November, to benefit the MUSC Hollings Cancer Center. Chris Winn, the Lowvelo event manager, provided the details on this year’s Nov. 2 ride, which includes 5 different length rides.  He explained how people can enter to participate in the rides or take part on a stationary bike at the ride’s finish, or even virtually. Winn discussed the community partnerships the ride has developed, and the additional ways the event impacts the community. Plus, he shared how 100% of money raised by participants goes directly to funding cancer research and where those proceeds have made a positive impact.

Lowcountry Forever: Treats for Our Troops & Lowvelo - Oct. 27, 2024

SEGMENT #1: Folds of Honor
GUEST: Eric Timko, Vice President, Board of Directors
ISSUE: Veterans Affairs
Folds of Honor is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of military members who have fallen or been disabled while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Sunday, Nov. 10, the 3rd annual Palmetto Freedom Fest will take place, put on by the Palmetto State Folds of Honor. Board Vice President Eric Timko explained the history of this event, the concert this year and how people could get tickets. Timko spoke of the partnership that Folds or Honor has created with the community and how the money raised from this concert impact families, and how those funds would stay in South Carolina. Along with military members, Folds of Honor has expanded to assist First Responder families, which Timko discussed.

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SEGMENT #2: BarBrewGrass
GUEST: Suzanne Auld, Founder and Director
ISSUE: Children’s Health
After her child was diagnosed with leukemia, Suzanna Auld discovered the challenges, beyond medical issues, that families experience when a son or daughter is hospitalized. BarBrewGrass is a nonprofit she formed to help families with a child being treated at the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital. BarBrewGrass is an annual event, this year taking place at Firefly Distillery in North Charleston. Along with sharing her experience with the hospital, Auld provided the details on this year’s BarBrewGrass event and laid out how the money raised would be used to impact families in need at the Children’s Hospital.

Lowcountry Forever: Folds of Honor & BarBrewGrass - Nov. 3, 2024

SEGMENT #1: Salvation Army
GUEST: Captain Joshua Davis
ISSUE: Community Service
Each holiday season, the Salvation Army conduct its annual “Kettle Campaign,” which is the non-profit organization’s largest fund raiser of the year. Captain Joshua Davis, head of the Salvation Army in the Tri-County area, provided all the details on the campaign kick-off event on Saturday, Nov. 16. Captain Davis also discussed the challenges of the Kettle Campaign including finding people to man each kettle and shared information on how individuals, and even business and groups can volunteer to ring. In 2023, more than 5800 individuals received assistance from the Salvation Army. Captain Davis explained the various ways the Salvation Army helps, and the other programs they’ll provide this holiday season.

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SEGMENT #2: Sullivan’s Island Police Department
GUEST: Police Chief Glenn Meadows
ISSUE: Policing
Each holiday season, the Sullivan’s Island Police Department reaches out to the community through a Bike for Kids drive, attempting to collect more than 300 new bicycles to donate to children in need through Toys for Tots. Sullivan’s Island Chief of Police Glenn Meadows explained the connection the drive helps make with citizens on the Island and how donations will be accepted. Meadows also discussed some of the other outreach events the department conducts including Coffee with the Chief and House Watch. The Chief shared the biggest challenges for his small department and his implementation of the department’s first official Mission Statement and Core Values.

Lowcountry Forever: Salvation Army & Sullivan's Island Police Dept. - Nov. 10, 2024

SEGMENT #1: Charleston Animal Society
GUEST: Kay Hyman, Senior Director of Community Development
ISSUE: Pets
This year, the Charleston Animal Society celebrates its 150th anniversary. The oldest animal agency in South Carolina, and one of the oldest in our nation, will celebrate with its largest fundraising event of the year. Their annual “Paws in the Park” is on Saturday, Nov. 23. Kay Hyman, the Senior Director of Community Development of the Animal Society, discussed the importance of their anniversary. She also shared specific information about what would be taking place at the celebration, and how people could purchase tickets. Hyman laid out the needs the organization has and how the funds from the event would be used.

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SEGMENT #2: Big Brothers, Big Sisters
GUEST: Grace Hamilton, Development Director
ISSUE: Youth Services/Mentoring
There are “bigs” and “littles.” Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Lowcountry is doing what they can to assist young men and women grow through mentors. “Bigs” are adults who mentor the “littles,” the young boys and girls who benefit from the mentorship provided. Grace Hamilton, the organization’s Development Director discussed their major fundraiser, the “Big Lowcountry Boil” on Dec. 7. Hamilton shared information about the event, and the many ways it is a key event, both in fundraising and marketing. To give context, Hamilton explained how Big Brothers, Big Sisters works, their needs, and the way the individuals can get involved.

Lowcountry Forever: Charleston Animal Society & Big Brothers Big Sisters - Nov. 17, 2024

SEGMENT #1: One80 Place
GUEST: Lara D. LeRoy, Chief Development Officer
ISSUE: Homelessness
Each year on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving Day, One80 Place hosts “A Turkey and a Twenty,” the non-profit organization’s largest fundraising event of the year. Lara D. LeRoy is Chief Development Officer with One80 Place and explained how Turkey and a Twenty is executed, with individuals in the community invited to donate a Turkey, or $20 dollars, to assist One80 Place to feed the homeless in our area during the holiday season. LeRoy discussed the overall homeless issue in the Charleston area and provided her opinion on why the issues is growing, rather than improving. LeRoy detailed how One80 Place is working to reverse that and how they will use the money raised to deal with the homeless issue.

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SEGMENT #2: Delancey Street
GUEST: Eric Meeks
ISSUE: Prison Reform
Delancey Street is a non-profit organization that provides a place to live and a program for men who have hit rock bottom and have decided to change their lives. Eric Meeks is the Supply Coordinator and an individual who has been through their program after having served time in prison. Meeks provided an overview of what Delancey Street does for clients here in the Lowcountry, from how individuals join to what is required of those individuals to complete the program. Delancey Street employs former inmates to a variety of businesses they operate, including one for the holiday. Meeks share the details on their three area Christmas Tree lots, and how the money raised from the sales is used to support the non-profit.

Lowcountry Forever: One80 Place & Delancey Street - Nov. 24, 2024

SEGMENT #1: Big Brothers Big Sisters
GUEST: Grace Hamilton, Development Director
ISSUE: Youth Issues/Mentoring
For more than 100 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters has operated under the belief that inherent in every child is the ability to succeed and thrive in life. In this area, the organization serves more than 350 children between 7 and 18 years old. Grace Hamilton, the nonprofit’s Development Director shared stories of those children and how being mentored is assisting them, and also the adults who work with them. Hamilton explained how both “littles” (children) and “bigs” (adults) become involved with the organization. The Lowcountry BIG Boil is their largest fundraising event of the year, and Hamilton provided details on the December 7th happening and how individuals could purchase tickets.

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SEGMENT #2: Towns 4 Troops
GUEST: Rick Walls
ISSUE: Active Duty Military/Veteran Issues
Towns 4 Troops SE is a non-profit organization which provides support to active duty military members and Veterans in the Lowcountry region. Rick Walls is the local leader of Towns 4 Troops and explained the group’s mission, as well as providing examples of programs and events they sponsor. Walls talked about how he became associated with the organization and why he started a chapter in the Charleston area. For the holiday season, Towns 4 Troops is executing a “Santa For Soldiers” drive, Walls shared details on the drive and explained how people could assist with the drive, plus how the collected stockings are distributed.

Lowcountry Forever: Big Brothers Big Sisters & Towns 4 Troops - Dec. 1, 2024

SEGMENT #1: MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital
GUEST: Dr. Mark Scherer, Chief of the Children’s & Women’s Integrated Center of Clinical Excellence
ISSUE: Children and Youth Services/Medical  
This December, the 23rd Annual Reindeer Run, presented by Half Moon Outfitters, takes place in downtown Charleston. The run is a benefit event for the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital, the number one ranked Children's Hospital in South Carolina. Dr. Mark Scherer is the Chief of the Children’s & Women’s Integrated Center of Clinical Excellence at the Hospital. Scherer participates in the run and shared his experiences in previous Reindeer Runs. Additionally, Scherer discussed when the money raised from the event goes, and some of the specific ways that it assists the Children’s Hospital.

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SEGMENT #2: Pattison’s Academy
GUEST:  Dr. Laura M. Ganci, CEO
ISSUE: Children/Youth Disabilities  
Pattison's Academy is a Lowcountry nonprofit focused on providing comprehensive, year-round programs to support children with disabilities and their families.   Dr. Laura M. Ganci, the CEO of Pattison’s Academy told the story of how the Academy was founded, and the four programs the Academy provides to the community.   The Academy itself is only open to Charleston County residents, but the other programs, including the very popular summer camp, is open to anyone in the tri-county.   Dr. Ganci shared information on all of the programs, as well as discussing how the Academy is funded, and how individuals can help, not just by monetary donations, but by volunteering to help.

Lowcountry Forever: MUSC Children’s Hospital & Pattison's Academy- Dec. 8, 2024

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Lowcountry Forever: Charleston Animal Society & Big Brothers Big Sisters - Nov. 17, 2024

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