SEGMENT #1: Real Men Wear Pink
GUEST: Captain Chris Cooper, Summerville Police Department
ISSUE: Health & Human Services
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Each October, a group of local men are recruited to be a part of the American Cancer Society’s “Real Men Wear Pink” campaign. Captain Chris Cooper of the Summerville Police Department is part of this year’s campaign and is fundraising for the cancer society. The officer has created the Real Men Wear Pink Music Festival to happen on Saturday, Oct. 25 in the Nexton section of Summerville with three bands performing. The ticket money will be donated to the American Cancer Society. Cooper shared why he agreed to participate in Real Men Wear Pink and how he came up with the idea for the music festival. The Captain spoke of his strong community relationship through the police department and how the department is supporting his efforts to help win the fight against breast cancer.

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SEGMENT #2: State of South Carolina
GUEST: State Treasurer Curtis Loftis
ISSUE: Education
The issue of the expense of education is one of importance across South Carolina. Curtis Loftis is South Carolina’s State Treasurer and the administrator of Future Scholar, South Carolina’s 529 College Saving Plan, a tax advantaged way to set aside money to pay a child’s future education expenses. Treasurer Loftis talked about the challenges created when a family incurs debt and how the Future Scholar program works to alleviate that issue when it comes to education. The Treasurer explained how someone could open a Future Scholar account, how there is no minimum to start it, and the tax advantages that come with the account. Future Scholar can be used for more than just college expenses and Treasurer Loftis shared the other ways funds can be spent educationally.

Lowcountry Forever: Real Men Wear Pink & State of South Carolina - Sept. 28, 2025

SEGMENT #1: Salvation Army
GUEST: Captain Joshua Davis, Salvation Army Officer
ISSUE: Community Service
The largest fundraiser of the year for the Salvation Army is their “Kettle Campaign” that takes place every year for the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holiday seasons. And while people think of the Salvation Army helping during the holidays, they serve the community all year long. Captain Joshua Davis explained some of the many programs they offer, including Emergency Financial Services and Disaster Relief. The captain provided information on this year’s Angel Tree Program that provides children of financially challenged families Christmas presents so kids won’t have to go without during the holidays. Along with sharing information on how families can register for and how volunteers can assist with to assist the program, Captain Davis also gave details on helping with the Kettle Campaign and how they collect donations, even cashless donations.

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SEGMENT #2: MUSC Hollings Cancer Center
GUEST: Chris Winn, Lowvelo Director
ISSUE: Health & Human Services
The first Saturday in November, hundreds of riders jump on their bicycles and ride to help win the fight against cancer. The event is Lowvelo, a benefit ride for the MUSC Hollings Cancer Center. Chris Winn is the Director of Lowvelo who explained how the name of the event was created, and what the overall point of the event is. Lowvelo is not just one ride, but a series of four rides, each a different distance, including an 80-mile course. Riders collect pledges with 100% of the rider money going directly to fund cancer research at the MUSC Hollings Cancer Center.  Winn spoke of the work being funded at the cancer center thanks to the event, which has a $1 million dollar goal this year.

Lowcountry Forever: Salvation Army & Lowvelo - Oct. 5, 2025

SEGMENT #1: Exchange Club of Charleston
GUEST: Jay Wallace, PR Chairman
ISSUE: Community Service
Each year, local organizations and non-profits receive thousands and thousands of dollars in grants through the Exchange Club of Charleston. That money is funded from the proceeds of the annual Coastal Carolina Fair. This year’s fair opens on Thursday, Oct. 30 and runs through Sunday, Nov. 9, featuring 11 days and nights of rides, games, food and live entertainment. Jay Wallace is the PR Chairman for the Exchange Club of Charleston who explained what the Exchange Club is and does, and how individuals can join. Wallace shared the amount of money the fair generated for local non-profits in 2024 and how organizations can apply to receive funds. Plus, he ran down the entertainment and spoke about the new elements that families could look forward to at the 2025 fair.

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SEGMENT #2: BarBrewGrass
GUEST: Suzanne Auld, President and CEO
ISSUE: Children’s Health and Human Services
Very few people actually know and understand what it is like for a family when a child has an illness that will keep them hospitalized for an extended period. Suzanne Auld’s son was diagnosed with leukemia and became a long-term patient at the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital. Out of that ordeal, Auld created BarBrewGrass, an event and then non-profit organization that now provides assistance to families with a child at the hospital. BarBrewGrass began as a bluegrass festival but has grown into and all-day food and live music festival, this year to be held at Firefly Distillery. Auld shared the history of the event and what people can expect this year. She also explained where the funds raised go and how they specifically assist those families at the Children’s Hospital.

Lowcountry Forever: Coastal Carolina Fair & Bar Brew Grass - Oct. 12, 2025

SEGMENT #1: East Cooper Community Outreach
GUEST: Stephanie Kelly, Executive Director
ISSUE: Community Service
Established following Hurricane Hugo, the East Cooper Community Outreach has been assisting residents east of the Cooper River since 1989. Over the past 18 months, the organization has undergone a renovation at their facility off Six Mile Road in Mount Pleasant. The rebuild broke ground in April of 2024 and was completed in August of 2025. Stephanie Kelly is the Executive Director of East Cooper Community Outreach and explained the need for the renovations and what it means for the organization and the clients they serve. Kelly spoke of the challenges they are facing because of rising prices and how that limits what they can provide and affects the amount of donations coming into ECCO. With the holidays close, Kelly spoke of the needs they have and how East Cooper Community Outreach works 24/7/365 to assist those in need.

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SEGMENT #2: Friends of the Hunley
GUEST: Kellen Bulter, President/Executive Director
ISSUE: Historical Preservation
This summer market the 25th anniversary of the H.L. Hunley being raised from the floor of the Charleston Harbor after having been discovered following its only mission in 1864. The Hunley was moved to the Charleston Naval Yard in North Charleston where it has continued to be restored. The Friends of the Hunley is a nonprofit established to help protect and preserve the H.L. Hunley. Kellen Bulter is the organization’s President and Executive Director who talked about the importance of the Hunley today, more than 150 years after the end of the Civil War. She explained how people could visit the Hunley today and how the sub is a tourist attraction. Butler also shared information on the nonprofit’s largest fundraising event, their 20th annual Oyster Roast on Friday, Oct. 25.

Lowcountry Forever: East Cooper Community Outreach & Friends of the Hunley - Oct. 19, 2025

SEGMENT #1: Salvation Army
GUEST: Captain Joshua Davis, Salvation Army Officer
ISSUE: Community Service
The largest fundraiser of the year for the Salvation Army is their “Kettle Campaign” that takes place every year for the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holiday seasons. And while people think of the Salvation Army helping during the holidays, they serve the community all year long. Captain Joshua Davis explained some of the many programs they offer, including Emergency Financial Services and Disaster Relief. The captain provided information on this year’s Angel Tree Program that provides children of financially challenged families Christmas presents so kids won’t have to go without during the holidays. Along with sharing information on how families can register for and how volunteers can assist with to assist the program, Captain Davis also gave details on helping with the Kettle Campaign and how they collect donations, even cashless donations.

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SEGMENT #2: Exchange Club of Charleston
GUEST: Jay Wallace, PR Chairman
ISSUE: Community Service
Each year, local organizations and non-profits receive thousands and thousands of dollars in grants through the Exchange Club of Charleston. That money is funded from the proceeds of the annual Coastal Carolina Fair. This year’s fair opens on Thursday, October 30th and runs through Sunday, November 9th featuring 11 days and nights of rides, games, food and live entertainment. Jay Wallace is the PR Chairman for the Exchange Club of Charleston who explained what the Exchange Club is and does, and how individuals can join. Wallace shared the amount of money the fair generated for local non-profits in 2024 and how organizations can apply to receive funds. Plus, he ran down the entertainment and spoke about the new elements that families could look forward to at the 2025 fair.

Lowcountry Forever: Salvation Army & Coastal Carolina Fair - Oct. 26, 2025

SEGMENT #1: Charleston Animal Society
GUEST: Kay Hyman, Senior Director of Community Engagement
ISSUE: Animal Welfare
The Charleston Animal Society has made an impact on the entire state of South Carolina, in addition to being an animal advocate leader locally.  Recently, they took over the Berkeley Animal Center, rebranding the facility the Charleston Animal Society Berkeley Campus. Kay Hyman, the senior Director of Community Engagement for the Charleston Animal Society shared how the transition took place, why it happened and the positive effect of the change on both animals and the community. Hyman also unveiled a new initiative at the Berkeley Campus, the Berkeley Paw Pack. The program allows residents to be paid to help foster animals from the shelter. Hyman explained the overall importance of fostering and its impact on animals and the shelter itself.

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SEGMENT #2: BarBrewGrass
GUEST: Suzanne Auld, President and CEO
ISSUE: Children’s Health and Human Services
Very few people actually know and understand what it is like for a family when a child has an illness that will keep them hospitalized for an extended period. Suzanne Auld’s son was diagnosed with leukemia and became a long-term patient at the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital. Out of that ordeal, Auld created BarBrewGrass, an event and then non-profit organization that now provides assistance to families with a child at the hospital. BarBrewGrass began as a bluegrass festival but has grown into an all-day food and live music festival, this year to be held at Firefly Distillery. Auld shared the history of the event and what people can expect this year. She also explained where the funds raised go and how they specifically assist those families at the Children’s Hospital.

Lowcountry Forever: Charleston Animal Society & BarBrewGrass - Nov. 2, 2025

SEGMENT #1: One80 Place
GUEST: Mary Steury, Communications Manager
ISSUE: Homelessness
For the 13th year, One80 Place will host their annual “Turkey & a 20” drive. The event is to collect turkeys, cash donations and food to assist in feeding the organization’s clients this Thanksgiving. Mary Steury, the group’s Communications Manager explained One80 Place’s mission to end and prevent homelessness. “Turkey & a 20” is specifically to help hundreds of individuals and families experiencing homelessness and face the holidays with uncertainty and hunger. Steury spoke of how the stereo typical description of someone “homeless” may not be accurate and many of these individuals have jobs and aren’t necessarily bad people, but people who have had some unfortunate experiences. One80 Place not only provides them meals and housing but also offers a clinic, provides legals services and community outreach to its clients in the community.

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SEGMENT #2: East Cooper Community Outreach
GUEST: Stephanie Kelly, Executive Director
ISSUE: Community Service
Established after Hurricane Hugo, the East Cooper Community Outreach has been assisting residents east of the Cooper River since 1989. Over the past 18 months, the organization has undergone a renovation at their facility off Six Mile Road in Mount Pleasant. The rebuild broke ground in April of 2024 and was completed in August of 2025. Stephanie Kelly, the Executive Director of East Cooper Community Outreach, explained the need for the renovations and what it means for the organization and the clients they serve.  Kelly spoke of the challenges they are facing because of rising prices and how that limits what they can provide and affects donations coming into ECCO. With the holidays close, Kelly spoke of the needs they have and how East Cooper Community Outreach works 24/7/365 to assist those in need.

Lowcountry Forever: One80 Place & East Cooper Community Outreach - Nov. 9, 2025

SEGMENT #1: SC Department of Employment & Workforce
GUEST: Robbie Lahmon, Business Services Manager
ISSUE: Employment
As part of a month-long statewide employment initiative, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, the Operation Employment Career Fair is taking place on the hanger deck of the USS Yorktown. This event is presented by The S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW), S.C. Works Trident, the S.C. Department of Veterans’ Affairs (SCDVA), and Patriots Point. Robbie Lahmon with the SC Department of Employment & Workforce talked about the goal of the initiative and how, while the job fair is open to everyone, this event had a specific emphasis on assisting veterans find employment. The fair showcased employers from across South Carolina and provided job seekers the opportunity to meet one-on-one with those employers and the potential to be hired on the spot.

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SEGMENT #2: One80 Place
GUEST: Mary Steury, Communications Manager
ISSUE: Homelessness
For the 13th year, One80 Place will host their annual “Turkey & a 20” drive. The event is to collect turkeys, cash donations and food to assist in feeding the organization’s clients this Thanksgiving. Mary Steury, the group’s Communications Manager explained One80 Place’s mission to end and prevent homelessness. “Turkey & a 20” is specifically to help hundreds of individuals and families experiencing homelessness and face the holidays with uncertainty and hunger. Steury spoke of how the stereo typical description of someone “homeless” may not be accurate and many of these individuals have jobs and aren’t necessarily bad people, but people who have had some unfortunate experiences. One80 Place not only provides them meals and housing but also offers a clinic, provides legals services and community outreach to its clients in the community.

Lowcountry Forever: Operation Employment & One80 Place - Nov. 16, 2025

SEGMENT #1: Summerville NAACP
GUEST: Dexcter Mack, Summerville Town Council District 1
ISSUE: Community Service
Each year during the week of Thanksgiving, WXST-FM radio teams up with the Summerville NAACP to host a free turkey giveaway. Dexcter Mack is a member of the Summerville NAACP, as well as being recently elected to the Summerville Town Council and spearheads each year’s event. Mack recruited Taylor Charpia from the Charpia Real Estate to sponsor the event and provide funding for the turkeys and food that is provided to those in need. Mack and Charpia provided information on this year’s event on Nov. 25, 2025, at Doty Park in Summerville. Along with sharing how the giveaway will be executed and who the giveaway was available to, Mack also discussed the NAACP and its involving role over the years and where he sees the organization’s future.

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SEGMENT #2: Town of Hollywood
GUEST: Mayor Dr. Chardale Murray, Mayor
ISSUE: Community Service
She’s currently the mayor, but Dr. Chardale Murray has been part of a free turkey giveaway in the town of Hollywood for well over a decade. Dr. Murray is hosting another free turkey giveaway this year, at the Town Hall in Hollywood on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. As the Mayor of Hollywood, Dr. Murray talked about how important this drive was for not only her town, but residents of nearby Ravenel as well. The Mayor provided all of the details for this year’s turkey giveaway, including the sponsors that were assisting the event and how the giveaway will be executed. Dr. Murray also discussed what she believes is the biggest challenge facing the town right now and what her top priority is for Hollywood.

Lowcountry Forever: NAACP & Town of Hollywood - Nov. 23, 2025

SEGMENT #1: Dorchester County EMS, Sheriff's Department and Parks and Recreation
GUEST: Ashley Cooper, Dorchester County EMS; Corporal Morgan Dangerfield, Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office; Pam Zanowski, Dorchester County Parks & Recreation
ISSUE: Community Service
For the holiday season, officials in Dorchester County have put together a number of events for residents. Ashley Cooper of Dorchester County EMS provided the details on Santa in an Ambulance, where Santa visits children who were transported as part of emergency care over the pervious year. Cooper explained the goal of the program and how residents could assist. Corporal Morgan Dangerfield of Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office shared information on their annual “Santa’s Workshop” event and explained it’s importance to building trust between the department and the community. Finally, Pam Zanowski from Dorchester County Parks & Recreation share information on the other holiday events put on by the county, including the annual Dec. 31 Noon Year’s Eve celebration.

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SEGMENT #2: MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital
GUEST: Dr. Mark Scheurer, Pediatric Cardiologist, Alex Jenkins, Board Member, Charles Darby, Board Member
ISSUE: Community Service
Each December, the Lowcountry’s most fun 5K event is held, the Reindeer Run. The race is a benefit for the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital. Dr. Mark Scheurer from the Children’s Hospital runs in the event each year, and shared his thoughts on why it’s important for the hospital to be involved with events in the community. MUSC Board Member Charles Darby provided the details on this year’s event and how people could register to participate on Saturday, Dec. 13 in downtown Charleston. Board member Alex Jenkins talked about the sponsors assisting in the event and the importance of the funds that are raised by the event.




Lowcountry Forever: Dorchester Santa Events & MUSC Reindeer Run - Nov. 30, 2025

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