Hurricane Helene Disaster Response / First Responders Appreciation Day at the Circle Volunteer Fire Department (Circle VFD): On September 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene devastated South Carolina, leading to power outages, fires, and the tragic deaths of Circle VFD firefighters Chief Chad Satcher and Landon Bodie. In their honor, the Leadership South Carolina Class of 2026 launched a fundraising initiative to provide the fire station with a permanent generator, enabling it to serve as a disaster relief hub. The project included a community appreciation event with a BBQ lunch, complimentary tickets for firefighters and their families, a memorial plaque, and legal services for first responders. Additional funds supported scholarships and dress uniforms for Circle VFD members.

Road Trip to a Brighter Future: Partnering with Rock Hill Schools and York Technical College, the LSC Class of ’24 organized a day-long event allowing about 40 STEAM-track students from South Pointe High School to get an inside look at two leading industries in the area - Shutterfly and Coroplast. Students had lunch at York Technical College, participated in campus tours and attended a career fair. LSC class members organized the events, served as chaperones on buses, raised more than $7,000 and gave the students swag bags including ear buds, flash drives and t-shirts. The class surveyed students with an eye to replicating the project in other districts to encourage students to find their futures in South Carolina instead of moving out of state for opportunities.

Caring for Kids: Partnering with Connie Maxwell Ministries, a statewide nonprofit that provides care for foster children and families, project included collection of needed items, fundraising to assist in purchase of vehicle, and participation in handson Serve Day at Connie Maxwell’s Greenwood Campus. The Class collected thousands of much-needed items through community collection boxes; raised $25,000 for Connie Maxwell’s transportation needs, and Class members participated in Serve Day at Connie Maxwell renovating the Dunbarton House for families and volunteers.

Reality Fair: Partnering with DIG, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of youth within rural communities, raised funds for a one-day “Reality Fair.” About 250 seventh grade students from the area visited the University of South Carolina Salkehatchie (Allendale Campus) where they learned about financial literacy and the value of money. Students explored owning versus renting; cost of childcare and living expenses; importance of an emergency fund and the value of education. The Reality Fair goal was to create a foundation for students to build strong money habits and avoid mistakes that can lead to lifelong struggles.

Paint the Way: Raised almost $70,000 for much-needed improvements at Robert E. Howard Middle School in rural Orangeburg, S.C, a Title I school where 85 percent of the students live poverty. The money was used for much-needed painting of common areas in the school and in creating a supply closet to provide clothing and other essentials for students. South Carolina does not have a state appropriation for public school infrastructure so building maintenance must rely on local funding.

Project Healthy Smiles: Raised funds to provide dental supplies including toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss as well as educational brochures on the importance of oral health for 10,000 impoverished students in 24 rural schools in Allendale, Hampton, Summerton, Dillion and Manning. The program helped increase the number of K-12 students enrolled in Welvista’s Smiles for a Lifetime program

Flood Recovery and Assistance: Raised money and participated in rebuilding efforts for communities devastated by Hurricane Florence. Class members provided sweat equity in helping rebuild and weatherize homes still damaged months after the storm. The class worked with the St. Bernard Project which specializes in rehabilitating homes damaged by natural disasters

Johnston Town Partnership: The class worked with the Edgefield County community of Johnston to raise funds to renovate a run-down park much needed for recreation, fellowship and community development in the rural community of 2,300 people that had limited resources for the work.

Inspire-A-Career: Created an interactive website InspireACareer.com to link professionals with students in rural areas for career days, shadowing and mentoring. Website was donated to SC Future Minds

Image of South Carolina: Created a South Carolina Day of Service, allowing groups of all kinds to post their community services projects. Day of Service project is detailed on www.LeadershipSC.com.

High School Drop-Out Prevention: Created to encourage middle school and high school students to strive for a diploma. The program was implemented through the Jefferson Foundation Awards with funds raised by the class.

GradUate SC: The class project focused on literacy intervention efforts to boost reading by at-risk youth. The effort was announced in a news conference while class members also organized a book drive and a 5K and Fun Run to bolster awareness of literacy intervention.

Sustaining Our Seniors: The class focused on Senior Hunger Relief. The class raised $50,000 in funds, secured the donation of two Honda Odyssey minivans and developed a logo incorporated into a video aired during Senior Awareness Week. A joint resolution of the General Assembly declared May 16, 2013 as Sustaining Our Seniors, "SOS" Day. The campaign culminated with a public announcement at the State House with Lt. Gov. Glenn McConnell and officials from Honda presenting the minivan keys to two senior community centers for Meals-On-Wheels programs. An additional $15,000 was raised for the Carolina Food Bank Association for senior hunger relief.

Special Olympics: The Class raised almost $30,000 for the South Carolina Special Olympics, participated in the opening ceremonies and staffed and managed an event during the group’s Mid-Winter Games in Charleston. The class volunteered about 1,300 hours to the effort.

SCMinds@Work was a promotional campaign to raise awareness of public education in conjunction with SC Chamber of Commerce. The class set a goal of getting more than 1,000 new people registered on the website and made presentations to other groups and organizations. The class also adopted Blenheim Elementary Middle School in Marlboro County, a school with a high proportion of students receiving free or reduced-priced lunches. The class raised more than $10,000 and during two project workdays built two sets of bleachers and eight benches and assembled utility carts for teachers. Money also went to the PTA for athletic equipment, school supplies and student personal care items including clothes and eyeglasses.

SC School for the Deaf: The Class raised nearly $70,000 to install 14 Promethean Boards for the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind. They also spent five workdays painting and repairing a dormitory at the school in Spartanburg. Class members including architects, IT professionals, teachers and engineers also contributed professional services.

Hunger Never Takes a Break: The Class raised $100,000 to support the South Carolina Food Bank Association providing meals to children and families on summer break. Class members developed a website and a public relations campaign and held a press conference to announce they reached a goal of providing one million meals for the hungry during the summer.

Public Education Support: The class researched issues of public education funding and compiled a comprehensive report presented to 12 professional groups to support a strategy for funding public education. Class members also raised funds to provide books and other materials for the library at Bridge Creek Elementary School in Elgin where all the students receive free or reduced-price lunches.

Parents Get Involved: The class partnered with the Class of 2006 to develop a white paper on the role of parental involvement in education. The class presented the findings to the Riley Institute and held an event in Columbia focusing on the importance of parental involvement with students. Money raised from the event was used to start the Leadership South Carolina Educational Foundation.

Ready To Work: project included writing editorials and participating in a Lexile study on education, reviewing entry level qualifications for jobs and suggested levels of education needed to perform jobs adequately. The report was presented to the South Carolina Education Oversight Committee and became part of Pathways to Success in support of higher education in the state.

The Future of LSC: The class developed a database of LSC alumni, raised funds to launch the LSC website and created the charter for the Leadership South Carolina. Members pledged 100% participation in the newly created alumni group and donated a full scholarship.