Our Valued Community Partners
Kiawah Cares partners with local groups and nonprofit organizations in order to support our Johns and Wadmalaw Island neighbors.
If your group or organization is seeking support from Kiawah Cares, click here.
ARTS, ETC.
Arts, etc. is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit, volunteer organization open to all Kiawah and Cassique women. The mission of Arts, etc. is to raise funds for arts programming at Johns Island and Wadmalaw Island schools. Arts, etc. identifies, assesses and supports professional art programs for enhancement of the curriculum at partner schools. Since its founding in 2001, the organization has raised over $1.6 million for these art enrichment programs. Members of the Arts, etc. community also enjoy art-based educational experiences. As volunteers manage all aspects of Arts, etc., there are numerous opportunities to become involved in the organization.
BARRIER ISLANDS LITTLE LEAGUE
The mission of the Barrier Islands Little League is to impart the ideals of good sportsmanship, honesty, loyalty, courage and respect, so that children may retain those ideals and become stronger mentally and physically.
Kiawah Cares is an annual sponsor of the league and has supported the island Little League with uniforms, team sponsorships, and equipment and maintenance funding.
BEGIN WITH BOOKS
Begin with Books is the Charleston County (SC) affiliate of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, an international children's book distribution program, sending free books by mail to babies and toddlers each month. Begin with Books ships over 4,900 books per month directly to the homes of babies and toddlers in the Charleston area. Access to books and an early awareness of their value is proven to accelerate literacy and to speed the transition from learning-to-read to reading-to-learn, a pivotal factor in life-long opportunity and success. Kiawah Cares provides funding for Begin with Books to supply the books to young children. Currently, 71% of age-eligible children living on Wadmalaw Island, and 59% living on Johns Island, receive monthly books from Begin with Books.
COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS
Through a school-based coordinator, Communities In Schools (CIS) connects local resources with students who need them, to address both academic and nonacademic needs. CIS collaborates with community partners and businesses to recruit volunteers for tutoring programs and build up clothing closets. Kiawah Cares works closely with CIS in-school staff to fulfill the needs of students within D-9 Sea Islands schools.
COMMUNITY HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (CHIP)
The Community Home Improvement Project (CHIP) coordinates critical home repairs for Sea Islands residents in need. CHIP works with sister organization Next Steps, to identify those in need. Kiawah provides funding for essential materials and volunteers to assist with repairs. Often homes have been damaged by storms, or age has created significant livability issues.
GOING PLACES
Going Places’ mission is to provide disadvantaged kids with their most basic childhood right: joy! Katie Bloomquist, founder and executive director, wishes to provide a bicycle to children in all Charleston area Title 1 elementary schools. Bicycles give children a sense of freedom and in many cases, self-worth, as the bike may be the first item of value a child can call their own. Kiawah Cares is sponsoring a 2019 giveaway of 135 bicycles to all students at Frierson Elementary School on Wadmalaw Island.
HANDS OF CHRIST
Hands of Christ (HOC) conducts an annual distribution of school uniforms and school supplies to children in need. In 2018, HOC served almost 4,000 children in Charleston county and surrounding areas. Kiawah Cares provides funding for uniforms and school supplies as well as advertises to find Kiawah volunteers to assist at the distribution events.
KIAWAH CONSERVANCY
The Kiawah Conservancy provides the vision, leadership and resources necessary to preserve and enhance Kiawah Island's unique balance of nature and development. The conservancy has preserved over 350 acres of pristine barrier island habitat. Kiawah Cares supports the conservancy by sharing information about their programs and volunteer opportunities.
KIAWAH-SEABROOK EXCHANGE CLUB
The Kiawah-Seabrook Exchange Club is a service organization committed to community enrichment through the support and development of programs which focus upon four major areas: the prevention of child abuse, youth development and education, Americanism and community outreach. The exchange club provides grants to many of the most impactful nonprofits and programs on Johns and Wadmalaw islands. With closely aligning missions, Kiawah Cares aids the exchange club by communicating their incredible efforts and programs.
KIAWAH WOMEN'S FOUNDATION
The mission of the Kiawah Women’s Foundation is to provide for children in underserved communities in the lowcountry, specifically John’s and Wadmalaw islands. Their primary outreach program is a weekend food program, Backpack Buddies. Over 300 "at-risk" children receive weekly packs of healthy, shelf-stable foods that the children can take home for the weekend and prepare on their own. Kiawah Cares provides funding and resources for Backpack Buddies.
MADE WITH LOVE
Made With Love works tirelessly making hundreds of handmade goods and tied fleece blankets, that not only provide comfort but essential warmth, to give to students, teachers, families, and pet rescues. Special gifts are shared with Meals on Wheels and Respite Care during the holidays, and with veterans on Veterans Day to show gratitude for their service. In the spirit of sharing their crafts, and passing on the act of caring and giving with the younger generation, the group has hosted workshops with students from both Charleston Collegiate and Haut Gap Middle School. Kiawah Cares provides a room for them to work and funds many of their crafting supplies.
MEALS ON WHEELS
Meals on Wheels currently serves daily meals to 38 seniors on Johns and Wadmalaw Islands, and this number continues to grow. Physical decline or financial hardship limits the independence of these seniors and meal deliveries provide them with food they could not afford or may not be able to make on their own, as well as much needed human interaction. The raw food cost for Meals on Wheels to provide one meal per day to a senior for the year is $5,856. Kiawah Cares provides funding for meals and links volunteers to Meals on Wheels.
OUR LADY OF MERCY COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Our Lady of Mercy (OLM) Community Outreach works to address the root causes of poverty and create systemic change by providing basic and emergency resources, education, and specific health programs, as well as coordinated services in the broader community. OLM offers programs to meet the needs of our community ranging from financial assistance and emergency food and clothes to dental and OB/GYN care and GED, ESL and youth education. Kiawah Cares primarily supports OLM through advertising their volunteer opportunities.
OWLVENTURE CAMP
Founded in 2016, this program helps conquer the issue known as “Summer Learning Loss” for students at Angel Oak Elementary. Over the summer months, students typically lose one month up to one year of learning. In foundational subjects like reading and math, this can be devastating for future learning and readiness.
Allen Reed, the program’s founder, often works year-round to fundraise for this important effort, and Kiawah Cares receives and distributes them as a financial partner.
THE PARACLETE FOUNDATION
The Paraclete Foundation addresses health, safety, sanitation, and quality of life issues for low income homeowners on Johns and Wadmalaw islands. Clients must own and occupy the home and be below certain income thresholds.
The Foundation works in conjunction with other local support organizations such as Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach, The Wadmalaw Senior Center, island churches, and receives advice from CHIP Ministry to identify homeowners in need.
READING PARTNERS
Reading Partners works with under-resourced schools to engage volunteer reading partners to work one-on-one with students who struggle with reading. A volunteer will work with a student for 45 minutes twice a week, providing individualized reading support, following a structured, research-based curriculum. Kiawah Cares facilities the connection of Kiawah Island volunteers with Reading Partners. Learn about the Kiawah community’s recent impact on Reading Partners here.
RESPITE CARE CHARLESTON
Respite Care Charleston provides social day programs to those living with Alzheimer's and dementia, offering caregivers a much needed break while giving their loved ones the opportunity for engaging social interaction. Kiawah Cares works to link volunteers with Respite Care. Volunteer responsibilities can range from helping prepare meals to coordinating activities, assisting with arts and crafts, playing games or simply talking with our program participants.
SEA ISLAND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Founded in 1978, Sea Island Habitat for Humanity is part of a global, nonprofit housing organization operated on Christian principles. Located in Johns Island, the Sea Island affiliate is the third oldest in the world and serves serve the communities of James, Johns, and Wadmalaw Islands. They are dedicated to eliminating substandard housing locally through constructing, rehabilitating and preserving homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. In their 40 years of operation, Sea Island Habitat for Humanity has constructed over 350 homes.
SEA ISLANDS HUNGER AWARENESS FOUNDATION & WATER WELLNESS MISSION
The Sea Islands Hunger Awareness Foundation works to fight hunger and provide clean water to Sea Islands residents through their three outreach programs: the Water Wellness Mission, Crock-pot Cooking Classes and the Sea Islands Blessing Basket. Kiawah Cares primarily partners with Sea Islands Hunger Awareness to connect local volunteers with their ongoing blessing basket food distribution program. Each month, the Sea Islands Blessing Basket distributes food to 500 residents on Johns and Wadmalaw Islands.
Our grants to these sister organizations give critical support to those with food insecurity and install clean water wells to those without reliable access to clean water. Surprising as it is, water access can’t be taken for granted in our rural communities.
YO ART
Yo Art is committed to closing the opportunity and achievement gaps in Charleston’s public schools through transformative media arts and technology programs. With coding, photography, filmmaking, and design programs, students are encouraged to engage in their learning through a creative and project-based 10-week curricula, which also reinforces a South Carolina core curriculum standard in science, social studies, or math. Kiawah Cares provides funding to support Yo Art programs in Sea Islands schools.