Teen Angels make state’s list of ‘Angels’ in charitable giving

A local charitable organization made the secretary of state’s recent listing of Scrooges and Angels highlighting nonprofits that give the most and least to charity to promote wise charitable giving.

Teen Angels, a charitable organization based in Little River that offers supplies, guidance, compassion and support to homeless and disadvantaged teens in the North Myrtle Beach High School attendance area, made the state’s list as an “Angel” this year.

“We were super proud and we try real hard to cross our T’s and dot our I’s because we’re dealing with volunteer money,” said Teen Angels founder, Renee Hembree.

The organization was honored as an Angel for devoting 91.2 percent of its expenditures to its charity.

Hembree said that their percentage would have been higher, but the agency had to buy new equipment to replace items used to operate the program that were stolen in a break-in last year.

To be selected as an Angel, the charity must have devoted 80 percent or more of its total expenditures to charitable programs; the charity must have been in existence for three or more years; the charity must make good use of volunteer services; the charity must receive minimal funding from grants; and the charity must be in compliance with the South Carolina Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act, according to a release from the secretary of state’s office.

The Angel honor comes around only once for a charitable organization.

In 2015, Teen Angels spent $12,996 to purchase clothes for needy students; $10,083 to help with college prep and graduation expenses; and $32,327 in direct support for medical, automobile and other living expenses. Teen Angels not only offers material support but also time, effort and compassion to help homeless and disadvantaged students in the North Myrtle Beach High School attendance area, according to the release.

Hembree founded Teen Angels in 2008.

We started with the intent to provide Christmas to homeless and disadvantaged teens at North Myrtle Beach High School, Hembree said. But “our board has decided that we can’t just take them Christmas shopping and drop them because they’re our kids.”

Over time the group’s mission and outreach expanded to year-round support for students at the high school, middle school and Horry County’s Academy for the Arts, Science and Technology. The program offers teens a variety of necessities from laptops and prom dresses to toiletries and financial support to attend school field trips to further education and give students the full high school experience.

Hembree says they also offer assistance to their graduated Teen Angels facing college expenses.

“The way you treat your own children and what you try to provide for them is what we do for Teen Angels,” said Hembree, the wife of former 15th Circuit Solicitor and current Sen. Greg Hembree. “The moral of the story is find your passion because there’s nothing that brings me greater joy than seeing teenagers have hope, happiness and hope.”

Each year the secretary of state’s office attempts to showcase Angels with diverse missions, from across South Carolina and outside the state, according to the release.

Charities are eligible to be named as Angels only once in order to recognize as many deserving organizations as possible, the release stated.

This year marked the 21st year in which the secretary of state’s office has highlighted Scrooges and Angels, with Scrooges shamed as giving the least of its expenditures to charity.

“As secretary of state, I have the responsibility of enforcing the Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act and promoting accountability and transparency to South Carolina donors,” Secretary of State Mark Hammond said in the release. “I have continued this tradition of recognizing Angels and Scrooges not only to raise donor awareness, but to also acknowledge and offer gratitude to those charities that do so much to help those in need.”

Hammond encourages all South Carolinians “to uplift their communities with their generosity, but to always research charities and professional fundraisers before they give.”

Donors can research charitable organizations in South Carolina by visiting the secretary of state’s website at www.sos.sc.gov.

To review an organization, select the charity search button to learn a charity’s total revenue, program expenses, total expenses, net assets and fundraiser costs. The website even calculates the percentage of total expenses that the charity has devoted to its program services, according to the release.

Queries can also be made to the South Carolina Division of Public Charities at 1-888-CHARITI (242-7484).

This story was originally published November 23, 2016 at 1:31 PM with the headline "Teen Angels make state’s list of ‘Angels’ in charitable giving."