Grand Strand Newsmakers

Murrells Inlet 2020 is first recipient of CCU Real Estate Innovation Award

The first Real Estate Innovation Award, a new annual recognition created by the Grant Center for Real Estate and Economic Development at Coastal Carolina University, has been awarded to Murrells Inlet 2020, a nonprofit organization that promotes environmental awareness, infrastructure development, community involvement and responsible economic development in the Murrells Inlet area of South Carolina’s Grand Strand.

The award, presented in September at CCU’s Economic Growth and Real Estate Summit at the Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort, launches an annual program that recognizes area real estate innovations across private and public sectors. The prize is designed to honor area businesses and organizations that combine development with informed land practices for the betterment of the communities they serve.

Murrells Inlet 2020 led efforts to expand bike and walking paths connecting the Intracoastal Waterway to the inlet’s salt marsh. These recreational paths improve existing bike lanes and provide better access to the local section of the East Coast Greenway, a 3000-mile-long urban trail that runs from Maine to Florida. Now in the planning stages, the multipurpose path expansion was adopted as a priority project for Murrells Inlet 2020 based on a ranking of open-ended survey responses conducted last year.

The Grant Center for Real Estate and Economic Development, housed in CCU’s E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration, serves as an information hub for real estate and economic data for the Grand Strand region, acting as a bridge between CCU and the community. Led by Rob Salvino, associate professor of economics at CCU, the center provides an industry-focused, collaborative environment where students, faculty members and the real estate industry gain and share knowledge, information and international real estate business experiences. Learn more at coastal.edu/business.

Murrells Inlet 2020 has been operating since 1997 and has facilitated more than $3.3 million in grants for projects in Murrells Inlet. Visit murrellsinletsc.com for more information.

Corvette Club donates more than $22K to charity

Myrtle Beach Corvette Club as they presented checks to its two selected charities for 2016. The checks are the proceeds from the Corvette Clubs 21st Annual MB Car Show. The show was held the first weekend in June at Broadway at the Beach. Each charity was presented with a check for $11,127.39.

Knight Foundation to give grant money

The Knight Foundation announced the Knight Cities Challenge, which is now in its third year. The challenge is open for submissions starting Oct. 10 and ending Nov. 3 at knightcities.org.

The Knight Cities Challenge will offer $5 million in grant funding for a person’s best ideas to make the 26 Knight communities more successful. The foundation will announce the winners in spring 2017.

CCU Rotaract inducts new members

On the evening of Sept. 15, the Rotaract Club of Coastal Carolina University inducted 12 new members into the Rotary family. This was a special event which had honored guests in attendance :our charter Rotary Club president and the founder of our Rotaract Club, Dr. Robert 'Bob" White. This member class was the highest induction rate for the club in many years and contains some of the most service oriented young professionals the club seen.

Big Wheel Race set for end of October

Race the streets of Downtown Conway on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 10 a.m. dodging obstacles and fellow Big Wheel wanna-bes!

Steal your kid's Big wheel or build your own and join the crowd. There are three race categories...Classic, Pimp My Ride and Made From Scratch. Each team consists of a rider and a pusher. Participants must be 18 or older. Helmets are required and elbow and knee pads are strongly encouraged. Registration is free and all participants must sign a waiver at check-in. The race is Saturday, October 29 at 10 AM. Register online at conwayalive.com.

Not a racer? Come watch the spectacle! This entertaining event plays host to an amusing variety of racers, costumes and rides! For questions or more information call CDA at 843 248 6260 or email hillaryhoward@conwayalive.com. The Conway Big Wheel Race is sponsored by the Conway National Bank.

MYRTLE BEACH

Myrtle Beach Woman’s Club turns 50

The Myrtle Beach Woman's Club, formed in 1966, is a nonprofit, volunteer organization comprised of strong woman who demonstrate an interest in donating time and talent where it is needed in the Myrtle Beach area. Its goal is both educational and charitable. We provide educational scholarships for woman at Coastal Carolina University, Horry Georgetown Technical College, and four local high schools. We are partners with the City of Myrtle Beach to maintain and beautify Gardens by the Sea, located at 50th Avenue North.

Service projects are chosen to answer a particular need in time, such as purchasing K-9 drug dogs for the Myrtle Beach Police Department, New Directions, Look Good Feel Better, Helping Hands, Miracle League, Grand Strand Humane Society, Backpack Buddies, Fostering Hope, and Ground Zero to name a few. We have proudly hosted the Carolina Craftsman Show for 36 consecutive years. Various fundraisers throughout the year provide the monies for scholarships and service projects. Fifty years later, the Myrtle Beach Woman's Club continues to live up to the values set by their predecessors.

Thursday is National Feral Cat Day

In honor of National Feral Cat Day, Sav-R-Cats is having a fundraiser at 12:30 p.m. Thursday at Lenny's Pancake House, 1610 S Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach.

The menu includes: salad, french fries, coffee or soft drinks and choice of chicken tenders or Philly cheesesteak or burger or sunshine plate, which includes two eggs, two meats, hashbrowns and toast for $12 per person (tip not included).

There will be a 50/50 and the guest speaker will be Carl Schwartzkopf. The event will honor Pat Gregory for her volunteer work with Sav-R-Cats.

Funds raised will be used for spay/neuter program, veterinary and basic care for stray, free-roaming and homeless cats/kittens. Sav-R-Cats is an eleemosynary organization under S.C. laws and a 501(c)3 IRS nonprofit organization.

VFW honors POW/MIA soldiers

Sept. 16 was a day to pray for, remember and honor the servicemen and women from our nation's wars who are still missing or held prisoner by enemy forces. For the past 37 years the third Friday in September has been set aside as National POW/MIA Recognition Day. At VFW Calabash Post #7288 it's a special day filled with symbolism and tributes to those still missing. Items are placed on an altar to honor those still missing. There was also the touching empty chair table signifying members of the armed services who are missing from our ranks and cannot attend.

NMB Humane Society raises more than $30K

The 5th Annual Doggies & Divas fundraising event for the Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach was held September 8 at the Surf Golf & Beach Club in North Myrtle Beach. The event raised over $30,000 for the Humane Society. Additional support continues to come in from other fundraising efforts. A huge crowd attended the black tie formal event.

The event included a fashion show, silent auction, food and beverage. World class singing and entertainment were provided by Marlisa Kay Small, owner of Marlisa's Bold & Beautiful Wigs for Cancer, and Larry Stevens, who is known as a Kenny Rogers look-alike.

City of North Myrtle Beach Mayor Marilyn Hatley participated in the fashion show. Mayor Hatley is also the owner of a rescue dog from the Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach.

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC

Communities in Schools of Brunswick County added a twist to its annual gala and labeled it “An Evening of Elegance Masquerade Ball.” The Oct. 27 event from 6-10 p.m. is at Sea Trail Resort and Conference Center, 75 Clubhouse Road, Sunset Beach, N.C. All the proceeds from the 15th annual Benefit Gala for Children go to CIS programs for school children. About 400 people attend the gala, which includes live and silent auctions, gourmet food from more than a dozen restaurants and music by Blackwater Rhythm & Blues Band. Cost per person is $125. Information is at 910-457-3494 and cisbrunswick.org/2016-gala.

This story was originally published October 11, 2016 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Grand Strand Newsmakers."