Waccamaw Community Foundation makes awards to 12 nonprofits

Waccamaw Community Foundation has awarded $20,367 in competitive third quarter grants to 12 nonprofits serving Georgetown and Horry counties, bringing to more than $570,000 grants from all WCF funds in 2016.

WCF has 124 donor funds, including the unique Elliott Realty Charitable Community Fund, financed by voluntary $1 per night contributions added to the lodging bills of visitors. Rick Elliott started the fund after learning of the need for audio/video equipment at Ocean Drive Presbyterian Church, where Elliott has been a parishioner since he was a boy.

For Elliott, the church’s need posed the question: “How can Elliott Realty make donations to worthy causes in the community? He asked his tax attorney, J. Munford Scott. Elliott Realty was adding a $2 per reservation per night to rental guests’ fees, to support marketing efforts of area chambers of commerce. “Munford and I thought we could take that a step further” and add the $1 per night.

The concept has been well-received by visitors, Elliott says, and a very low percentage of guests decline to contribute. “What a simple idea.” Elliott often goes to presentations with Karen Minogue, director of development for WCF. “Giving is part of what we do in this area.”

The one dollar a night has resulted in an astounding $368,745 for many area nonprofits in a total of 474 grants, since the first grants were made. Recipients include Ocean Drive Presbyterian Church, North Strand Helping Hand, Sea Haven, North Myrtle Beach Area Historical Museum and Women in Philanthropy and Leadership at Coastal Carolina University.

The third quarter grants are from the Carver Educational Fund and the Waccamaw Community Trust. Grants of $2,500 from the Carver fund went to: YMCA of Coastal Carolina in support of promoting literacy and love of learning in children ages 5 to 12 years; National Inventors Hall of Fame Program Camp 2017 for 20 Horry County students from Title I schools; Pawleys Island Festival of Music & Art for a musical workshop for choral students from Georgetown County middle and high schools.

Grants of $2,000 from the Waccamaw Community fund were awarded to New Directions of Horry County for the Back to Work / Back to Life program; the Pee Dee Area Council Boy Scouts of America for fishing equipment for new Horry County Boy Scouts; and from the Carver fund to Junior Achievement of South Carolina in support of the Ourselves program for eight first grade classes, teaching the value of working, saving and giving.

Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina received from the Carver fund $1,867 for membership of low-income girls from Georgetown and Horry counties. The following nonprofits received Waccamaw $1,000 grants: Birthright of Georgetown for mentoring women and girls in motherhood; Children’s Recovery Center, purchasing a therapy dog; Grand Strand Hurricanes Wrestling Club, equipment for participants; Helping Hands of Georgetown, job readiness training and placement; S.C. Lions Charitable Services, vision surgery for those in need.

This story was originally published October 25, 2016 at 7:31 PM with the headline "Waccamaw Community Foundation makes awards to 12 nonprofits."