5
September 2014
Kiawah Members Give Boost to Local Football Program
St. Johns High School
(SJHS) football will
be starting off the
upcoming season with a
smile, all thanks to help
from several Kiawah
Island property owners.
Kiawah Cares (KC)
connected SJHS with
property owners whose generous donations will help the program meet
several vital needs as they head into the fall.
SJHS Football is a long-standing partner of KC, and after being hired in
2013, new Head Coach Brad Bowles saw a struggling, but promising,
program that needed a boost.
“A football program can have a huge impact on the surrounding
community,” said Bowles. “My ultimate goal has always been to impact
my team off the field as much as on it.”
Despite his good intentions and a group of solid players/students, there was
a lack of school district support for the program. Items that most teams take
for granted, such as clean uniforms or up-to-date safety equipment, were
missing at SJHS. He decided to reach out to the surrounding community
for help, and that is when KC stepped in.
“I wanted to get as many people as possible to understand not only what
we do, but what we plan to do,” said Bowles. “My goal was not to just get
money and walk away. My goal was to share my vision and get people on
board to be part of something bigger than themselves.”
KC started publicizing the program’s needs. It didn’t take long before Coach
Bowles’ message inspired several Kiawah property owners who wanted
to help. The Kelly Family Foundation (KFF) in particular donated over
$10,000, helping the program get a new industrial-grade washing machine
and making up the difference in cost for new uniforms and shoulder pads.
“We believe that academics are important, but so are athletics,” said a KFF
representative. “Athletics impact kids, teach life lessons and help make
them accountable. They are so much more than just a sport.”
Other sponsorships by property owners included two televisions for the team
room and player lounge so they can learn from replays, a refrigerator to keep
healthy juices readily available, and 30 copies of the book “Uncommon”
by Tony Dungy for Bowles’ leadership development program. Our sincere
gratitude to the members who are standing behind the team.
Coach Bowles and the SJHS football program still have a variety of needs to
be met. To help, contact KC at [email protected], 843-768-9194 or view
the Wish List at kiawahcares.org. Partial sponsorships are welcome.
Friday Night Lights!
KC also encourages everyone to check out at SJHS football game this
season as the Islanders work to improve on the 2013 season where they
won their region and played in a home playoff game for the first time since
2006! Gather a group of friends and make an evening of it. For a complete
schedule of upcoming games, visit islanderathletics.org.
Surprise Gift Makes Dream a Reality for Johns Island Resident
Life was going well for Johns Island resident Tony. He held a good job with
a commercial construction company, owned a house and had a girlfriend.
Then in 2008, he was involved in a hit-and-run on Highway 61 that killed his
dog and left him with a brain injury that causes seizures, short attention span
and memory loss. Before realizing the lasting effects of his injuries (including
PTSD) would prevent him from working again, Tony used the last of his
savings to buy and train Annie, a service dog who can alert him to oncoming
seizures hours in advance. When money ran out and he was denied disability,
he and Annie moved into a 16 x 16 shed with no running water.
Annie and Tony have an impenetrable bond. They go everywhere together
and Tony calls her his "fuzzy faced kid." This bond inspired Tony, who
wants to share their adventures in a series of children’s books. Unfortunately,
with very little income, Tony did not have the means to realize his dream.
Tony’s church, Faith Lutheran, was familiar with KC and contacted
them with Tony’s story seeking assistance for him in the form of a
sponsorship. By spreading his
story, KC was able to secure
the donation of a laptop
through a sponsorship by a
generous couple on Kiawah.
In July, Tony was surprised
with the laptop, bringing
him to tears of joy. Since
the sponsorship, he has been
hard at work on his books,
recording his thoughts and
realizing his dream.
For more information on
KC, including Ways to Give
and the KC Wish List, visit
kiawahcares.org.
Kiawah Cares, Seabrook Shares: Operation Comfort
Seabrook Island has joined Kiawah Cares (KC) in Operation Comfort,
an ongoing effort to collect essentials for those in need on Johns and
Wadmalaw islands. Each month the effort focuses on a different
community need. For more information, visit kiawahcares.org or
contact [email protected].
September: Food Drive
KC is partnering in Our Lady of Mercy’s Stock Our Shelves (SOS) food
drive for the month of September. Our Lady of Mercy currently extends
a helping hand to over 11,000 residents yearly through educational
programs, health services and by responding to basic human needs. Food
pantries in the area are typically overextended. October's partnership will
be with Meals on Wheels.
October: Coat Drive
Don’t get rid of old coats and jackets! Instead please consider saving them
for the October Coat Drive. 5