Year in Review - Giving Back to the Community
Kiawah Cares (KC) is a community outreach program coordinated by KICA. KC partners with nonprofits, schools and faithbased organizations that serve Johns and Wadmalaw islands to celebrate the community, as well as work together to address social
issues on the islands. The mission of KC is to create community partnerships and contribute to improving the overall quality of
life on the Sea Islands. In October 2014, the Kiawah Cares Foundation was granted 501(c)3 status, and will serve as the funding
mechanism for the outreach program.
“Thank you” does not adequately express our gratitude, nor that of our partners.
In 2015, YOU, our Kiawah property owners, made these things happen:
• Gave school children their first exposure to arts and culture, via theater, photography and trip sponsorships.
• Adopted 75 Sea Island students, providing them with school uniforms, supplies and weekend snack-packs (the latter via a
partnership with the Kiawah Women’s Foundation).
• Gave a wonderful holiday to students and their families through the Kiawah Giving Tree program. Without you, Christmas
would have just been another day for these families.
• Helped students “shop” for their own uniforms and supplies at the annual Hands of Christ Back to School Uniform Distribution.
• Fed Sea Island seniors and others in need through food drives and programs like Feeding the Multitude.
• Donated pounds of health and hygiene products, winter coats, sweaters and blankets that were distributed among the Sea
Island’s public schools and senior centers.
• Provided a laptop, and mentoring, to a disabled vet searching to create meaning in his life by writing books for children.
• Sent children to summer camp on a local farm, which was, for many, the first real “vacation” they had known.
• Served as chaperones for KC’s third annual Beach Day, helping school children learn about our native wildlife, play in the waves
and even sharing a lunch with them in the park. For many of these children, it was their first time ever seeing the beach.
• Supported Communities In Schools (CIS) through its Meet the Match pledge program. CIS works with children with the
greatest need, in a school system full of children in need.
• Helped Johns Island tornado victims restore their lives by contributing funds, furniture, appliances and time.
• Helped saved the beloved Angel Oak Tree, now forever preserved by the Lowcountry Open Land Trust.
• Volunteered as lunch buddies, mentors and tutors ]