Thanks to all who attended Pints for Polio! 

Eradicating Polio has been one of Rotary’s largest initiatives since its first immunization project in the Philippines on September 29, 1979. Polio, or, poliomyelitis, is a paralyzing and potentially deadly infectious disease that most commonly affects children under five years old.


Over the past four decades, Rotary has supported the immunization of nearly 3 billion children across 122 countries, decreasing the number of polio cases by 99.9%. Now, only Afghanistan and Pakistan are considered endemic countries for Polio. However, our work is not done until all children are safe from this disease.


The average cost to protect a child against polio is $3 with only one immunization needed for life, except for those living in active regions. 

Learn more about the history and/or contribute to this cause at https://www.endpolio.org/what-is-polio

Local Rotary club donates over $6,000 in support of the Cainhoy Community

We were thrilled to provide our 2024 Charleston Duck Race beneficiaries with their donations, netting near $6,700. Following this annual philanthropic event, our beneficiaries were invited back to update us on their organizations' current initiatives, needs, and share the impacts of our financial support. 

Our donation to Philip Simmons Middle School will support their Autism Sensory Classroom, providing funds for supplies and educational materials.

Operation Sight's donation will be partially applied to a sight-saving procedure for an individual needing cataract or retina surgery that was uninsured/unable to pay the out-of-pocket fees.

Our donation to Hope Repair, an amount equivalent to the cost of constructing a wheelchair ramp, will ensure a Huger neighbor stays safe at home. 

We thank those who participated in this year's duck race and look forward to the impact that will come from the 2025 event!

Philip Simmons Middle School

"Thank you for your kindness and support you have shown us. We look forward to a great year collaborating!"

Mollie Dingle, PTA President  of Philip Simmons Middle School

Operation Sight

In response to our donation.... "It is so appreciated and will help us to continue to provide free cataract and retina surgeries to individuals...Restoring an individual’s ability to see is truly life-changing"

Brenda Horn, Executive Director

Hope Repair

"Thank you Rotary for the donation to Hope Repair. This contribution will help us do significant projects to help folks be Safe, Dry, Warm"

Ron Zumstein, Project Coordinator

Ensuring our neighbors' plates are full every meal through a Food Drive! 

We heard from East Cooper Community Outreach (ECCO) Executive Director, Stephanie Kelley, last fall and were excited to support them with our first service project of this Rotary term! ECCO supports the Tri-County with financial navigation, medical/dental care, clothing, and their Wellness Pantry.

Their Wellness Pantry served 948 households in 2022 - 2023, distributing 675,269 lbs, or, $1,609,656 worth of food. During the month of September, members donated over 5 bags of requested food and hygiene items! Although our Food Drive is over, you can still contribute to their Wellness Pantry through their Wish List!

August Newsletter 


Cainhoy Peninsula Rotary, Ready . . . Set . . . HURRICANE! Come on Debby, we have people to serve! Well, that is okay, we will get this year kicked off again. Wando/Cainhoy/Huger Corridor, we are STILL the ones to call when you need big hearts and service-minded people!

August is “Membership & New Club Development Month,” and we are embracing it wholeheartedly! Bryan Heilman is your Membership Chair with myself, Bess, and John as his Assistants as we embark on the journey to grow past 20 members and become our own autonomous group. Bryan and I had lunch just as Debby was starting to make her move to the Charleston area. Although we got rained on, we ignited great conversation and look forward to sharing our ideas with the group.

At this upcoming meeting on August 20th, Bryan is going to share some thoughts on our plan to grow. Before this meeting, we will have also met with Mary Jo Romeo, the Membership Chair with the DI Mothership. She is excited to share ideas and potential partnerships with the Daniel Island Rotary Club to help find us some new members. We are thankful for MJ’s continued support. 

As you all know, our upcoming August meeting will be held at Indigo Reef Brewery. We look forward to gathering a feel for the space, as well as the noise levels, so we can decide where to place our chapter's home base. With the new food truck, I am excited to see what they have for us to eat! Indigo Reef has also graciously given us a complementary space at their upcoming “Sip and Shops,” to help with membership recruitment. I will share more about that when we meet and Bryan will share some “Discover Rotary” plans as well. 

As always, it is an honor to serve with you. I look forward to what this year will bring. Here is to all the “Doers” in the Cainhoy Peninsula Chapter of Rotary!

In Service,

Jon Stroud

President

Cainhoy Peninsula Rotary, District 777

Healing Invisible Wounds Through Warrior WOD

As Marine Corp Veterans, Philip (Phil) Palmer, CEO and President of WarriorWOD and Dylan Kill, Founder of Kill'n It Fitness, understand what sacrifice means. However, they were not prepared for what the aftermath of service would entail. 

Veterans make up 8% of the population in America, yet 6,100 die annually by suicide according to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). That number only reports veterans receiving VA care, which is about 30% of the veteran population. Not included in that number are those who were dishonorably discharged and those losing their lives to substance abuse, which is an estimated 20 veterans per day. Although the VA's report averages to about 22 veterans daily, independent research institutions have concluded that considering the above factors, we are likely losing up to 60 veterans each day to what Phil describes as, "a pandemic". 

In 2007, Phil returned home from deployment with more than physical wounds. He began to experience the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a common diagnosis for combat veterans. Unfortunately, there were minimal supports available to veterans facing this "battle within our minds". His experience led to the creation of WarriorWOD; a program that heals mental distress through comradery and physical exercise. Upon enrollment, veterans receive a six month membership to their preferred gym, six months of nutritional programming, and six months with a "battle buddy". Battle buddies are fellow veterans with shared experiences, such as Dylan, who also serves as a Nutritional Coach and Community Director. 

Last year, WarriorWOD supported 110 veterans, with graduates reporting a 29% decrease in PTSD symptoms. Their greatest performance was a decrease of anhedonia, in which graduates reported a 36% increase of experiencing joy with the things they love. Nine veterans who were considering suicide no longer struggle with suicidality and report that they have, "found joy" through this program. 

To support WarriorWOD's mission, please consider donating, hosting a fundraiser, or sponsoring a class of veterans. They are also seeking fellow veterans who could volunteer as a Battle Buddy. Their greatest request was to help spread awareness. The more veterans that are made aware of this program, means the more lives saved. 

July Newsletter


Cainhoy Peninsula Rotary, here we go! 2024 - 2025 year is engaged. Let’s keep up the momentum and show this Wando/Cainhoy/Huger Corridor we are the ones to call when you need big hearts and service-minded people! I am honored to serve alongside all of you and be your head cheerleader. 


We start off this year with 14 Members. John Walden made the decision to resign as he has moved to Summerville and will serve in his new community alongside his wife. We thank John for his contributions as Service Chair and wish them the very best. With that said, one of the biggest pushes for us will be building our group. Bryan Heilman has stepped up to be our new Membership Chair, and with his energy/ideas and our amazing core membership, I think this is our year to push past the 20 member level and become our own club. I fully believe that as we do more projects in the community and people see us serving while having fun, they will want to join us. Thank you for everyone that has invited people in the past. Keep doing that!


I also wanted to thank John Stanford for his leadership and cheer leading this past year. As much as I LOVE to tease John, it was an honor to serve with him, and I appreciate all he has taught me. Heck, I just had a quick call with him this morning to make sure I knew the right format for these newsletters. I am grateful for his willingness to help, and for his friendship. 


Now, let’s talk about this upcoming year’s Leadership Team! I am excited and humbled to serve with the following Members for 2024-25:


President-Elect & Public Image Chair: Marion Lovett 

Treasurer: Scott Laborowski

Secretary: Bess Leiti 

Membership Chair: Bryan Heilman 

Foundation Chair: Michael Spires 

Speaker Coordinator: Sharon Cassidy 

Social Coordinator: Cathy Puscas 

Sergeant-at-Arms: Lou Puscas 

And the most coveted of leadership roles . . . 

Immediate Past President: John Standford


When we are a small group, most of us are going to be in some sort of leadership role. We DO have the Service Chair role open at this time. John Stanford said he would help me with that role until we had a person to fill it. I ask that all of us help in this role, as much as able. 


July’s Rotary International Theme is “Maternal and Child Health Month. I love that we are already engaged with children’s health, with the Hygiene Closet at Phillip Simmons Middle School. Y’all really knocked it out of the park with the donations from you, your families, and your neighbors. Even after the drive convened, Scott had a dentist donate two boxes of oral hygiene products. What a Blessing for these kids in need. 


Speaking of health, Sharon has Dylan Kill and Phillip Palmer from Kill’n It Fitness coming to speak with us July 16th. They use exercise and comradely to combat mental distress that can come from military service. Looking forward to also seeing our Duck Race Beneficiaries in upcoming meetings as well. 


August is “Membership and New Club Development” month! Let’s plan to have a “Discover Rotary” in August and invite some great people with servant hearts!


Again, it is an honor to serve with you. I look forward to what this year will bring. Here is to all the “Doers” in the Cainhoy Peninsula Chapter of Rotary! 


In Service,

Jon Stroud

President

Cainhoy Peninsula Rotary, District 777

Installation Celebration 


We recognized our outgoing leadership team and those who have volunteered to lead us into next year alongside incoming President, Jon Stroud.


We are deeply grateful to our outgoing President, John Stanford, and his family for their dedication to our Chapter. With presidency comes an increased level of responsibility, however, their unwavering commitment allowed for us to complete 12 service projects and increase club membership!


Congratulations to Bess Easton Leiti for being named Rotarian of the Year! Her efforts, especially with the Charleston Duck Race, supported our club’s success in serving our community.


We thank Assistant Governor, Rebecca Walker, for attending as well as Daniel Island Rotary Liaison, Michael Cole. We also thank our outgoing 2023 - 2024 leadership team members who were able to attend and those we missed. 


Heather Valeri, Immediate Past President 

Scott Labarowski, Treasurer 

Marion Lovett, Public Image Chair

Bess Leiti, Membership Chair 

John Walden, Service Chair 

Mike Spires, Foundation Chair 

Sharon Cassidy, Speaker Coordinator 

Cathy Puscas, Secretary 

Lou Puscas, Sergeant-at-Arms

June Newsletter

Fellow Rotarians, we have made it to the last month of our fiscal year! June’s Rotary theme is “Fellowship” and I can’t think of a club that enjoys their fellowship time more than ours. First, a huge shout out to those who assisted with our service projects this month with the Philip Simmons Middle School Garden Project and the Habitat For Humanity Women’s Build. Thank you for helping make them a success!

Our schedule will look a bit different this month. We will have one regular meeting and two fellowship opportunities. Our regular meeting on June 4 will feature the induction of our two new members, Bryan Heilman and Dan Stirling. We are so excited to have them join our club. Secondly, these two as well as our other two newest members will give their 3-minute speeches. This will give us a chance to get to know them better. Looking forward to this meeting and hope the majority of you can attend. Our second activity this month will be our gathering for the Installation of Officers on June 19th. This ceremony will be held at the Nelliefield Plantation park & pavilion from 5:30 - 8:00 pm. Our Assistant District Governor will be attending to install the officers for the 2024-25 Rotary year. Come with your family to support Jon Stroud and his new leadership team. Please RSVP to me as soon as possible so we can plan accordingly for food/drink. We will end the month with a final fellowship and networking meeting at Indigo Reef on June 25th.

Lastly, I would love to thank you all for the privilege of being your President over the past year. Although  challenging, it was very rewarding and I appreciate everyone that supported our efforts to grow and make this a first class organization.

In Service,

John Stanford

President

Cainhoy Peninsula Rotary, District 777

Service with a Smile!

Last weekend, we supported Philip Simmons Middle School's Garden Project by planting trees and installing bee hives, as pictured on the left below. As you may recall, we also stocked their Hygiene Closet through a Hygiene Drive earlier this year, which you can see pictured on the right below. 

Rotary believes in developing the next generation of leaders to become agents of change. By providing necessary resources and leading by example, we hope these students will be inspired to make a difference. No matter how big or small of an action, every act of service matters. 

Windwood Family Services: An Organization Dedicated to Supporting Youth and Reuniting Families

Rick Lhotan, Major Gifts Manager, shared how Windwood provides therapeutic intervention for 28 boys aged 6 - 16 years old to support a family structure in which all members thrive. They have two programs, a residential treatment program consisting primarily of SC Department of Social Services referrals and a psychiatric residential treatment facility consisting of Tri-County Youth who require additional support in managing their mental health. 

This 110 acre farm includes two residential houses, a CCSD accredited school, and plenty of outdoor activities for the boys to enjoy, such as fishing, gardening, basketball, kickball, and riding their bike. Windwood's 6 - 12 month comprehensive care plan includes remedial education, life skills, medical care, individual, group, and family therapy, and an environment in which boys can learn how to become the gentlemen they desire to be. After leaving Windwood, boys receive continued support when possible from a Transition Coordinator and families can access outreach centers. 

Although the staff at Windwood are fantastic, these boys love welcoming volunteers! If you or your business would be willing to volunteer for a Windwood Workday, share your expertise, act as a Fishing or Reading Buddy, provide a meal, or contribute to a donation drive, please reach out to Rick Lhotan today!

Cheers to Windwood's mission with their swag!

The Charleston Duck Race was a  "Quacktastic" event!

We extend our gratitude to our volunteers, sponsors, and those who participated in this event. Your participation helped fund our philanthropic efforts and support our 2024 beneficiaries: Operation Sight, Hope Repair, and the Philip Simmons Middle School Autism Sensory Classroom. 

Thank you for helping us make positive change in our communities and create hope in the world!

May Newsletter


Welcome to May where we celebrate Rotary's 5th avenue of service, "Youth Services". In honor of this month, we have sponsored our first Rotary Youth Leadership Awards candidate, Liv Dewhirst. Many of you will remember Liv as she presented to the group in March regarding her leadership of a Leukemia and Lymphoma Association fundraising group. We are so proud to have her represent us at the RYLA meetings in May. 

The Rotary year is winding down, but there is still a lot going on for our group. Our May 7th speaker will be Rick Lhotan, Major Gifts Manager of Windwood Family Services. They serve at-risk youth and reunite/strengthen family units for long-term success. On May 21st, our speaker will be Michelle Barbara of Water Safety. With the boating season upon us, it is a great time to freshen up our water safety skills. 

For service this month, we have a packed calendar. May 4th concludes our fundraising season with the Charleston Duck Race at Guggenheim Terrace on Daniel Island. Please go to the Daniel Island Rotary website and register to assist with the dunking booth from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm. After the Duck Race, we have a garden build on May 18th with Phillip Simmons Middle School. We will end this month, technically next month, with a Habitat for Humanity Women's Build on June 1st in conjunction with several other area Rotary clubs. What a great way to honor the women of our chapters and their contributions!

A warm welcome to our newest member, Bryan Heilman. Bryan works for Edward Jones and is a huge supporter of our local sports teams, especially the Charleston Battery and South Carolina Stingrays. We look forward to his many contributions to the club. Lastly, be on the lookout for our final June meeting date, the installation of officers. Location and time to be announced soon! This will be the first time our club has its own separate installation ceremony. Looking forward to what our incoming President, Jon Stroud, and his new board will do in 2024-2025!

In Service,

John Stanford

President

Cainhoy Peninsula Rotary, District 777

Reasons to adopt a Rubber Duck 

When most people see a rubber duck, they see a toy. When we see a rubber duck, we see opportunity. 

For $10, you can adopt a duck to be entered into the Charleston Duck Race. Not only can you win money, but more importantly, support local organizations and our neighbors who utilize their services. Our 2024 Beneficiaries will be...

Operation Sight: a nonprofit that restores peoples' vision by providing optical surgery for medical conditions and sight- threatening injuries to those unable to afford the procedures.

Hope Repair: a nonprofit that secures safety and shelter for residents of Berkeley County through building wheelchair ramps and completing home projects, such as siding (past service project).

Philip Simmons Middle School Autism Sensory Classroom: accommodating neurodivergence to ensure quality education for all students on the spectrum. 

Please consider adopting a duck or having your organization sponsor our club by reaching out to Heather Valeri.

How this organization makes kids  "wheely" happy

Katie Blomquist, founder and executive director of Going Places, has brought joy to 4,697 students by gifting them a bike, helmet, lock, and pump. These students attend Title 1 schools, where at least 40% of children enrolled live at or below the federal poverty line. This gift improves social-emotional health, with data from a six month follow up study showing that mood and behavior improved 96.9%, stress decreased by 84.4%, and playing increased by 87.5%. 

By donating $155, you can help gift students joy and support Katie's goal of providing this to over 15,400 students of Title 1 schools in the Charleston County School District. You can also volunteer for a bike reveal or attend their 4th Annual Going Places Gala on May 18th. 

April Newsletter


Welcome to April, everyone! In April, Rotary International focuses its efforts on an important theme: Environment Month. During this time, Rotarians come together to support environmental causes and raise awareness about the planet’s well-being. 🌿

Rotary’s commitment to the environment is reflected in its seventh area of focus, which includes initiatives related to conservation, sustainability, and ecological health. By addressing environmental challenges, Rotary aims to create a positive impact on our planet for current and future generations.

I would encourage everyone to individually do their part...plant a tree, clean up their landscaping, better yet, help someone else take care of their landscaping, pick up the trash you see...Remember, every small action counts!

Many things are going on for the club in April heading into May. First, the Charleston Duck Race. I would encourage everyone to get your Duck Adoption hat on and assist us with the adoption sales as much as you can. We had some unfortunate weather with our last event at Firefly and now have about a month to reach our goal! Talk to your friends, family, coworkers and most importantly the places you shop! We have 2 more scheduled events to go. Let's get tons of support and get some ducks adopted! Also, we are in the homestretch for our hygiene drive for Philip Simmons Middle School. I know several have had a great outpouring of support from their neighborhoods. Let's dig deep ourselves and see what we can bring to the table in this next week as we finalize this initial round of support.

Looking forward to our meetings this month! April 2 will feature guest speaker, Katie Blomquist, Founder & Executive Director of Going Places. Our next regularly scheduled meeting on April 16 is a first for us, an Annual Meeting. This is a business meeting night, Rotarians only. We will take a moment to recognize the work we have done this year and what we plan to do, as well as a glimpse at the board for 2024-25 and what they plan to accomplish. Please plan to be there for this important night. We will round out April with a networking event on April 22 at Community Crafthouse, located in Point Hope.

We have a lot going on in our last quarter of the Rotary Year and a ton to prepare for and get excited about. Come be a part of it!

In Service,

John Stanford

President

Cainhoy Peninsula Rotary, District 777

OneWorld Health Heals Communities Across the Globe

Missie Parker, Major Gifts Officer of OneWorld Health, shared with us how their organization is expanding opportunities in communities where healthcare had been inaccessible. They have 25 facilities in various communities located in Uganda, Honduras, and Nicaragua, where patients can receive in-patient, out-patient, emergency, and mobile care. OneWorld Health has served over one million patients, with around 70% consisting of women and children. 

What may be one of the most impressive factors of their operations is their model of sustainability, which is achievable for new facilities in 18-24 months. How you may ask? The average charge for medical care is $5, an attainable amount for 90% of community members that pay in full and typically make $2.50 a day. With the organization employing more than 95% of staff locally and working closely with each country's Ministry of Health, they prioritize community needs over a set agenda. 

We thank Missie Parker and OneWorld Health for their dedication in providing care to those under-served. If you would like to support their cause, please consider donating or volunteering for one of the 20 medical and non-medical trips they make a year. 

How Liv changes lives through Team Tara 

Liv Dewhirst, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) Team Tara Campaign Leader, is a local high school activist dedicated to supporting 1.2 million people undergoing treatment or in remission from blood cancer. Of that number, 54,000 are youth under 20. The severity of this statistic is amplified when considering leukemia is the #1 most diagnosed form of childhood cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths among children and adolescents.


The team name is in memory of her “Auntie Tara”, a Daniel Island physician who passed due to blood cancer. To honor her, Liv became involved in the LLS Student Visionaries Program, joining over 170 high school students in the Charleston area. As the Team Tara Campaign Leader, she has created events such as Dogs and Jogs to encourage donations for LLS and support patients and loved ones who utilize the organizations' free support services. LLS is also expanding access to treatment options, improving quality of care, and alleviating travel costs, with over 100,000 volunteers involved in legal or governmental advocacy. 


LLS is the largest world health organization dedicated to blood cancer research, with over 1.6 billion dollars invested the last 75 years. This research is critical to discovering a cure, as 33% of blood cancer patients do not survive more than 5 years post-diagnosis, and a U.S. citizen is diagnosed every three minutes. Support LLS, blood cancer patients, and Liv's fundraising goal by donating today.


We would also like to thank Liv's LLS Mentor, Mary Margaret, for supporting Liv's campaign and being a part of this incredible organization. 

March Newsletter

The Charleston Duck Race season is upon us, but first, I would like to give a huge shout out to our Membership Chair, Bess Leiti, and the rest of the club that put on a fantastic Discover Rotary event! It was great to see so many attendees. Many hands make light work, and the more like-minded members we add to our club, the more good we can do within our community! Looking forward to seeing all of them again at our regular meeting. Speaking of, regular meetings this month will take place on March 5th & March 19th. Our first speaker will be Liv Dewhirst, who will inform us about her fundraising for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. We will follow up the next week on March 12th with a full leadership team meeting via Zoom. Our final meeting of the month will feature Missie Parker who will share the impacts of OneWorld Health. We will end March with a networking and happy hour event on March 26th.

On to the Duck Race! Thanks to everyone who came out and supported our first event at Indigo Reef Brewing Co. It was a huge success with great fellowship and fundraising. There are still plenty of opportunities to help with our fundraising efforts that support YOUR community! Take time now to sign up for 3/23 & 4/13 @ Firefly Distillery, and 4/27 @ the Charleston Battery game. Also, please look for other opportunities as they present themselves!

Finally, our Service Chair, John Walden, is spearheading a project to fill the hygiene closet for Philip Simmons Middle School. This project will provide students who need general hygiene products throughout the day and to take home over the weekend at a time when bullying begins to present itself. John will be sending out a list of the items needed as well as a letter you can produce with it, detailing the “why” and the need. Please consider supporting this effort and stay updated by attending our upcoming meetings!

What an exciting time with much going on, as well as our continued growth efforts!

In Service,

John Stanford

President

Cainhoy Peninsula Rotary, District 777

Supporting our community, one duck at a time

The Daniel Island Duck Race will be held Saturday, May 4th from 11:00am - 3:00pm at the Guggenheim Terrace on Daniel Island. This family-friendly event consists of eight different Rotary chapters coming together to create change in their communities. 

Since 2007, this event has raised over 2.5 million for local beneficiaries and rotary projects worldwide. When you adopt a duck and select "Rotary Club of Cainhoy-Peninsula" as the credited organization, you are supporting the Cainhoy community and entering the chance to win $10,000, $5,000, or $1,000.

If your company is interested in sponsorship opportunities, please reach out to our Chapter's Duck Race Coordinator, Heather Valeri.

January Newsletter

Happy New Year everyone and welcome to January where Rotary focuses on the theme of Vocational Services! This month, we will highlight the personal and professional lives of our fellow Rotarians on social media, as well as enjoy some 3-minute speeches from fellow members in our meetings to relearn who they are and what brought them to our great organization. If you would like to participate in this, please get provide that information to our Public Image Chair, Marion Lovett. Before we begin to prepare for this upcoming year, I would like to spend a few minutes to reflect on the first half of our Rotary year and what we have accomplished as a young club. We had a fruitful Discover Rotary event to start our year, multiple group service projects including those for Hope Repair, MUSC Children's Hospital, and the Fisher House, as well as establishing monthly recurring events our members can sign up to work on with Hope Repair and Philip Simmons Middle School. We also enjoyed some great fellowship at our Networking and Happy Hour events highlighted by a Daniel Island Rotary Chili cook-off win and a fantastic Holiday Party hosted by the Labarowski's. I continue to say, what a great group of professionals to grow and serve with! 2023 was great to us, now we thrive in 2024!

We have already seen a January 2nd meeting with a great presentation by the Executive Director of Operation Sight, Taryn Mason. Her passion was evident when sharing their mission and growth needs of their organization. Looking forward, we will have our second meeting of the month on January 16th, where Aiyana Mathews, owner of Gardner-Mathews Global Management, will speak to us about her business journey and how that relates to our Rotary mission. We will follow that up with a wonderful Networking and Happy Hour Event on January 23rd at Indigo Reef Brewing Company.

Service being the primary goal of our club, we are currently planning and looking forward to the many opportunities we have underway with the PTO of Philip Simmons Middle School! Look for a large group project beginning in February as well as several opportunities to serve this special group of children in our community. Also, Duck Race is around the corner! Looking forward to hearing from Immediate Past President, Heather Valeri, and what she has planned for our Duck Race opportunities this year! QUACK, QUACK!

In Service,

John Stanford

President

Cainhoy Peninsula Rotary, District 777

Seeing is believing - Operation Sight saves peoples' vision 

Initiated in May of 2011, Dr. Boatwright Jr., Dr. Soloman, and Dr. Herring decided to dedicate themselves to restoring the vision of those unable to afford optical surgery. Over a decade later, Executive Director, Taryn Mason, alongside 14 volunteer doctors continue to act upon the founder's legacy, accomplishing almost 800 procedures to date. These procedures include cataract and retina surgery, as well as sight-threatening procedures for South Carolina residents who are uninsured or insured without coverage for the procedure. Cataract surgery, which can cost up to 8,000 per eye and retina surgery, which can cost up to 15,000 per eye acted as an obstacle for many people. Without the financial means, they were burdened with the rapid decrease in vision, eventually leading to blindness and inhibiting them from the life they used to live. With Operation Sight and a free 2.5 hour procedure, these individuals are able to reconvene the life they were living. 

Operation Sight has about a 2 month turnaround process from initial contact to procedure completion. Ms. Mason reported that 90% of individuals who lost their job due to vision loss are employed again within 3 months of procedure completion. Not included in this statistic are the number of people who experience an increased quality of life after vision restoration, and the families impacted by this as well.  To continue expanding their impact, they ask for donations and/or support at their 20/20 Vision Event. 

Let's Walk, Charleston!

If you want to know the secret to remaining youthful and active as you age, ask founder Lynn McCollum-Lasher and board member Reena Regala of Let's Walk! With over 40 years of collective experience in home health care and physical therapy, they witnessed the difference walking made in their clients' mental and physical well-being, especially in easing the road to recovery after an injury.

Lynn founded this program just over two years ago, which now has over 100 walkers paired with over 100 volunteers. To date, they have completed more than 1,100 walks! This FREE program is available to residents of the tri-county area and accepts walkers of all ages and abilities. Walkers are on-boarded with a physical evaluation and volunteers are background checked and informed of their paired walkers' preferences. Volunteers decide their level of commitment, from a 15 minute walk to helping multiple walkers for 10 hours a week. 

This program is possible because of their volunteers, donations, and the referrals made by neighbors, loved ones, and participants who enroll themselves. If you know of someone who may benefit from the program, you can reach out to Let's Walk with the name and phone number for them to start the conversation. There is no insurance or personal information required for referrals and the person referred decides their level of participation (if any at all). Keep on walking, Charleston!

Cainhoy Peninsula Rotary Holiday Party - A time to celebrate our members and accomplishments of 2023

The Gift of Giving - 

Heather's Rotary Story

In 2013, Heather recruited the help of local Rotarians to support a homeless family at Christmas time. The father of that family now has a successful business, created a scholarship, and leads a mentorship program to support at-risk youth in urban communities. Heather witnessed the rippling effects of Rotary, inspiring her to join and serve on our leadership team and board. 

Members like Heather are a gift to our chapter, as it allows us to better serve the Cainhoy community. Please consider gifting your time and efforts so we can continue helping families like the one above.

December Newsletter

Welcome to December everyone! We’ve had a taste of some cooler weather, falling leaves, and it is finally soup season! It is also time to count our blessings for those that do so much for us every day. For me, this club is part of that group. It is also Rotary’s Disease Prevention and Treatment month. As we go through this month, I will take time during our meetings to remind everyone how Rotary furthers this effort around the world. As always, I like to start the newsletter with a brief look back at November. Though shortened by the Thanksgiving holiday, our regular meeting schedule included Executive Director of East Cooper Community Outreach, Stephanie Kelley, and a service project with Hope Repair. As usual, we had an excellent networking & happy hour sponsored by Blues Coastal Bar & Grill on 41. They provided us some excellent wings with a variety of flavors, which you have to try!

Looking forward to the holiday season, we have some great speakers for our two meetings this month. December 5th, we will welcome Mollie Temple-Dingle and Julia White, the President and Vice President of the Philip Simmons PTO. They have a great presentation planned for us. December 19th we will welcome Lynn McCollum-Lasher, founder of Let’s Walk here in Charleston. She was a guest at our November meeting and I can’t wait to hear her message to the group. If you have a great speaker for an upcoming meeting please get with Sharon Cassidy or submit it through our website for her to handle.

Both Jon Stroud and John Walden represented the the club at our rescheduled service project with Hope Repair. They helped with re-siding the house of a neighbor from the Huger community. Thank you to those two for helping out Ron and Hope Repair. For those that are unaware, this will be a regularly scheduled 2nd Saturday event. Look for opportunities to assist on our website each month.

Last, but not least, we celebrate! The holiday season brings joy to many and what better way to celebrate than remembering the great things we’ve done this year. We are so pleased that Scott & Judy Labarowski have opened their home to us on December 9th for our Holiday Party! If you have not done so, please RSVP immediately. They are preparing the main course and a dish is requested from those attending. Please use the sign up genius to RSVP now and state what you will be bringing. As always, I am so proud to be President of this growing and vibrant club. Many blessings to you and your family this holiday season from Cher, Chloe and I, to you!

In Service,

John Stanford

President

Cainhoy Peninsula Rotary, District 777


Our Service Project with Hope Repair!

ECCO: "Helping neighbors navigate through life's challenges"


Last week, our club welcomed Stephanie Kelley, Executive Director of    East Cooper Community Outreach (ECCO). The organization was founded as a response to Hurricane Hugo, and in Ms. Kelley’s words, continues to, “help families that have storms blowing through their lives today” with assistance, guidance, and resources. 


ECCO has supported 1,739 households this year, with the average annual client income falling at $16,568. Over half of the clients they serve are single mothers, 30% without a vehicle, and 20% representing grandparents caring for children. 


ECCO refuses to allow families to starve from food insecurity, which is why their client-choice food pantry is the most utilized resource offered by the organization. Ms. Kelley shared that she has witnessed many clients utilize the organization's services to get back on their own feet, and once standing steady, return to volunteer. She has also seen those roles reverse. We are grateful to have ECCO as a community resource and look forward to supporting them in their needs, to include financial donations, food drives, events, and volunteers (especially those with a dental hygiene background as they offer dental services as well). 

November Newsletter

Welcome to November and "Rotary Foundation" month! As we move into the month of Thanksgiving, what better time to learn about the Rotary Foundation and the many ways that we can, and do, give back to the community through this avenue. We had two great meetings, with the first consisting of an impromptu club training on how to bring in new members. For the second meeting, we welcomed Dr. Jim Elsey, Treasurer for the Fisher House, who spoke to us about the many ways they assist veterans and their families receiving medical services from the Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital. We had a couple of great fellowship opportunities with our annual Pints for Polio event, raising funds for Polio Plus, as well as an opportunity to socialize with Daniel Island Rotary at their annual Chili Cook-off. Congratulations to our own Peter Burgeson and his mother Kathy, a member of DI Rotary, for taking home 1st prize for their Buffalo Chicken inspired chili! It was a crowd favorite! Finally, we rounded out the month with a great service event, sponsoring the Charleston Walk for Alzheimer's and raising over $1,000 for research. Thanks to all who participated in the October events! 

For November, we start off with a great speaker who knows all about giving back to the community. Our November 7th meeting will feature Stephanie Kelley, the Executive Director of East Cooper Community Outreach (ECCO). Our subsequent meeting on Nov. 21st will be cancelled due to the Thanksgiving holiday. We will resume with a networking and happy hour event on November 28th. For service this month, we will be focusing on assisting Hope Repair and their mission to assist those local residents in immediate need of repair to their homes. This event will take place on November 11th with time and place to be announced closer to the event as we coordinate with their director.

Finally, in this season of Thanksgiving, I would love to tell each of you how much I appreciate your time, effort and servants heart as we grow and make this club one of service and friendship!

In Service,

John Stanford

President

Cainhoy Peninsula Rotary, District 777

Cainhoy Peninsula Club raises over $1,000 to end Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's Disease burdens over 6 million Americans, with over 11 million providing unpaid care for their affected loved one. The Alzheimer's Association is the global leader for funding research, allowing for the creation of medication to treat early stages and alleviate later stage symptoms. In late October, the Alzheimer's Association, South Carolina Chapter, organized the 2023 Walk to End Alzheimer's in downtown Charleston. Over 1,200 people participated in the walk, raising more than $320,000! Our club continues to support this organization's efforts and was honored to join the walk to end Alzheimer's.

The Fisher House: A hotel for heroes and loved ones

In 1990, Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher embarked on a mission to create free lodging for military personnel receiving medical care at a Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital and their loved ones. Although this philanthropic cause began as a personal investment of 20 million dollars, it has now expanded across the entire Nation, acting upon the legacy of the Fisher couple. With 92 houses and over 455,000 soldiers, veterans, relatives served, the Fisher House has saved service men and women over 575 million dollars in lodging expenses. 

Dr. Jim Elsey, Treasurer of Friends of Fisher, Charleston Fisher House, shared with our club what they need to continue succeeding in their mission. As a nonprofit, their greatest need continues to be monetary donations, with reoccurring options available for the Charleston Fisher House located under the Donate tab. Another way to support residents is by volunteering your time for a "meal train". You and your fellow comrades will make dinner for guests with your own ingredients and recipe. Once preparation is complete, you will have the opportunity to serve the meal to those who have served our country, and their loved ones who kept the home fires burning. They also have an Amazon Wish List and will only accept listed items. The Charleston Fisher House has served over 4,000 families to date in their 16 room hotel. The Cainhoy Peninsula Rotary Club looks forward to continue supporting this cause and those who have made the ultimate dedication to our country. 

October Newsletter

Welcome to October and "Economic and Community Development" month! Before we move into fall, let's take a brief look back at the successes of September. How great were our speakers this month? First, David Ensor, Director of Hope Repair, received their Duck Race proceeds and explained how we could partner with them on their mission. Then, Lou Mello, Governor of Rotary District 7770, paid the club a visit. Such an inspiring message with an emphasis on growth. We are proud to be one of only two satellite clubs he visited in the district. On the service side, we had our first "in-meeting" service event. We packaged coloring books and crayons for MUSC's Children's Hospital, each one receiving a colored picture and handwritten note of encouragement from one of our members. We rounded out September with a super networking and happy hour event at Rivertowne Public House, forming new connections and strengthening existing relationships. 

For October, we have a jam-packed slate of events that highlight October's theme. We will start with our first meeting on October 3rd and hear from Stephanie Kelley, Executive Director of East Cooper Community Outreach (ECCO), who will share their mission and ways to partner with their organization. We will follow that up with our October 17th meeting where Erik Zielinski, Manager of the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center Fisher House, will provide future ways we can assist them in their work. This is an organization our group has partnered with on a couple of occasions this year and are honored to continue supporting. We also have a couple of great service opportunities coming up. The eradication of polio as one of our core tenets of Rotary, and Tuesday, October 24th, is World Polio Day! Mike Spiers, our Foundation Chair, has worked with Indigo Reef Brewery to prepare a special event on this day to assist us in raising additional funds for Polio Plus. Be on the lookout for more information regarding our “Pints for Polio” event. Additionally, on Saturday, October 28th, we have the 2023 Walk to End Alzheimer's that our club is participating in. If you have not done so yet, please sign up online to register and begin fundraising for this event. 

Also, I want to make everyone aware of some fellowship events taking place in the future. October 25th is Daniel Island Rotary's Chili Cook Off at Pierce Park. RSVP is on their website. Looking ahead even further, mark your calendars and RSVP for our Holiday Party on December 9th. This event will be graciously hosted by the Labarowskis and should be a great night of fun and fellowship, as well as the 2nd night of Hannukah!

I will continue to say it…how can you not be excited to be a part of this club right now? Share the excitement and ask someone else to be a part of it!

In Service,

John Stanford

President

Cainhoy Peninsula Rotary, District 7770

Hope Repair: Creating hope in homes with the support of the Cainhoy Peninsula Rotary Club


At our last chapter meeting, we welcomed representative, David Ensor, of Hope Repair to present his organization’s life-changing work. Hope Repair has assisted in 1,242 home projects, securing safety and shelter for residents of Berkeley County. In 2022 alone, they were able to build 77 wheelchair ramps, providing access for seniors and those with mobility limitations. 


Hope Repair was one of our beneficiaries from this year’s duck race, but there is more support to be provided. With a waiting list of projects only growing bigger, they need the financial support and volunteers to get these things done. If you would like to support Hope Repair, please visit their website and select Get Involved. From there, you will be able to donate financially or learn about upcoming projects in which you can donate your time and improve the lives of your neighbors. No experience is necessary for volunteers, only the willingness to help. With 14 years of service already completed, it is up to our community to continue supporting their mission. 


September Newsletter

Happy September and welcome to Rotary Internationals’ Basic Education and Literacy month! We rounded out August with our first, “Discover Rotary” event at Accent on Wine and had the pleasure of meeting guests and introducing them to our club. We also had a wonderful networking and happy hour event to end the month. This month is jam-packed with good stuff. We will start with our first meeting on September 5th and hear from the Associate Pastor at Pointe North Church and Director of Hope Repair, David Ensor. David was integral in the founding of this project. He will share what their current initiatives are as well as how we can help accomplish them. We will follow that up with a visit on September 19th from Rotary 7770 District Governor Lou Mello and Assistant District Governor Angela Drake. We look forward to welcoming them to our growing chapter.

Service, as always, is our focus, and this month we will learn more about potential initiatives with Philip Simmons Middle School and their Parent Teacher Organization. What a great opportunity during education month? We will also hear from John Walden regarding our Alzheimers Walk team and start planning some quarterly events with Lowcountry Veterans. I am proud of the opportunities we continue to create and the ways we have been able to serve our community. Despite our club’s youth, we have made a big impact! Look for some surprise service options as well!

This month’s fellowship event will include a networking and happy hour gathering on September 26th at Rivertowne Public House on 41. Stay up to date on meetings and events by checking the events tab on our website, as it will be updated regularly. It was great to see the turnout at last month’s fellowship event. I look forward to reconnecting with everyone at our upcoming chapter meetings and gathering later this month. 

In Service,

John Stanford

President

Cainhoy Peninsula Rotary, District 7770

Cainhoy Peninsula Rotary Club donates over $5,000 to local nonprofit organizations


The Cainhoy Peninsula Club raised funds through the Charleston Duck Race to benefit local organizations such as... 

...and other community-focused nonprofits.


The Club recently presented representatives of these organizations with proceeds to continue supporting their initiatives. We recognize that change requires collaboration, which is why we partner with local stakeholders to better support our community. 

Lowcountry Local First

 

Kip Watson, the Director of Community Building for Lowcountry Locals First, presented to the Cainhoy Peninsula Rotary Club. Lowcountry Locals First is dedicated to advancing economic prosperity and local ownership through innovative and inclusive initiatives that build our community’s wealth and well-being.

Our Club membership is comprised of 80% small business owners, which means we are passionate about building a community that provides equitable opportunities and empowers entrepreneurs. 

Lowcountry Locals First counsels local Chambers of Commerce on the importance of supporting local businesses. They also provide scholarship opportunities to entrepreneurs and have a business academy called 'Good Enterprises'. 

Statewide facts:


The Hub at Point Hope hosts Rotary Club

The Cainhoy Peninsula Rotary Club visited The Hub at Point Hope to learn about the rich history of the Cainhoy Peninsula and Daniel Island. Community Services Manager, Erin Dudley, spoke about future community development, nature preservation, and park planning. 

We give our gratitude to Speaker Chair, Sharon Cassidy, for arranging this tour and to Erin Dudley, for hosting a delightful and informative evening.