Daniel Island Christmas Tree Initiative A Success

Twenty local businesses, individuals and organizations donated their time and efforts this year by decorating holiday-themed Christmas Trees that were raffled during the Daniel Island Holiday Festival on December 3rd.  The beautiful trees raised $1,273 that the Daniel Island Community Fund then matched, bringing in a grand total of $2,546 benefiting the boys at Windwood Farm Home for Children.  However, the trees represented far more than just the spirit of Christmas. They brought awareness to a cause that affects more than 19,000 abused and neglected children annually in South Carolina.

“This initiative exceeded our expectations, not only from a financial perspective, but it was great to see how quickly people would get involved once they realized what the cause was,” said Kristin Power, Director of Development at Windwood Farm. “Once again The Daniel Island Property Owners Association, The Daniel Island Community Fund and all that represents this great community, came to the aide of our boys in a big way.  For that I cannot thank you all enough!”

The initiative will be back in 2012 so stay tuned for information next fall on how you can participate.  Also, mark your calendars for Saturday, February 25 when the Daniel Island POA office and Windwood Farm will partner together for the popular annual “Pork n’ Pearls” oyster roast.  More details to come!

Shop And Give Back At This Weekend’s Daniel Island Holiday Festival

The annual Daniel Island Holiday Festival takes place this Saturday, December 3, and this year planners are pulling out all the stops. In addition to the Festival’s popular showcase of more than 100 local vendors selling everything from handmade crafts and jewelry to unique gifts of all kinds, there will be an expanded offering of live music and entertainment for all ages. Santa will be making an appearance, there will be Cookie Decorating and Holiday Craft stations, face painting, jump castles and – brand new this year – an ice skating rink!

While you’re out enjoying the festivities, be sure to look out for the festive display of Christmas trees that are part of Daniel Island’s Christmas Tree Fundraiser for Windwood Farm Home for Children. A selection of island and area residents and businesses have gotten into the holiday spirit by decorating and donating 19 four ft. trees, each dedicated to one of the amazing boys that currently reside at Windwood Farm, an environment of help, hope and healing for at-risk youth and families who have been traumatized by the effects of severe abuse and neglect. For a $5 donation to this important Charleston non-profit organization, you can enter to win the tree of your choice!

From traditionally-decorated trees to creative themes like Candy Land, “Gone Fishing,” Dr. Seuss and Star Wars, you’re sure to find the perfect small tree to complement your holiday decor. Enter to win the tree(s) of your choice as many times as you like. The winners will be drawn and announced at 4 pm at the end of the Holiday Festival (you do not need to be present to win).

The Daniel Island Community Fund has agreed to match money raised by this initiative, so be sure to come out and support this important cause!

For further information about the Daniel Island Christmas Tree Fundraiser, click here.

Park Day Returns to Daniel Island This Weekend

Looking for something fun to do with family and friends this weekend? Look no further as Park Day, one of the Daniel Island’s most anticipated annual events, returns to the banks of the Wando River this Saturday, October 22 from 11 am – 5 pm. This is a fall festival not to be missed! If you’ve attended Park Day in the past, you know all about the wide offering of food, entertainment and fun for the entire family. But this “day of giving” also incorporates a significant mission to help generate funds and awareness for some of Charleston’s most important charitable organizations.

“Since its inception 11 years ago, Park Day has raised more than $250,000 for more than 50 local non-profits,” says Jimmy Bailey, Vice President of Community Services. “It’s a great opportunity to come out and enjoy a variety of family-friendly activities while giving back to the community.”

On tap this year are live musical performances, arts and crafts activities, a custom playhome raffle, sailing on the Wando River, garden clinics, an oyster roast, educational wildlife exhibitions, dog activities and more. Also returning is the popular Pie Baking contest presented by the Daniel Island News. The creator of the winning entry will receive $250 cash + $250 to donate to the charity of their choice.

All events take place on the banks of the Wando River in front of Daniel Island’s Sales and Information Center on River Landing Drive. Park Day admission and parking are free. Some events require a nominal fee in order to raise money for participating non-profit organizations. For complete details about the day’s lineup of events and activities, visit danielislandparkday.com

Daniel Island Paints The Town Pink!

Last weekend marked the 18th anniversary of the Komen Lowcountry Race for the Cure, and the tenth year this popular event was held on Daniel Island. The race is the largest annual fundraising effort for the Komen Foundation’s Lowcountry affiliate. There was record-breaking participation this year, with 11,000 people registered. The affiliate is expected to reach its lofty fundraising goal by the end of October: $1 million to support breast cancer prevention, research and support programs.

In an effort to support the race and its mission, many Daniel Island businesses got into the spirit earlier this month by participating in the annual “Paint the Town Pink” window painting contest. Dozens of festive windows, combined with pink ribbons tied on the street trees along the race route and pink memorial banners lining Seven Farms Drive in the island’s downtown, set the scene for a very successful race day celebration.

The sunny, cool weather served as the perfect backdrop for the race and hundreds of breast cancer survivors were honored as racers dressed in their finest “pink.”  It was truly a special day for the race against breast cancer.

Rotary Club Hosts SIP of Daniel Island

The Rotary Club of Daniel Island will host the 2nd annual SIP of Daniel Island to benefit Water Missions International on Wednesday, April 6 from 5:30 pm – 9:00 pm. This is the perfect opportunity to “sip” and “sample” beverages and menu items from the island’s popular restaurants!   Ali Baba, Daniel Island Grille, Dragon Palace, Dublin Down, Et Cetera, Laura Alberts, Queen Anne’s Revenge, Sermet’s Courtyard, Vespa and Wasabi will be participating in this sociable, fundraising event.

Last year’s event raised $5,000 for Water Missions International, and this year the group’s goal is to sell 500 tickets, enough to raise $10,000 towards safe water systems.

Tickets can be pre-purchased for $20 by contacting Bob Wood at roberstwood@homesc.com or Bill Stevens at wes92142@yahoo.com.  Tickets will be available the day of the event for $25.  Tickets will also be available at the participating restaurants until 5:00 pm on Tuesday, April 5th.

About Water Missions International
Water Missions International is an engineering relief and development Christian nonprofit.  Its engineers, staff and volunteers design and provide sustainable, safe water solutions to disaster victims worldwide and people in 49 developing countries.  For more information go to www.watermissions.org

“Backhands & Birdies” at the Daniel Island Club

Whether you enjoy playing a round of golf or serving a few balls on the courts, you are invited to join Junior Achievement as non-profit organization hosts a unique fundraising event that will feature the best of both sports. The inaugural “Birdies and Backhands Classic” will take place at the Daniel Island Club on Friday, April 1st.  Junior Achievement’s annual golf tournament has been a success for more than 15 years, but this year it has expanded to include a round-robin doubles tennis tournament.

Sponsorship packages are still available and include gifts, lunch and tickets to the awards reception at the Park Club following play. Foursomes start at $1,600 and the tennis tournament is $80 per doubles team. Visit www.JACoastalSC.org for more information.

About Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement of Coastal South Carolina is a 501 (c) (3) organization dedicated to inspiring and educating students on how to succeed in a global economy. With the Junior Achievement program curriculum, volunteers empower students with the knowledge they need to be productive workers, good citizens and informed consumers. Junior Achievement programs inspire students to be self-advocates willing to take a leadership role in their future economic success.

St. Patrick’s Day Block Party to Benefit Haitian Hospital

Dublin Down, Daniel Island’s popular new Irish Pub, and the Daniel Island Grille, one of the island’s favorite watering holes, are joining forces to celebrate the first annual St. Patrick’s Day Block Party on Thursday, March 17th. Live Irish music begins at noon and food and drink specials will be offered all day. The event is a benefit for Hopital Lumiere, located in the small mountainous town of Bonne Fin, Haiti.

Daniel Island residents Lindsey and Harry Demos are helping organize the festivities for this charitable event, including bagpipes at Dublin Down, and a jump castle and face painting at Daniel Island Grille. In addition, both locations will be selling t-shirts to raise money for the effort, as well as tickets for a chance to win some great prizes.

Lindsey, a physical therapist, and her husband Harry, an orthopedic surgeon, have traveled to Haiti since last year’s earthquake to volunteer their services at Hopital Lumiere. They were quick to recognize that the conditions were far from ideal.  This benefit will help raise money for basic necessities such as light bulbs, clean drinking water and food for the patients.

UPDATE: The event was a smashing success! See below for photos of this festive day:

“Pork n’ Pearls” – Oysters and More for a Great Cause

During the winter months in Charleston, locals can typically be found enjoying their weekends at one of many oyster roasts being offered across the Lowcountry.  In particular, the annual Daniel Island Oyster Roast has become a popular event for residents and friends alike.  This year, Daniel Island will be offering an alternative twist to this tradition as it hosts the “Pork n’ Pearls” Pig & Oyster Roast. The menu will feature not only oysters, but roasted pork and chicken as well as an array of savory sides.  All proceeds of this scrumptious event will benefit Windwood Farm.

“Windwood Farm had previously been hosting the ‘Pork n’ Pearls’ as a fundraiser on their own at various locations,” says Barbara McLaughlin, Manager of Community Services for the Daniel Island Property Owners Association. “After discussing the opportunity with Kristin Power, Director of Development for Windwood Farm, I felt confident that this event would be a good match for our community. Based on the popularity of our previous annual oyster roasts, we should be able to help raise a lot of money for this outstanding non-profit organization.”

Hundreds of families and friends are expected at Pierce Park Pavilion on Saturday, February 26th from 3:00 – 6:00 pm for an afternoon filled with lively entertainment, great food and lots of camaraderie. This party — one part “swank” and the other part “down home” — will surely appeal to everyone’s appetite while helping out a great organization.  Get ready to shag to the sounds of the “Shem Creek Boogie Band,” which will be playing a variety of beach music, R & B and some good old rock and roll.  There will also be a kids’ zone featuring a climbing wall, jump castle and balloon artist.  Additionally, plenty of door prizes and drawings will take place throughout the afternoon.

“We hope that this event, while definitely being a wonderful social event, will serve to educate those who might not know about Windwood Farm and their services and needs,” said Barbara.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.windwoodfarm.org or by calling (843) 884-5342 ext. 225.  Or, stop by the Daniel Island Property Owner’s Association.  Cost is $30 for adults, $10 for children ages 4 – 17, and kids 3 and under are free.  Adult tickets include all food items and two drink tickets for beer and wine.

About Windwood Farm
Windwood Farm is a residential treatment center for boys ages 6-16 who require therapeutic intervention due to emotional or behavorial problems caused by abuse, neglect and/or family trauma.  This year, Windwood Farm celebrates 26 years of service to the community and is expanding its program to include out-patient services to reach more children and families than ever before.

Daniel Island Residents Show Support for Haiti

The Daniel Island community has a long tradition of helping those in need. When times are tough, you can always count on the residents and businesses here to step up and show their support. So it’s no surprise, with the crisis in Haiti growing worse by the day, that our community has come together once again to raise money and gather clothing, food and other needed materials for the people of Haiti. There are a number of ways to help, and every little contribution, no matter how small, counts.

Providence Baptist Church on Seven Farms Drive is collecting donations through Monday, January 25, for Water Missions International, a non-profit organization that provides clean, safe water to people in developing countries and disaster areas. Those who want to make a donation are asked to drop it off at the church office and please mark on your check, “Haiti Relief”.

A group of residents have come together to collect food and clothing. Those who would like to donate are asked to drop off their goods at the Southern Trust Mortgage office on River Landing Drive. Materials will then be delivered to the Salvation Army. The organizers want to see the office filled with food and clothing, and will take as many trips to the Salvation Army as needed, so get involved, and get your friends and neighbors involved, too!

It doesn’t matter whether you decide to give to one or both of these island initiatives, or if you choose to give to the American Red Cross or another dedicated organization. What matters most is that we all get involved to help the people of Haiti overcome this horrible tragedy.