Charleston County Parks Foundation

The Charleston County Parks Foundation (ccpf) will remove barriers that prevent access to Parks, recreation programs and educational opportunities for underserved areas of Charleston County. Some of these populations experience poorer health for a wide-range of health indicators than any other groups in the region. These include greater rates of obesity, infant mortality, diabetes, cancer, chronic respiratory problems, and death from numerous conditions including heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes. Our Foundation develops and sustains projects that promote living an active and healthy lifestyle. Healthy lifestyles are defined by both a healthy body and mind. Ccpf promotes projects that encourage a healthy body, mind and spirit, and is focusing on 4 projects below. The Charleston County Parks Foundation is currently serving over 2,000 participants a year. 1. The genesis swim safety fund provides aquatic safety programs throughout Charleston County. Established after the tragic drowning of a 13 year-old african-american boy named genesis holmes in hollywood, sc, with a focus of reducing drownings in these rural areas. The genesis project provides children with a skill that will translate into a lifelong love for water, and will impact generations to come. 2. The cultural history fund supports cultural and historical education opportunities that foster a more equitable society, by expressing a unified narrative of african american history, culture, heritage and art. The project is focusing on these 3 areas:"the arts at mcleod plantation historic site" currently hosting a poetry series by people of african descent interpreting their history, past, present and future; "engaging descendant communities" a "descendant community" includes people whose ancestors were enslaved and/or whose descendants lived at a particular site. Furthermore, a descendant community includes those whose ancestors lived throughout the region, welcoming all that may be connected;"the sankofa memorial garden," preserving and memorializing a sacred burial ground for african american ancestors. One of the oldest african and african american cemeteries in Charleston. 3. The park and recreation opportunity fund provides opportunities for those who encounter barriers to access Parks, programs, and services. First, focusing on summer camp scholarships enabling children to experience an environment where they can explore, achieve and grow through fun and challenging activities. The project also supports programs like special olympic kayak training and competition, inclusive swim nights at County waterparks, wheel to surf adaptive surfing events, and leap (an environmental adventure program fostering stewardship, sports and leadership for youth). 4. The nature stewardship fund is focused on preserving, protecting, and managing the natural resources throughout the Charleston County park system for the enjoyment and benefit of the citizens of the lowcountry for years to come. A donation may honor the birth of a child, express sympathy upon death of friends or relatives, or celebrate a milestone in a loved one's life. For each contribution, a card representing the occasion is mailed to notify the recipient family of the gift.