Jefferson Awards

Stall High award winner

Stall High School in North Charleston has been named the regional winner for the Jefferson Awards Youth Service Initiative, an effort to double volunteerism in high schools. Read More

Murray Hill blessed with super-volunteer

Mary Patterson is a chronic volunteer. For the past 20 years, she's been helping North Charleston's Murray Hill neighborhood in myriad ways. Now she mostly works with senior citizens at the Murray Hill Community Center. Read More

Attorney helped bring together city's 2 Ys

The short-shrift history of the Cannon Street YMCA was as plain as black and white. And, no - a merger with the Christian Family Y wasn't going to happen. In the early 1900s, the elite organizers of the historically black youth club had fought among themselves to include darker-skinned black members. Read More

Woman warms hearts, fills bellies

MOUNT PLEASANT - If you're down or feeling blue, Catherine Fraiser might just step into her kitchen, whip you up something warm for dinner and deliver it to your door. It's likely to be a hearty, stick-to-your-ribs meal of good Lowcountry cooking: okra soup, cornbread, Hoppin' John, baked chicken and sweet potato pie. Read More

Volunteer gets into character for work

Akiel Jamar McKnight, dressed in his sharply-creased green JROTC uniform, strode through the halls of St. John's High School recently, exchanging greetings with every teacher and staff member he saw. It was McKnight's morning as hall monitor, an internship program under Principal Adrian Busch, who praised McKnight as he walked by. It's one of the many roles for the outgoing, energetic senior who maintains an A average despite a busy volunteer schedule. Read More

Coast Guard member embraces school

U.S. Coast Guard Operation Specialist Brandon Earhart's boss is a big proponent of community service, and when he put up a list seeking volunteers for an educational outreach project, Earhart was quick to sign up. Read More

Helping the aged, deprived

Bob Newton a savior to families in need

Bob Newton has been in homes where children sleep on the floor for want of a bed. He knows about the homebound seniors who can't afford adult diapers and use newspapers instead. Newton, a 77-year-old Mount Pleasant widower, learned of such conditions when he started volunteering with the St. Vincent DePaul Society after retiring in 1991 from his job as dean of continuing education at Trident Technical College. Read More

Volunteer follows holy mandate to serve others

The voice of Rosemary Parks Roberson radiates warmth and puts listeners at ease. The embodiment of efficiency, she works multiple phone lines in her North Central Apartments unit. E-mail alerts punctuate the soothing music. Roberson, 62, grew up on Line Street in Charleston, the oldest of 12 children. "When I was coming up, I wish I had more support," she said. "I had no proof there was a better life. I hoped there was." Read More

Retired Cub Master builds strong legacy

For more than two decades, Ralph Earhart of West Ashley has been a fixture in local scouting. In May, Earhart retired as Cub Master for Pack 79, which meets at Westminster Presbyterian Church off Sam Rittenberg Boulevard. While he has stepped down from his formal commitments with the pack, he will continue to recruit leaders to work with the organization. Read More

Down syndrome advocate

It's no wonder Diane Andrews likes coaching both of her children's soccer teams. It involves two of her favorite things: children and the challenge of reaching goals. "Coaching's fun, it's organized chaos," the 37-year-old Mount Pleasant woman said. Read More

Down syndrome advocate

It's no wonder Diane Andrews likes coaching both of her children's soccer teams. It involves two of her favorite things: children and the challenge of reaching goals. "Coaching's fun, it's organized chaos," the 37-year-old Mount Pleasant woman said. "You have to yell loud, tell kids to tur... Read More

Teen works for others on weekends

Abi Thompson has probably done more volunteer work by the age of 17 than most people do in a lifetime. She's cleaned out donkey pens, painted houses, helped the homeless, cleared paths, planted trees and collected canned goods instead of candy at Halloween, the latter in costume as a hippie. Read More

Coach uses basketball camp to give kids structure, fun

Will Jones strives to provide wholesome experience

Believing that mentoring plus time on the hardwood can help youths avoid hard times later in life, former Berkeley High School basketball star Will Jones helped organize a summer basketball camp in his hometown. Jones, 27, played for South Carolina State University after high school and is now coaching in Florida. He returns home each summer to conduct the Will Jones Future Star Basketball camp. Read More

Man helps Cainhoy 'family'

Michael Alston grew up in Cainhoy on Jack Primus Road. School used to let out early when it rained hard because the bus would bog down on the dirt road, he said. Read More

Sid Busch keeps running to honor fallen soldiers

A yellow ribbon magnet on his truck was not enough for Sid Busch. He needed something to show his support for the troops, something that took more commitment, more sacrifice than a simple magnet. "I feel guilty as hell that I got too old to serve with all this going on," Busch said of the ongoing wars. Read More