Community Foundation of the Lowcountry

June 20, 2010.  Much of the day was spent thinking about important men in my life and in the life of my daughter, Bethany—mainly my father and my brother.  Dad passed in 1999, far too young, but we were truly lucky to have him for as long as we did.  This year my brother Mark’s birthday also fell on Father’s Day.  Mark looks like Dad, shares his work ethic and sense of responsibility, and no one loves to have fun with friends and family more than these two.  My daughter has had tremendous role models in her uncle and grandfather.  The adoration among them was/is mutual.

While I searched for the comfort of my father’s voice in the recesses of my memory on Father’s Day, I found my mind wandering off to the many children not as lucky as my daughter and me.  Research has shown that children without a father figure or good male role model are much more likely to drop out of school, to become teenage parents themselves, or to spend time in prison.  Unfortunately there are many children who need caring men in their lives, but there are few to be found. 

There are several organizations in the Lowcountry that attempt to assist in providing mentoring services—The Boys and Girls Clubs, and Strive to Excel among them.  Several churches may also be working to provide such support.  Unfortunately, there are not nearly enough mentors in general, and the critically important male mentor is in very short supply.  If you are a man who is willing to learn how to be a friend to a young person who truly needs one, or if you know of such a man, please call one of these numbers:

• IMPACT Program through the Beaufort County School District.  Call Buck Edwards at 843-681-7151.
• Boys and Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry.  Call Jan Gourley at 843-575-5430.
• Strive to Excel.  Call Tim Singleton at 843-290-6344 or check  www.strive2excel.org. 

If you know of other mentoring programs in Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton or Colleton Counties, please let me know, so that we can pass the word about them as well.  Let’s not let another year go by without trying to find a wonderful male role model for each of the children in the Lowcountry who needs one.  Every child matters; every mentor matters; every day matters.

Denise K. Spencer

One of the most important decisions a nonprofit board makes is who to invite to serve.  Assuring the presence of a capable board is just as important as assuring any other resource needed to carry out the work of the organization.  Once again, the Nominating Committee of the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry has done wonderful work, and their recommendations have been approved unanimously by the entire board.  The four new trustees starting their first terms at the Community Foundation are as follows:

Helen (Dede) Mavrogordato has been a firsthand witness to our modern global society.  She has lived and/or worked in Paris, France; London, England; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Geneva, Switzerland, including twice crossing the Sahara Desert and much of Western Africa.  Her unique background underscores her fresh thinking on the common bonds that untie us as world citizens as well as her recognition of the urgency of humanitarian needs.

Born and raised in Boston, Helen attended Skidmore College, majoring in American studies.  Her professional career focused on the fields of public relations and advertising, culminating as management Account Supervisor for Leo Burnett Advertising in Sao Paulo.  Following her move to Buenos Aires for her husband’s career, Helen began her volunteer and philanthropic work, with an overall emphasis on the real needs of women and girls.  She served on the board of Tulipan, providing operating funds for early education for underprivileged children in Argentina.  Upon arrival in Indianapolis, she became an associate with the Christamore Aid Society, concentrating her efforts by volunteering at their pre-school for minority children as well as developing communication strategies.  She served as a local officer for the national program for Girls, Inc.  Living in Scottsdale, Arizona, Helen expanded her efforts to women’s cancer support groups.  Through the auspices of the Mavrogordato Family Trust, her effort to provide social services and educational opportunities for poor women in Third World countries continues to this day. 

Helen moved to Hilton Head Island in 2003 and to Bluffton in 2006.  Following her field work for the presidential primary and general election for the Obama campaign, Helen made the decision to concentrate on providing social services to the citizens of Beaufort County.  With that goal in mind, she enthusiastically joined the Advisory Council for the Greater Bluffton Community Endowment Fund of the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry in early 2009.

Helen has been married to Michael Mavrogordato, a retired international pharmaceutical executive, since 1979.  Their son Nicholas has fought in both the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars as a U.S. Army Ranger.  Their son Alexander graduated from Hilton Head Prep in ’06 and from Lake Forest College this May.  In her spare time, Helen writes children’s poetry, is a member of the International Women’s Society of Hilton Head Island, and is the current Chairman of the Colleton River Plantation Book Club.

Thomas D. Peeples was born in Ridgeland, Scouth Carolina in 1953.  His family roots t the Lowcountry area date back to the 1700’s.  Tom and Mary Ann, his wife, have lived on Hilton Head Island for 35 years.  They have one son, Josh.  In 1976, Tom started Peeples Construction Company that focuses on single-family construction and remodeling.

If you know Mayor Peeples, it is apparent that he is a man of great energy and devotion to his business and, perhaps more importantly, to his community.  Few people operate a successful business and devote as much time to improving his community as Tom has.  Whether it’s serving as four-time Mayor of Hilton Head Island, representing the Town in state affairs, or giving of his time or treasure for charitable causes, Tom and his family have become part of the fabric that makes our community a great one.

Here are just a few of the many contributions Mayor Peeples has made to his profession, Town and community:

     Government

• Hilton Head Town Council—member 1989 to 1995; 4-term mayor 1995 through 2010.
• South Carolina Coastal Partnership—charter member.
• South Carolina Municipal Association—Past President and Legislative Committee Member.
• Beaufort County Transportation Committee.
• Southern Growth Council.

      Professional

• Three-time winner of Home Builder of the Year Award from the Hilton Head Island Home Builders Association.
• Hilton Head Island Home Builders Association—member.
• Leader of Home Builders Association Island Recreation Center project.
• Hilton Head News/WIJY Radio Best Builder Award—1992, 1993.
• Listed among Top 500 Remodelers in America—1992 through 2009.
• Chairman of Board, Bank Meridian.

      Civic

• Hilton Head Sertoma International—charter member.
• Dixie Youth Baseball—past board member.
• Hilton Head Island Chamber of Commerce—past board member.
• Island Recreation Center—past board member.
• Community Stadium Club—charter member of the board.
• Hilton Head Rotary Club—past member.
• Gator Football Program—past president.
• Sewer Access for Everyone (SAFE)—past board member.
• Heritage Foundation—board member.
• Hilton Head Monthly 2002 Islander of the Year.
• 2008 Bill Bligen Champion of Literacy Award.

William A. Stinnett, III is a native of Owensboro, Kentucky.  He has been a career banker, serving as President and CEO of Ashland Bankshares and Bank of Ashland (KY) until 1999 when he became Chairman of Fifth Third Bank, Ohio Valley affiliate.  He retired in 2001 and moved to Hilton Head Island on a permanent basis in 2005.

He was active in community and state organizations throughout his career.  He served on the board of directors of the Foundation for the Tri-State Community, Ashland Area YMCA, Huntington Museum of Art, King’s Daughters’ Medical Center, Ashland Alliance, Kentucky Independent College Foundation, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and Kentucky Bankers Association where he served as its President in 1996.

Mr. Stinnett was presented the Governor’s Economic Development Leadership Award in 2003.  Junior Achievement of the Ohio Valley inducted him into its Business Hall of Fame in 1998.

Until 2007 he chaired The Woodlands Foundation, an organization dedicated to economic development in the Ashland, KY area.  He continues to serve on their board of directors.

On Hilton Head Island, he has served as President and Treasurer of the Indigo Run Community Owners Association.  He currently serves as an elder of First Presbyterian Church and chairs the Finance Committee.

Mr. Stinnett is a graduate of Indiana University and the University of Wisconsin Graduate School of Banking.  He resides in Indigo Run with his wife Myra.

Perry L. Washington was born (1941) and raised in Chester, Pennsylvania.  Perry and his late wife, Jean, retired to Bluffton from New York in 1999.  He has one daughter, Stacy, who currently resides in Bluffton.

Perry holds a BA degree from Cheyney University and an MBA from Columbia University.  He joined Morgan Stanley and Company as part of the Corporate Finance division.  Prior to retirement, Perry was Chairman and CEO of LaFenus Group, Ltd., a financial consulting firm primarily involved in leveraged buyouts and financial consulting.  Perry also served as a Trustee for Columbia University Graduate School of Business.

Since moving to Bluffton, Perry has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, Boys and Girls Club of the Lowcountry (Bluffton and Hilton Head clubs; Lowcountry organization), First Tee and the Domestic Abuse “hotline” for the Bluffton Police Department.

You would have to agree that we have added a group of accomplished and talented people to the board of the Community Foundation.  And once again, we have found a group of already busy people who are willing to find additional time to support our efforts.  From a staff perspective, we are grateful that these wonderful folks have agreed to make the continuing effort to  make every day matter for the improvement of the Lowcountry. 

Denise K. Spencer