On December 1, Angela Valvasori, representing Westinghouse SURE, presented a generous $1,300 donation to Liz Harris of Seven Oaks Presbyterian Church. Westinghouse SURE, an organization of retired Westinghouse employees, is dedicated to supporting local charities through community involvement. The donation will directly aid Seven Oaks Presbyterian’s mission to provide warm,Continue Reading
Ryan Taylor, Executive Director of the Nancy K. Perry Children’s Shelter, spoke to the Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo on November 15. Taylor, pictured with speaker sponsor Steve Odom, received a copy of the Optimist Creed during the meeting. The Nancy K. Perry Children’s Shelter, located in Lexington County, providesContinue Reading
St. Andrews Optimists welcomed speaker Doug Renew, Chief Investigator for the South Carolina Secretary of State’s Office November 8. An early ‘90s graduate of Irmo High School, Renew spoke about scams that proliferate during the Holidays. All the scams target unsuspecting victims in order to separate those victims from theirContinue Reading
The St. Andrews Rotary Club recently welcomed Gavin Brown, Vice President of Advancement at Midlands Housing Alliance, as their guest speaker. Brown oversees fundraising and community development for Transitions Homeless Center, a key resource for the homeless population in the Midlands. With over a decade of experience in both for-profitContinue Reading
On August 9, Amy Reeves, Director of Community Relations for Mission Lexington, spoke to the Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo, offering insights into the organization’s vital role in supporting Lexington County residents in crisis. Founded in 1976 and inspired by the teachings of Matthew 25:40, Mission Lexington provides essential servicesContinue Reading
Richland County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), an organization dedicated to advocating for abused and neglected children, recently benefited from a generous donation of school supplies through its back-to-school drive. These supplies will help ensure that the children CASA supports are well-prepared for the upcoming school year.Continue Reading
On July 26, Julie Giglio, representing Midlands Orphan Relief (M.O.R.), spoke to the Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo, shedding light on the organization’s mission to support orphans and at-risk children. Giglio explained that M.O.R. considers “any child who is left behind is effectively an orphan,” emphasizing the broad scope ofContinue Reading
Stephanie Yandle, the Customer Experience Manager for Research & Information at BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, has been elected as the 2024-2026 chair of The Cooperative Ministry’s board of directors. Her election was confirmed at the board’s June 18 meeting. Yandle has been a member of The Cooperative Ministry’s boardContinue Reading
Columbia, SC – On July 17, the St. Andrews Optimist Club welcomed Mary Silverberg, Director of Developmental Operations for the South Carolina chapter of Make-A-Wish, as their guest speaker. Pictured from the event are Steve Odom, speaker coordinator, Mary Silverberg, Club President Kerry Powers, and speaker sponsor J.B. Beckett, whoContinue Reading
Columbia is set to host the first of three fundraising events for Sistercare, an organization dedicated to helping victims and families recover from domestic violence. The inaugural event will take place during the Soda City Market downtown, aiming to raise funds and awareness. Visitors can look forward to a varietyContinue Reading
On Saturday, July 13, Irmo Town Councilwoman Phyllis Coleman and JoAnn Chaney of Youngs Chapel AME Church in Irmo dedicated their morning to volunteering at Transitions Homeless Center. Beginning their day at 6:30 AM, the two women prepared food for the serving line, contributing to the center’s mission of providingContinue Reading