By Rick Abercrombie Town of Irmo Mayor Bill Danelson spoke September 5 to the Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo. Danielson’s purpose was to introduce a new benevolent cause: The Mayor’s Uplift Initiative. Recognizing the presence of poverty and hunger in the community, an anonymous donor recently approached Danielson with theContinue Reading
By Rick Abercrombie In a recent visit to the Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo, Mark Smyers, Executive Director of Irmo-Chapin Recreation Commission, updated the audience on the status of development of the Saluda Shoals Greenway. The Greenway is ultimately a project that will flow from the Dam to a connectionContinue Reading
By Rick Abercrombie Victoria McKenna, Director of Development for Ezekiel Ministries, spoke August 8 to the Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo. Ezekiel enjoys financial and in-person support from more than 40 local churches. Its inspiration comes from Ezekiel 37:10; “So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them;Continue Reading
By Rick Abercrombie On August 1, St. Andrews Optimists hosted Nick Charalambous, Donor Relations Officer for Oliver Gospel Mission. Charalambous recounted the history of the Mission and outlined its current services to the Midlands. Oliver Gospel Mission traces its origin back to 1888, when Rev. Robert Oliver purchased property onContinue Reading
By Rick Abercrombie St. Andrews Optimists recently enjoyed a presentation by City Year Columbia. The speaker was Trey Glenham, Director of Development. City Year serves as the local hands and feet of AmeriCorps and is one of 30 such extensions of the parent organization. The statistical fact of life thatContinue Reading
By Rick Abercrombie The June 24 speakers at the Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo were representatives from Palmetto Foundation for Prevention and Recovery. The Foundation focuses on the presence of opioid use and abuse in the Irmo/Chapin community. Having lost his son Chase to an accidental opioid overdose, Bruce Loveless,Continue Reading
By Rick Abercrombie On June 13, Shari Selke, Director of Sharing God’s Love, spoke to the Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo. After a brief hiatus, Selke is actually in her second stint as Director, having recognized the role as her life’s work. St. Andrews Optimist Club has donated financially toContinue Reading
By Rick Abercrombie In a past visit to the Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo, Dr. Alonzo Johnson spoke to the Club about the mission and work of his Church’s Universal Life STEAM Academy (ULSA). Johnson serves as Director of ULSA. On June 6, Dr. Johnson visited the Club again, over twoContinue Reading
IRMO, SC — On May 23, the Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo welcomed Heather Turner, Interim Executive Director of Palmetto Place, to share updates on the organization’s mission and the powerful impact it continues to make in the lives of vulnerable youth across the Midlands. For years, the Optimist ClubContinue Reading
IRMO, S.C. — The Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo continues its support of South Carolina Career Kids (SCCK), a nonprofit organization that introduces students to career possibilities and public safety through interactive programs. At the Club’s May 9 meeting, SCCK representatives Libby Hendley and Matt Southern presented updates on theContinue Reading
By: Kerry Driggers When Kenneth Shuler graduated from high school, he didn’t know what he wanted to do, but he knew he wanted a job that worked with people. He became a Master Barber in 1959 and opened his first school in 1968. If you’ve ever had a conversation withContinue Reading