Coastal Community Foundation presented four awards during its 50th anniversary gala on Saturday: the inaugural Richard Hendry Nonprofit Impact Award and three Malcolm D. Haven Awards for Selfless Community Giving.
The Richard Hendry Nonprofit Impact Award was presented to the Lowcountry Food Bank, along with a $30,000 grant to the organization. The award, named for CCF’s longest-serving employee, recognizes a nonprofit organization that has demonstrated outstanding service and significantly impacted the coastal communities of South Carolina. Contenders were nominated by the community and the winner was selected by a committee. During the committee’s conversations, the Lowcountry Food Bank was described as “having the ability to impact every human in Coastal Community Foundation’s footprint” and “the backbone when things go bad”.
“The Lowcountry Food Bank was first established thanks to a grant from Coastal Community Foundation in 1982,” said Kerri Forrest, VP of Grantmaking and Community Leadership. “Richard Hendry was there to give encouragement and guidance to what was then-called The Food Trust. It has now flourished into the thriving organization that impacts hundreds of thousands of people annually in our region. The Lowcountry Food Bank represents the innovation, collaboration, and demonstrated community impact that this award was designed to recognize. Plus, its deep roots in CCF and origins during Hendry’s early days at the Foundation make it the perfect fit to receive the first-ever Richard Hendry Nonprofit Impact Award.”
The Malcolm D. Haven Award for Selfless Community Giving is named for a founding member of Coastal Community Foundation who worked tirelessly to make our region a better place while emphasizing “it wasn’t about who did the doing, rather it was about getting it done”. Recipients of this award have made extraordinary contributions to the community while demonstrating selflessness, generosity, and a spirit of upliftment. Since 1983, 32 community leaders have received the Haven Award with three presented during CCF’s 50th anniversary gala celebration: to Susan Pearlstine, Jody Tamsberg, and posthumously to Alan and Joanne Moses.
The late Alan and Joanne Moses received the Haven Award for their significant contributions to the Beaufort region. The couple anonymously created The Beaufort Fund in 1998, the largest grantmaking program at Coastal Community Foundation. The Beaufort Fund serves Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper counties and has distributed more than $11 million to date. The Moseses sought no recognition for their philanthropy, choosing to remain anonymous as donors during their lifetimes while serving beside their neighbors on the fund’s grants committee.
Susan Pearlstine received the Haven Award for her impact on the Jewish community and Lowcountry at-large. She is a Board Member for Life with CCF’s affiliate the Saul Alexander Foundation, and has served on several grantmaking committees with Coastal Community Foundation and the Jewish Endowment Foundation of SC. In 1994, she spearheaded the Gimme Shelter project, partnering with the City of Charleston to create covered bus stops throughout the region. She established the Susan Pearlstine Sarcoidosis Center of Excellence at MUSC, which provides critical care and research. She also made the West Ashley Theatre Centre a reality through a major gift to Charleston Stage.
Joseph “Jody” Tamsberg received the Haven Award for his unwavering commitment to preserving land and support throughout Georgetown and Charleston counties. He has served on board of both Coastal Community Foundation and its affiliate the Frances P. Bunnelle Foundation. He is dedicated to land conservation, donating financially and contributing his time by serving on the Lowcountry Conservation Loan Fund committee. In 1985, Tamsberg founded Windwood Farm for Boys, which provides a safe-haven, guidance, and opportunity to children in the region.
“Mal Haven did not define success by his business accomplishments or wealth, but by creating lasting community change,” said President and CEO Darrin Goss, Sr. “The 2024 Haven Award recipients embody that same philosophy, prioritizing the betterment of the Lowcountry in how they allocate their time, talent, and financial resources. It is a privilege to work alongside philanthropists like these at Coastal Community Foundation. Throughout our 50-year history have been inspired by the generosity of donors and look forward to all we can accomplish in partnership through the decades ahead.”
