News and articles from the Haig Point Foundation
From the Daufuskie Island Fire District:
“We are grateful for the Haig Point Foundation's continued support, which has enabled us to acquire a rescue strut system through their grant. Their unwavering commitment to our mission has allowed us to invest in innovative equipment, ultimately benefiting the community we serve.
In Service,
Chief Comparetto”
The Haig Point Foundations accepts grants and reviews applications twice a year to support island community enhancements. Most recently, the HP Foundation approved nearly $40,000 for improvements on Daufuskie Island.
The Haig Point Foundation awarded the following grants to worthy island causes including:
Daufuskie Island Historical Foundation – Museum restoration and improvements
Daufuskie Island Fire Department – Equipment (struts) that will help stabilize vehicles involved in accidents
Daufuskie Island Community Foundation – Seed money for island cemetery renovation including a survey for future improvements and restoration
Daufuskie Island Independent School – Supplies including desks, chairs, storage shelving, art stations, and school improvements for the ‘24-25 school year
Daufuskie Island Turtle Conservation – DNA testing which will help gather information and trends for annual turtle nesting on the island
Volunteers In Medicine – Start-up costs for the new VIM medical clinic soon to open on Daufuskie Island
For information on applying for HP Foundation grants, then please email info@haigpointfoundation.org or visit: https://www.haigpointfoundation.org/grants
Haig Point Foundation, a 501 (C)(3) non-profit organization, engages Daufuskie Island residents and supports community enhancements, provides emergency funds for hurricanes and other natural disasters, and provides scholarships for college and continued education. Please visit https://www.haigpointfoundation.org for more information. Or email info@haigpointfoundation.org for more ways to support Daufuskie Island.
As we begin the second half of 2024, I wanted to share the efforts and progress being made by the Haig Point Foundation. Our mission is to engage Daufuskie Island residents in supporting community enhancements, provide emergency funds for hurricanes and other natural disasters, and award scholarships for college & continued education. In fulfilling this mission, so far this year we have contributed $40,000 towards Daufuskie Island projects and its people.
$10,000 to the Daufuskie Island Community Foundation for custom Cast Iron signs for 5 Gullah cemeteries on the Island
$5,000 to the Daufuskie Island Fire Department for new specialty device to quickly roll up fire hoses
$5,000 to the Daufuskie Island Historical Foundation to help finish the restoration of the HP Wick and Oil house
$4,300 to the First UAB Church for the Good Neighbor Fund
$750 to the DI Conservancy for the Daufuskie Island Shoreline Project
$14,500 in Scholarships to worthy Daufuskie Island residents and employees to pursue advanced education goals.
We also have completed the Beach Mile Marker sign project in conjunction with Brunning Construction. Daufuskie Island was the last remaining South Carolina coastal area that did not have beach markers. Each sign is tied to a GPS location that is cataloged with the county 911 service, allowing for quick location tracking by emergency personnel. This project was funded with a county grant, and highly appreciated by the DI Fire Department.
To fund these initiatives, in April, we held our 6th annual Pro-Am Golf Tournament fundraiser, netting nearly $50,000. Through the generous support of our donors, we had 105 golfers, 36 sponsors, and 148 attendees at the highly successful after-party on the Haig Point Beach Club Deck. Thank you all for helping make that a wonderful day to remember.
Looking forward, we are currently accepting grant applications for review at our September board meeting. Grant application forms are located on our website (www.haigpointfoundation.org). Additionally, as we approach hurricane season, our hurricane reserve fund is fully funded with $50k and we will be ready to respond quickly in the event of major storm damage to the island.
And a final note regarding the administration of our Foundation, I am proud to say that we have been granted the Platinum Seal of Transparency by CANDID.ORG. This is the highest level issued and reflects our organization's financial and administrative practices and openness as a non-profit. We have also hired an external firm to perform a yearly audit of financials, and for two years in a row have had an explementary report.
Once again, we thank you for your support of the Haig Point Foundation and look forward to continuing to make Daufuskie Island a great place.
Rick Klemm
Chairman - Haig Point Foundation
Daufuskie Island Independent School opened its doors in August 2023. The school is built around our dynamic Daufuskie Island community. Classes and programming center around the many unique resources we have on the island. Extracurricular programming is an extension of the organic opportunities our natural environment and community hold.
Kimberly Lundgren, the school’s founder, shared that Daufuskie Island Independent School believes “every child, in every community, deserves access to a rich, rigorous, and well-rounded education. By partnering with communities, we instill a love of learning, foster a culture of creativity, create an atmosphere of belonging, and encourage all learners to recognize and reach their potential.”
DIIS is still in “start-up” mode and it has already raised an impressive amount of funds and awareness in our community and beyond. The school relies on each employee to wear both teacher and staff “hats” while depending on volunteers in the community to assist in the classroom.
This past December, Haig Point Foundation donated funds to help fund the costs of 2nd-semester academic programs, including teacher and principal salaries. Pictured are the students of the D.I.I.S. with their teacher, Brandon Anderton, and school founder, Kimberly Lundgren
The Daufuskie Island Scholarship was established to support residents of the Daufuskie Island Community and Haig Point employees. Over the years the Foundation has provided scholarship assistance to the island members to attend technical college, academic college, or certificate programs.
Most recently the following island members applied for and were awarded The Haig Point Foundation Scholarship as they return to school in the New Year including:
Katelyn Cason - Lincoln Memorial University
Katherine Crosby - Winthrop University
Lucia Martinez - Clemson University
Noah Clarke - SUNY Maritime
Haig Point Foundation has grown its board of directors to increase ability to properly serve Daufuskie Island. In addition to the board members already serving: Chairperson Tammy Kelley, Vice Chairperson Mary Keisler, Treasurer Rick Klemm, Secretary Cathy Bos, Doug Egly, Adam Martin and Kathy Simmons, four new directors have been added during the past few months.
Karen Kelson, Chris Massa, and Lauren Keisler Schultz joined the board June 1, 2023 and Jay Garrick later in September 2023. All four bring many talents to help us better serve the island.
KAREN KELSON
Karen has been a member of Haig Point since 1996 when she and her family first bought a golf cottage and started vacationing here. She had been working in New York City in the financial markets and vacationed every summer here since then. In 1998 Karen co owned with her husband Chris, a risk management company called RiskCheck based out of Toronto Canada. Karen is currently working part time as VP Business Development for Alcumus, a leading global Health & Safety Services and Software organisation.
Karen sat on The Board of Directors of The Bishop Strachan School for 10 years helping to fundraise for scholarships and capital improvements. Karen is President of The Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation in Canada for the past 15 years, working with the Sherpa people of Nepal in Health, Education, and the Environment.
Karen’s most important focus has been her children, Kassandra, Philippa, and Justin. Her sons in law, Peter, Andrew and 3 grandchildren visit Haig Point regularly and all enjoy golf, tennis, riding and just relaxing. Both of Karen’s daughters were married at Haig Point and hold special memories of very wonderful days.
Haig Point has been a peaceful getaway and understanding the importance of preserving this unique environment and helping others to excel has been important to her family. Karen brings many years of experience in the nonprofit sector to the Foundation and will help us with our marketing efforts and fundraising.
CHRIS MASSA
Chris currently serves as Vice President of Sales – Retail, with Radians, a safety supply company focused on keeping end users safe and productive while on the jobsite. He leads a sales team where he is responsible for growing business in the hardware and sporting goods channels working with customers like Lowe’s, Home Depot, Tractor Supply, Walmart, Bass Pro, Academy Sports, etc. He has over 25 years of experience leading teams and helping team members accomplish their goals.
Chris grew up on the Gulf Coast but graduated with a degree in Business Administration from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina where he first experienced life in the Lowcountry. Chris and Missy, who graduated high school together, moved to Daufuskie Island in December of 2020. They have three grown children who enjoy visiting: Clay is married to Moorea and they live in Bentonville, AR; Drake lives in Wilmington, NC; Bailey graduated from University of South Carolina in May ’23 and has moved to Winston-Salem, NC. Chris has been to MLB baseball games at 29 stadiums. He’s been a Haig Point member since 2020 and is most excited to identify ways to improve Daufuskie Island through The Haig Point Foundation. Besides general business, Chris has been helping with marketing efforts and fundraising as well as working on the Emergency Beach Sign program.
LAUREN KEISLER SCHULTZ
Lauren lives in Richmond, Virginia with her husband and their son. She began visiting Daufuskie Island in 1992 and still visits the island every chance she gets. She graduated from Wofford College in 2010 with a degree in Biology. After graduation, she began working in Fundraising and Development for Wofford College, University of Richmond and The Richmond SPCA. Lauren has worked with the Foundation in the past on the Golf Tournament and Auction fundraisers and with her expertise will now be chairing the Fundraising Committee of the Foundation going forward.
JAY GARRICK
Jay is originally from Dallas, Texas, has been a PGA Golf professional for over 35 years. Before coming to Haig Point four years ago, Jay spent all his years in Naples, Florida, working at such clubs as The Vineyards, Pelican Marsh, Raptor Bay, and Grandezza. During his career, he has twice been awarded Merchandiser of Year in the entire South Florida Section, Nominated Teacher of the Year in the Southwest Florida Chapter, and been awarded Membership of the President’s Council of the PGA of America, for his accolades in growing the game of golf. Jay is here at Haig Point with his wife Lisa, and dog Bailey. Jay and Lisa have two grandchildren and a new one coming in March. Jay has previously volunteered his time with the Foundation working on the Pro Am Golf Tournament and assisting with our Fall Auction; he will continue to help with the Foundation’s fundraising efforts.
The Haig Point Foundation is proud to support Yolanda Bryant, Daufuskie’s own “Lincoln Doctor.” Yolanda Bryant, a board certified family doctor from Columbia, SC with long family ties to Daufuskie, is on our island each month working out of her car to provide basic medical services to the residents of Daufuskie. Haig Point Foundation provided a grant to B Med Mobile, Yolanda’s non-profit org, to purchase the needed medical supplies to properly care for the island medical needs.
A group of Daufuskie Island residents led by John Thompson, Carol Baum, and Julie Klemm (pictured) have been working with various county and non-profit organizations to find a cost efficient way to allow Daufuskie residents access to medical care without the hardship and time of traveling to the mainland. Members of Yolanda’s family have been on Daufuskie since the 1800s, making her very familiar with the island and the needs of its residents. She willingly brings her medical talents to our Daufuskie residents. More information on her services and scheduling appointments can be found at http://www.thelincolndoc.org.
Did you know?
Let's Celebrate our most recent Scholarship Recipients for 2023 as they "Fall Back to School!"
The Haig Point Foundation is proud to announce the island residents and Haig Point employees receiving the 2023 Scholarship awards:
Katelyn Cason - Lincoln Memorial University
Katherine Crosby - Winthrop University
Lucia Martinez - Clemson University
Noah Clarke - SUNY Maritime
Sarah Thompson - New York University
Katelyn Cason is returning for her sophomore year to Lincoln Memorial University pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Veterinary Health Sciences.
Katherine Crosby is returning for her sophomore year at Winthrop University continuing her Fine Arts studies.
Lucia Henriquez is continuing to pursue a Political Science degree at Clemson University.
Pictured below are our two newest scholarship recipients:
Noah Clarke, a Haig Point employee who is working towards a degree in Naval Architecture at SUNY Maritime
Sarah Thompson, a Daufuskie Island resident who is starting her first year at NYU.
The Daufuskie Island Scholarship is for residents of the Daufuskie Island Community and Haig Point employees. The Foundation is enhancing attendance at technical colleges, academic universities, and other certificate programs. Learn more about The Haig Point Foundation Scholarship by visiting: https://www.haigpointfoundation.org/scholarship
The Daufuskie Community Farm was awarded a grant for Educational Signage to support its vision of educating members and tourists about agriculture. This will enable the farm to provide self guided tours with the use of Interactive Signage throughout the property.
Farm Manager, Anna Holland, in front of the entrance to the organic garden section of the Daufuskie Community Farm.
