News Release

Community Foundation of the Lowcountry Awards $500,175 in Grants to 15 Local Nonprofits

September 22, 2022

In the third and final cycle of the Town of Hilton Head Island's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)/State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) COVID-19 grant process, Community Foundation of the Lowcountry has awarded $500,175 in grants to 15 nonprofit agencies that support residents of Hilton Head Island. Over the past ten months, the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry has distributed $1 million in grants to nonprofits through this grant process.

The breakdown of the latest grants awarded to local nonprofits are as follows: $236,110 for food programs; $92,665 for education and childcare; $89,400 for health and mental health; and $82,000 for emergency housing assistance.

The funding is part of a $5 million American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 grant the Town of Hilton Head Island received to help nonprofits and other qualified organizations respond to the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including healthcare, housing assistance, childcare and education, rent/utility assistance, and food insecurity.

"Organizations serving Hilton Head continue to see increased needs in the community relating to the after effects of COVID-19," said Community Foundation’s VP for Community Investment Debbie Cahoon. "Many of the organizations who received the latest ARPA/SLFRF grants are focused on providing food to local residents in need, and are collaborating with each other to offer more healthy options. We are thankful for the partnership with the Town of Hilton Head."

The deserving recipients of the Town's third cycle of ARPA/SLFRF grants are: Hilton Head Island Recreation Association; The Children's Center; Neighborhood Outreach Connection; First Presbyterian Church of Hilton Head Island; Lowcountry Legal Volunteers; The Deep Well Project; Bluffton Community Soup Kitchen; Central Oak Grove Baptist Church; Hunger Coalition of the Lowcountry; Meals on Wheels Bluffton-Hilton Head; Sandalwood Community Food Pantry; Second Helpings; Mental Health America of Beaufort/Jasper (Island House); Programs for Exceptional People; and Volunteers in Medicine-Hilton Head Island.

On September 9, the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry hosted a well-attended convening of the grant recipient leaders. Attendees shared the benefits of the grants, as well as the challenges facing their organizations.

*This news release is distributed as a courtesy to Community Foundation of the Lowcountry.