Coastal Community Foundation presented its highest honor, the Malcolm D. Haven Award for Selfless Community Giving, to Elizabeth Craig Rivers Lewine and Linda and Tony Bakker during the Ambassadors of Philanthropy event this week.
The Malcolm D. Haven Award for Selfless Community Giving is named for a founding member of Coastal Community Foundation who worked tirelessly to make the 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, 35 community leaders have received the Haven Award.
The late Elizabeth Craig Rivers Lewine had a deep relationship with CCF for more than 30 years. She was selected as a posthumous recipient of the Haven Award because of her dedication to education, the arts, and culture throughout her lifetime. Her charitable giving included support of Ashley Hall School, the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Charleston Museum, Gibbes Museum of Art, Lowcountry Food Bank, Spoleto Festival USA, Vassar College, the Charleston Library Society, and many more. She was also a founding board member and long-time supporter of the College of Charleston Friends of the Library and the College of Charleston School of the Arts. Lewine gave more than financial support. She volunteered countless hours with the New York Public Library, was a trustee for Ashley Hall School, and served on the Charleston Symphony’s Board of Directors for many years. Her philanthropic legacy continues to support many of these organizations, preserving access to culture, learning, and community enrichment in the region.
Tony and Linda Bakker have been among CCF’s most dedicated philanthropic partners for more than two decades. They were selected as recipients of the Haven Award due to their commitment to ensure their grantmaking aligns with community needs. In 2020, the Bakkers stood out as philanthropic leaders when they committed $500,000 to the COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund, creating a matching campaign and inspiring others to give. Thanks in large part to their support, the COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund awarded $2.5 million to nonprofits facing unanticipated community need, including historic unemployment, virtual schooling, and spikes in housing and food insecurity. Tony was also instrumental in establishing the Blackbaud Fund, one of CCF’s largest competitive grantmaking funds, which supports special needs children and education for underserved children in Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties. Through the Blackbaud Fund and their support of other competitive grant programs, the Bakkers have strengthened CCF’s broader grantmaking capacity and created a meaningful impact on the community. Tony and Linda embody community-centered generosity. Their family fund has supported education, human needs, and other critical community priorities. They encourage collaborative action, and their philanthropic legacy has built a stronger region for future generations.
“50 years ago, Mal Haven had an unwavering optimism about the impact Coastal Community Foundation could have in the region,” said Darrin Goss, Sr., President and CEO. “He was driven by a determination to leave the Lowcountry community better than he found it and prioritized results instead of recognition. I have seen that same commitment from Elizabeth Craig Rivers Lewine and Linda and Tony Bakker. I am confident our communities are better because of their care, thoughtfulness, and generosity.”
