THE CHARLES WEBB – ED CROFT ENDOWMENT FUND AWARDS $70,000 IN GRANTS TO 16 NONPROFITS

Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester Counties – July 25, 2014:  The Charles Webb – Ed Croft Endowment Fund of Coastal Community Foundation (CCF) is set to award $70,000 in grants to 16 nonprofit organizations serving children with special needs in the Tri-County area.Over the lifetime of the fund, the Charles Webb—Ed Croft Endowment, has awarded over 1.2 million to local nonprofits.
Managed by the Coastal Community Foundation, The Webb-Croft Fund made its first grants in 1997 thanks to an initial donation of $900,000 from the sale of the original Charles Webb Center on Calhoun Street. The Fund was created in order to distribute grants that benefit nonprofit organizations serving children with special needs in Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester Countiesby an Advisory Committee made up of at least 5 supportive, informed citizens or family members with special needs children.
Each year, the Advisory Committee receives information from Coastal Community Foundation staff about existing nonprofit programs. The Committee then invites a limited number of nonprofits to apply based on community need and available funds. In 18 years of grantmaking, The Webb-Croft Fund has granted over 1.2 million to 45 charitable organizations.
“These aren’t huge grants”, says Richard Hendry, CCF Program Officer.  “They average $4,000-$5,000.  But because of federal and state funding cuts imposed on these agencies, these awards are important and helpful both in maintaining current services and in developing new ones.  Those who work with special needs children are motivated by love and concern for their well-being, and they are relentless in working to help them and their families.”
The Webb-Croft Advisory Committee, led by Angel Johnson-Brebner and Richard Hendry, includes seven community members representing the Tri-County area.  They are: Susan Clark, Tammy Coghill, Jennifer Gossett, Alex Jackson, Stefanie Neuner, Alison Piepmeier and April Vail.
This granting cycle has provided financial support to various programs including summer camps, educational excursions, occupational and physical therapy, sports participation, and family mentoring.
Below is the list of nonprofit organizations that will receive the grants ranging from $2,500-$6,000 for the 2014 funding cycle.
Charles Webb—Ed Croft Endowment – 2014 Grants
Angel Flight Soars
Camp Good Times of Charleston
Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding
Charleston Autism Academy
College of Charleston’s Early Childhood Development Center
Berkeley Citizens
Disabilities Fdn of ChasCo/Charles Webb Center
Dorchester Disabilities & Special Needs
Down Syndrome Association of the Lowcountry
Family Resource Center for Disabilities and Special Needs
Limbs Without Limits
MUSC – Camp Hand to Hands
MUSC – Down Syndrome Center
Pattison’s Academy
SOS Health Care
Special Family Resource