About the Awards
The Oscars of Lowcountry Giving
Friday, November 16, 2012
at the Charleston Music Hall
Red Carpet Arrivals 7 p.m. • Awards Ceremony 8 p.m.
First presented in 2003, the annual Giving Back Awards were created by Charleston magazine and Coastal Community Foundation to celebrate the philanthropic spirit of the Lowcountry.
The Process:
For the 2012 awards, a call went out to the public in June for nominations in the following categories: Volunteer, Business, Community Catalyst, and Jerry Zucker Lifetime Achievement Award. All nomination letters that fulfilled the criteria were distributed to our panel of judges, who scored the nominations. The top three scores in the Volunteer, Business, and Community Catalyst categories represent our 2012 nominee finalists; the winner of each of these categories will be revealed on Friday, November 16 at the Giving Back Awards show. The top score for the Jerry Zucker Lifetime Achievement Award went to our winners, David and Linda Cohen (see page 104).
Panel of Judges:
Charleston magazine (Jed Drew, publisher; Darcy Shankland, editor-in-chief; & Melinda Monk, art director)
Coastal Community Foundation (George Stevens, president/CEO; Edie Blakeslee, regional VP; & Christine Beddia, director of marketing & communications)
Past Award Winners (Patricia Coker-Bolt, volunteer; Louis Yuhasz, volunteer; Rachel Hutchisson of Blackbaud, Inc., business; Mickey Bakst, community catalyst; & Anita Zucker, lifetime achievement)
Past Award Winners:
2005
Donor: Paul & Paula Heinauer
Volunteer: Andew HaLevi
Creativity (pro bono): Norman LoRusso (photographer)
Community (business): Lucey Mortgage
2006
Benevolent Spirit (volunteer): Frances Fike
Creative Talent (pro bono): Jeff Taylor, Cognetix
Philanthropic Spirit (business): The Muhler Co.
Community Spirit (nonprofit): WINGS for Kids
2007
Benevolent Spirit (volunteer): Priscilla McLeod Robinson
Creative Spirit (pro bono): Gil Shuler (graphic designer)
Philanthropic Spirit (business): Dixon Hughes
Community Spirit (nonprofit): Junior League of Charleston
Readers’ Choice: Chef Brett McKee
2008
Benevolent Spirit (volunteer): Louis Yuhasz
Creative Spirit (pro bono): Denise Barto, AAA All Occasions
Philanthropic Spirit (business): Blackbaud, Inc.
Community Spirit (nonprofit): Hope Haven of the Lowcountry
Readers’ Choice: Thomasena Stokes-Marshall
2009
Benevolent Spirit (volunteer): Jacki Bear
Creative Spirit (pro bono): Rawle Murdy Associates
Philanthropic Spirit (business): Hulsey Law Group
Community Spirit (nonprofit): East Cooper Community Outreach
Readers’ Choice: Debby Stephenson, Courageous Kidz
Lifetime Achievement: Jerry Zucker
2011
Volunteer: Patricia Coker-Bolt
Creative Talent: Tara Guérard, Soirée
Business: Charleston School of Law
Community Catalyst: Mickey Bakst
Jerry Zucker Lifetime Achievement: Dr. Charles Darby, Jr.
Nonprofit of the Year: American Red Cross
