This past May, we released another beer made by supporters of LFWMH with the help of Walt Trafari, Master Brewer and co-owner of lot 9 Brewing Company. Walt has been a huge supporter of ours even several years before lot 9 opened its doors. Back in 2016, Lin Godsey (now an LFWMH Board member, Joe Grimm (former community supporter) and Walt worked out the details of a fundraising initiative that continues today and includes a beer brewing and release benefitting LFWMH, the charities it supports, and by extension, the Wounded Heroes we support, and lot 9 customers.
Here's what happens!
Each year, lot 9 donates a brewing experience for up to four people to create a unique beer of their making. Walt and his team provide their expertise to craft the style of beer they’d like to make, the flavor profile and color as well as its bitterness and alcohol profile. The team brewing the beer also gets to name it – typically with a military theme.
Each year, approximately 125 gallons are brewed and, when ready, lot 9 and LFWMH host a beer release for all – public welcome – to experience a one-of-a-kind beer. ALL sales on the day of the release are donated back to LFWMH by lot 9. After the event, and until lot 9 has sold out of the specially brewed beer, lot 9 donates a portion of its sales back to LFWMH.
It's a great partnership and a unique and fun opportunity enjoyed by us all. This year, on May 6th those attending the event were treated to Bravo Echo Echo Romeo (B.E.E.R). This year’s beer was a blend of American & German hops with brown flaked rice giving it a smooth crisp finish. German noble hops help accentuate the classic old school lager aroma that our fathers loved.
We’re already looking forward to next year’s special Brew!
Last spring, our Foundation was approached by our local Home Depot sales team with an offer to do something for one of the Wounded Heroes in our area. The idea was to have any Hero in our area submit their request for an improvement project for their home. Our Foundation would then collect the submittals and submit them to Home Depot for selection. The Home Depot team would coordinate with local contractors to complete the project at no charge to the Hero’s family.
LFWMH team members screened the submissions and worked with the Home Depot team, led my Giles Sandvik to select the project. The lucky recipients were Harvey Harris and his wife LaDawn of Hinesville, GA. The project included refacing the cabinets with a new color, new doors, new drawer fronts, and new hardware. Also included were new countertops, and new appliances. To top off the project the Home Depot team refreshed the front yard with new shrubs and decorative rock!
The project was completed last month and the Harris family is ecstatic! The LFWMH would like to thank the entire Home Depot team – its local sales team that led the effort, their corporate leadership that approved the project, and all the Home Depot contractors who donated their time and materials to bring this project to completion.
Pictures of the transformation are posted below.
On Veterans Day, the Sun City Softball Club usually just sells hot dogs to raise money for their club. This year, they decided to raise additional funds for a deserving charity. To that end, they sold baseball caps, did their research on veterans' groups in the area, and selected LFWMH as the recipient of their $1060 check.
We thank them for selecting the LFWMH to receive this donation.
On December 5, 2024, members of the Young Professional Network of Realtors in the Hilton Head Island area stopped by the LFWMH's December Board meeting to present us with a check for $610 raised from their 50-50 raffle.
We thank them for selecting the LFWMH to receive this donation.
As noted on their website, "Operation Shower’s mission is to host joyous, awesome baby showers for military families to ease the stresses of deployment and separation. Since its founding in 2007, Operation Shower has hosted baby showers for thousands of military families, thanks to the overwhelming support of individuals and groups across the country."
This year the LFWMH hosted the Operation Shower "Hello Baby" event as part of the RBC Heritage Tournament Activities. This was our fourth time sponsoring/co-sponsoring this event for military families. We are honored to share a thank you email from Operation Shower's Director of Program Outreach, Ginger Shockley:
"We did it! With much THANKS to you for all your wonderful help during the Lowcountry Foundation for Wounded Military Heroes baby shower. For some of you this was your first experience volunteering with us. We are so glad we got to meet you and look forward to working with you again. And for some of you this was a second or third time. We, at Operation Shower, truly appreciate all your help, love, and support. We know we cannot do it without people like you. We are so grateful that you were willing to volunteer with us.
Thank you again for helping us share joy and honor military families."
Pausing at the 9th hole, a foursome of disabled veterans from the Adaptive Golf Association.
Players with Crescent Volunteer, who proudly wears a USMC cap in honor of her father.
Players with Crescent Volunteer, who proudly wears a USMC cap in honor of her father.
Ladies foursome on the 9th hole... judging by the smiles, it was a great day!
We continue to be amazed and humbled by this event and its organizers, the wonderful veterans and the Crescent community. Through a combination of sponsorships, raffles, 50/50, mulligans and remembrance signage, they presented the LFWMH with a donation of nearly $19,000!
With deepest gratitude, we thank all who supported this terrific event!