Benefit golf tournament at Osprey Point on Kiawah Island, South Carolina

“Calling All Angels” tournament benefits the 3 Title One elementary schools on Johns Island and Wadmalaw Island near Kiawah and Seabrook Island resorts

Upon retiring from his medical career, as a radiologist in New York, Dr. Charlie Smith and his wife, Jan, came to call Kiawah Island, South Carolina home in 2001.  Soon thereafter, Charlie saw a need at Angel Oak Elementary, a Title One school on Johns Island near Kiawah, for after-school tutors and mentors and answered the calling by volunteering his time and efforts, recruiting three friends to join him.

Since that day Charlie’s interest in the after-school enrichment programs for these elementary students has been “…the most rewarding part of my retirement”  As he began to see the need for supplemental funding for these programs and for the school library, his thoughts turned to fundraising to augment his time as a tutor and mentor.

A golf tournament seemed a natural for raising money, but Charlie, being new to Kiawah and to golf, needed help with contacts and learning the ropes of putting on a tournament.  Steve Mitchell, then Head Instructor at The Learning Center on Kiawah, mentored Charlie through the process and was instrumental in helping him develop the contacts that would be needed both for players and sponsors, alike.

Their initial goal for the first tournament in 2005 was an humble $1500. With the tremendous support that developed between both Kiawah and Seabrook residents and with the generous assistance of Roger Warren, President of Kiawah Island Golf Resort and Jim Kelechi, Head Golf Pro at Osprey Point Club on Kiawah, the first tournament’s proceeds hit $12,500!  And, Angel Oak Elementary became the real winner!

“The community-at-large really pitched in and everybody was connected.  We had 100 players that enjoyed a great time along with the many generous corporate and commercial sponsors and donors, who made the entire tournament the success that it was!”, said Charlie.

In 2006 with the groundwork already in place from a successful 2005 tournament the gates opened fast and the net result was an astounding $20,000 raised for Angel Oak Elementary.  The 2007 tournament had to be postponed due to unavoidable obstacles and the 2008 tournament held on February 28 benefited all three Title One elementary schools on Johns Island and Wadmalaw Island, which are contiguous to Kiawah & Seabrook resorts.  They are: Angel Oak & Mt. Zion Elementary Schools on Johns Island; Frierson Elementary School on Wadmalaw Island.

Charlie also gave many kudos on behalf of “Communities in Schools” for their work in running the tutoring programs in the Charleston County school system.  “Jane Riley, Gordon Robertson and the entire organization do a tremendous job for our tutoring programs.  I just can’t say enough good things about them”, said Charlie.

And so for the 2008 tournament, Charlie with new sponsor, The Kiawah-Seabrook Exchange Club, and the many faithful volunteers once again worked hand-in-hand with the community’s enthusiastic corporate and commercial supporters in launching another successful tournament at Osprey Point Golf Club at Kiawah on February 28, 2008.  With a tremendous turnout expected the net result was a sellout and $26,000 raised for the schools!

As Charlie emphasized, “This tournament is a collective effort.  It’s everybody’s success and the real winners are the children!  As much as the money is certainly needed by the schools, what is really needed to make it work for the children are, simply, people.  People who can give a little time in tutoring and mentoring these kids.  We started out with 4 of us showing up at Angel Oak to help.  I was on tutor/mentor with 5 kids.  We now have 20 volunteers.  Our goal is to have one-on-one tutoring and mentoring.  That’s the magic number that really works!  And, you can see that it’s working by looking into the child’s eyes.”

If you’re interested in becoming a tutor/mentor, Charlie would love to make arrangements to take you to one of the schools for a visit with the principal and tour of the school.  Just give him a call at 843-768-8434.