We’re grateful for our giving community here in Columbia, SC and beyond. Many people have asked how they can help, and we have provided links below for you to donate to major organizations that serve our Columbia community every day:
Our speaker on Wednesday morning, October 7th was Ms. Erin Galloway Hall, Director of the Palmetto Place Children’s Shelter. Prior to joining the Children’s Shelter, Erin was the Executive Director for the Midlands-area March of Dimes from 2009-2011 and Director of Marketing & Communications for the National Association of Campus Activities between 2004 and 2009.
Erin earned her Bachelors degree in Journalism from the University of South Carolina.
Capital Rotary President David Boucher welcomes Abby Nass as the club’s newest member. Naas, vice president of marketing and public relations for the new Columbia Fireflies minor league baseball team, is a Florida native who moved to South Carolina in January.
A graduate of Florida Gulf Coast University, Nass was the 2010 and 2014 Rawlings Midwest League Female Executive of the Year while working with the Fort Wayne, IN, TinCaps – a San Diego Padres minor league affiliate. She’s a member of the Cayce/West Columbia Chamber of Commerce, the United Way of the Midlands communications committee and the North Columbia Business Association’s board of directors.
Our speaker on Wednesday morning, September 23rd was Dr. Caughman Taylor, Professor of Clinical Pediatrics & Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. Dr. Taylor also serves at the Senior Medical Director at the Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital.
Our speaker on Wednesday morning, September 2nd was Mrs. Reba Campbell, Deputy Executive Director of the Municipal Association of South Carolina. In previous positions, Reba served as the Executive Director of the Governor’s School Foundation, Vice President of Communications & Government Relations for ETV, and Press Secretary for Congressman Robin Tallon. Reba earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of South Carolina.
For more information about MASC, please visit http://www.masc.sc
Columbia Capital Rotary member Craig Lemrow (left) has been honored for multiple contributions to The Rotary Foundation, the international service club’s charitable corporation that funds programs for world understanding and peace. Lemrow was congratulated as a member of the Paul Harris Society, signifying continuing donations of $1,000 per year. A former Rotarian in Lexington, he joined the Capital club in 2014. At right is Mark Bokesch, immediate past president and Foundation giving chairman for Capital Rotary.
Our speaker on Wednesday morning, August 26th was Mr. Christopher (Chris) Hinchey, Head of School at Heathwood Hall Episcopal School. Mr. Hinchey has served in this role since the spring of 2015. He started his career in education as a science teacher, basketball and baseball coach, advisor, and dorm parent in 1991 at Avon Old Farms, an all-boys boarding school in Connecticut. In 1994, he transitioned to Salisbury School (CT), an all-boys Episcopal boarding school, where he remained for 19 years while serving as a biology teacher, Dean of Students, Dean of Faculty, and head varsity basketball, assistant varsity baseball coach, and varsity cross country coach. Chris served as the varsity boys’ basketball coach for 12 years, during which time his team, while recording over 170 wins, advanced to nine New England tournaments and made two trips to the New England finals.
Chris grew up in Norwich, CT and attended Norwich Free Academy. He played basketball and baseball in high school, and he served as the captain of the basketball team while earning all-area honors. Following high school, he attended Trinity College in Hartford, CT, where he played Division III basketball for four years in the NESCAC while earning his bachelor’s degree in biology. In 1991 Chris served as the team’s co-captain. Chris earned a master’s degree in liberal studies from Wesleyan University (CT) and a M.S. Ed in educational leadership from the University of Pennsylvania (PA). Chris’s research at UPenn examined the overlap teaching and coaching techniques utilized by successful varsity coaches that also taught high level (AP) and rigorous academic classes. He and his wife, Heather, reside in Columbia, and they have three children, Ryan, Jack, and Will, all students at Heathwood Hall.
Our speaker on Wednesday morning, August 19th was Dr. Les Hall, Dean of the USC School of Medicine. Dr. Hall earned his medical degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and completed an internal medicine residency at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. He recently joined USC from the University of Missouri School of Medicine, where he previously served as interim dean.
Our speaker on Wednesday morning, August 12th was Mr. Jason Freier, Chairman & CEO of Hardball Capital, Inc. and Columbia Fireflies (www.ColumbiaFireflies.com). Under his leadership, Hardball has built the Fort Wayne TinCaps into one of the premier teams in Minor League Baseball and drastically improved the performance of both the Savannah Sand Gnats and the Salem Avalanche. Hardball has set all-time attendance records with every team it has owned and operated.
Hardball recently led the acquisition of the Chattanooga Lookouts and is currently constructing a new, downtown, multi-use venue in partnership with the Famously Hot City of Columbia, South Carolina. That venue, which will open in 2016, is part of a major downtown redevelopment project.
Jason is a graduate of Harvard College and Yale Law School, where he was elected to the Yale Law Journal. Jason is an attorney by training. Prior to founding Hardball, he specialized in complex business matters and sports law, appearing in courts at all levels, including the U.S. Supreme Court.
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Following law school, he worked with former Solicitor General and Harvard Law Professor Charles Fried and practiced with Williams & Connolly in Washington D.C. and Bondurant, Mixson & Elmore in Atlanta. Jason’s work has been featured in national publications and Congressional legislation.
Jason serves on the Board of Directors of the Southern, Midwest and South Atlantic Leagues. He is a member of the Advisory Boards of Thuzio and Palmer & Cay. Jason previously served on the Board of Directors of the Carolina League. Jason is an appointed member of the Fort Wayne Stadium Advisory Board and an officer of the Harvard Club of Georgia.
Our speaker on Wednesday morning, August 5th was District Governor Rod Funderburk. Other than the incredibly busy schedule of being District 7770 Governor, Rod has served as Vice President at Resource Supply Management for the past 9+ years and prior to that he served as Global Energy Manager for Honeywell International.
Mr. Funderburk earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the prestigious University of South Carolina. Of course, he has been a long-term Rotarian as well.
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