Funding will support 14 organizations serving children with special needs across the Tri-County

CHARLESTON, SC – July 27, 2015: Coastal Community Foundation (CCF), a grantmaking institution dedicated to serving coastal South Carolina, today announced it is set to award $70,000 in grants to 14 nonprofits through the Charles Webb – Ed Croft Endowment Fund. The fund serves organizations helping children with special needs in Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester Counties.

This year the Endowment’s Advisory Committee had a surplus of funds to grant out, allowing them to award more money than was requested to several of the grantees. This grant cycle has provided financial support to various programs including summer camps, therapeutic riding lessons, sports equipment and music therapy.

One grantee, Family Resource Center of West Ashley, will use their $8,500 grant to support operations for all programs, including the Parent Training and Resource Center. This center is dedicated to assisting families in understanding and accessing special education and other services for their children with special needs. Other programs for parents include Peer-Parent Mentors, a one-on-one training and advice program, and advocacy education.

Clap Your Hands, a volunteer-run Summerville organization, received $5,500 to support the production of free weighted blankets for special needs children with sensory issues. Because of the prohibitive cost to store-bought weighted blankets, many children could never experience their therapeutic benefits without the hard work of Clap Your Hands’ volunteers. Clap Your Hands is on track to donate 1,000 blankets to children across the Tri-County in 2015.

The Webb-Croft Advisory Committee is comprised of family members of children with special needs and informed, supportive individuals who are directly involved with the special needs community. Since its inception in 1997 the Charles Webb – Ed Croft Endowment has awarded more than $1.1 million to local nonprofits. For more information about the Charles Webb – Ed Croft Endowment, please contact Ali Titus at Ali@CoastalCommunityFoundation.org.

Charles Webb – Ed Croft Endowment 2015 Grantees

Berkeley Citizens

Blissful Dreams

Camp Hand to Hands

Charles Webb Center, a program of Charleston County Board of Disabilities & Special Needs/Disabilities Foundation of Charleston County

Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding

Charleston Autism Academy

Charleston Miracle League

Clap Your Hands

Down Syndrome Association of the Lowcountry

Family Resource Center for Disabilities & Special Needs

Limbs Without Limits

Special Olympics SC

Surfers Healing