Annual Giving Campaign Launches

Today, we officially launch our 2026-27 Annual Giving Campaign to fulfill our vital mission: supporting arts education for the public school students of Johns and Wadmalaw Islands.

For 25 years, Arts etc. has brought art, theater, and music into our island classrooms. Last year alone, we distributed over $220,000 to program partners and schools—funding 15 programs and reaching more than 2,000 students! School leaders report enthusiastic participation, growing confidence, stronger friendships, and valuable opportunities for creative expression.

We are already off to an incredible start for the upcoming year. The impact of our work has been recognized by two major grantors: we were honored with the $50,000 Paul Purcell “Kids Win!” Baird Education Grant in the Spring, and more recently, a $25,000 matching grant from Beyond Our Gates, as well as a commitment of support from our longstanding community sponsor, First National Bank (FNB).

To match the dedication of our sponsors, the Board has set a goal of 100% member donation participation to raise $70,000 by February 1, 2027. This will ensure that we qualify for our matching grant and more. Every gift, at every level, matters.

We will gladly receive donations throughout the year, but to be recognized in our Kiawah Art & House Tour brochure, donations must be received by February 1.

Your donations directly shape young lives on our islands. When you give, you:

• Put instruments in students’ hands through our strings residency with Chamber Music Charleston at Haut Gap Middle School and the new strings program at St. John’s High School.
• Send students from Johns and Wadmalaw Islands to live theater performances free of charge and sustain after-school theater programs.
• Provide museum visits, art supplies, and assemblies to classrooms that would otherwise go without.

You can give online, by check, through a foundation, or by transferring appreciated shares of stock through a newly opened brokerage account with FNB. Donating appreciated stock may offer tax advantages. Letters of instruction as well as giving portals can be found on our Support Page.

In the coming weeks, you can track the progress on the Support Page of our website with our fundraising progress “thermometers.”  Beyond your financial generosity, we want to thank you for your membership and volunteer hours. Your increased hands-on help over the past two years has significantly reduced our administrative burden, allowing us to focus more resources on maximizing community impact.

Please join us now and participate in our Annual Giving Campaign by visiting our Support Page today. While there, you can view the complete list of student programs you are championing and watch an inspiring clip on the power of arts education featuring Neil deGrasse Tyson and David Byrne.

Thank you for your time, your talents, and your unwavering commitment to our islands’ children.

The Fundraising Committee, Arts etc