daufuskie island Community foundation
"Serving the Island Community Since 2005"
DICF Mission & History
Our Mission
The mission of the Daufuskie Island Community Foundation is to promote the well being of Daufuskie Island residents and supporting activities that enhance our community. Our objectives are to serve as a philanthropic vehicle through which financial resources can be directed to pursue projects or support individuals and organizations that are attempting to improve the quality of life experiences on Daufuskie or to address identified humanitarian needs.
Daufuskie Island Community Foundation History
The foundation was originally founded in 2005 as the Daufuskie Island Leadership Council. In its original form, the council was intended to be a representative association that would work in collaboration with other organized groups on the island to identify, prioritize and resolve issues affecting the members of these groups. This council was the original 501(C)3 organization on the island with the hope that other groups would use its tax status to aid in fundraising.
In 2009, Weston Newton who was the chairman of the Beaufort County Council as well as the Foundations Council Representative, suggested at a meeting held to discuss a bike path on Haig Point Road that Daufuskie Island would be better served by the county if a representative body was established. That entity would be the voice of the island to the county on issues that affected Daufuskie Island. The Daufuskie Island Leadership Council then worked on establishing such a body. A public meeting was held announcing the initiative and asked for input from Islanders, the By-Laws were written, and the first election was held. This established the Daufuskie Island Council as the island entity that would help guide the county efforts on Daufuskie Island and was established as a corporation in 2010.
Understandably, there was some confusion about the names of the two bodies (The Daufuskie Island Leadership Council and The Daufuskie Island Council). In 2011 the decision was made to change the name of the Daufuskie Island Leadership Council to the Daufuskie Island Community Foundation (DICF). As such, DICF became the fundraising arm for any projects undertaken.
GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
Some of the projects that DICF has undertaken over the years:
- Mary Field School renovation projects
- Filling potholes to Oak Ridge Road Maintenance
- Cooper River cemetery clean up
- Hurricane relief
- Purchasing chain saws, generators, and gasoline
- Supplied clean up workers with
~ food, water, vaccinations and payments
- Provide heavy equip. rental funds after Hurricane Matthew
- Used nonprofit status to
- help the Daufuskie Island Farm in its initial fundraising
- raise funds for The Daufuskie Island Turtle Patrol
- help The Melrose POA move their chapel fund to The First
Union African Baptist Church aiding their building efforts
- obtained a SC grant and helped raise additional funds to
establish the Frances Jones Park on Daufuskie Island
- help raise funds for Daufuskie Island fire department
- raise funds for the Daufuskie Island Thanksgiving event
- raise funds for medical & humanitarian needs for residents
- help the Daufuskie Island Independent School project (Use the QR Code to learn more or contribute to this cause.)
We accept donations and will assist you in developing an individualized giving plan that is right for you:
Individuals / Families / Trusts / Businesses / Nonprofits
We do this through establishment of Legacy Funds, Scholarships, Grants, Specific Interest Funds, Designated Funds and more.
DICF Board of directors
Andy Mason – Chairman
Dennis B. Groce – Treasurer
Barbara Farrar - Secretary
Jane Basford
Jodee Brunning
Brian Cobb
Aaron Crosby
DICF Community involvement
Daufuskie Fire Department
Edmondson Ministry Building
Daufuskie Fire Department
DICF helped raise funds for Daufuskie Island Fire Department equipment.
Francis Jones Park
Edmondson Ministry Building
Daufuskie Fire Department
DICF obtained a South Carolina State grant and helped raise additional funds to establish the Frances Jones Park on Daufuskie Island.
Edmondson Ministry Building
Edmondson Ministry Building
Edmondson Ministry Building
DICF used our status to help the Melrose POA move the chapel fund to the First Union African Baptist Church that aided their building efforts.
Daufuskie Island Farm
Mary Field Schoolhouse
Daufuskie Island Farm
DICF helped the Daufuskie Island Farm with its initial fundraising.
Cooper River Cemetary
Mary Field Schoolhouse
Daufuskie Island Farm
DICF with the clean up of our island cemetery.
Mary Field Schoolhouse
Mary Field Schoolhouse
Mary Field Schoolhouse
Consistent with its mission to support island activities that enhance our community, the Daufuskie Island Community Foundation is currently actively involved in fundraising for the renovation and restoration of Mary Field Schoolhouse.
Built in the 1930’s, as a 2-room schoolhouse for local Gullah children, Mary Field School has a unique history. One of the best-known chapters of that history involves one of the South’s most famous authors, Pat Conroy. His time teaching at Mary Field Schoolhouse inspired his 1972 memoir, “The Water is Wide”. One of 5 historic properties held in trust by the local Gullah community, the Mary Field School is now in need of a complete renovation. Plans include a new roof, all new windows, HVAC and electrical updates and painting.
To aid in the restoration effort, DICF has donated funds to the project, established a “GoFundMe” page, and is serving as the central repository for donations from numerous public and private foundations. Supported in large part by the First Union African Baptist Church, Haig Point Foundation, as well as numerous public and private foundations and individuals, Mary Field School is truly an island-wide initiative we’re proud to be part of.
Contact us
Mailing Address:
10 Rosebud Lane
Daufuskie Island, SC 29915
Contacts:
Andy Mason ajmason5@icloud.com 315.247.4212
Dennis B. Groce - Treasurer dbgroce@aol.com 864.201.0498
Barbara Farrar - Secretary barbw59@aol.com
Daufuskie Island, South Carolina
