Secretary of State honors 10 state charities

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S.C. Secretary of State Mark Hammond has announced his office’s annual list of charity Angels, state organizations that exemplify ethical giving practices. Ten groups, including Columbia’s Central Carolina Community Foundation and Palmetto Animal Assisted Life Services, earned recognition.

The Angels are selected by a review of financial reports along with nominations from the public. To qualify, charities must devote 80% or more of total expenditures to program services, have been in existence for at least three years, make good use of volunteer services, receive minimal funding from grants and be compliant with the state’s Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act.

Hammond also recognized past award recipient and Columbia-based Home Works of America Inc. for continuing to devote a high percentage of expenditures to charitable programs.

Hammond also released the 2017-2018 Wise Giving & Professional Solicitor Report, which provides giving tips and lists professional solicitor contracts currently on file with the Secretary of State’s office. 

The Angel award recipients, listed with percentages allocated to charitable programs, are:

• Ballet Spartanburg Inc., Spartanburg, 87.2%                                   
• Carolina’s Kids, Hartsville, 84.7%
• Central Carolina Community Foundation, Columbia, 93.6%
• Community Kitchen Inc. of Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach, 80.9%
• Florence Crittenton Programs of South Carolina Inc., Charleston, 89%
• Good Neighbor Free Medical Clinic of Beaufort, Beaufort, 96.8%
• Helping Hands of Georgetown, Georgetown, 90%
• Palmetto Animal Assisted Life Services (P.A.A.L.S), Columbia, 91.2%
• United Christian Ministries of Abbeville County, Abbeville, 87.3%
• YouthBase Inc., Greenville, 88.2%