Tradition Hilton Head Contributes $94,000 to United Way of the Lowcountry from HGTV Green Home Tours Proceeds

Tradition Hilton Head contributed $94,000 to the United Way of the Lowcountry from proceeds collected during public tours of HGTV’s Green Home here.
Nearly 10,000 people toured the HGTV Green Home at Tradition Hilton Head from March 24 through May 18. Approximately 150 United Way of the Lowcountry agency volunteers conducted the tours. HGTV is giving away the home, and people entered to win online through May 9. The winner will be announced during an HGTV special June 8 at 8 p.m.
On hand for Friday’s $94,000 contribution were Clarece Walker, president and CEO of United Way of the Lowcountry; Jack Alderman, chairman of the United Way board of directors; Jill Briggs, United Way executive vice president; David Page, president of Tradition Hilton Head; Martin Sauls IV, public relations director for Tradition; and about 40 United Way agency volunteers.
Walker said Tradition Hilton Head’s contribution is an excellent example of the business community’s support of United Way’s efforts to improve the lives of others.
“We are very grateful to Core Communities, Tradition Hilton Head and HGTV for providing this amazing opportunity for us to partner with them to help those in need in Beaufort and Jasper Counties,” Walker said.
“On behalf of United Way of the Lowcountry board of directors, partner agencies, volunteers, contributors, staff and most of all the people who will receive help and hope from the generous $94,000 contribution, we applaud Tradition Hilton Head’s generous community spirit,” she said. “Because of their commitment to the community, the 39 agencies funded by United Way will receive much needed funds to continue the great work they do everyday.”
Several United Way agencies received grants for providing volunteers to conduct the HGTV Green Home public tours. The grants were awarded on Friday to agencies according to the number of volunteers they provided and number of hours worked at the green home. Agencies and their awards are:
ACCESS Network – represented Friday by Letisha Scotland; $5,000 to provide case management, counseling, education and prevention services to people affected by homelessness, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, and other public health issues.
American Red Cross Palmetto Chapter – represented by Debbie Szpanka; $6,630 to provide disaster relief, health and safety services, blood services and emergency food and shelter.
Beaufort-Jasper-Hampton Comprehensive Health – represented by Angela Gabriel Walton, $2,500 to provide septic tank installation for low-income families.
Boys and Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry-Ridgeland Club – represented by Anne Walker; $8,370 to provide after-school and summer programs for children in Jasper County.
Senior Services – represented by Patricia Jenkins and Jannette Williams; $2,500 to provide noon meals to elderly and homebound individuals.
Thumbs Up – represented by Kevin Latulip; $5,000 to provide early intervention services to children whose parents have special needs.
YMCA – represented by Mike Bostwick and Tracy Robinson; $5,000 to provide scholarships for families who can’t afford to pay membership fees and participate in the athletic, nutrition and childcare programs that improve the quality of life in our community.
Tradition Hilton Head, a 5,300-acre master-planned, mixed-use and sustainable community, is being developed by Core Communities, the award-winning developer of St. Lucie West, Fla., and Tradition Florida.
Page applauded the United Way’s work in the community and its agency volunteers who conducted the HGTV Green Home public tours.
“The United Way volunteers made the green home tours a great experience for people visiting the home,” he said. “They were knowledgeable, hard-working and courteous. They were great ambassadors to the thousands of people from all across the country who came here and toured the HGTV Green Home.”
Jack Alderman, chairman of United Way of the Lowcountry, thanked Tradition Hilton Head “for involving the United Way in the HGTV Green Home tours. It meant a lot to us, and the contribution to United Way is sincerely appreciated.”
Page said Tradition Hilton Head’s partnership with the United Way on the HGTV Green Home tours was a perfect fit.
“The United Way, like Tradition Hilton Head, is committed to nurturing healthy communities,” Page said. “We are dedicated to making Tradition Hilton Head a sustainable, environmentally friendly and socially healthy community.”
He said Tradition Hilton Head’s involvement with the HGTV Green Home helped showcase the development’s commitment to the environment, and that being a green community is the “willingness to contribute to the health and wellbeing of the surrounding region. That’s why the United Way is such a deserving charity to be involved with.”
Page noted that HGTV chose Tradition Hilton Head for its first green home over hundreds of other communities.
“HGTV could have chosen any community in the country for its green home, but they chose Tradition Hilton Head because of our commitment to environmental stewardship,” Page said. “Core Communities places great importance on protecting the natural environment in the communities we develop. Our new leadership in ‘green design’ is just part of the responsible way we choose to conduct business.”
Alderman said he is proud to be associated with a conscientious developer like Core Communities.
“Core Communities is widely recognized for its sustainable, eco-friendly and healthy communities,” Alderman said.
Tradition Hilton Head also features a “Green Preview Center” which serves to educate visitors about the significance of building green homes, developing green communities and making existing homes greener

Tradition Hilton Head’s free Tommy Dorsey Orchestra concert draws thousands of music fans

More than 3,000 people attended Tradition Hilton Head’s free Tommy Dorsey Orchestra concert at the Hardeeville community’s Tradition National Golf Course on May 18. Tradition Hilton Head hosted the concert as a way to thank people for touring the HGTV Green Home there. Nearly 10,000 people toured the HGTV Green Home from March 24 through May 18. HGTV is giving away the home, and people entered to win online through May 9. The winner will be announced during an HGTV special on June 8 at 8 p.m.

David Page is president of Tradition Hilton Head, and Martin Sauls IV is public relations director.

HGTV blog update about Tradition Hilton Head and Green Home

While we're waiting for June 8 to roll around -- when we'll finally hear who won the 2008 HGTV Green Home and the Get More Green Giveaway -- let's have some fun. Who's been to the Lowcountry? Have you shared your pictures and memories with us yet?

Here are some of our pictures from the staff's trip to the HGTV Green Home in January. Even though it was cold the week we were there, it was beautiful. We had a great time playing tourist in Bluffton, Hilton Head and Savannah, all a short drive from Tradition Hilton Head, where the home is located.

Bluffton is a charming little town that's experiencing a renaissance. Their main street is coming back to life with galleries, shops and homes and we were delighted by its Church of the Cross, one of the oldest churches in the state.

Hope you won HGTV's Green Home at Tradition Hilton Head!

The deadline to enter to win the 2008 HGTV Green Home in Tradition Hilton Head, SC., has come and gone, but you can still tour it through Sunday, May 18, until 8 p.m.