The Grand Strand Girls (now part of the Coastal Club) began as the McClellanville “Queen Bees.” Author, Ted Rosengarten, used part of his John D. and Catherine T. McCarthur Foundation grant to start this league for girls ages 9 – 18. They competed on soccer fields located between Mount Pleasant and Myrtle Beach. Along the way, they learned life lessons that extended deep into their academic and social lives.

Since the program began, all of the players have graduated high school. Thirty now attend college. Fifteen are actively playing competitive, college soccer. One is pre-med at Bryn Mawr. Three others are in Law School. Some funds which provided grants for these girls were the Ketner Fund and the Elizabeth C. Rivers Lewine Charitable Lead Trust.

Charleston Country organizations also supported by CCF and its donors include Charleston Stage Company, Youth Service Charleston, Edisto Island Open Land Trust, ElderLink and Crisis Ministries.

Photo credit: Peter Frank Edwards