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Five Star Project - Ongoing State Project
The Five Star Honor donation provides necessary funding to our five ongoing state projects:
1. YOUTH OUTREACH:
The annual Youth Awards Celebration for elementary and middle school contest winners and youth clubs is a full day of education and celebration at Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Gardens. Contest winners are awarded special t-shirts, certificates and monetary prizes for their work in Smokey Bear, Woodsey Owl, Recycled Sculpture, Poetry and Essay contests. The symposium includes free admission to the zoo and the bontanical gardens.
Camp Wildwood is our outdoor nature camp for high school students who demonstrate exemplary qualities of leadership and environmental awareness. This camp is co-sponsored with the Department of Natural Resources and many of the students take what they learn and apply it to future careers in horticulture, natural conservation, land stewardship, and environmental protection.
2. GCSC STATE HEADQUARTERS
Our headquarters is located at Riverbanks Botanical Garden where we hold our board of directors meetings and most sub-committee meetings. The headquarters room houses all of our archives that are not stored at the Caroliana library as well as our logo inventory, awards, plaques and other memorabilia. The headquarters fund provides necessary upkeep for this location as well as a growth fund to help us acquire a permanent future location.
3. Memorial Garden
The Memorial Garden, located at 1919 Lincoln Street in Columbia, South Carolina, was the first garden in the United States established to honor veterans of World War II. Located adjacent to the Governor's Mansion, it is made available for tours and private rental as well as GCSC's special celebrations on Veteran's Day, Memorial Day and other important dates. Upkeep of this beautiful garden requires approximately $15,000 per year and all donations are restricted to this purpose.
4. Blue Star Memorial Highway and Byway Markers Program
The Blue Star Marker Program also honors veterans by dedicating highways and byways throughout our state with a permanent plaque and a civic beautification project. This fund provides for the establishment of highway and byway markers as well as their upkeep. A special matching grant is made available to clubs in our federation that undertake installation and maintenance of markers in their communities.
5. The SC State Christmas Tree
The Garden Club of South Carolina and the Garden Club of Columbia, in collaboration, fund the Annual SC State Christmas Tree at the State House in Columbia. A Carolighting Ceremony celebrates the lighting of the tree. The program is televised and visitors attend from across South Carolina to view the tree during the holiday season. Funds from Five Star donations help offset the cost of of the purchase of the tree and maintenance of the lights and ornaments.
All Donations to GCSC Funds, Projects or Scholarships are to be sent directly to the GCSC Treasurer.
Chairman: Meg Lee
