There’s a concept of the Matthew Effect which uses math to illustrate what folks have lamented about for thousands of years – the rich get richer while the poor get poorer. Take tech for example – the rich and poor often have different problems, but because it’s more profitable to solve problems for the wealthy a disproportionate share of tech innovation focuses on solving problems for the affluent. However, it doesn’t have to be this way – and we have been blown away by the thousands of members of our community who have devoted their lives through their businesses, organizations and art to serve the underserved.

Lana Kleiman

Yes, Charleston Legal Access (CLA) proudly serves an underserved—and too often invisible—community: working-class and low-income individuals and families across South Carolina who fall into the “justice gap.” These are people who earn too much to qualify for free legal aid, but not enough to afford private attorneys. With 63.7% of South Carolinians living below 400% of the federal poverty line, the need for affordable legal help is urgent. In areas like immigration, housing, and civil law, the options are few to none. That’s why CLA exists—to ensure that access to justice is a right, not a privilege. Read more>>

Rachel Holmes

From a very young age I knew I wanted to be in business, whether that was owning my own business or being an executive at a company. But as I got older I began to notice the lack of representation of black women in executive positions. And my experience of so many times being the only black woman in the room is one that most black women know too well. Black women make up 7% of the population and yet only make up 4% of management positions, and that number drops even lower to 1% when you get to c-suite positions. Read more>>

William Mshindi

Yes, we serve low-income families and underserved communities—parents who dream of giving their kids opportunities but face financial barriers every day.

Here’s why it matters:
Many talented kids in our neighborhoods miss out on sports, arts, and skill-building activities because their families can’t afford premium programs. Take Esther, a hardworking salonist and single mother of five. Her kids are gifted skaters and dancers, but when her eldest missed a major skating competition because she couldn’t cover the fees, Esther felt heartbroken. “It’s not their fault they were born into struggle,” she told us. Her story isn’t unique—1 in 3 families in our community skips enrichment activities due to cost. Read more>>