Cookie Sprouse is executive director of The Chapin Foundation in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and has worked in family philanthropy for more than 25 years. As a grandmother herself, she has a strong personal passion for fostering philanthropy in future generations.
I just registered for the Family Foundations Forum in Charleston, May 2-4, and I’m already so excited I can hardly stand it. This meeting is always very special to me, because it is the one time each year when I can get together with a small group of other family foundation staff and trustees and talk comfortably about the things that really matter. It’s where, instead of feeling like a number, I can feel like I’m among, well, family.
Gatherings like these are important in any profession, but I think especially so in philanthropy. There is a great deal of intimacy in our work, between our foundations and the communities we serve, and among those who govern us. Having an intimate setting in which to feel “safe” as you learn, make connections and even admit your weaknesses is really a blessing. It’s an opportunity for professional and personal development that I would hate to miss.
Plus, I have to admit that being in Charleston this year gives the whole thing an extra layer of charm. I was reared 70 miles from Charleston so I consider myself a “Carolina Low Country Girl.” The month of May will be a beautiful time! In addition to a really solid and exciting program, there will be plenty of opportunities to enjoy the amenities of the Holy City! In particular, I’m looking forward to the Low Country boil on Sullivan’s Island and a special reception at The American College of Building Arts. Historic and architectural preservation are strong in Charleston, and the city provides a perfect backdrop to our discussions of stewardship and cultivating future generations.
If you haven’t had time to register yet, I hope you will. (It’s so easy!) I’d love to see you among my friends in family philanthropy in Charleston!
- Cookie Sprouse
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