“A part of what students in our college learn is making a difference in lives beyond where they work and beyond their careers,” said Sheryl Kline, Associate Dean for the College of HRSM.

It is a goal of the college to send our alumni into the work world prepared to be leaders in their fields, and also give them an understanding and appreciation of the importance of giving back to their communities. We contacted several of our alumni, from recent graduates to those with established careers, who currently live and work in South Carolina to ask them about their community involvement. These alumni supported the findings of the report—they recognize and address the need for giving back to their communities in their everyday lives.

We asked our alumni how and why they give back, and found that they do so in many different ways. They own and operate companies that generate significant income and jobs for the state’s economy. The businesses they own and work for support charities and non-profit organizations throughout the state. And even after the workday is over, our alumni have personal interests to which they give time and resources.

Business gives back

The industries represented in our college—from hospitality to retail to sports to technology—are ones that are tied very closely to their communities. “The jobs in hospitality allow us to use many resources to bring different organizations together for a good cause and give back to the community,” said Mihir Waghel (HRTM, ’08), Large Group Sales Manager for Marriott.

Marriott, along with most of the other companies within our industries, participates in some form of charitable giving. According to Waghel, Marriott is a “big believer” in giving back to the community. “We are currently planning a fundraiser for Camp Kemo in SC, which helps children with cancer,” he said.

Store Team Leaders, Target Corporation in SC Target stores and distributions centers employ more than 3,500 people in SC Both Baker and Wilson work with Target’s charitable giving programs that benefit schools and charities. Baker serves on the USC National Retail Advisory Board and Wilson serves on the college’s Alumni Society Board.

Two of our alumni who work for the retail giant, Target, also lead charitable giving in their communities. Gary Baker (BAIS, ’86), works as Store Team Leader for Target in Irmo, SC. His store is involved with a program called “Take Charge of Education” which supports local schools and community volunteer days where employees from his store do service work. In the past they have completed projects such as yard work for animal shelters and retirement communities and reading to local school children.

Target Store Team Leader Steven Wilson (RETL, ’04) recently started organizing a “make your school library over” event. The first recipient for their project is Congaree Elementary in West Columbia, SC. His store will be donating $500 in books for the school’s library.

Similarly, Gamecock Athletics is involved with charitable giving, which is often centered around sporting events that draw very large crowds. Katherine Brown (SPTE, ’99), Director of Administrative Operations for USC Athletics, said, “With a university of this size, athletics provides a great opportunity to solicit help from community members for the greater good of the overall community. We often have food drives at football games, and sporting events provide a great venue for Toys for Tots.”

In addition to charitable giving, companies in our industries also continually generate new dollars for our economy. This form of giving back creates new jobs and supports state funded programs for South Carolinians. Our tourism and sport industries draw people to the state, generating significant dollars for
our state’s economy.

“I feel [giving back] is the most important thing
we can do. This is the community
I was raised in and have spent my entire life in.
I have had a great life here and
it’s important that I insure
others have a great life here, also.”

General Manager, Gamecock Sports Properties in Columbia, SC Adjunct Professor, Department of Sport and Entertainment Management Serves as a board member for the SC Athletic Hall of Fame Board and works with The Nurturing Center (a treatment center for child abuse and neglect)

“When you talk about athletics, you have to talk about money brought into hotels, restaurants, and local attractions when visiting teams are in town. Our revenue stream certainly adds dollars to the state’s budget through taxes,” said Teddy Luckadoo (SPTE, ’08), a program coordinator in the Office of Revenue Development
for USC Athletics.

Mihir Waghel’s job is to bring large groups to hotels in South Carolina. He recently brought Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America, a non-profit organization that helps people who are behind on their mortgages and about to lose their homes, to the Courtyard Marriott in downtown Columbia. The significance in bringing this group to South Carolina was not just the hotel revenue that the group generated. The group set up an event at Carolina Coliseum to meet with and assist people struggling with their mortgages.

“By booking this group and bringing them to Columbia,” Waghel said, “they were able to help 25,000 people from all over South Carolina.”

Businesses have yet another way they give back to our community—they enhance the quality of life in our state. For example, in Greenville, SC, Mike deMaine (SPTE, ’95), General Manager for the minor league baseball franchise Greenville Drive, works to give his community family-oriented entertainment. “We have made it part of our mission statement to be a part of the fabric of our community. With more than 400,000 fans per year enjoying baseball at the professional and collegiate levels, our numbers speak for themselves,” he said.

Personal giving

Beyond career involvement with charities and non-profits, all of the alumni we contacted told us they believed it was important to give back personally as well. Kelly Stefka (HRTM, ’00), catering director for the Thornblade Club in Greer, SC, said, “Growing up, I was given several opportunities through life to learn and grow and feel everyone should have that opportunity.” She participates with United Way and Junior Achievement, and said, “Junior Achievement is one of my favorite programs. To see the kids in a different light and expose them to something
new is exciting.”

Similarly, Teddy Luckadoo said, “I feel [giving back] is the most important thing we can do. This is the community I was raised in and have spent my entire life in. I have had a great life here and it’s important that I insure others have a great life here, also.”

Often our students come full circle and give back to the college as alumni, many of them working with the students in the college directly. Kelly Stefka is a guest speaker for classes in the School of Hospitality, Restaurant, and Tourism Management. Both Gary Baker and Steve Wilson visit the campus frequently to speak to USC students at networking and recruiting events. Liz McMillan (RETL, ’82) of Gamecock Sports Properties said that her company has provided an internship program for 16 years for students in our college and has hired some of the interns for full-time positions.

Some alumni give financially as well. A few years ago, Cliff Arthur (HRTM, ’86) and Rex Galloway (HRTM, ’86) were watching a video about a student who had taken a college trip abroad. Arthur said he remembered thinking, “Stuff like this wasn’t even available when I was in school.” He also realized that even if it had been available, he would not have been able to afford it. So he and Galloway, with the support of the Alumni Society Board members, created the Alumni Society Scholarship Fund that is used to promote academic travel for students in the college. For more information or to donate to this fund, visit www.HRSM.sc.edu/Alumni.

Our alumni and the companies they own and work for have a significant and positive impact on the economy of our state. As part of their continued success in their careers and personal lives, our alumni give back to make South Carolina a better place to live. What’s more, they provide great resources for our current students through their giving. Our state, our communities, and our students are fortunate recipients of the generous giving from our alumni.

Co-owner, SakiTumi Grill & Sushi Bar and Locals Bar in Columbia, SC with Wayne Klein (Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management, ’94) Companies employ more than 50 people Works with March of Dimes and Save the Ta-Tas (a group that supports breast cancer research and education)	Joint Venture Partner, Bonefish Grill, NC & SC Bonefish locations in SC employ nearly 400 Chair, College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management Alumni Society Board	General Manager, Greenville Drive in Greenville, SC Company has 22 full-time and 300 seasonal employees Serves as a board member for Meals on Wheels and the Center for Development Services (an agency that centralizes services for early childhood development) and works with Leadership Greenville, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Multiple Sclerosis Society, and Baseball Chapel (an organization that provides spiritual leadership to minor league players and executives)