2025 Ready, Set, Thrive School Support Drive
Hosted by Trident United Way PULSE and Young Leaders United, the Ready, Set, Thrive School Support Drive collected essential items to help fill school supply closets with much-needed food, hygiene products and extra clothing to support families through the summer months. The drive also collected back-to-school supplies to ensure students start the new school year confident and prepared. Over 2,000 students were supported through this drive.
More than 120 volunteers gathered at Southeastern Freight Lines in Summerville to assemble backpacks with supplies donated through the Ready, Set, Thrive School Support Drive 🙌 A huge thank you to everyone who participated - it was a great team effort that could not have been possible without your help! A special shout-out to the team at Southeastern Freight Lines for giving their time to provide volunteers with a cookout and delivering backpacks to Chicora Elementary, River Oaks Middle, Cross High School and the McKinney Vento program. We are incredibly grateful for your support and dedication to our community!
2025 Pathways to Empowerment: Bloom Boldly
Young women from around the Tri-County gathered for an unforgettable day at Pathways to Empowerment: Bloom Boldly on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at SouthState Bank. This event connected young women with a panel of remarkable women who are making a positive impact in our community. In addition to the panel, attendees had the opportunity to participate in small group discussions, engage with local organizations through a resource fair and create their own vision boards.
Moderator: Dr. Tamara T. Butler - The Avery Research Center; Panelists: Rachel Brown - Government & Operations Professional, Doctoral Candidate in Public Administration; Sonia Hanson - VP, Branch Manager, SouthState Bank and Founder, Sunflowers of Hope; Octavia Mitchell - News Anchor, WCBD News 2; Sherrika Myers - Founder, Every 1 Voice Matters
2025 Sip & Serve
On Wednesday, February 19, PULSE members gathered for a Sip & Serve event at Kiki's Chicken & Waffles. It was a fun evening of connecting over upcoming PULSE opportunities and serving our community by building therapy boxes for Pattison's Academy. A special thank you to Dr. Laura Ganci and Madison McCalman from Pattison's Academy for joining us and sharing your mission.
2024 Pathways to Empowerment
On July 13, 2024, 50 young men of color gathered to spend their Saturday morning at the Trident United Way African American Leadership Council Pathways to Empowerment Youth Seminar, engaging with community leaders to learn how their dreams are realistic, achievable opportunities. brings Tri-County youth together with pillars of community excellence to learn how their dreams are realistic, achievable opportunities.
Panelists: Mayor Reggie Burgess - City of North Charleston, Chief Chito Walker - City of Charleston Police Department, Dr. Anthony Dixon - Superintendent, Berkeley County School District, Clay Middleton - Managing Director, Mercury Public Affairs
Moderator: Raphael James - Anchor and Reporter, Live 5 News
2024 AALC Book Drive
Over 1,150 books were collected for the Ninth Annual African American Leadership Council Book Drive. Trident United Way African American Leadership Council collected books to distribute to students at St. Stephen’s Elementary, EB Ellington Elementary and Mary Ford Early Learning & Family Center, providing children access to books to read over the summer months.
2023 Black History Month Sip & Serve Happy Hour
Members of the Trident United Way African American Leadership Council closed out 2023 Black History Month with a Sip & Serve Happy Hour at The Montague Room in North Charleston. Attendees assembled 100 care kits that were donated through the Virtual Care Kit Drive for nonprofit partner Sunflowers of HOPE, Inc. and connected with one another over delicious appetizers and cocktails. We enjoyed seeing so many new and familiar faces at the event - thank you to everyone who joined!
2023 Winter Coat Drive
In 2023 the Trident United Way African American Leadership Council hosted a virtual Winter Coat Drive. Thanks to your generous support, we surpassed the goal of providing 100 winter coats to children from families in need. Coats were distributed through Trident United Way Berkeley Resource Connection Center and St. Paul's Food Pantry and Clothing Closet.
2023 November Happy Hour
Thank you to everyone who attended the Trident United Way African American Leadership Council November Meet & Greet Happy Hour at Blue Tequila Tacos & Grill! It was wonderful to see so many new and familiar faces connect over upcoming opportunities to get involved.
2023 AALC Lunch & Learn
Trident United Way African American Leadership Council hosted a Lunch & Learn discussion on October 18, 2023 at the We Are Sharing Hope SC offices. Panelists from We Are Sharing Hope SC and MUSC provided insights into the organ and tissue donation process, from referral to aftercare family support, that opened a conversation with attendees around myths and misconceptions.
Thank you to our friends We Are Sharing Hope SC for graciously hosting us!
2023 Black Philanthropy Month Celebration
On August 31, 2023, AALC members had a fantastic evening connecting over cocktails at the Black Philanthropy Month Celebration at The Montague Room in North Charleston. We enjoyed seeing many current members and meeting new individuals from the community!
2023 International African American Museum Tour
On August 1, 2023, members of the Trident United Way African American Leadership Council and Tocqueville Society gathered for a private tour and reception at the International African American Museum led by IAAM President & CEO Dr. Tonya Matthews and other team members. Attendees also had the opportunity to hear from AALC Chair Jennifer Brown, Tocqueville Society Chair Giff Daughtridge and TUW President & CEO DJ Hampton.
2023 AALC Book Drive
The Trident United Way African American Leadership Council Eighth Annual Book Drive collected and distributed over 1,800 books to students in grades K-3rd at E.B. Ellington Elementary, Harleyville Elementary and St. Stephens Elementary. These books are provided to students to read when they are out of the classroom to help prevent the "summer slide" and ensure students will continue on their path to literacy.
2022 Winter Coat Drive
The Trident United Way African American Leadership Council 2022 Winter Coat Drive exceeded their goal of 97 coats, receiving a total of 107.
Donated coats were sorted and packed by members of the AALC Steering Committee and TUW staff, and delivered by the AALC Steering Committee to Harleyville Elementary School on Monday, where parents arrived in the morning to collect coats for their children.
2022 AALC Lunch & Learn
Trident United Way African American Leadership Council hosted a Lunch & Learn on October 27, 2022. The conversation focused on housing attainability and retention in the Tri-County area and the impact this is having on our community. Attendees heard from speakers Craig Logan (Housing Executive Fellow, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce), Bill Standfield (CEO of Metanoia) and Esther Adams (Manager of Strategic Initiatives, Center for Heirs' Property Preservation), and had the opportunity to ask speakers questions. Thank you to all of the attendees and speakers for participating in the Lunch & Learn and providing an incredibly insightful discussion.
2022 AALC Book Drive
Trident United Way African American Leadership Council collected 3,031 books for their 7th annual book drive. Books were distributed to 728 students ages Child Development through 3rd grade at E.B. Ellington Elementary School, North Charleston Elementary School and St. Stephens Elementary School. Thank you to everyone who participated and made this possible!
2022 AALC Member Celebration
On May 11, 2022 the Trident United Way African American Leadership Council held the 2022 Member Celebration, honoring two community leaders and celebrating the seventh year of the AALC and their annual book drive. Don Smith, Hendrick Automotive Group, was recognized as the 2022 Community Leader and Sonia Hanson, SouthState Bank, was recognized as the 2022 Philanthropist of the Year. Raphael James, Anchor at WCSC Live 5 News was the event Emcee.
2020 AALC Book Drive
On June 3rd the Trident United Way African American Leadership Council distributed the 650 books collected during their 5th annual book drive to students ages kindergarten through 3rd grade at E.B. Ellington Elementary School in Ravenel. Thank you to everyone who participated and made this possible!
2020 AALC Volunteers
On February 29th Trident United Way's African American Leadership Council brought out a hard working group to do some much needed spring cleaning at the Ronald McDonald house. The group dusted A LOT in several guest rooms and common areas as well as cleaned and polished all the glass around the three stairwells, balcony on second floor, and offices. Thank you to everyone who came out to make the house sparkling clean!
2019 Party with a Purpose
AALC Party with a Purpose attendees packed 179 boxes of food in about 25 minutes! The food boxes, that will be distributed to Tri-Country area senior citizens, totaled 3,850 pounds!
2019 AALC Member Celebration
Members of Trident United Way's African American Leadership Council gathered together to celebrate a year of success and honor three special members.
2019 AALC Book Drive
Trident United Way's African American Leadership Council held its fourth annual book drive in April and May and collected a record number 1,657 books! These books were distributed to 342 children in 20 classrooms at St. Stephen Elementary, Burns Elementary, and North Charleston Elementary. Providing new books ahead of summer break will help children combat summer slide and keep them reading year-round.
2018 AALC Book Drive
Trident United Way's African-American Leadership Council distributed books they collected in its 3rd annual book drive to classrooms at North Charleston Elementary in conjunction with Teacher Appreciation Week. AALC collected more than 500 books this year that were distributed to pre-k children!