‘Celebrate the Season’ Raises Over $153,000 for Local Charities, More than $562,000 Raised Since 2011

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – Celebrate The Season raised $153,848.85 during its 2015 run for charities serving Berkeley County and the tri-county area.

The month-long holiday festival has raised more than $562,000 since debuting in 2011. The totals include sponsorships, gate returns, and proceeds from vendor sales and the Tinsel Trot holiday fun run.

“It is humbling to see the commitment of so many generous sponsors and volunteers who make Celebrate The Season such a tremendous event,” said Santee Cooper President and CEO Lonnie Carter. “This is their success, and they should be proud of what they have accomplished in just five years.”

Santee Cooper is title sponsor and organizer for Celebrate The Season and Tinsel Trot, which are held annually at the utility’s Moncks Corner headquarters and its adjacent Old Santee Canal Park. Berkeley Electric Cooperative is Celebrate The Season’s presenting sponsor.

Santee Cooper distributed $87,360.52 in donations from the 2015 Celebrate The Season proceeds to the Coastal Community Foundation’s Giving Back to Berkeley Fund. An additional donation, of $15,000, was made to the Berkeley County Museum and Heritage Center.

Along with Berkeley Electric Cooperative, major sponsors Berkeley County, Goodwill Industries, and Home Telecom each received $4,647 to give to charities of their choosing: the American Cancer Society, the Cypress Gardens Arts Foundation, the Palmetto Warrior Connection, and the Home Community Fund. In addition and included in the total of over $153,000, 14 non-profit vendors raised $32,900.33 for the charities of their choice.

“The generosity of Santee Cooper and Berkeley Electric Cooperative has been critical to the success of our Giving Back to Berkeley County Fund. By attending Celebrate The Season, people can feel good knowing they’re lifting up nonprofits in Berkeley County and beyond through their support of Coastal Community Foundation,” said Caroline Mullis, program officer at Coastal Community Foundation. “We are thankful for this year’s gift of $87,360.52, made possible by the Celebrate The Season’s largest turnout yet.”