My Dearest Friends-I have been writing this column for quite a while now and it has been my pleasure and privilege to meet so many wonderful women. It has also been my pleasure to honor these women and the organizations to which they belong and the causes they serve. Sure, it is simple to find the president or the winner of the Volunteer of the Year award for an organization. It is not so easy to find those who work tirelessly behind the scenes. Those unheralded angels who never make PINK or anything else and don’t really mind. I know many and I am sure you do to.

Charity Angels come in singles, doubles and yes, I have even written about a trio of them. In this case, however, I must give credit to quite a large group. This group of angels, simply called the Gala Committee, is head by longtime leaders Stan and Margie Smith. The group has both men and women from virtually every part of the Island and from a variety of professions; there’s a judge, a realtor, an interior designer, a Canadian snowbird, a tennis buff and many more, all working for the same heartfelt cause.

Charity Angels are alive and well, not just here in the Lowcountry, but also in spots around the world that you might never imagine. This is the story of 20 angels, who traveled to Haiti at their own expense, paying for or soliciting their own supplies and equipment and bonding together in ways they never dreamed possible. The team was composed of doctors, nurses, teachers and committed volunteers, all willing to put themselves on the line to do whatever tasks needed to be done. What a band of angels.

What I do: Design your favorite magazine each month!

What I love about what I do: My amazing team and I begin with nothing on day one and by day 30 we have tangible proof of our hard work each month. And… there is not much I love more than a well-designed page!

Dr. Cynthia Hayes (or Mama Cyn as she is called by some) grew up on a farm in Greeleyville, S.C.  She, her three sisters and her brother all shared one bedroom. The whole family would wake up at 4:00 a.m. and head out into the fields to pick cotton, using the headlights from the truck to be able to see. They worked until it was time to get cleaned up and go to school. I asked her if they were in bed by 6:00 p.m. She laughed, “We were still in the fields working. We worked from sun up ‘til sun down when we weren’t in school.” She recalls how they lived off the land, hunting, canning vegetables and taking hogs to the market for slaughter. They did not have running water or a bathroom in the house until she was in 6th grade. Once her grandmother came to live with them, her parents moved their bed into the living room. “We were poor, but I didn’t know the difference. It was a lot of hard work, but we had fun together. We were close.”

There are givers and there are takers in this world, and Dr. Lisa Drakeman is one of the givers. She has a beautiful, waterfront, Lowcountry home, and plenty of high-powered connections, but she is truly motivated by helping others and the never-ending need for philanthropy.

“She believed she could, and so she did.” These words encircle a painting of a semi-nude woman running through flames. This painting is in the office of Dr. Tracy Leaver-Williams, Obstetrician and Gynecologist at Hilton Head Regional Ob/Gyn Partners. She admits to being the artist, and is living proof of the quote as well. A tall, athletic woman with rich auburn hair, cut stylishly short, she shook my hand enthusiastically as we met. She was wearing a professional white top, but underneath were wild black and white checkerboard leggings with bright red lips scattered throughout. Red Mary Jane shoes completed the look—stylish, polished, with a little funky flair thrown in for good measure.

The Hilton Head Branch of the Beaufort County Library System is set back from Beach City Road in a beautiful setting of dappled sunlight and elegant bronze sculpture. As I enter I immediately see the Friends of the Library used bookstore. The generous donations of previously read books from library patrons and members of the Friends provide much needed extra revenue to support the library’s many programs.

Imagine growing up in an affluent and stable home, enjoying the privilege of an excellent education, training in dance, skating and languages, and then coming home one day to be greeted by the Nazis. Sophie Weisz was only 16 years old when she and her entire family were whisked away from their beautiful home in Romania to the ghetto, and subsequently to several concentration camps over the period of one year. After enduring many severe beatings, her father was exterminated at the first camp. At the second camp, Sophie and her sister watched their mother be dragged away. They never saw her again.

The sun shines brightly, sparkling the waves with a cloak of rhinestones. It’s another glorious day on the island! The wind blows steadily, making for tricky Frisbee flights, but the dogs still romp and the exercisers jog and stride along the foamy waterline. Sun worshippers work on their first-of-the-year tans and boys toss footballs, attempting fearless, sand-splashing catches, all the while looking over their shoulders to see if their prowess has attracted the notice of any bikini clad objects of their desires.

The sun shines brightly, sparkling the waves with a cloak of rhinestones. It’s another glorious day on the island! The wind blows steadily, making for tricky Frisbee flights, but the dogs still romp and the exercisers jog and stride along the foamy waterline. Sun worshippers work on their first-of-the-year tans and boys toss footballs, attempting fearless, sand-splashing catches, all the while looking over their shoulders to see if their prowess has attracted the notice of any bikini clad objects of their desires.

At 5:45 A.M., three times a week, 30-year-old Meredith Anderson leaves her house in the dark. She drives to the YMCA in Port Royal and joins ten like-minded souls to take the plunge into the 82-degree water, doing laps in four reserved lanes for the Beaufort Masters Swim Team. There is friendship and comradery in the hour-long workout, along with the goal to improve one’s time, form and strength, despite the age range from 18 to 80. Meredith is fast—very fast—with swim times that have again qualified her for Nationals this year.

What makes you laugh so hard you cry?  
Reminiscing with my brother about childhood memories. We can tell the same story over and over again and it never gets old. I sometimes laugh so hard I get stomach cramps!

The women instantly formed a bond during a fishing outing when they discovered each has symbolic tattoos. Amy Prater was the first to notice Sarah Molesky’s jagged black ribbon with the word “Kihelakayo” tattooed on her inner forearm.

Dr. Jami Feltner sure has a story. She is a living example of George Eliot’s theory, “It’s never too late to be what you might have been.” She is proof that if you work hard, you can achieve your dreams.

Caring for people is innate to Jami. Growing up in Cincinnati, she started college to be a nurse, with dreams of being a doctor always in the back of her mind. When her father fell ill, she diverted her path and helped out in the family business—a mortgage firm. While her father got better, her grandfather passed away. She remembers how the funeral director came to her family’s home, how he brought the family together, how he eased and helped them. Little did this fellow know, not only was he excelling at his job, he was inspiring Jami to make some changes in her life.

Working with heart, patience and flexibility are hallmarks of a dedicated volunteer. Phyllis Doyle has it all. Read on to meet a versatile and talented lady.

“Dance is the hidden language of the soul.” —Martha Graham

Lovely and willowy in a red blouse, black slacks and matching slender heels, Patti Maurer (size 2, maybe!) and her shadow, Chanel, a Cavachon (bichon/Cavalier mix), whirled about in a graceful greeting at their front door. Stepping into the beautiful entrance hall of this fabulous home, the urge to twirl around with them was inspirational. With a stunning marsh view inspiring us, Patti, excitedly related, “I've been dancing since I was 3 years old and love it more every day! When I announced to my dad my passion to major in dance at the University of Colorado, he insisted on a backup, so I graduated with a BFA in Dance and a BA in Psychology.”

What’s the most fabulous thing you’ve bought lately?
A large shipment of my “Jerri Boots” from Spain that I have tweaked somewhat and made even more killer. They are arriving with “BLEU by SENDRA, Handmade in Spain” imprinted on both the shaft and insole!

What makes you laugh so hard you cry? 
Usually I find myself laughing the hardest at all the hysterical, clumsy, or awkward moments I seem to have! I have a lot! Then of course there is Bon Qui Qui, who is really hysterical!

Beaufort seemed a desolate place to Ines Figueroa when she first arrived from Puerto Rico in 1995. Fleeing the grip of a bad marriage, yet leaving also the warm embrace of her family and tropical home, this woman of faith embarked on a journey that was to bring great trials and equally great rewards.

Puerto Rico is called the Isle of Enchantment. Days are warm all year round. People grow bananas and mangos in their backyards. There are over a hundred beaches strung around the coast of this U.S. territory, measuring just 100 miles long by 35 miles wide, and everything thrills with life and warmth. Her tight-knit family consisted of 17 siblings born to a carpenter father and seamstress mother, so there was no such thing as loneliness…she left a part of her heart there when she came to sleepy Beaufort.

Dona Wood is the Assistant to the Headmaster at Hilton Head Christian Academy, a small private school that offers intimate schooling opportunities for children grades K-12. With class sizes of about 10 students per teacher, each child has the opportunity to be given direction and support in finding their personal gifts and talents. One year ago, the school developed a marketing internship program to provide information to parents and the community about the school, the teachers, projects and events. Dona oversees this program. The students are chosen by recommendation from teachers, based on their skills in graphic design, photography and creative writing. All of the interns were waiting for me in Dona’s office, each eager to share their experiences in the program. I asked them to summarize how it made them feel more connected to the students, teachers and parents.

Gillian lives in a world of art and beauty, some of it natural and some of it created. Her Sea Pines home is a sanctuary for everything from butterflies to bunnies and her strikingly lovely art reflects her strong emotional ties to her surroundings. She is a self taught artist among her many other achievements and she paints sailboats that look for all the world as if they are flying and shore birds that seem to float off of the canvas. All of this is wrapped up in a tiny lady topped by a head of flame red hair and a smile that is as big as her heart and love for her faith.

If I could change the world I would _________.
End World Hunger. The thought of any baby, child, adult, or animal that may go to sleep hungry absolutely breaks my heart. I do believe there is hope but we all have to work together to make it happen.

What are the qualities your friends love most about you?  
I would have to say my positive attitude, creative energy and kindness.

Once upon a time there were three sisters, Kathie, Carol and Janet. They were raised in a small town in Martins Ferry, Ohio by two loving parents, John and Betty Petras. They fondly recall the days growing up, watching and helping their parents collect treasures in the house, garage and a storefront building. They developed a taste for beautiful and unusual things and an eye for quality from both parents.

“Many people do not realize that by the age of three a child understands about 70 percent of the conversational vocabulary they will use in their entire lifetime. By talking, singing and reading to their children in the early years, parents are giving a gift of great importance.”

The wonderful people at Born To Read—a grass-roots organization that  visits mothers of newborns in local area hospitals and brings them books—are truly a hidden treasure. As I talked with Executive Director Terri Sassmann in Beaufort, she opened my eyes to what committed and dedicated people are trying to achieve for moms and newborns. I became totally caught up in this fascinating story and I hope you do too.

What words most define what you want to achieve in this life?
Carpe-diem! I want to make the most out of everything I experience in my life pertaining to my family, work and friends.

What would people learn about you if they looked in your closet?  
That I need to take some time to organize my own closet!

February 8th, 2002 began as an ordinary, cold winter day for Nan and her husband Jim. That evening they attended the grand opening of a new restaurant in town and met up with their son Jacob, who was playing pool with his friends. Little did they know it would be the last time they would ever see Jacob alive. The next morning the phone rang at 4:27 a.m. What they were about to hear would change their lives forever. The person on the other end was Jacob’s girlfriend telling them that Jacob had just been shot. They immediately rushed to Jacob’s apartment. The police and paramedics were there. They were not allowed into Jacob’s room. No one was saying anything. After waiting an agonizing two hours, a policeman came out and announced: “We have to call the coroner.” Nan and Jim were stunned–in shock and total disbelief that Jacob had been fatally injured. The next few months were a blur. They were trying to find ways to cope and pick up the pieces to get on with their lives.

In the last decades, as Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) has continued to develop its world-class reputation, it has recruited an increasing number of top-notch international students.  Meet Elva Jiang.  Elva graduated from SCAD’s Savannah campus last year with a B.F.A in fashion and fashion marketing and management. Now, as CEO and founder of Eva Design House—a luxury goods and jewelry marketing company—her success story is emblematic of a new breed of young entrepreneurs who are defining the future: call her a global wunderkind.

Nancy Dennis, accompanied by her dog Buster, greeted me on the lane leading to their waterfront home near Land’s End on St. Helena Island.  Once out of my car, I stood mesmerized by the 180-degree view of marsh meeting Port Royal Sound, glistening in the afternoon light.

Mary Kate Boyle had no idea that she was on the brink of disaster. With a lengthy career as an emergency room and intensive care unit nurse, she was very familiar with symptoms of heart disease.  However, hers were atypical. She and her husband had been living a fairly healthy lifestyle: eating a healthy diet; maintaining healthy weights; both very busy and physically active. An extensive cardiac workup two years before had revealed nothing alarming. Mary Kate had been experiencing tightness in her neck and back for a few months, along with a funny feeling in her chest. She did not have chest pain, nausea, or pain radiating down her arm. She chalked it up to stress. Her mother-in-law had recently died. Her daughter had endured a complicated pregnancy and almost died and then required emergency surgery right after her delivery. Her daughter- in- law was pregnant, due to deliver anytime.  Life’s tensions seemed a legitimate explanation for the physical tightness.