The ‘signs’ of good deeds

For close to 10 years, Canoeing for Kids has provided free canoeing, kayaking, rafting and camping trips to thousands of underprivileged children.

Thanks to the generosity of a local sign and print company, the Cayce-based nonprofit will get a boost promoting its charitable efforts.

Canoeing for Kids is one of 14 nonprofits that will share $7,000 in marketing and print services, donated by Columbia-based Allegra Marketing Print Signs. Owner Al Stoddard made the award through the Allegra FootPRINT Fund.

Since the program launched in 2007, the company has invested $34,000 in community services.

“This grant helps us by not having to pay for printing services,” said Jay Alley, founder/director of Canoeing for Kids. “We are able to direct these funds to program services.”

Canoeing for Kids has served more than 18,000 children since 1993, including some 1,200 in 2011. Its share of the services will supply it with promotional print material for its spring fund-raiser, Raft-a-Rama.

The 14 nonprofits were selected based on their resourcefulness and innovation, as well as how their services would benefit the community.

“This year’s FootPRINT Fund winners stand out in a crowd based on their level of community commitment and resourcefulness,” Stoddard said. “We are lucky to have such compassionate neighbors that make the lives of those in and around our community better.”

Other agencies sharing the services include Family Shelter, Share Our Suzy, South Carolina Respite Coalition, West Columbia Beautification Foundation, Disability Action Center and Youth Corps.

Rounding out the list are Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Interfaith Community Services of South Carolina, NAMI Mid-Carolina, The Scott Hannon Memorial Foundation, The Women’s Shelter, Greater Columbia Educational Advancement Foundation, and Camp Discovery at His Acres.

Making wishes come true

Lexington County Sheriff’s Department deputies, reserve deputies and correctional officers and Lexington County Fire Service firefighters recently joined Lexington 1 to collect $8,780 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The money was raised earlier this month during the Battle of the Badges charity basketball game at Gilbert High School.

Deputy Joe Auckerman, resident deputy for the Gilbert, Hollow Creek and Summit communities, coordinated the event, as the Sheriff’s Department team defeated the Fire Service team at the Gilbert High gymnasium. Nearly 500 people attended.

The $8,780 will allow the Make-A-Wish foundation to grant Wyatt Boatwright’s wish to visit Disney World. Wyatt, an 11-year-old Gilbert Elementary School student, is battling a brain tumor.

A pit stop for safety

Leaphart Elementary School is serving as a “pit stop” today for a special group of cyclists.

The bikers are riding across America to benefit the bicycle and pedestrian safety advocacy efforts of the League of American Bicyclists and the Safe Routes to School National Partnership. The “ Ride America for Safe Routes” travels through 13 Southern states and 20 major cities, covering more than 5,000 miles between Florida and California.