SC Gov. McMaster donates remaining cash raised for his inauguration to charities
Gov. Henry McMaster is donating $315,000 of money left over from his inauguration to five S.C. charities that help preserve the Governor’s Mansion and assist victims of sexual exploitation, veterans and animals.
McMaster, who was sworn into his first full term in January, raised more than $1 million for his inaugural activities, said Tim Pearson, a senior adviser to the governor.
Those activities included a prayer ceremony, the swearing in, a luncheon, an open house at the governor’s mansion and an inaugural ball. The remaining $315,000 has been donated to five nonprofits, Pearson said.
Here’s a breakdown of where the money went:
- $180,000 — to The Governor’s Mansion Foundation in Columbia for improvement projects on the Governor’s Mansion Complex;
- $50,000 — to Big Red Barn Retreat in Blythewood for therapeutic services for active duty service members and veterans suffering from military and combat related stress issues;
- $50,000 — to Pawmetto Lifeline in Columbia to assist with the pet medical services and pet adoption;
- $25,000 — to Dorn VA Fischer House in Columbia to help with construction of the Fischer House, which will provide temporary housing for veterans and family members who are receiving treatment at the William Jennings Bryan VA Hospital; and
- $10,000 — to Jasmine Road in Greenville to provide mental health care and trauma-related therapy for residents who are victims of sexual exploitation.
“These charities are all either organizations or deal with issues that the governor and the First Lady have been involved in and care deeply about,” Pearson said.
Some of South Carolina’s largest employers and industry leaders footed the bill for McMaster’s inaugural activities.
With no contribution limit on giving to inaugural committees, eleven donors, among the state’s largest employers and industry leaders, pledged at the “platinum” level of $25,000 each: NextEra, AFLAC, Altria, BlueCross BlueShield, Boeing, Century Aluminum of South Carolina, Charter Communications, HMR Veterans Services, Nucor, S.C. Hospital Association, and Wine and Spirits Wholesalers Association of South Carolina.
Utility companies were among the contributors: Duke Energy; Dominion Energy, which bought Cayce-based SCANA in early January; and Florida-based NextEra, which is interested in buying Santee Cooper, SCANA’s state-owned partner in a failed nuclear expansion project. McMaster has pushed for Santee Cooper’s sale, and lawmakers are expected to consider bids next year.
Other major manufacturers pitched in, including BMW, Bridgestone, Continental Tire, Daimler North America Corp., Giti Tire, Michelin and Samsung Electronics.
