The 30th Annual Charleston Boat Show has issued a fund-raising challenge to the 27th Annual Lowcountry Oyster Festival to see which event can raise the most money for the people of Haiti. All proceeds will go directly to Water Missions International to provide clean drinking water.

The Facts

The goal is to see which event can raise the largest amount of donations for Water Missions International’s efforts in Haiti.

100 percent of all donations will go directly to Water Missions International, headquartered in Charleston (West Ashley behind Seacoast Church)

Water Missions International has already sent 32 water purification systems to Haiti but many more are needed.

Water Missions International has committed a total of 100 water systems to the people of Haiti to address their water crisis.

Each system provides clean water for up to 5,000 people per day.

$25,000-$35,000 will fund one safe-water, disaster, response project.

A safe-water, disaster-response project includes the construction of a water purification system, transportation to Haiti, set-up and staffing throughout the disaster. After the immediate need has been met, the system is then relocated to a permanent, sustainable location, continuing to provide to the people of Haiti. It truly is the gift that keeps on giving!

If every attendee at the Boat Show and the Oyster Festival donates $5, we can fund two disaster-response projects in Haiti.

The Charleston Boat Show and the Lowcountry Oyster Festival are two of the most popular, well-attended events in the Lowcountry. Jacqui Bomar and Kathy Britizus, the event producers, would like to utilize the recognition of their events as a way to get patrons involved in helping out.

While the challenge is real, the Charleston Boat Show and the Lowcountry Oyster Festival seek to dramatically and jointly expedite the efforts of Water Missions International in Haiti. Time is of the essence.

With the help of boat- and oyster-lovers alike, everyone can help bring clean water to the people of Haiti.

The Events

Charleston Boat Show:
January 22 – 24 (Friday, Noon‐6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.‐6 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.‐5 p.m.)
Charleston Area Convention Center in North Charleston (FREE parking)
Tickets are $8 per adult (bring 5 canned goods for the Lowcountry Food Bank and receive $2 off)

Lowcountry Oyster Festival:
Sunday, January 31 (10:30 a.m.–5 p.m.)
Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant (FREE parking)
Tickets are $10 per person in advance and $12 per person at the door

Follow the challenge on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BoatsVsOysters.

Trio Solutions has partnered with Dr. Bernard Maria and the staff at MCGHealth Children’s Medical Center to produce an online monthly newsletter called Georgia Kids First. The first edition launched on January 14 and has already received very positive feedback. This e-newsletter is geared toward keeping the patients, families, employees and health care professionals at MCGHealth Children’s Medical Center informed and connected.

Each month, Georgia Kids First will highlight inspirational patient and family stories and will give updates from the hospital’s leadership staff and medical teams. This month, we’re profiling C.J. Dube, a former cancer patient who has found ways to give back to other children battling the disease.

I speak for everyone at Trio when I say that we are thrilled to be a part of this project and that we look forward to working with everyone at MCGHealth. To learn more or to sign up for the newsletter, visit www.mcghealth.org/kids.