There is no doubt that 2020 brought along many challenges – obstacles we never imagined having to tackle. While many of the challenges remain, there were champions that emerged, individuals and businesses who met obstacles head on, found success and lent a helping hand to those in need.

The Charleston Metro Chamber Community Champions Awards, presented by BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, honors those businesses and individuals who made an impact in 2020. We are pleased to announce the honorees.

Rising Champion

The Rising Champion Award recognizes an individual rising through the ranks, with outstanding professional, personal and leadership success in the Charleston business community. Jaymes McCloud, CEO of J.H.W. Enterprises, LLC, has created a unique impact during 2020. Jaymes is an inspirational leader and entrepreneur in our community, focused not only on growing his business but also helping others in need. That is evident through his J.H.W. Cares initiative and efforts to help support individuals who struggled to pay rent during the pandemic.

Champion Innovator

Firefly Distillery is being awarded with our Champion Innovator award, which recognizes a business that created a cutting-edge product or service, that has impacted their region or has reshaped their business in a significant and meaningful way. Firefly Distillery’s new location in Park Circle opened just before the pandemic, but they quickly pivoted, producing hand sanitizer and providing it to medical offices and first responders, along with selling it to consumers who couldn’t find it in stores. They also launched their Safe Sounds series, creating an opportunity for a safe, fun night out.

Small Business Champion

This award is presented to an outstanding small business who has demonstrated value in community engagement, entrepreneurship, employee relations, leadership and performance. Hamby Catering has overcome adversity by implementing creative and innovative strategies. During the shut-down, Hamby suffered a huge loss in catering business, but through creativity and perseverance, they found ways to keep their business running while also serving the community. The expansion of their Market provided a convenient way to feed families and their partnership with Feeding Our Heroes SC raised nearly $6,000 for our frontline healthcare workers.

Community Impact Champion

This award is presented to a business or individual who has exhibited a commitment to the community by demonstrating an active leadership role through their involvement in business, civic and social service organizations. Recognizing that there were so many struggling, Parker’s Kitchen created a $20 million community fund to support charitable causes across coastal Georgia and South Carolina. This commitment speaks to the organization’s value of stepping up, leading by example and supporting the communities where they operate.

Diversity Champion

The Diversity Champion Award honors a business or leader committed to creating a more diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace and community. Blackbaud’s vision “to power an Ecosystem of Good that builds a better world” demonstrates the company’s commitment to continually evolving and growing to create an inclusive workplace and equitable communities. Blackbaud’s culture has been nationally recognized countless times and the dedication to their vision is apparent with the recent addition of Michael B. Moore as the first Diversity and Inclusion Officer.

We are proud to have these outstanding businesses and individuals as part of our membership and community at large. Their resilience during a challenging year led them to innovate, find opportunity and, most importantly, find and provide support.

The 2020 Community Champion Award recipients will be recognized on April 22 at our Leadership Circle Social.