Giving back to the community

Giving Back

Santee Cooper has long maintained a tradition of giving back to the communities and people of South Carolina. Santee Cooper employees are highly involved in area United Ways. Our employees exemplify Santee Cooper’s mission by volunteering their time, talents and money to nonprofits throughout the state. Whether it is through company-sponsored events, like Celebrate The Season and Nature Scope, or activities on the weekend with Relay for Life or the American Heart Association, employees take pride in being a part of their community. 

Over the past ten years, employees have contributed nearly $5.1 million of their own money to United Ways and completed more than 170 service projects through Day of Caring and Day of Action. Many employees also serve on United Way boards.

This year, our teams have volunteered at community and beach cleanups, blood drives, and teacher appreciation events, and helped customers get hurricane ready at WMBF’s Hurricane Expo. We also raise money for and participate in March of Dimes March for Babies, American Heart Association Heart Walk, and Give Me Shelter Color 5K each year. Santee Cooper employees take pride in being a part of their community and exemplify Santee Cooper’s mission by volunteering their time, talents and money.

Employees in the Community

Event Spotlight

15 years powering RBC Heritage

RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing

For 15 years, the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing has teamed up with Palmetto Electric Cooperative and Santee Cooper to power the state’s largest sporting event with 100% homegrown, environmentally sound Green Power. Just like plaid, Green Power never goes out of style. We appreciate this partnership and the dedication the Heritage and Palmetto Electric have to the environment. 

Family on their way to see Holiday lights

Celebrate The Season

Late in 2022, we held our 12th annual Celebrate The Season charitable event. Since 2011, this family-friendly holiday festival, organized and hosted by Santee Cooper, has helped raise more than $1 million for local charities. The festival opens with the Tinsel Trot Holiday Fun Run, where participants can run or walk the mile-long Holiday Lights Driving Tour, which features thousands of beautiful LED lights, powered by Green Power .

This year, Old Santee Canal Park hosted a kickoff event to get people into the holiday spirit. Holiday in the Park featured food, entertainment and a visit from Santa and was included with admission to the Holiday Lights Driving Tour.

None of this would be possible without our sponsors, including our presenting sponsor Berkeley Electric Cooperative. If you would like to sponsor the 2023 Celebrate The Season, please contact Park Director Brad Sale at 843-899-5200.

Employee Spotlight

Barry Jurs named Commissioner of the Year

Barry Jurs

The South Carolina Association of Conservation Districts has named our very own Barry Jurs, Economic Development and Community Relations Specialist III, as the 2022 Commissioner of the Year.

Jurs is Vice Chair of the Berkeley Soil and Water Conservation District. He was chosen from 230 commissioners statewide who promote the responsible use of natural resources.

"Natural resources are vitally important. They're the basis for our economy and prosperity. They also fuel our industry," said Jurs. "Our work in conservation is to promote the sustainability of our natural resources so we can keep that prosperity for our future. Development and our natural resources are not enemies. When managed together, prosperity is the result."

The South Carolina Association of Conservation Districts (SCACD) represents the state’s 46 soil and water Conservation Districts.