January 2008

Weekend for Warriors

Author: Paul deVere

Grant Evans had seen enough. On his frequent trips between his home in Dayton, Ohio and second home on Hilton Head Island, he saw plenty of soldiers at the Savannah airport. When he switched on his television at his home in Long Cove, he would see local news reports of troops deploying to Iraq or Afghanistan, or coming back from those hot spots into the arms of their loved ones.

“In the airport, I caught myself staring, watching these guys and gals, the big hugs, the tears. I thought that it is absolutely unbelievable that these people are going over there and we’re just going on with our daily lives,” Grant said. Somehow he wanted to help.

“Operation Gratitude” was born when Evans, who owns short term rental property on the island, thought it would be a great idea to invite returning soldiers and their families to spend a weekend, accommodations compliments of the property owner, at a rental villa or home on Hilton Head. “It would be in the off season when the property sits empty anyway,” said Evans.

Not knowing exactly how to get in touch with the military, he talked to some USO representatives at the Savannah airport. They directed him to Pastor Andy Smith, a Baptist minister in Richmond Hill, Georgia, whose church has “adopted” over 50 families from neighboring Ft. Stewart, the largest U.S. Army installation east of the Mississippi. Ft. Stewart is home of the Third Infantry Division, who were deployed to Iraq for the third time in 2007. Smith said he would supply the families.

Evans also contacted the property management company he uses, Beach Properties. Owner Linda Maloney said, “We thought it was a great idea. I sent an e-mail to our owners, introducing the idea, right before we left for Thanksgiving. The response was terrific.” In just a few days, over 16 owners had volunteered their property.

Evans, with wife Mia, are organizing other partnerships on the island, working with restaurants, stores and recreational facilities to see if they would like to offer something special for the soldiers and their families. “Operation Gratitude” will begin this month. “I am so impressed with the generosity of the people that live on Hilton Head. I’ve seen more generosity on the island than anywhere else,” Evans said.

strong>Note: Any business or individual who would like to participate in “Operation Gratitude” can contact Grant Evans at 843-842-2299. CH2 will be covering the families in a future issue and reporting on their visits.

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In September of 2006, Celebrate Hilton Head (CH2) burst onto the scene with a fresh perspective on Hilton Head Island, Bluffton and the surrounding Low Country. At the helm was a team of young women (all under 30!) with no experience whatsoever in the publishing industry. The first year they made up the rules as they went along. CH2 (and CB2 – Celebrate Bluffton and Beyond), now entering their third year , has evolved into a well-respected publication with over 150 advertisers and a distribution to over 47,000 locals and visitors each month.

Content ranges from Interesting Islander profiles and arts and entertainment pieces to food and wine topics and Hilton Head and Bluffton Business Profiles. CH2’s Bachelor of the Year Contest has blossomed into a greatly anticipated media event every year with viral marketing (i.e., Facebook, MySpace) contributing to the annual readership of those issues pertaining to the contest and over 700 people attending the Bachelor of the Year party held every October held at a local Hilton Head or Bluffton entertainment spot.

CH2 strives to give back to the community in which they have been so successful by sponsoring charitable events in both Hilton Head Island and Bluffton (Bluffton’s MayFest, put on by the Bluffton Rotary), donating editorial space to worthy organizations (Bold Strokes, Volunteers in Medicine, March of Dimes), and making the Hilton Head Island Rec Center the recipient of monies raised in conjunction with the Bachelor of the Year Contest.