Kershaw County celebrates the community’s All-America City designation from council chambers, to cit

June 27, 2018

Lauren Reeder, Public Information Officer
Kershaw County
lauren.reeder@kershaw.sc.gov

Cate Goff, Media Relations
PLAY Foundation
elginnews@gmail.com

Kershaw County, SC – Kershaw County and The State of South Carolina continue to celebrate Kershaw County’s victory as a 2018 All-America City by the National Civic League. On Sunday, June 24, 2018, Kershaw County was one of ten communities awarded the prestigious title in the entire country.  

The thirty-four-member delegation who traveled to Denver for the presentation was met at the county line Monday evening by fire and police and escorted to a welcome home celebration at The Kershaw County Government Center. Friends, family, and citizens from across the community lined US Highway 521 waving American flags and cheering as the delegation arrived home safely.

Another welcome home celebration was held before Tuesday night’s Kershaw County Council meeting as delegates wore matching t-shirts and taught guests the “Kershaw County Cheer” they created and used in Denver. During council’s meeting, Laurey Carpenter, PLAY Foundation Chair who spearheaded this project, happily marked out the word “finalist” on the All-America City banner hanging in The Kershaw County Council Chamber and replaced it with the word “winner.” County Council and attendees erupted in applause. Carpenter not only presented County Council with the All-America City plaque, but also recognized two additional awards Kershaw County received from The National Civic League. Kershaw County won the Social Media Award for reaching over 50,000 people during their four days in Denver, and recent high school graduate Clinton Washington received one of two Youth Leadership Awards.

On Thursday, the delegation will be presented a resolution from the South Carolina House of Representatives at the South Carolina State House.

The National Civic League cited “Kershaw County embraces the changing faces of its rapidly growing community, balancing its rural past and suburban future, with its business owners, residents, and elected officials reflecting that diversity and building programs to ensure equity in healthcare, education, and economic growth.” Doug Linkhart, President of The National Civic League stated, “each winner leveraged civic engagement, inclusiveness, and innovation to successfully address challenges facing their community.”

The Kershaw County delegation was comprised of leaders from all areas of the county including state, county, and municipal elected officials as well as civic organization leaders, healthcare professionals, and area youth leaders.

###