Broadstreet Inc. has continued its growth in the Carolinas by providing private equity backing to the first state-of-the-art Crystal Lagoons amenity in South Carolina through Broadstreet’s exclusive funding relationship with Blue Lagoon Development LLC, whose principals are Ford Elliott and Josh Howard.

The first project is expected to be in Columbia, with more to follow across the state.

“We continue to work exclusively with Broadstreet as our valued private equity institution, which has allowed us to continue to undertake exciting development projects and continue our massive footprint of projects in the Carolinas,” said Ford Elliot, chief executive officer of Contender Development and Blue Lagoon Development, LLC.

Through a patented concept and technology that allows developers to build and maintain crystalline lagoons of unlimited size at very low cost, Crystal Lagoons technology has the ability to create an idyllic beach lifestyle anywhere in the world.

“Imagine living near a beautiful, crystal-clear water lagoon surrounded by white sandy beaches without actually having to travel to the beach,” said David Feingold, chief executive officer of Broadstreet, Inc.

“We are excited to bring this innovative amenity to South Carolina.”

Broadstreet and its development partners plan to locate the first lagoon in Columbia, near a residential housing development.

Many of the other similar projects around the United States offer more than just sunbathing and swimming, with the opportunity for shopping, entertainment, restaurants and hotels around the lagoon. The team has the option to develop three of these lagoon projects within the state.

Crystal Lagoons  amenities are sustainable and eco-friendly using a minimum number of additives and energy. 

They use up to 100 times fewer chemicals and only consume 2 percent of the energy needed by a conventional swimming pool.

Additionally, the lagoons can use any type of water and are only filled once, and they operate in a closed circuit. By bringing beach life, water sports, and entertainment close to home, Crystal Lagoons amenities also lower the human impact on biodiversity and reduce CO2 emissions associated with car and plane travel to natural beach destinations.

It is a U.S.-based company with locations around the world and was recognized as the Champion of Champions in the 2022 Green World Awards for winning the carbon reduction category, beating 200 winners across all other categories including climate change, water and energy efficiency, and innovation.

Coming off of a record-breaking 2021 fiscal year, Furman University Athletics has achieved a new program fundraising record, said Erin Wissing, senior associate director of athletics and executive director of athletics development.

A total of $13,516,767 in commitments was raised through the Furman Athletics Fund during the 2021-’22 fiscal year, according to Wissing. Included in the figure are cash gifts and pledges for the Paladin Scholarship Fund, capital projects, endowments, restricted funds, and other initiatives benefiting Furman student-athletes.
 
The total for 2021-’22 tops the previous high of $10,098,825, raised last year.
 
“I could not be more grateful for our donors and proud of our team, coaches, and colleagues for such an impactful year,” said Wissing.

“To break the annual athletics fundraising record for a second year in a row is humbling and is a testament to how important a strong Division I athletics program is to Furman’s past, present, and future. It is a true privilege to be able to pair donors’ passions with the strategic direction of our program through philanthropy, and we have made great strides this year as a result.”
 
Fundraising highlights include successful campaigns for football, basketball, soccer, tennis, golf, and cross country/track & field, as well as the completion and dedication of the new golf donor-funded Davis & Faxon Training Facility at the REK Center and completion of donor-funded renovations to the Men's and Women's Basketball coaches’ offices and locker rooms.
 
A total of $5,480,367, including the largest single gift in Furman Athletics Fund history from Chris (’78) and Andrea Borch, was committed to athletics scholarship endowments. Three new named endowed scholarships also were established to support Furman student-athletes in perpetuity as part of Furman’s goal of raising its athletics endowment to $100 million.
  
Spurring the record-breaking year was a Dins Day effort in April that yielded over $224,277 from 1,060 donors, representing nearly 40 percent of Furman’s total dollars raised. Other initiatives, including Giving Tuesday, also provided critical support to Furman’s student-athletes.
 
The record-setting fundraising year paralleled an impressive year of competition that saw Furman capture five SoCon team championships, including regular season crowns in women’s tennis, as well as tournament titles in men’s and women's cross country, women’s tennis, and women’s golf. 

Inspired by the stories of six Publix families whose lives were impacted by March of Dimes, the grocery retailer raised more than $6.1 million during its annual point-of-sale campaign to support March of Dimes in 2022.

With this donation, Publix remains March of Dimes’ top corporate sponsor for the seventh consecutive year and brings the grocer’s total contribution to the organization to more than $95 million raised over the past 28 years.

“Spanning nearly three decades, our relationship with Publix has become critical to the success of March of Dimes’ ongoing efforts to tackle the nation's maternal and infant health crisis,” said Stacey D. Stewart, president and CEO of March of Dimes.

“Publix’s campaign helps raise the funds and awareness needed to improve birth outcomes and access to care, and helps us ensure every family has the best possible start.”

Publix, based in Lakeland, Florida, with more than 1,303 stores and 230,000 associates across seven states, with many stores in South Carolina, has worked alongside the March of Dimes to empower families with the knowledge and tools they need for healthier pregnancies and healthy babies.

In addition to the in-store campaign, which raises funds $1 at a time, thousands of Publix associates participated in local March for Babies events this spring.

The dollars donated by Publix's customers and associates directly impact March of Dimes’ mission to improve the health of all moms and babies.

Across the country, the funds raised help more than 50,000 families each year through March of Dimes’ NICU Initiatives, including NICU Family Support Program, My NICU Baby, and Mi Bebe en la NICU.

Quinn Residences, an Atlanta-based build-for-rent company with more than 3,300 single-family homes in its growing portfolio, has released its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) policy.

The company has pledged several environmental initiatives, including becoming a carbon-neutral organization and installing solar panels on each home across all communities, in addition to uplifting its internal structure through diversity and inclusion efforts.

“We’re not just in the business of building reasonably priced homes for rent,” said Richard Ross, CEO of Quinn Residences.

“We’re building thriving communities where our residents can feel proud of where they live. Quinn’s commitment to ESG is not just a check the box. It allows our company to become a higher-performing organization and solidifies our promise to our residents of enhancing the way they experience home.”

As part of the company’s environmental initiatives, Quinn, in partnership with Palmetto, is in the process of installing solar panels on every house of its 207-home community in Spartanburg. Once completed, the solar panels will offset 1,247 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually.

Quinn plans to expand solar projects to all existing and future communities. All of Quinn's properties are also built to high energy efficiency levels with double-glazed windows, high-quality insulation, and LED lighting.

Additional environmental efforts for Quinn communities include electric vehicle charging infrastructure available in every garage; high efficiency Energy Star rated appliances; smart home technology, including smart thermostats, smart light switches, a leak detection system, and door camera; sustainable community amenities, such as playgrounds and dog parks, and community gardens.

Quinn has also engaged a carbon footprint assessment company called Native Energy, who will assess its carbon footprint, provide recommendations on reducing carbon emissions over time, and identify projects that Quinn will support to neutralize its carbon footprint.