Giving Back

HSGS GIVES BACK TO THE UNITED SERVICE ORGANIZATION (USO)

​Each year HSGS makes a donation to the USO in support of their activities to deliver high-quality programs and services to our men and women in uniform. For over 77 years, the USO has been the nation’s leading organization to serve the men and women in the U.S. military, and their families, throughout their time in uniform. The USO delivers support to service members who are stationed in remote parts of the world and dangerous isolated locations. Support provided by USO includes, care packages, snacks, holiday celebration items, celebrity concerts and entertainment, airport center lounges for traveling service men and their families to receive a warm meal and comfortable seating and USO centers on wheels which provides service members with laptops, TV’s, refrigerators, climate control, video games, movies, and WiFi to keep connected to loved ones back home.

HSGS GIVES BACK TO SPECIAL OPERATIONS WARRIOR FOUNDATION

​Annually, HSGS donates to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, a cause dedicated to honoring the sacrifices of Special Operations Personnel who lose their lives in the line of duty or are severely wounded while serving their country. Special Ops provides educational funding to surviving children of Fallen Special Operators. Educational funding includes full college tuition coverage, preschool, in-home tutors, mentoring programs, counseling, ACT & SAT prep courses, and scholarships. Since Special Ops’ inception, our nation has suffered 1,396 Warrior fatalities and 33 non-military spouse fatalities, leaving behind 1,938 children. The Warrior Foundation has supported 565 college graduates and seen 33 Fallen Warriors become Medal of Honor Recipients.

The Story of HSGS’s Adopted Cat Colony

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Colonel Dave found a cat colony off a road near the office. Over six months, Colonel Dave along with a few HSGS employees painstakingly caught 128 cats and took each one to the vet for shots, a check-up, and spay/neutering. There were a few cats that figured it wasn’t too bad to get caught in order to get the good wet cat food. 27 of the captured cats were kittens who were then taken to a cat adoption center where they all found their forever homes. The 101 remaining adults were ear clipped—marking them as fixed feral cats—and returned to the same area where they were found.

Since stumbling upon the cat colony, getting them healthy, and releasing them, we’ve kept them fed and watered seven days a week. We’ve built them several cozy sleeping shelters as well as a feeding station to keep their food out of the rain. The HSGS team is equally split between cat and dog lovers, but we all hold a special place for our adopted cat colony.

HSGS HOSTS LOCAL BLOOD DRIVE WITH THE BLOOD CONNECTION

​HSGS worked with The Blood Connection, a non-profit community blood center, to host a local blood drive in Summerville, SC. This event is part of HSGS’ commitment to serving the community’s healthcare needs. The donations that were collected were then taken to local hospitals to replenish their blood supply. Residents of Summerville and surrounding areas were encouraged to participate, as their donations could save lives. By coming together for this event, HSGS and The Blood Connection aimed to make a positive impact on the health and well-being of the community.

HSGS PROVIDES LUNCH FOR VETERANS AND CHARLESTON VA MEDICAL CENTER EMPLOYEES

Annually, HSGS employees take a trip to Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston, SC to provide lunch for over 200 VA employees and veteran patients. HSGS is happy to spend their day setting up, cooking, and serving the people at Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, and continues to set up cookouts at the VA every year. As a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, HSGS always wants to give back to the brave men and women who have served their country, and the medical staff who treat them.

HSGS DONATES TO HOMETOWN OF TEAM MEMBER AFTER HURRICANE FLORENCE LEAVES CITY FLOODED FOR MONTHS

In the Fall of 2018 Hurricane Florence hit the coast of North and South Carolina causing recording breaking flooding, power outages and catastrophic damage to many homes, schools, businesses, and churches. One particular city that experienced the harsh after math of Hurricane Florence was Conway, SC; the hometown of one of HSGS’s own team members. Following Hurricane Florence the City of Conway, SC began to flood. Waters reached a record breaking high of 22 ft, sending entire communities underwater. The HSGS team took action immediately by making a monetary donation to the affected team member to buy non-perishable food, water, batteries, and household goods and other much needed supplies for her church, neighbors, friends, and local businesses who lost most if not everything from Hurricane Florence.

HSGS DONATES TO LOCAL ROTARY CLUB SCHOLARSHIP EVENT

​Each holiday season HSGS supports the local Rotary Club by donating to their annual event, the Rotary Roundball Classic. The Rotary Roundball Classic is a boys high school basketball tournament held each year during the Christmas holidays in North Charleston. It features 16 teams including local teams and highly regarded out of state teams. This event provides the opportunity for our local players to compete against some of the top players in the nation. Donations for the Roundball Classic support scholarships awarded to deserving local high school students.

HSGS CONTRIBUTES TO THANKSGIVING FEAST FOR CYDC

Since 2019, HSGS has donated to the annual Thanksgiving celebration at the Carolina Youth Development Center (CYDC), hosted by K-Con. The CYDC, founded in 1790, is a direct descendant of the Charleston Orphan House and provides care for young people and children who are victims of physical and sexual abuse, neglect and abandonment. The K-Con has created a tradition of hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for all the residents and staff of the CYDC. Thanksgiving at the CYDC includes 50 turkeys with all the sides, dessert, t-shirts, goody bags, and outdoor games and activities. Each year, HSGS has donated to the K-Con Thanksgiving celebration to ensure the staff and residents at the CYDC have a wonderful holiday.

HSGS SPONSORS THE CHARLESTON SAME POST OYSTER ROAST

​November 8th, 2018, HSGS sponsored the Charleston Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Post member appreciation oyster roast. SAME is a premier professional military engineering association in the United States that unites architecture, engineering, construction, facility management and environmental entities to prepare for—and overcome—natural and man-made disasters, and to improve security at home and abroad. Proceeds from the ticket sales and sponsorship’s for this event went towards the Charleston SAME Post Scholarship fund and to cover the cost of housing for 10 Wounded Warriors for four days during the Annual Joint Base Charleston Wounded Warrior Deer Hunt.

HSGS CONTRIBUTES TO UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA STEM PROGRAM

​The University of Alabama has incorporated many STEM programs over time for undergraduate and graduate students to participate in. These types of ​programs promote learning though hands-on projects that involve collaboration and team work in order to create solutions to real-world problems. HSGS has made a donation to one particular STEM program offered through the University of Alabama Department of Engineering called the UA EcoCAR 3 program. The UA EcoCAR 3 program’s vision is to be a leader in the development of advanced propulsion and alternative fuel technologies among North American academic institutions, by developing a fully functional, consumer acceptable hybrid-electric vehicle that meets and exceeds the design criteria of electric vehicles currently on the market. HSGS’s contribution will assist in providing the resources that are essential to help students acquire a premier engineering education from the University of Alabama.

HSGS DONATES SOLAR EQUIPMENT TO SAVE THE LIGHT ORGANIZATION ​

Save the Light is a grass roots, non-profit organization that was formed to save the Morris Island Lighthouse from being lost to the sea. The Morris Island lighthouse was built just after the War between the States in 1872 and is located just off the coast of Charleston. The Save the Light organization’s initiatives include protecting, preserving, and restoring the historic Morris Island Lighthouse for all who visit to enjoy. Along with HSGS’s annual donation to the Save the Light organization, HSGS has also donated solar equipment to help power the sensors in the Morris Island lighthouse which monitor the stability of the structure.

HSGS SENDS SUPPLIES TO TEAM MEMBERS FAMILIES IN PUERTO RICO WHO WERE AFFECTED BY HURRICANE MARIA

In September of 2017, Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico causing catastrophic damage and a major humanitarian crisis. Affecting many friends and family of HSGS team members, HSGS took action to provide relief through support and supplies. HSGS sent over 600 pounds worth of non-perishable food, generators, batteries, oil, and household goods to friends and family living in Puerto Rico.

HSGS VOLUNTEERS FOR A FRESH FOR ALL DISTRIBUTION EVENT SPONSORED BY THE LOWCOUNTRY FOOD BANK

​On Thursday December 8th, 2016, the HSGS crew was invited by the Morgan Stanley team to assist them with their annual Fresh For All Distribution event, sponsored by the Lowcountry Food Bank. This event was held on Sycamore Street in Charleston, SC, and allowed for people of the local Charleston community, in need of food to come through a farmer’s market style distribution and receive fresh produce to take home for the holiday season. The HSGS crew assisted with signing people in, distributing and bagging the produce, and helping people carry their selections to their cars. HSGS was very humbled to be offered the opportunity by the Morgan Stanley team to assist, and make their Fresh For All Distribution event a success.

HSGS SPONSORS VETERANS DAY BENEFIT AND AUCTION

Since incorporation, HSGS has sponsored the Annual Veterans Day Benefit and Auction held in Charleston, SC and hosted by the Tri-County Veterans Support Network. The Tri-County Veterans Support Network is a network of many agencies committed to implementing a planned, coordinated community response to the varied needs of our veterans to include emergency relief, housing, employment, education, spiritual support and others as well. The proceeds raised through the Veterans Benefit and Auction went to support veterans and their families in the Charleston area as they navigate the obstacles they face after leaving the military.

HSGS HELPS THE WOUNDED WARRIOR AMPUTEE SOFTBALL TEAM

On March 21st, 2015, the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team (WWAST) were invited to play in the “Battle of Charleston Harbor” at Joe Riley Stadium. This is the first time the team has visited Charleston for a special exhibition game against the Citadel Alumni from the 1990 College World Series Team. The WWAST is comprised of young, competitive, athletic veterans and active duty soldiers who have lost limbs post-9/11, while serving their country in the military/war. The team includes individuals with a variety of amputations of the arm, above knee, below knee, bilateral below knee, and foot. Some members of the WWAST are still in the service, others are attending college thanks to the Post-9/11 GI Bill, while others have moved on to new careers. WWAST has played around the country since 2011 and their mission is to raise awareness, through exhibition and celebrity softball games, of the sacrifices and resilience of our military, and highlight their ability to rise above any challenge. Their goal is to show other people with amputations and the general population, that these athletes, through extensive rehabilitation and training, are able to express their desires and perform the sport they love.

Hannah Solar Government Services donated funds to the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team to assist in buying softball uniforms and equipment for the games. In addition, the donated funds support heterotopic ossification research, donations of rehabilitation equipment to military facilities, and help to fund education and training for Wounded Warrior amputees as they return to civilian life.

​​HSGS PARTICIPATES IN THE 14TH ANNUAL STAND DOWN AGAINST HOMELESSNESS EVENT

The Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in partnership with Goodwill Industries of Lower South Carolina is held its 14th Annual Stand Down Against Homelessness. The event offered medical and dental screenings and assistance, clothing, food, haircuts, and job and legal counseling for hundreds of homeless persons in the greater Charleston area. The Charleston VAMC hosts a variety of events throughout the year in order to offer assistant and health screening to the area’s veterans. HSGS donated various toiletry items for this event in order to help improve the quality of life for our veterans.

HANNAH SOLAR DONATES SOLAR SYSTEM TO LOCAL DISABLED VIETNAM VETERAN

GREENSBORO, GA., June 24th, 2010 – For his courage and valor during the Vietnam War, Skip Askew earned the Silver and Bronze Stars. Years later, through a program created to support veterans long after their return to the U.S., an Atlanta, Georgia based solar company will donate installation of a solar Photovoltaic (PV) array to help power his home. The installation occurred Friday, June 25 2010.
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Hannah Solar Government Services knows its donation is only a small token compared to the sacrifice Skip made while serving in the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam. Askew’s tour ended abruptly after a mortar round explosion; he survived the attack but lost his left arm and suffered major damage to his hip. More than one year ago, Askew experienced a fall that devastated his previous hip replacement surgery and has been bed-ridden since. The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) stepped in after the accident to retrofit his house to be wheelchair accessible and also installed a mechanical bed in which Askew spends most of his time.

The two-kilowatt system uses panels donated by Suniva, the Norcross-based solar cell manufacturer, which was recently named the exporter of the year by the ExIM Bank. PV Powered, the inverter supplier, also agreed to provide a two-kilowatt inverter at no charge. Hannah Solar Government Services donated the design and installation expertise.

“We hope this opportunity highlights how critical it is to our country’s future that we strive to be energy independent,” continued McNeil. “Our petro-dollars are financing the operations of countries with which we are at war. Additionally, this renewable energy system was installed against the backdrop of the catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that began with an oil rig explosion killing 11 and completely devastating the ecosystem of the Gulf, as well as a coal mine disaster which tragically killed 28.”

HSGS PARTICIPATES AT CAMP LEJEUNE TOYS FOR TOTS

HSGS is proud to participate, alongside Turner Construction, in the annual U.S Marine Corps Toys for Tots program at Camp Lejeune. This is our second year donating to the program that is very close to our hearts. The mission is to collect new, unwrapped toys that will be distributed as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in the community. The objective is to help children throughout the U.S experience the joy of Christmas and deliver a message of hope. A toy under the tree can bring so much happiness to a child and lift their spirits during a time of year that can be difficult. HSGS feels it is important to reach out to the community during the holidays to ensure that every child feels that sense of joy and happiness on Christmas morning.

HSGS CONTRIBUTES TO LOCAL NATIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR MUSEUM

HSGS made a $1,000 donation to the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation in support of the foundation’s efforts to design and build a new National Medal of Honor Museum at Patriot’s Point in Mount Pleasant, SC. From the museum’s own website, “The Medal of Honor Museum pays special tribute to American heroes ranging from the very first Medal of Honor recipients during the Civil War all the Way to the War On Terror in Iraq and Afghanistan.” The museum is designed to bring the recipients’ stories to life, honoring the values inherent to them as recipients: courage, commitment, integrity, sacrifice, citizenship, and patriotism. The museum will be located on board the USS Yorktown at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum and will feature interactive exhibits of artifacts to connect the past and present. HSGS is always proud to contribute to telling the story of those who selflessly serve our nation.

HSGS ASSISTS IN FUNDRAISING FOR THE CHARLESTON FISHER HOUSE

The Charleston Fisher House is an organization that provides a comforting, homelike environment where family members can stay, free of charge, while there veteran is undergoing treatment at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston, SC. Visit their site: www.FisherHouseCharleston.com

HSGS HELPS WWII C47 D-DAY TROOP AIRPLANE RETURN TO NORMANDY

​In the early hours on the morning of June 6th, 1944 Allied forces began the invasion of Normandy, France in an effort to re-take France and, eventually, defeat the tyrannical forces of Nazi Germany. One of the aircraft that took part in that invasion was named “Whiskey 7,” a Douglas C-47 that is still flying today.

She flew as the lead ship for the second wave troop carrier airborne invasion force and dropped troops from the 3rd Battalion, 505th Para Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. Descending on Drop Zone “O” near the village of St. Mere Eglise, they were one of only a few units that were actually dropped on their assigned drop-zone, liberating the French village of St. Mere Eglise.

Whiskey 7 flew throughout the war and also participated in the famous “Market Garden” operation towing gliders. In 1945 she was struck off strength and sold to a civilian airline and converted to fly as a DC-3 airliner, operating with several different airlines until she was sold to a private interest in 1993. She was donated to the 1941 Historical Aircraft Group, now known as the National Warplane Museum, in Geneseo, New York and, in 2005, was converted and restored to the D-Day configuration she is seen in today.

HSGS donated funds to the National Warplane Museum to assist in paying for the fuel, maintenance costs and crew travel expenses to ensure that “Whiskey 7” was back in Normandy for several air shows and parachutes jumps to commemorate the 70th anniversary of D-Day. Our President/CEO, Colonel (Retired) Dave McNeil, conducted a free fall parachute jump from W7 in Normandy, France as part of the activities to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of D-Day.