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At the Washington Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce’s annual awards banquet in January, Beth Wilder was honored with the Community Impact Award for her dedication to serving students in Beaufort County through Bright Futures.

For the past ten years, Wilder has been a driving force behind the nonprofit, which works to remove barriers to student success by meeting their basic needs. As President of the Bright Futures Board, she has volunteered hundreds of hours, forging partnerships and creating opportunities to help children thrive in and out of the classroom.

“I was really honored and grateful to receive this award,” said Wilder. “There are so many people in our area who show me every day what it looks like to love and care for our neighbors. It’s a gift to be part of this ministry—it’s completely energizing.”

Her commitment to students and ability to build strong relationships have been instrumental in Bright Futures’ success.

“Beth has a unique ability to push us out of our comfort zones, always challenging us to be better,” said Robin McKeithan, who delivered the award remarks. “Her ability to collaborate and build strong relationships has had a lasting impact on our work and the community we serve.”

Wilder’s passion for Bright Futures stems from her experiences as a mother of three. Seeing classmates of her own children struggle with the lack of basic necessities inspired her to get involved when the organization was founded.

“It’s hard to imagine trying to study for math when you don’t have a bed to sleep in, clean clothes that fit or enough food to eat,” said Wilder. “We have a lot of students in survival mode. We want better for them, and we want better for our community.”

Through Bright Futures, she has worked to connect businesses, churches and volunteers to address these needs. Social media has become a tool for quickly mobilizing support, allowing community members to step in and provide essentials when needed. She credits the generosity of Beaufort County residents and the ongoing support of the Washington Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce for the organization’s ability to help students.

“Bright Futures works because of the generosity of this community,” emphasized Wilder. “We don’t all need to do the same things, but we must work together.”

One of the biggest challenges Bright Futures faces is funding the administrative side of the organization. The nonprofit relies on creative fundraising efforts, such as selling sugar cakes at Christmas and its upcoming Catch and Release event on April 11, where community leaders will raise funds through personal outreach.

“We keep finding ways to raise money so we can continue to help more students,” explained Wilder.

While Bright Futures has made a broad impact across the county, Wilder said it is the individual success stories that remind her why the work is so important. She recalled a Washington High School student who had stopped attending school but returned after receiving a food box from Bright Futures.

“After her counselor stopped by, she came back to class,” shared Wilder. “This student saw that someone cared about her and that she had worth.”

Bright Futures also helps students participate in school events. Through its Prom Boutique, now housed at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, the organization has provided dresses to nearly 700 girls so they can attend prom without the financial burden of buying a gown.

“Helping a teenager find something that makes her feel beautiful and special is as good as it gets,” added Wilder.

For those looking to make a difference, Wilder encourages starting small. She suggests following Bright Futures Beaufort County on Facebook, where the nonprofit posts specific needs that community members can respond to. She also encourages parents to ask their children about the needs they see at school.

“We need to show our children that they too can make an impact in Beaufort County,” said Wilder. “We are all blessed by working together.”

With a decade of service behind her and no plans of slowing down, Wilder remains dedicated to the mission of Bright Futures, ensuring that every student in Beaufort County has the resources they need to succeed.