The Mission
TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A SOUND DIFFERENCE
The Port Royal Sound Foundation’s mission is to preserve the Port Royal Sound for the environmental, cultural and economic well-being of our area.
Our History
1970 - Port Royal Sound Environmental Study
Port Royal Sound Environmental Study was commissioned by governor as a result of BASF’s plans to build chemical plant on the Colleton River.
See study here.
1995 - Beaufort County & Clean Water Task Force formed
in reaction to the state’s closure of 500 acres of shellfish beds in various Beaufort County waterways.
1997 - The Task Force published “A Blueprint for Clean Water: Strategies to Protect and Restore Beaufort County’s Waterways".
See document here.
1999 - Beaufort County’s Special Area Management Plan developed
to focus on implementing 10 (out of 50) recommendations from “A Blueprint for Clean Water: Strategies to Protect and Restore Beaufort County’s Waterways”.
See document here.
2000 - Friends of the Rivers formed
as a stewardship group in response to the Special Area Management Plan to carry on the mission of water-quality protection and land planning.
2011 - Name change to the Port Royal Sound Foundation.
After 11 years of successfully educating the county and municipalities on the importance of protecting the marine waters of Beaufort County, the board of directors of Friends of the Rivers chose to expand its effort to include all of the natural, cultural and historical resources of the Port Royal Sound system. Because the mission, bylaws and directors were to stay and due to the need to maintain a tax-exempt status, the IRS and the state of South Carolina approved a simple name change to the Port Royal Sound Foundation.
2014 - The Foundation’s Maritime Center opened
as a storefront and education center for the nonprofit organization.
Our Team
Jody Hayward
Executive Director
Hometown: Augusta, GA
My Lowcountry Animal: Bald Eagle
Alicia Powell
Director of Development
Hometown: Macon, GA
My Lowcountry Animal: Painted Buntings
Astrid Fabian
Business Manager
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
My Lowcountry Animal: Sea Star
Jennifer Jenkins
Grants Coordinator
Hometown: Owatonna, MN
My Lowcountry Animal: Oyster
Sarah Walbert
Communications & Office Coordinator
Hometown: Beaufort, SC
My Lowcountry Animal: River Otter
Chris Kehrer
Naturalist & Education Coordinator
Hometown: Savannah, GA
My Lowcountry Animal: Belted Kingfisher
Jessica Kochman
Naturalist
Hometown: Willoughby Hills, Ohio
My Lowcountry Animal: Black Skimmer
Kat Molina
Activity Coordinator
Hometown: San Pedro Sula, Honduras
My Lowcountry Animal: Needlefish
Maritime Center
(843) 645-7774
310 Okatie Highway, Okatie, SC 29909
Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10am-5pm & Saturday 10am-4pm
Maritime Center
(843) 645-7774
310 Okatie Highway, Okatie, SC 29909
Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10am-5pm & Saturday 10am-4pm
