Steve Wilmot, president of the Heritage Classic Foundation and tournament director for the RBC Heritage, told Chamber listeners the tournament and its partners have deep community ties and that the PGA Tour named the Deep Well project its Charity of the Year across PGA sites, contributing $30,000.

Wilmot said the recognition included a $30,000 PGA Tour contribution and that the Heritage Classic Foundation provided matching grants 'through our matching grants, matched 20% of that.' He credited volunteers, partner organizations such as Sea Pines Resort and the Coastal Discovery Museum, and corporate sponsors including RBC and Boeing for making the event and charitable outreach possible.

Sandy Gillis, executive director of Deep Well, described the nonprofit as 'neighbors helping neighbors' and said the organization plans to direct the grant toward housing stabilization for workforce families. 'We have been able to help about 600 families in 2025 with housing crises,' Gillis said, citing emergency rent or mortgage assistance and home-improvement repairs. She said the group expects the PGA grant to fund multiple repairs, noting an 'average cost per repair is around $4,000 per home.'

Gillis outlined immediate community needs and donation options: nonperishable food for the pantry, household items from renovations, and 'cash is king' for flexible assistance. She confirmed gift cards are useful, and donors can specify program targets on Deep Well’s website.

Gillis also described program expansion: Deep Well is preparing for its fourth Circles cohort (a weekly program that meets Wednesday nights and serves about 50–60 participants) and is partnering with Bluffton Self Help to open a second Hilton Head location to broaden workforce-readiness offerings.

Wilmot and Gillis framed the award and funding as a way to multiply local volunteer efforts and address housing-related barriers to workforce retention. The hosts closed by thanking the organizations and encouraging community support.