INITIATIVES
The Foundation supports a variety of initiatives important to Andy - Education, Conservation, Community Enrichment, Veterans, Animals and Veterinary Schools. A few of our past and current initiatives include:
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The Andy Quattlebaum Outdoor Education Center aka “Andy’s” - Clemson University
The Foundation’s support of the Clemson Outdoor Education Center, lovingly called “Andy’s” by students and staff, sustains a partnership to make a variety of outdoor adventure activities accessible to students and the Clemson community. It is the Foundation’s hope that this beautiful facility and its wealth of recreational opportunities will help others learn about, appreciate and love the outdoors as Andy did.
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Andy Quattlebaum Complex - Smoky Mountain Service Dog Veteran/Canine Training Center
Andy had a great appreciation for those who serve our country. Each year, the Foundation makes it possible to present a mobility assistance service dog to a wounded Veteran in memory of Andy and his prized yellow lab “Oak.”
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The Andy Quattlebaum Distinguished Chair In Infectious Disease Research - College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State
The Foundation’s endowment of the distinguished chair dedicated to infectious disease research honors Andy’s dedication to animals and his beloved companion Oak, a recipient of care from CVM at NC State.
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Andy’s Sanctuary - Selah Carefarm / Miss Foundation
The Foundation’s support helps the Selah Carfarm community, its animals, and beautiful farmland, provide grieving families sanctuary and support. Take a virtual tour here.
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The Foundation provides support to The Village Group, a non-profit organization where Andy volunteered. The Village Group provides summer and afterschool programs for children living in Georgetown County, South Carolina.
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Andy Quattlebaum Coastal Apprenticeship Program - South Carolina Waterfowl Association
Through the Andy Quattlebaum Apprentice Fellowship program at Clermont Plantation near Georgetown, apprentices learn all aspects of land management including waterfowl, deer, quail, turkey, dove, and fisheries habitat management. This program prepares apprentices of all backgrounds to make a long-term positive impact through conservation and land management.
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The Foundation offers core support to the Georgetown County School district’s literacy and mentorship program and makes it possible for Miss Ruby’s Kids to expand and impact more families.
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Andy’s Cottage at the Belle W. Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science - Clemson University College of Agriculture, Forestry & Life Sciences. Designed and engineered by Clemson University students, this dorm cottage provides housing to students as they explore the state’s coastal environment and study conservation at the Institute.
Andy Quattlebaum and William Blackwell Wellness Center - Through the Andy Quattlebaum and William Blackwell Wellness Center students are able to receive care on campus for health issues, and counselors are available to talk to during times of need. This honors Andy's core value of caring for and helping others.
The Andy Quattlebaum Warrior Hunt 2023
Sponsored by The Andy Quattlebaum and Blackwell Family Foundation. In association with the South Carolina Waterfowl Association, and Smoky Mountain Service Dogs where Veterans came from across the United States to the historic Santee Delta to participate in a weekend duck hunt.
Watch video here.
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​Ducks Unlimited Antebellum Rice Study
Working in partnership with Clemson, proposed study strategies will be conducted with assistance from two doctoral students. Researchers will investigate relationships between waterfowl species, impoundment characteristics, hydrological conditions and management regimes. Information gathered through the project will help develop a risk-benefit matrix and decision support tool to inform conservation plans for what remains of the state’s historic rice impoundments, benefitting regional wildlife and all South Carolinians for years to come.
Full article here.
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The Andy Quattlebaum Reflective Writing Trail is a reflective writing trail at the farm that will be used for both educational and therapeutic activities. The trail will offer unique writing stations like the "Keep Tree" to the left in which participants can immerse themselves in nature while writing and reflecting.
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The Pee Dee Rivers/Lynches Rivers Project Coordinator, Dylan Coleman, is sponsored by the Foundation and serves as the spokesperson for the Great Pee Dee, Little Pee Dee, and Lynches Rivers. He coordinates community projects for water quality monitoring and river and landing cleanups. Finally, he leads education and advocacy efforts on the Pee Dee and Lynches River watersheds.
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The Jason Project honors the memory of Jason Nipper, the son of James and Cheryl Nipper. Their efforts focus on connecting with at risk students in a series of hikes leading up to Grandfather Mountain. In their first 10 years of operation, they were able to take 594 students on a total of 2,376 hikes. The Foundation pledged funding to help them reach 3 new schools to take 30 more students on a total of 120 hikes. Please take a look at the article about them in Carolina Mountain Life Magazine, and at 6:54 in this video.
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Myrtle Beach Shorebirds Chapter
Quilts of Valor Foundation began in 2003 with the dream of founder Catherine Roberts. The Andy Quattlebaum and Blackwell Family Foundation met with Jim and Joan from the Myrtle Beach Chapter. Their concern for Veterans was inspiring, so we pledged to help them. From the first quilt at Walter Reed, a small movement is now a National-level organization and has presented 408,727 Quilts as of November 30, 2024.
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The Andy Quattlebaum Warrior Hunt 2025
We hosted 41 Veterans who have traveled from as far West as Arizona and North as Connecticut. Their selection was based on their service, volunteering in the community, and love of the outdoors: qualities that The Andy Quattlebaum and Blackwell Family Foundation promote in honoring Andy and what was important to him. They started at Camp Woodie on February 6th where 38 received Quilts of Valor from the Myrtle Beach Shorebirds and a wild game dinner. The next day they participated in a sporting clay event, a pheasant tower event, and the benefit dinner and auction. The event concluded with a duck hunt on February 8th at one of 10 historic plantations in Georgetown, SC.
Watch video here.
Upstate Warrior Solution was co-highlighed with FourBlock at the Andy Quattlebaum Warrior Hunt 2025. The funding they received was used to expand support for Veterans, Service Members, First Responders, and their families in the Upstate of South Carolina. They assist with career placement, housing, education, counseling, events, and build camaraderie and support.
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FourBlock was co-highlighed with Upstate Warrior Solution at the Andy Quattlebaum Warrior Hunt 2025. The funding they received was used to help a cohort in Charlotte, North Carolina. FourBlock's mission is "Our mission is to equip veterans and military spouses to successfully transition to meaningful civilian careers. Our vision is to build a national professional network where transitioning veterans and military spouses can connect locally and attain the skills, resources, and relationship-building opportunities necessary to reach their career potential."
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The Foundation partnered with Winyah River Alliance by providing 12 kayaks and a trailer to facilitate their mission of educating the public about the rivers and keeping them clean. The kayaks will be used to take youth, veteran, womans, and community groups on tours of the Winyah Bay contributories for river cleanup, invasive species removal, and educational tours.
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Horry Georgetown Technical College
The Andy Quattlebaum Trades Scholarship was created to assist graduating Junior ROTC graduates who aren't attending traditional Institutions of Higher Learning an opportunity for a scholarship to assist in trade school attendance and certification. There is an opportunity for 2 graduating students to receive the scholarship.​​
