In July 1943, the Exchange Club of Mount Pleasant was formed with the purpose of supporting the War effort and savings bond programs during WWII.
More than 80 years later, the club is still active and has accomplished many things and raised a large amount of money for Non-profits in our area. It is one of many clubs that are part of the National Exchange Clubs of America’s, which originated in Detroit in 1911 as a premier service club comprised of local Business Men. There are now more than 800 Exchange clubs throughout the United States, as well as Puerto Rico.
What is Exchange? The purpose of Exchange Clubs is to make communities better places to live, and support Americanism and our Youth with a focus on the Prevention of Child Abuse. The Core Values of Exchange Clubs include Commitment to Family, Community, and Country. Some past famous members of Exchange include Former Presidents George H.W. Bush, Calvin Coolidge, Harry Truman, Franklin D Roosevelt and Warren G Harding. Other famous members include Author Norman Vincent Peale, Orville Wright and Amelia Earhardt. The Exchange Club of Mount Pleasant has also had many prominent Citizens and Town Officials serve as members including Johnnie Dodds for whom the Johnnie Dodds Scholarship Fund was started. The club chartered new clubs including the IOP Exchange Club in 1948 and the Daniel Island Club in 2014. There are 20 clubs in South Carolina with two of the largest Clubs of the National network being right here in our area — The Exchange Clubs of Charleston and the Isle of Palms.
Over the years, the club has raised over $2 million for local charities including Carolina Youth Development Center, Lowcountry Orphan Relief, 180 Place, Dee Norton Center, Windwood Family Services, Doors To Freedom, Nick Price Foundation, Keep Hope Alive, and the Johnnie Dodds scholarships for High School Seniors. Money was raised with Golf Tournaments, The IOP Connector Run for the Child, and currently their Annual Chucktown Throwdown Corn Hole Tournament. The club was instrumental in starting the IOP Connector Run in 1993 as a way to celebrate the opening of the Connector and to raise funds for the Prevention of Child Abuse. More than $1.2 million was raised between 1993 and 2017 while working with the IOP Exchange Club, which now manages the race along with the City of Isle of Palms and Town of Mount Pleasant.
The first Chucktown Throw Down Corn Hole Tournament was held in 2013 at Alhambra Hall. The tournament has grown over the last 10 years and is now held at Key West Boats Retreat in Ridgeville. More than $200,000 has been raised over the years. The Exchange Club has also done community service projects that include food donations to ECCO, Angel Tree Christmas gifts, Luncheons for Veterans, Flags for Kids at the RiverDog’s games, delivery of Care Packages to Flood Victims and school supplies for Lowcountry Orphan Relief. Exchange recognizes First Responders and local businesses who display our American Flag with Awards and Certificates.
The club is currently looking for new members to help grow the club so that it can become a vital part of the growing Mount Pleasant Community. A free Oyster Roast will be held at Mainland Container Co. on Feb. 29 at 1528 Ben Sawyer Blvd., from 5:30-7:30 p.m. for Mount Pleasant residents and nearby community members interested in Community Service and learning more about the Exchange Club of Mount Pleasant. Contact Club President Sheryl Bidwell at sherylbidwell@gmail.com to RSVP. More info can also be found on their Facebook Page.
