Providing Holy Spaces for God to change lives.
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Generosity a “family commitment”
There are many different ways to describe South Carolina native Bill Dukes (pictured): Lutheran, Air Force Veteran, Restaurateur, Advocate, Committee Chairman, Advisor. However the most accurate term many simply be: Giver.
“My personal connection with the South Carolina Lutheran Retreat Centers and Executive Director Dallas Shealy started when she was at Newberry College,” shares Bill. “My connection also goes back to an introduction by our pastor at Mt. Horeb Lutheran Church in Chapin, Rev. “Dick” Webber. I served on the church council there and attended a weekend retreat at Camp Kinard.”
Bill is notable in the Midlands community as founder of the Blue Marlin, an iconic restaurant in Columbia’s Vista for the last 30 years.
“In the restaurant business, we look at creating an atmosphere that people enjoy themselves and where it’s a treat to come and have a dining experience. We try to always exceed a customer’s expectation,” notes Bill while drawing parallels with SCLRC’s ministry of hospitality. “For many people, maybe a weekend away [at a retreat center] is not a common thing. But once you can get people there, they experience the hospitality, they
experience the friendliness, genuineness, and spiritual peace of it.”
Humbled & Grateful
With the Blue Marlin celebrating three decades of repeat customers, Bill Dukes is humbled and grateful to be a part of such a supportive community. “That’s a pretty long run for a restaurant operation, especially for an individual owner. It’s about having a quality product. The South Carolina Lutheran Retreat Centers has a quality product… you’ve got to have a wonderful, caring staff with a great attitude. And you’ve got to appreciate your customers. I think all those things go side by side.”
Over the years, the Dukes family has helped support a number of non-profit organizations and philanthropic efforts, including several SC Synod-ELCA institutions and initiatives. Bill also founded the Honor Flight of SC program which has served 2,000+ veterans since its inception.
Bill credits his parents who helped instill a foundation of generosity and giving back to one’s community. “They didn’t have a lot, but they recognized the importance of supporting other organizations and doing the right things.” Along with his wife, JoAnn, and their two sons, Ryan and Matt, Bill highlights that giving back has become a shared, family activity. “It’s kind of our family thing. We give back to the community. The community has been good to us. The church community has been good to us. The business community has been good to us…Whenever you’re doing the right things for the right reasons, it works. It’s a very rewarding feeling.”
Building+Renewing+Believing: Holy Spaces Campaign
During this year’s annual #MidlandsGives, Bill Dukes and his family graciously provided $15,000 in matching funds towards the Building+Renewing+Believing: Holy Spaces Campaign. Because of their initial gift, SCLRC was able to raise a record breaking $37,517 in just 18 hours.
“The retreat centers are a special place and I would encourage people to take a hard look at that as a [giving] opportunity,” shares Bill. “You can trust that your giving and funds will be used in such a way that it will benefit many, many people because the staff at SCLRC are just extremely good stewards of the dollars that they get….I appreciate the opportunity to share in the excitement of what’s going on out there at Camp Kinard!”
For more information about the Building+Renewing+Believing: Holy Spaces Campaign, we invite you to click here. To support SCLRC’s daily operation at Camp Kinard & Coastal Retreat please click the link below
South Carolina Lutheran Retreat Centers
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The South Carolina Lutheran Retreat Centers is a 501(c)(3) non-profit ministry that partners with church groups, professional organizations, and many others to provide holy places for God to change lives!
