Philanthropy

The Great Ogeechee Seafood Festival is a program of the Richmond Hill-Bryan County Chamber of Commerce and is the main fundraising event for the Chamber, as well as numerous other non-profit organizations. A large portion of the festival proceeds are donated back to all participating non-profit organizations. Over the past five years alone, the Seafood Festival has donated $156,769.00 to local non-profit organizations and to the City of Richmond Hill. Some of our regular non-profit entities include the Boy Scouts (Troop 400 and Troop 486), Youth Challenge, Lion’s Club, Exchange Club, Richmond Hill Area Tennis Association, Freeman Project, Richmond Hill Senior Citizens Center, Bryan Animal Care Givers, VFW Post 7331, YMCA of Coastal GA, High School JROTC and Boosters Club and several churches.

Our favorite event has to be our Special Events program that is held on Friday morning prior to the festival opening. The program is designed for children with special needs, and are invited from schools in the Coastal Empire area. Kissel Entertainment graciously opens the carnival for 100 children ~ the rides are slowed down and the music is turned down to a level the children can tolerate. For an hour or so, the children have the entire carnival to themselves, all donated by Kissel Entertainment. Afterwards, the kids are treated to lunch, ice cream and usually music, and a visit from a certain mascot from a local restaurant. It’s a lot of fun ~ for all of us.