[CHARLESTON COUNTY] – The Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission (CCPRC) has proudly published a children’s book entitled “Bandit Finds a New Home.” The story focuses on CCPRC’s raccoon mascot, Bandit, and proceeds will benefit the agency’s non-profit partner, The Parklands Foundation.
CCPRC and The Parklands Foundation worked with James Island Charter High School’s art department to create the story. Under the direction of art teacher Annie Purvis, seven student illustrators and eight colorists from Ms. Purvis’s Art 2 Drawing and Painting Class provided the artwork for the book. CCPRC’s marketing manager, Tracey Moser, used colorful, rhythmic language to author her first children’s book.
The book follows Bandit the raccoon and his adventures searching for and visiting Charleston County Parks as he seeks a new home. The book will be release in June and available for sale at CCPRC’s park retail stores, at events hosted by The Parklands Foundation, and on the foundation’s website, TheParklandsFoundation.org. Bandit himself and the author will host a book signing at The Charleston Riverdogs game on June 12 at 4 p.m.
“I was thrilled to accept this opportunity for James Island Charter High School students to work as practicing artists in the field of storybook illustration and give back to the community in the art services,” said Purvis. “The students learned not only about storyboarding, illustration and design, but they also took away a very important part of what being an artist is all about - to create and interact with objects, places, and ideas that define, shape, enhance and empower our lives. It was amazing to see how much care my students took with the imagery in this book. They truly captured ‘Bandit’s’ world.”
“Bandit Finds a New Home” was created as a way to raise funds and awareness about The Parklands Foundation, its mission, and its two major projects. The vision of The Parklands Foundation of Charleston County is to identify, develop and sustain projects that actively encourage people to experience CCPRC’s facilities, programs and services for the benefit of living a healthier and safer lifestyle. Two of the foundation’s most well-known projects include the Genesis Project and the Pass It Forward Project.
The Genesis Project aims to build and maintain three pools in rural Charleston County. The Genesis Project was established in memory of Genesis Holmes, a 13-year-old Hollywood boy who drowned tragically in May 2014. The project’s name not only honors the life of Genesis and all others who died in this heartbreaking way, but represents the foundation’s efforts to eliminate drowning occurrences in the rural areas of Charleston County through allowing access to lifeguarded pools and swimming lessons. In 2015, the Pass It Forward Project was adopted by The Parklands Foundation. With donations to the Pass It Forward Project, the foundation will identify members of the community who encounter barriers accessing park facilities, programs and services. The foundation will facilitate, encourage and promote the giving of donations and goods, and pass on those resources to members of the community in need.
The Parklands Foundation will host fundraising events this fall as part of its Patron Series. On Sept. 15, the foundation will host An Unforgettable Evening at McLeod Plantation Historic Site. A Wild Game Skeet Shoot and Dinner will be held Oct. 23 at The Lake House at Bulow. The foundation will host a Holiday Festival of Lights opening night event at James Island County Park on Nov. 11. Details and tickets are available at TheParklandsFoundation.org.
For more information on The Parklands Foundation and its Patron Series, or to support The Pass It Forward Project or The Genesis Project, visit the link below or call 843-640-5451.
