Heritage Classic board commits up to $100,000 toward Matthew relief

The Heritage Classic Foundation has earmarked up to $100,000 toward hurricane relief efforts, with specifics still to be worked out as Hilton Head Island and outlying communities continue the cleanup effort after Hurricane Matthew.

Simon Fraser, chairman of the Heritage Classic Foundation, said the commitment was approved last week by the foundation’s board. Further details will be determined once members take a closer look at ongoing work to clean up and rebuild from Matthew’s damage.

“We’re letting things settle down to see who might need some extra help,” Fraser said Thursday. “Those decisions will be made in the next 30 days. We can’t do more than $100,000; it doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll do $100,000. But we’ll do up to $100,000.”

Board members will meet again in the coming days to establish a process for determining needy outlets.

The money would come from the foundation’s reserves, Fraser added, and would not affect annual giving generated by the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing. Priority will be given with the same criteria used for annual giving, with an emphasis on healthcare, children and people in need.

“I know there is much more work to be done, and we at the Heritage Classic Foundation will do our part in helping with the recovery,” Fraser said in an open letter sent to The Island Packet.

Hurricane Matthew left more than 3,700 homes and businesses damaged on Hilton Head Island, according to preliminary estimates by town officials. Of those, nearly 400 suffered “substantial” damage that require repairs worth at least 50 percent of the building’s value.

“I had heard the reports of the damage caused by Hurricane Matthew; however, seeing the damage firsthand was sobering,” wrote Fraser, whose Sea Pines home suffered minor damage from falling trees.

“Even more impressive is how much work has been done since our return and how our community is open for business and already welcoming visitors to this island paradise. It makes me appreciate even more the strengths of the Lowcountry.”

Matthew’s impact will have no effect on operations of next spring’s RBC Heritage. Cleanup at Harbour Town Golf Links is almost complete, Fraser said, and the resort is taking advantage of the down time to do its winter overseeding.

Fraser said a tour of the course two weeks ago eased any concern he may have had.

“You could have played it that day,” he said, “though you might occasionally need to go around a tree branch. As far as April, I don’t see any problem whatsoever.”

This story was originally published October 27, 2016 at 12:44 PM with the headline "Heritage Classic board commits up to $100,000 toward Matthew relief."