Pinwheel Gala

2025 Sponsorship Opportunities

Sharon Laney Presented with 2025 Bert Cicenia Award

The Bert Cicenia Award was established in honor of Dr. Ebert (Bert) F. Cicenia, who was instrumental in seeing the need for a Children’s Advocacy Center in Dorchester County. This award is presented annually to someone who has helped to improve the lives of abused and neglected children in the Lowcountry.

This year, we are proud to honor Mrs. Sharon Laney as the recipient of the Bert Cicenia Award.

Sharon has been a vital part of the Children’s Center from its very beginnings. She served on the Board of Directors at the grassroots level, long before the Center opened its doors in December 2003.

A committed and longstanding board member, Sharon has also played a key role in organizing and supporting the Center’s major fundraisers, including the former Kitchen Tour and now the Pinwheel Gala.

In addition to generously giving of her time and resources, Sharon has also contributed her marketing expertise, helping to promote and elevate both our events, as well as the mission of the Children’s Center.

For more than 20 years, Sharon has shown unwavering dedication to our cause. We extend our deepest gratitude for her outstanding service, leadership, and compassionate commitment to the children and families we serve!

Historical Bert Cicenia Award Recipients:

2024 – Child Advocacy Center Staff

2023 – True Homes

2022 – SC State Representative Chris Murphy and SC State Senator Sean Bennett

2021 – The Cumbie Family

2020 – Jack Tupper

2019 – Ellen Adkins

2018 – Dorchester County Council

2017 – Tony Pope

2016 – Gene and Doris Hundley

2015 – James and Jan Martin

2014 – Robby Robbins

2013 – Jenny Horne

2012 – Ralph Phillips

2011 – N/A

2010 – Berlin G. Myers

2009 – Marlena Myers

2008 – George and Karen Milner

2007 – The Honorable Annette Young

2006 – Pam Linton and Wellyn Moore

2005 – Dr. Joseph Moore

2004 – Robert Pratt

2003 – Mark Deitch

The Special 20th Anniversary Pinwheel Gala was held on Saturday, August 24, 2024 at the Lowcountry Conference Center. The evening featured dinner, live entertainment, a charity silent auction, and an award presentation!

With the support of our event sponsors, auction donors, and attendees, we are proud to announce that we raised net proceeds of more than $166,000 in support of our evidence-based, trauma-focused mental health services that we provide free of charge to child abuse victims! THANK YOU for your support in ensuring that we are able to provide children and families with the tools they need to start on a successful path to recovery from child abuse and neglect!

Executive Director, Dr. Kay Phillips, Receives Prestigious Award

We are proud to announce that our esteemed Executive Director, Dr. Kay Phillips, received The Order of the Palmetto in a special presentation at our Pinwheel Gala on August 26, 2023!

The Order of the Palmetto is the highest civilian honor awarded by the Governor of South Carolina. It is awarded to South Carolinians who demonstrate extraordinary lifetime achievement, service, and contributions of national or statewide significance.

The award was presented by SC Representative, Robby Robbins, alongside SC Senator Sean Bennett, and SC Representatives Gil Gatch, and Gary Brewer. Also in attendance for this special presentation were her husband, Ralph Phillips, her mother, Faye Whittemore, and other family members; as well as members of the KPCAC Board of Directors, and Staff.

Dr. Phillips received the National Children’s Alliance. “Horowitz-Barker Lifetime Achievement Award” in 2022. She currently serves as a Committee Member on the Joint Citizen and Legislative Committee on Children for the State of South Carolina; as a Board Member of the South Carolina Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers; and as a Member of the Roper St. Francis Healthcare Board of Directors. She also served as a Member of the Advisory Group for the Statewide Response to Child Abuse and Neglect.

Dr. Phillips has served as Executive Director of the Kay Phillips Child Advocacy Center for the past 19 years. Under her leadership, more than 17,000 children and their families have been provided with the tools they need to start on a successful path to recovery from child abuse and neglect.