Pinwheel Gala

2026 Sponsorship Opportunities

2026 Bert Cicenia Award Presented to Dr. and Mrs. Robert Blackard

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 Dr. and Mrs. Robert Blackard as the recipient of the Bert Cicenia Award!

Dr. and Mrs. Blackard are dedicated community advocates who, through their philanthropy, volunteer service, and commitment to family and community, have worked to improve the lives of countless children and their families. They have generously supported the mission of the Kay Phillips Child Advocacy Center, as well as numerous other child serving organizations throughout Dorchester County.

Because of generous individuals like Dr. and Mrs. Backard, we are able to provide critical services to children and families at no cost. For the past 6 years, this philanthropic couple has generously offered a sizeable matching gift to our year-end giving campaign and those matching gifts have helped us raise more than $850,000 in support of our programs and services!

We are deeply grateful to Dr. and Mrs. Blackard for their generosity, compassion, and unwavering support. Their investment in our mission, and in the children and families we serve, continues to make a lasting impact!

Historical Bert Cicenia Award Recipients:

2025 – Sharon Laney

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 22nd Annual Pinwheel Gala was held on Saturday, August 23, 2025 at the Lowcountry Conference Center. Thanks to the incredible support of our event sponsors, auction donors, and attendees, we are thrilled to announce that the Gala raised more than $190,000 in net proceeds in support of our evidence-based, trauma-focused mental health services that we provide free of charge to child abuse victims!

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our Title Sponsor, The Bastion Group, for their outstanding generosity and partnership.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this such a successful event! Your support helps ensure 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.

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.

This year’s Pinwheel Gala was held on Saturday, August 26, 2023 at the Lowcountry Conference Center. The evening featured dinner, live entertainment, a charity silent auction, and two very special award presentations!

With the support of our event sponsors, auction donors, and attendees, we are proud to announce that we raised net proceeds of more than $190,000 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!