A local leader who has been instrumental in supporting the efforts of nonprofits and community efforts in Lexington County and throughout the Midlands has announced her retirement.

JoAnn Turnquist, president and CEO of the Central Carolina Community Foundation, is set to step down in April. She has led the group since 2009.

The foundation touts itself as the “Midlands leader in collaborative philanthropy” in its service to  11 counties “by distributing grants and scholarships and linking the resources of donors.” The nonprofit covers Lexington County and all of its immediate neighbors apart from Aiken.

In her time with the organization, the group started its most visible effort, Midlands Gives. The annual day of giving, started in 2014, has raised more than $24 million for area nonprofits, per the release announcing Turnquist’s retirement. Midlands Gives, which takes place the first Tuesday of May each year, brings participating nonprofits together on a central online donations platform, encouraging these groups to boost giving by running associated campaigns and events.

Last year, the foundation reported breaking its own record for money brought in during Midlands Gives, raising a total of $4.4 million.

The annual donations push is big for Lexington County nonprofits, with the Chapin Theatre Company telling the Chronicle it was key to raising the money to purchase and convert the new theater it moved into last year.

“Midlands Gives helps us out tremendously,” Paulette Criscione, founder of the Lexington-based nonprofit Cancer of Many Colors, which provides financial support to cancer patients across the state regardless of what cancer they have or their age.

Midlands Gives isn’t the only accomplishment for which Turnquist’s tenure will be remembered.

As the release details, the foundation under her watch:

• Awarded grants and scholarships totaling more than $220 million 
• Established the One SC Fund, the state’s disaster recovery fund, and formed partnerships and collaborations with other foundations and nonprofit organizations to respond to natural disasters — $8.8 million in grants have been deployed through this fund since 2015 
• Opened the Collaboration Zone, a gathering place for the region’s nonprofits 
• Established the Foundation’s African American Philanthropy Committee 
• Introduced Talk About Giving, a tool to teach children to give

“I am thankful to our grantee partners, community organizations and leaders, philanthropy colleagues, public officials, and private business partners for supporting our work,” Turnquist is quoted. “They have been inspirational allies in upholding the Foundation’s mission and core values.” 

As to who will replace her, seven current and past members of the foundation’s Board of Trustees have been selected to serve on a committee to select the next leader.

“Having worked near and with JoAnn at Central Carolina for over a decade, I have had the privilege of watching her practice her craft in a nearly flawless manner, including doubling and (more importantly) developing the Foundation’s staff, flattening its management structure, and driving its tremendous growth,” Current Board Chair Cory Manning is quoted. “She will surely be missed and hard to replace, but she has put the Foundation in an excellent position to continue its tremendous success. That is a legacy great leaders leave.”

This is a developing story and will continue to be updated.