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Charleston Based Blackbaud Introduces Purchase Cards and Expense Management in Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT®

February 5, 2019

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB), the world’s leading cloud software company powering social good, today announced its new Blackbaud Purchase Cards, which provide social good organizations with an efficient and convenient…

CHARLESTON, S.C., Feb. 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB), the world’s leading cloud software company powering social good, today announced its new Blackbaud Purchase Cards, which provide social good organizations with an efficient and convenient alternative to traditional procurement methods and paper-based payables processes such as checks, purchase orders, and invoices. Blackbaud Purchase Cards enable organizations to set spend controls for individual cardholders, track business expenses across the organization, and ensure that policies are being enforced-all through a user-friendly online portal. Blackbaud Purchase Cards will soon integrate with Expense Management in Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT^®, enabling non-financial staff members to track and submit their own credit card transactions and invoice requests for approval, drastically reducing the staff time required to manage this process.

“Blackbaud is committed to helping our customers improve operational efficiency and maximize mission delivery,” said Kevin Gregoire, president, Enterprise Market Group at Blackbaud. “We are excited to work with Regions Bank to deepen this commitment with the introduction of Blackbaud Purchase Cards, which help enable social good organizations to make the transition to automated purchasing and employee expense processes-drastically reducing administrative costs and fraud risk.”

Blackbaud is working with Regions Bank to issue chipped Visa® cards to social good customers to use for travel and operational purchases. Blackbaud Purchase Cards, which come with no annual fee, are available to customers in the United States with approved credit. Additional benefits include automatic annual cash back on all purchases, Visa® Signature Business benefits including travel coverage and liability waiver, and 24/7 access to a secure online portal for purchase card program management.

“Regions has a commitment to improving our communities and making banking easier for all those we serve,” said Jay Darnell, senior vice president, Commercial Card Group at Regions Bank. “We look forward to working with Blackbaud to provide their customers with more flexibility, convenience and control through the new Purchase Cards.”

According to the RPMG Research Corporation’s 2017 North American Purchasing Card Benchmark Survey, annual purchasing card usage is expected to grow 10.5% per year through 2021. The report also states that-compared to traditional payment methods-purchase cards can lead to benefits such as reduction in procurement cycle time, increased savings through supplier discounts, and working capital and cash flow improvements. Blackbaud will address these needs with its new purchase card offering along with its deep integration with Expense Management in Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT.

Blackbaud Purchase Cards and Expense Management deliver a robust accounts payable and expense solution-from core accounting system to the method of payment-to enable customers to decentralize daily purchasing while implementing and monitoring the right controls in a scalable way. With Blackbaud Purchase Cards and Expense Management in Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT, customers can:

Set spend limits and authorization controls-unique to each cardholder-on everything from vendor type to amount and frequency of cash advances
Give their non-financial staff members secure access to track and submit their own expenses directly in Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT
Provide their finance teams with maximum visibility and control of organizational spending with secure, reliable purchase card integration
Make timelier payments and gain greater insight into vendor spend to negotiate better rates based on spend volume
Reduce the need for burdensome, paper-based processes-such as purchase orders, invoices, checks, requisitions, and approvals-to alleviate administrative effort and simplify reconciliation

“With Expense Management in Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT, I can easily log in to the system to review expense requests and transactions-and even drill into each line item to view details and attachments,” said Tracee Wright, development assistant at Commemorative Air Force. “Because credit card transactions are automatically populated in the system, I have the information needed to proactively reach out to cardholders when additional documentation is needed. It’s such a huge time savings to have everything in one place.”

Customers are already experiencing the benefits of Blackbaud Purchase Cards and the insights that it provides to organizations’ financial teams. “With much of the data prefilled, it was so simple to complete the online application process for the Blackbaud Purchase Card,” said Regina De Hoyos, associate chief financial officer, StarCare Specialty Health System. “The online portal is easy to use, and it allows me to do everything from setting limits by user to reviewing and downloading cardholder statements.”

For more information on Blackbaud Purchase Cards, click here. For more information on Expense Management, click here.

Click to Tweet: Now available: @Blackbaud Purchase Cards from @askRegions and Expense Management in Financial Edge NXT help social good organizations more efficiently manage financial processes https://blkb.co/2Uzy72D

About Blackbaud
Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB) is the world’s leading cloud software company powering social good. Serving the entire social good community-nonprofits, foundations, companies, education institutions, healthcare organizations and individual change agents-Blackbaud connects and empowers organizations to increase their impact through cloud software, services, expertise, and data intelligence. The Blackbaud portfolio is tailored to the unique needs of vertical markets, with solutions for fundraising and CRM, marketing, advocacy, peer-to-peer fundraising, corporate social responsibility, school management, ticketing, grantmaking, financial management, payment processing, and analytics. Serving the industry for more than three decades, Blackbaud is headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina and has operations in the United States, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.blackbaud.com, or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

Lowcountry

Most Dangerous States for Pedestrians – Where Does South Carolina Rank?

February 4, 2019

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

In the past decade, the number of people struck and killed while walking increased by 35 percent. The last two years on record (2016 and 2017) were the most deadly years for people killed by drivers while walking since 1990.

Every year, Dangerous by Design releases an annual survey of pedestrian fatalities and ranks states by incidences and danger levels.

This year, South Carolina came in as the 10th most dangerous with an index of 107.8. Within the state, two regions made the top 20 in the nation,

Greenville / Anderson / Mauldin – South Carolina #15 in the nation
August / Richmond County – Georgia/South Carolina #20 in the nation

Full Study Results

Lowcountry

Happy Birthday Rosa Parks – Inspirational quotes from a true inspiration

February 4, 2019

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

Today would mark the 106th birthday of Rosa Park (February 4, 1913). A civil rights activist and patron of equality, Ms. Parks represented the essence of strength and courage, not only for blacks and females, but for millions around the world.

In honor of her birthday, we would like to share some of Rosa Parks most inspiration quotes

Quotes of Rosa Parks

“I would like to be known as a person who is concerned about freedom and equality and justice and prosperity for all people.”

“Each person must live their life as a model for others.”

“I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.”

“No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in.”

“I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.”

“Each person must live their life as a model for others.”

“Racism is still with us. But it is up to us to prepare our children for what they have to meet, and, hopefully, we shall overcome.”

“I would like to be remembered as a person who wanted to be free… so other people would be also free.”

“Memories of our lives, of our works and our deeds will continue in others.”

“Have you ever been hurt and the place tries to heal a bit, and you just pull the scar off of it over and over again.”

“I knew someone had to take the first step and I made up my mind not to move.”

“All I was doing was trying to get home from work.I would like to be known as a person who is concerned about freedom and equality and justice and prosperity for all people.”

Month of Charleston Love: ‘Love is Everything’ – Original Poem

February 3, 2019

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

By Mark A. Leon

Love is everything
Everything
Without it, we are invisible

Invisible to the sound of a morning rain
Invisible to the smile of a rose blossoming in Spain
Invisible to the sight of long slow kiss
In this life, there is so much we can miss

Love is enchanting like a warm summer breeze
A tingle, a wink, a sigh, a touch of a cool spring day

It is the reason we rise
The struggle to survive
The euphoria of time
The essence of rhyme

Love breathes
It protects
A blanket so safe

A song
A whisper
A kind eye

With the simplicity of words
Words spoken in the air
Linger, journey, invite you near

Take hold
Take flight
Find meaning
Stop thinking; just be
A disease infecting my very soul

Love is everything
Meant to be lost
To be found

Hold for a second
A risk
Take a picture
Keep it for all time
It will last forever
With the winds of change, I will be reminded of the smile that has stopped in time

With the strength of a thousand “I Love Yous”
I feel so alive now
So alive with you

You are the escape I have dreamed about
An imaginary world come true

With you, love is everything

Colorado priest to walk from Charleston, S.C. to San Francisco, CA raising money to benefit youth

February 3, 2019

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

[Episcopal News Service – Boulder, Colorado] Has God placed a dream on your heart? For the Rev. Peter Munson, the answer is “yes.” In February, Munson, 61, will resign as rector of St. Ambrose Episcopal Church here in South Boulder – a church he’s served for more than 17 years – to walk 3,600 miles from Charleston, South Carolina, to San Francisco.

“I believe, if you’re a person of faith, we’re all called,” said Munson, during an interview with Episcopal News Service in a downtown Boulder coffee shop, where he shared his 11-year dream.

His cross-country journey is set to begin on Monday, March 4.

Follow Munson’s journey on Facebook and Instagram.

Along the way, Munson hopes to speak to faith and secular organizations about his dream and his journey and to find hospitality – lodging and meals – while raising money through his nonprofit 6 Million Steps for Kids to benefit four charitable organizations serving youth and young adults: REMAR Children’s Home and School in El Salvador; Street Fraternity, a mentoring program for 14- to 25-year-old males from refugee families living in Denver; Episcopal Relief & Development; and the Episcopal Church in Colorado’s various children’s programs.

On Nov. 20, 2008, Munson was hiking alone in Rocky Mountain National Park – a park he’s hiked in for years and where as a student at the University of Colorado he worked as a guide – and as he descended from Sky Pond in Glacier Gorge, the idea came to him to walk across the country, writing and speaking about his experience and to raise money for disadvantaged children and young adults.

“‘The place God calls you to is the place where your deep passion and the world’s deep hunger meet,’” said Munson, paraphrasing Presbyterian theologian and writer Frederick Buechner.

If you or your parish would like to invite the Rev. Peter Munson to speak at your church or offer him hospitality, email peter@brightfutureforchildren.com.

His estimated eight-and-a-half-month, 3,600-mile journey begins in Charleston, where he grew up, and will cross South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and, eventually, California. At least in the Midwest, he expects to average 20 miles a day, six days a week. As he gets out West, the mileage will likely decrease, especially in western Utah and Nevada, where he’ll have a support vehicle following him through the high desert.

Accustomed to adventure, Munson served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Dominica, a small Caribbean island nation located between Guadeloupe and Martinique, teaching biology and math from 1982 to 1985. A law school graduate, Munson never practiced law and instead became an Episcopal priest. In August 2001, he became the rector of St. Ambrose Episcopal Church in South Boulder.

After the vision came to him in Rocky Mountain National Park, an excited Munson returned home to tell his wife, Julia, about his idea. She supported him, he said, but cautioned, “‘Just be aware it may not work out as planned.’”

Four months later, Munson presented his idea to his parish’s leadership. Although Munson has hiked and climbed most of Colorado’s 14ers – peaks exceeding 14,000 feet, of which there are more than 50 – he’d never hiked and backpacked, as one woman pointed out. She suggested he first backpack the Colorado Trail from Denver to Durango, a distance of 500 miles, and he did so, hiking it over three summers beginning in 2011. The first year, he hiked 250 miles. In 2012, it was 50 miles because of a bad wildfire season, and in 2013, he hiked the remaining 200 miles in 16 days.

While walking the Colorado Trail, he read “Wild,” Cheryl Strayed’s memoir of hiking 1,000 miles of the 2,653-mile Pacific Crest Trail alone, without any training or preparation. When Munson, then in his 50s, started his hike, his backpack weighed between 45 and 50 pounds. His third day on the trail, he met a 22-year-old male who’d hiked the 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail from Maine to Georgia. The young man offered to go through Munson’s pack with him, discarding nonessential items like bear spray and a bear canister (not necessary in high altitudes) for storing food. By the third year, when Munson finished his hike, his pack weighed 28 pounds.

All the while, Munson’s dream of walking across the country kept returning to him, and he kept talking about it with his parish and then at a clergy conference, which led to pulpit exchanges with Episcopal priests on Colorado’s Front Range. Munson walked from his home in Arvada, a Denver suburb, to his church in Boulder, to Longmont and Frederick, all along state highways to the pulpit exchanges.

Eventually, he and his parish decided together that, rather than make the journey as St. Ambrose’s rector, Munson would resign and make the journey on his own.

He thought about delaying his journey until he’s eligible to retire in four years but decided against it.

“There’s a lot to be said about waiting until 65 … it’s just not what I’m hearing,” he said, with his dream and aging in mind.

For others, he asks:

“Is there something God has put on your heart? Are you going after it? What are you telling yourself about that thing? Is God calling you to do it? Are you going to get to the end of your life and say, ‘I didn’t do that thing I was really supposed to do’?”

– Lynette Wilson is a reporter and managing editor of Episcopal News Service. She can be reached at lwilson@episcopalchurch.org.

Charleston, S.C. Ranked #26 as Best Place to Get Married in Latest Study

February 3, 2019

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

WalletHub has released its list of the best cities to get married for 2019. 182 cities were analyzed and Charleston, S.C. came in at number 26.

Below is the full methodology and factors that determined this years list along with the top 50. Find out why Charleston, is among the most popular wedding destinations and who ranked ahead of us.

Methodology

In order to identify the best and worst cities in which to tie the knot, WalletHub compared 182 cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across three key dimensions: 1) Costs, 2) Facilities & Services and 3) Activities & Attractions.

We examined those dimensions using 27 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for weddings. For metrics marked with an asterisk (*), we used the square root of the population to calculate the population size in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities.

We then determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.

Costs – Total Points: 40

Average Wedding Cost: Triple Weight (~20.00 Points)
Price of a Three-Star Hotel Room: Full Weight (~6.67 Points)
Restaurant-Meal Costs: Full Weight (~6.67 Points)
Note: “Restaurant Meal” refers to a three-course meal for two.
Prevalence of Affordable Wedding Logistics: Full Weight (~6.67 Points)
Note: This metric measures the prevalence of affordable restaurants and wedding venues with ratings of at least 4.5 stars.

Facilities & Services – Total Points: 30

Wedding Chapels & Churches per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)
Venues & Event Spaces per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)
Party-Equipment Rentals per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)
Photo Booth Rentals per Capita*: Half Weight (~0.86 Points)
Event Planners per Capita: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)
Videographers & Photographers per Capita: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)
Musicians & DJs per Capita: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)
Makeup Artists & Hair Salons per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)
Bridal Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)
Flower & Gift Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)
Limousine Rentals per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)
Hotels per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)
Restaurants & Bars per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)
Catering Companies per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)
Bartenders per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)
Floral Designers per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)
Cake Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)
Wedding/Bridal Fairs*: Full Weight (~1.71 Points)

Activities & Attractions – Total Points: 30

Number of Attractions: Double Weight (~10.00 Points)
Popularity as a Travel Destination: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Foodie-Friendliness: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s Best & Worst Foodie Cities ranking.
Weather: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s Cities with the Best & Worst Weather ranking.
Amusement & Entertainment: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s Most Fun Cities in America ranking.

Complete Analysis Results – 182 Cities

Lowcountry

60 Years Ago Today, February 3, 1959, ‘The Day the Music Died’

February 2, 2019

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

60 years ago today, on a fateful stormy night in Iowa, the plane carrying up and coming stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson went down killing three of the most prominent figures in music and a day that would be known forever as ‘The Day the Music Died’.

The legacy of these three stars lives on in their music, film and the poignant song of Don McLean. As a tribute to these rock icons, we want to celebrate and remember their lives through their music

Enjoy these great hits and this beautiful montage of American Pie.

Lowcountry

Month of Charleston Love: Treasure Map to Your Soul – Original Poem

February 2, 2019

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

By Mark A. Leon

I study the lines on your face to discover this treasure map to your soul
There is no ending; no buried treasure
Just a lineage of centuries defined in romance

From the dark ages to the peak of the rising sun
It is a journey of discovery through the annals of time with a future of endless possibility
I hit a wall; but now through the penetration of your eyes, I break through

Sipping wine in the rose garden in an age of Victorian aristocracy
Waiting by the light flashing in the darkness of the ocean waiting for the sailor to come home
Reciting poetry in the pond to an audience of nature’s creatures

In a world of senseless acts of inhumanity you shine a light in this black hole of lost hope

Your kindness is the temple I seek
I bow at the entrance and lower my head in hopes of being ushered in with humbleness
A religion of suspension hanging with only faith to defy gravity

The book of the prophets is filled with blank pages
An interpretive error or a calculated judgement

We seek answers, but we are the narrators of this life
We are the seekers of thought

We are the lovers

I study the lines on your face and I see the path
It is transparent

I move closer to the end of the map
The moment so close
Our breath shared
Our lips move closer to the ultimate fulfillment

Your power hypnotizes me
My eyes fall prey as they hibernate
Into your soft silky lips I land

Lowcountry

Charleston Small Business Profile: YourPad – Local Business Helping Locals

February 2, 2019

by Charleston Daily 1 Comment

In Charleston, we live the principle of buy local. Some companies take that extra step by partnering with locals to enhance revenue streams and bring shared successful business practices. YourPad is one of those businesses that is partnering with local Charleston homeowners to provide excellence in customer service, professional leasing experience and opportunities to grow revenue streams. Let us learn a little more from our spotlight local business, YourPad.

Their business model is simple:

Leverage our team of skilled professionals with our industry knowledge to create an enjoyable experience for both the homeowner and our guest. With over 4 years of experience in the short term rental industry our team can guarantee a stress-free solution to getting the most out of your property. Whether you are a homeowner simply looking for some help hosting, or you want a complete hands off experience while still achieving above market rates on your property, we have you covered!

With over $13,500,000 in property under lease we are experienced and committed with this unique approach!

Promise to homeowners:

Are you a homeowner looking for greater returns on your properties? Do you often feel bogged down by landlord responsibilities? As a YourPad homeowner we guarantee a rental rate above market price. YourPad provides owners with hands-off management of their properties. Our innovative approach to the industry is constantly evolving with the marketplace. We are dedicated to honesty, hospitality, and hard work.

Testimonials:

“We rented our home off St Philip St for several years to CofC students. Yourpad opened our eyes to the benefits of short term renting. The condition of the home is just as good as the higher monthly rental rate we are now receiving. YourPad is knowledgeable and cares for their properties like a true property management company should.” – Hannah

“Over the years we have engaged a couple different management companies. YourPad has shown, hands down, why they are so highly regarded among real estate professionals. We have been pleased and impressed by the breadth of knowledge of each person we have interacted with there. When it comes time to purchase other investment properties, we can’t imagine turning to anyone else to manage them.” – Maxwell

Follow on Instagram

Official YourPad Charleston Website

Lowcountry

Palmetto Community Care Records Higher Number of HIV Positives in 2018

February 2, 2019

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – In 2018, Palmetto Community Care tested almost 1,700 people for HIV, recording 23 new HIV-positive cases. That number was up from 20 new HIV-positive cases in 2017.

Last year, Palmetto Community Care – which rebranded from Lowcountry AIDS Services – increased its prevention and education services. The nonprofit has expanded its focus on testing, outreach and HIV prevention education to rural areas of Dorchester and Berkeley counties as well as targeted high-risk communities in Charleston County.

Overall in 2018, more than 90 percent of those tested positive for HIV identified as men who have sex with men; 75 percent were under the age of 30; and 56 percent for African American.

In 2018, Palmetto Community Care also added a mobile testing van thanks to a grant from the Elton John AIDS Foundation. The prevention team has taken the van to nightclubs, community centers, health fairs, special events and more. In the roughly six months the van was on the road last year, the Palmetto Community Care team administered 346 tests.

In addition to providing free, confidential HIV testing, Palmetto Community Care tests for other sexually-transmitted infections.

2018 STI Statistics:

1,622 chlamydia and gonorrhea tests – an increase of 256 tests over 2017
72 individuals tested positive for chlamydia (an increase from 41 positive tests in 2017)
24 individuals tested positive for gonorrhea (an increase from 15 positive tests in 2017)
17 individuals tested for syphilis (a decrease from 33 positive tests in 2017)

“There is only one way to know whether you are HIV-positive and that is to get tested and know your status. So, seeing more people get tested in 2018 means our education and outreach efforts are working,” said Adam Weaver, prevention program manager. “Yet it also shows that HIV and other sexually-transmitted infections are still a very real problem in our community. In 2019, we will continue our work to educate the community about safer sex practices and the importance of getting tested.”

In 2018, Palmetto Community Care also launched a PrEP program to help combat rising rates of HIV in the greater Charleston community. PrEP is a once daily pill (brand name Truvada) that is up to 99 percent effective in reducing HIV rates for those who take the medication as prescribed. Palmetto Community Care’s goal is to make this program and medication free or low cost for participants. The program started in September and, by the end of the year, 27 people were enrolled.

Ideal candidates include individuals who are sexually active, have multiple sexual partners, have sexual partners of unknown HIV status and individuals who are 18 years of age or older. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, two-thirds of people who could potentially benefit from PrEP are African American or Latino.

An estimated 1.1 million people in the United States were living with HIV at the end of 2015. Of those people, about 15 percent, or one in seven, did not know they were infected. In the Lowcountry Public Health Region, the latest data as of the end of 2016 indicates that at least 4,606 people are living with HIV/AIDS.

Palmetto Community Care offers free, confidential testing for HIV as well as chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis at its office located at 3547 Meeting Street Road in North Charleston. Testing hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and until 6 p.m. on Wednesdays. No appointment needed. Free condoms are also available.

About Palmetto Community Care | Complete compassionate HIV care + prevention
Palmetto Community Care has been helping those living with HIV for more than 25 years. It all started with a belief that no one living with HIV or AIDS should go without medical care, everyday resources or emotional support. We believe our continued commitment to our work here in the Lowcountry will help bring an end to the HIV epidemic through increased HIV testing, prevention and education. Free, confidential HIV/STI testing: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and until 6 p.m. on Wednesdays. No appointment needed. For more information, visit palmettocommunitycare.org.

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Palmetto Community Care – Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PalmettoCare
Instagram/Twitter: @palmettocare
YouTube: Palmetto Community Care