Riley Institute names Wilkins Award winners

Listen to this article

Sen. John W. Matthews Jr., D-Orangeburg, and Charlotte Berry of Columbia, a lifetime philanthropist and community leader, have been named the recipients of the 2018 David H. Wilkins Awards, recognizing outstanding legislative and civic leadership in the state.

The winners, announced by Furman University’s Riley Institute, will be recognized at the 14th annual awards ceremony and dinner, which will be held at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center on Jan. 8, the first night of the legislative session. A reception for all registered attendees begins at 6 p.m., with the dinner and awards presentation following at 7 p.m. Tickets are $125 each.

“At a time when principled leadership is critical to making progress, South Carolina’s citizens look to their leaders to put aside differences and work together for the good of our state,” said Don Gordon, executive director of the Riley Institute, in a news release. “John and Charlotte exemplify the kind of leadership that moves our state forward.”

Sen. Matthews is the longest-serving African-American S.C. state legislator, according to the release, which also says Matthews “is known for his willingness to work with others across the aisle to support progress in education, health care and economic development.” He will receive the David H. Wilkins Award for Excellence in Legislative Leadership.

Berry will receive the David H. Wilkins Award for Excellence in Civic Leadership. Berry is national chairwoman of Volunteers of the American Red Cross, a founding member of Women in Philanthropy, and “has spent a lifetime championing the displaced, disenfranchised and disaffected,” according to the release.

The annual awards are named for David H. Wilkins, who served as speaker of the S.C. House of Representatives and as U.S. Ambassador to Canada. Wilkins will co-host the event with Furman President Elizabeth Davis and former S.C. governor Dick Riley, who also previously served as U.S. Secretary of Education.