Care Innovations Celebrates 25 Years of Service with “From Survival to Strength” Anniversary Gal

DARLINGTON, S.C. — Hundreds of people attended Care Innovations’ 25th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, September 26, celebrating 25 years of service to the community. 

The “From Survival to Strength” milestone celebration honored the organization’s “legacy of service, the resilience of the individuals and families it serves, and the strength that comes from compassion, advocacy, partnership, and access to quality care.”

The Care Innovations 25th Anniversary Gala was held on Saturday evening at the Darlington Country Club. The evening brought together community leaders, healthcare professionals, advocates, partners, supporters, and friends of Care Innovations to celebrate a quarter-century of making a difference in the lives of those it serves.

The evening’s keynote speaker was Ann Lewis, Chief Executive Officer of CareSouth Carolina, who was named the recipient of the Pioneer Award by Care Innovations.

Over the past quarter-century, Care Innovations has remained committed to helping individuals and families navigate challenges, overcome barriers to healthcare, access critical resources, and build healthier and more empowered lives. Through HIV services, prevention, advocacy, care coordination, and community-based support, Care Innovations has worked to ensure that people are not defined by their circumstances but empowered by the strength they discover within themselves and through the support of their community.

“Celebrating 25 years of Care Innovations is more than celebrating an anniversary—it is celebrating a journey. It is a journey from survival to strength, from uncertainty to hope, and from barriers to greater possibilities. Most importantly, it is a celebration of the lives we have touched and the individuals and families who have entrusted us with their care. For 25 years, Care Innovations has stood alongside the people we serve, advocating for access, dignity, compassion, and opportunity. This milestone reflects the dedication of our staff, the commitment of our partners, and the resilience of the communities we serve. We are proud of where we have been, grateful for where we are today, and excited about where we are going. Our next chapter will continue to be guided by innovation, collaboration, compassion, equity, and an unwavering commitment to strengthening the lives of those we serve,” Hope McQueen, Program Director, Lloyd Paige and Taknia James, Planning Committee Co-Chairs, said in a joint statement.

The 25th Anniversary Gala also recognized individuals and organizations whose dedication, collaboration, and support have contributed to Care Innovations’ success over the past 25 years.

The organization extended its sincere appreciation to the sponsors whose generosity and partnership helped make the milestone celebration possible:

CareSouth Carolina • Carolina Bank • LabCorp • Gilead Sciences • Hope Health • Healthy Blue • SPC Credit Union • Douglas Jennings Law Firm • Dr. Jeniqua Duncan • Trans Care 

These partnerships represent an important part of Care Innovations’ story. They demonstrate the power of organizations and individuals coming together with a common purpose: to improve lives, strengthen communities, and ensure that people have access to the care and support they need. 

CareSouth Carolina is a private, non-profit community health center delivering patient-centered health and life services in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. CareSouth Carolina operates centers in Bennettsville, Bishopville, Cheraw, Chesterfield, Dillon, Hartsville, Lake View, Latta, McColl and Society Hill.

Services provided by CareSouth Carolina include family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, women's services, OB/GYN, HIV/AIDS primary care, infectious disease primary care, IV therapy, substance abuse prevention, dental, chiropractic services, pharmacy, senior support services, family support services, clinical counseling, laboratory, ultrasound, X-Ray, agricultural worker health services, podiatry, and veterans choice provider.