Servant Leadership Matters

What we do with our free time is up to us. Many people like to attend and play sports, travel or participate in family activities. These are wonderful things to do. Many people also focus on spending time to serve their community, often making it a priority. We have that investment by the members of the Board of Trustees at the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina.

Many of our trustees donate hundreds of hours of their time each to attend meetings, participate in site visits and conferences, review grants and many other Foundation activities. The life blood of most non-profit organizations lie with its volunteers. While staff may be essential, volunteers offer a perspective and expertise key to a balanced and successful organization. There are certain core values that are inherit in all board members. These include belief in the mission, selflessness, leadership and believing in an inclusive team effort to accomplish a larger organizational goal.

Servant leadership has different meanings to different people. My interpretation of a servant leader is someone who commits to serving others through their own sacrifices or using their own gifts. This is evident on our Foundation Board each and every year. A board comprised of servant leaders who care about others and give of their time, energy and talents to make a difference in affecting the lives of the poor in South Carolina. They embody the Foundation’s core values of justice, collaboration, compassion, respect and courage. Without them, we would not be the organization we are today.

Tom Keith is the executive director of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina.