BEAUFORT, S.C. (WSAV) - The South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development Corporations (SCACED) is congratulating one of its founding members, Elizabeth "Liz" Aiken Santagati, who received The South Carolina Order of the Palmetto Award from the State of South Carolina and Governor Henry McMasters on Thursday.
The Order of the Palmetto is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a civilian citizen in the state of South Carolina.
Santagati was presented with the award at the 30th Anniversary Gala Dinner event for the SCACED, an organization of which she served as the Chair of the Board and a board member for 16 years.
Elizabeth "Liz" Aiken Santagati (pictured center) at the 30th Anniversary Gala Dinner with her two daughters Tiffany Santagati-Simpson (pictured left) and Elisa Kadel (pictured right)
Santagati was born into the Gullah culture in Beaufort. She joined the US Army at 18 years old and by 19 years old, during her time as a nurse in the Army, Santagati was promoted, becoming the youngest Ward Master in the history (at that time) of the military hospital that she was stationed at in Tacoma, WA.
In the late 1980’s, Santagati worked on the Lady’s Island Land Use Plan to ensure the involvement of Gullah community representation. In 1990, she worked on the Land Use Plan on St. Helena Island, to determine the best avenues to preserve their land and historic culture. In her employment with the Beaufort County Disabilities and Special Needs Board in 1988, Santagati started the first supported employment program for those with special needs and she was instrumental in implementing new state standards.
After attending the Penn School for Preservation in 1993 to sharpen her community development skills, Santagati served on the committee to create the South Carolina Coastal Development Corporation, a Beaufort-based community development organization.
Santagati went on to partner with Mary Cleveland and Pearl McCoy in 1994 to form a state-wide association of community development corporations, creating what is now SCACED.
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Noticing a need in her community to assist Black-owned and/or Black-led businesses, Santagati organized a meeting in 1999 that led to the creation of the first Black Chamber of Commerce of Beaufort and became part of the founding board. Santagati's work was adopted as an example of creating systematic change by the Asset-Based Community Development Institute, as well as the Blandin Foundation.
Santagati was previously honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from SCACED for her contributions to her community and the state of South Carolina, as a whole. She has been featured in magazines and appeared on Anthony Bourdain’s "No Reservations” during Season 3, Episode 9, titled “South Carolina”.
Currently, Santagati serves as a South Carolina Silver-Haired Legislator. She is Vice President of the Beaufort Families and Community Leaders. She is also involved with the American Legion Post 207, even serving as Commander for two terms. Santagati is a life-long member of the Disabled American Veterans, and a member of the Veteran of Foreign Wars. She has served as the Mistress of Ceremonies for Beaufort ‘s Veteran’s Day Ceremony for over 15 years.
Santagati joins the ranks of celebrities who have also received The Order of the Palmetto award, singer and songwriter Peabo Bryson, U.S. Representative James "Jim" Clyburn and renowned and critically acclaimed author and a former South Carolina educator, Donald Patrick Conroy.