Our History

iCAN began in 2021 as a collaborative project of the Exchange Club of Kiawah & Seabrook, rooted in a shared commitment to strengthening support for families on Johns and Wadmalaw Islands. Through that work, we met with HALOS, a longtime community partner that supports relatives raising children without parental involvement, and learned that one of their greatest challenges wasn’t providing services—it was finding the families who needed them most.

At the same time, the Exchange Club was supporting more than 30 charitable organizations and schools each year, many serving the same populations but working independently of one another. This led us to ask a practical question: How can we help our partner organizations communicate more effectively and reach more families that are struggling?

That question led to the creation of the Child Advocacy Network (CAN), a coalition focused on sharing information and raising awareness of free, local services. One of our first efforts was a brochure highlighting 14 partner organizations. Over time, more than 10,000 brochures were distributed through schools, churches, libraries, and community events, helping connect neighbors to resources they may not have known were available.

While the brochures made a difference, we eventually realized awareness alone was not enough. To truly reach people in need, we had to connect at a grassroots level through trusted community leaders—those already embedded in neighborhoods facing the greatest barriers to access. This led us to partner with churches serving underserved areas of Johns and Wadmalaw Islands, where relationships and trust were already firmly established.

That approach came to life through the leadership of iCAN Board Member, Dr. Reverend Patti Gordon, pastor of Johns Island Parish. Rev. Gordon’s longstanding presence and trusted leadership in the community helped open doors. She believed deeply in the power of bringing people together and envisioned a free family festival that combined food, fun, and access to services. In June 2025, more than 160 residents and 20 organizations came together for the first Family CANFest, marking a turning point for our work and the strength of our partnerships.

In the fall of 2025, we changed our name to the Islands Community Advocacy Network (iCAN) to reflect our commitment to serving people of all ages. We also received 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, allowing us to expand our reach and formalize our mission.

Today, iCAN is built on three pillars—Awareness, Resources, and Connection—supported by a growing network of more than 30 organizations. Together, we help connect neighbors to food and clothing assistance, education and job support, healthcare, financial aid, grief services, and child abuse prevention resources.

At our core, iCAN exists for one reason: to help connect neighbors who are struggling find the the best possible resources and solutions.