Congratulations, Carli Simms!

We are thrilled to share that one of our devoted volunteers, Carli Simms, was unanimously accepted for recognition as the Governor's Volunteer Award for Youth Volunteer in March 2023!

Carli has been volunteering with the Brain Injury Association of South Carolina, specifically the young adult support and advocacy group, BrainStorm, since November 2021. BrainStorm is a peer support group for young adults ages 16-29 who have experienced brain injury. This means that young adults themselves who have a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or concussion (mild TBI), as well as young adults who have a parent, family member, sibling, friend, or community member who has experienced a brain injury. Carli has volunteered her time to assist with the planning of monthly peer support meetings, assists with facilitation of the meetings, and has sat on presentation panels for monthly BrainStorm groups to provide an essential perspective to the group. Carli originally reached out to Brain Injury Association of SC two months after her boyfriend completed suicide due to complications from multiple head injuries during his high school football career. She was looking for a sense of community and opportunity to find purpose and advocacy through her personal tragedy and experience. Carli's insightful, genuine, and empathetic approach to peer support and connecting with others who have experienced brain injury in their lives has been a needed asset to the group and the work we do. Carli has also participated in our annual Brain Injury Awareness events at the statehouse to spread education and awareness about brain injury.

The Governor’s Volunteer Awards are a time to share how South Carolinians serve our state without any expectation of recognition or compensation. These considerate people selflessly use the tools and time available to them to address the needs they recognize in their communities. These volunteers are the embodiment of our state motto, Dum Spiro Spero – While I breathe, I hope. For more than 30 years, these awards recognize the volunteers who go above and beyond to breathe hope into their communities, inspiring all of us to join them.

For more information about the Governor’s Volunteer Awards and the 2023 Recipients, go to TogetherSC.