Upstate, SC [November 30, 2015] – Phil Hughes, the President of Hughes Investments and a long-time supporter of community vibrancy efforts in the Upstate, has been recognized as the 2015 recipient of the Welling Award for Collaboration, which is presented by Ten at the Top (TATT) in honor of the organization’s founding chairman Irv Welling.
Welling presented the award to Mr. Hughes at the Our Upstate Vision/Ten at the Top Regional Forum on November 19th.
“What I would like to do more than anything if I possibly can, is to make this region good enough where my kids will want to come back.” Hughes said. “Thank you so very much for this honor.”
The Welling Award is given to recognize individuals, businesses, or organizations whose actions have demonstrated a sustained commitment and effort to developing and fostering regional collaboration(s) that work strategically to make the Upstate one of the best places to live, learn, do business and raise a family.
“He’s [Phil] not someone who does anything without doing it fully. He’s been a very strong contributor and supporter of all our efforts,” Welling said. “He’s put his money where his mouth is. He has made contributions that have helped throughout the whole region in various substantive ways.”
In 2013, Hughes started the Elevate Upstate Community Vibrancy Grants Program, which provides funding support to communities across the region to help them grow the sense of place and local vibrancy within their communities. Over the last three years, 12 communities have received grants totaling $43,000 in support.
Hughes is a founding board member of Ten at the Top and has served as a member of the Executive Committee. He also currently serves as the South Carolina Chairman for the Urban Land Institute (ULI).
Ten at the Top is a regional collaboration organization focused on promoting collaboration, partnerships and strategic planning across the Upstate on issues that impact economic vitality and quality of life in the ten-county region. Welling served as chairman of Ten at the Top from its founding in 2005 through 2011.
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