Hughes Agency Owner and CEO Velda Hughes was awarded the Order of the Palmetto by Gov. Henry McMaster at a TD SYNNEX Share the Magic event on Dec. 15.

https://greenvillejournal.com/community/velda-hughes-hughes-agency-owner-and-ceo-awarded-the-order-of-the-palmetto/ 

• Jeannie Putnam
• December 15, 2022

Hughes Agency Owner and CEO Velda Hughes receives the Order of the Palmetto from Gov. Henry McMaster. Photo by John Olson.

Hughes was given the award in recognition of her involvement and accomplishments with South Carolina’s business and nonprofit sectors, such as serving as TD SYNNEX Share the Magic fundraising committee chair and helping to launch Clemson University’s Men of Color National Summit.

Hughes has also spearheaded or assisted in a variety of fundraising campaigns, including:

• Raising nearly $20 million to help build Unity Park
• Raising $14 million to build The Children’s Museum of the Upstate

“I want to say thank you to all of y’all and everything that I have ever worked on has been a joy,” said Hughes. “No one person does anything; it’s a team. Our father taught us that you don’t just live a life, you give as much as you can and I have tried to do that. For the past 39 years, I have a joy to work with all of my team members at the Hughes Agency. They mean the world to me and they are why I have been able to do what I’ve been able to do.”

The Order of the Palmetto, established in 1971 by Gov. John West, is South Carolina’s highest civilian honor.