Steve Grant, Business Development Director, 1847Financial - Charlotte, Greenville and Atlanta Headquarters, has received the Order of the Palmetto, the highest honor awarded to a citizen of South Carolina.

Presented by the Governor of South Carolina, the Order of the Palmetto recognizes individuals whose service and leadership reflect the highest values of the state. The honor celebrates a lifetime of impact on communities across South Carolina and beyond.

Grant is the founder of Chris and Kelly’s HOPE Foundation, established in 2012 as a donor-advised fund through the Community Foundation of Greenville. The foundation grew from personal loss and a deep commitment to help adolescents and young adults facing substance abuse, addiction, and mental health challenges.

Since its founding, the foundation has raised nearly $800,000 and supported more than 250 organizations and individuals. Its work spans treatment, prevention, education, and recovery initiatives. Grant also helped bring the Chris and Kelly’s HOPE Fitness Park to Greenville’s Swamp Rabbit Trail and has spoken nationwide to raise awareness and encourage action.

In 2020, Grant published Don’t Forget Me: A Lifeline of HOPE for Those Touched by Substance Abuse and Addiction, continuing his mission to educate and support families impacted by addiction.

“This recognition belongs to every person and organization who has walked alongside us,” Grant said. “Our goal has always been simple. Turn loss into hope and help save lives.”

Grant lives in Greenville, South Carolina with his wife, Cathy.

The Order of the Palmetto ceremony was held January 8, 2026, at the Community Foundation of Greenville.

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