The evening of June 17, 2015, is a night that Charleston will never forget. A shooter entered the Mother Emanuel AME Church—one of the city’s most historic religious institutions—and took the lives of nine victims during their weekly bible study.

Since the tragedy, the community has rallied around the victims’ families and the members of Mother Emanuel, showing love and support in more ways than once seemed imaginable. One such act of support—the A Community United gala and silent auction—took place last Thursday, July 9. To date, the event has raised over $579,000 … every penny of which will be donated to the nine families who lost their loved ones that night, divided evenly among them.

When the event organizers of A Community United asked for donations for the silent auction, the items started rolling in. Anglin Smith Fine Art artists Betty Anglin Smith, Shannon Smith Hughes, Jennifer Smith Rogers, and Tripp Smith each donated a piece of their work. In addition, bidders could vie for extravagant vacations to Italy, Spain, Brazil, and Southeast Asia, as well as Grammy Award tickets, jewelry, multi-course dinners, designer handbags, and dozens of beautiful pieces of art. At the event itself, attendees dined on food donated from over 50 local restaurants and listened to the Lowcountry Gospel music choir.

Here are the pieces donated by Betty, Shannon, Jennifer, and Tripp. Together, their  pieces raised over $11,000.


Santee Coastal III by Tripp Smith

Santee Coastal III by Tripp Smith

Spring Cotton by Shannon Smith Hughes

Spring Cotton by Shannon Smith Hughes

Charleston Chimneys by Jennifer Smith Rogers

Charleston Chimneys by Jennifer Smith Rogers

Floodtide by Betty Anglin Smith

Floodtide by Betty Anglin Smith