The Del Webb Corporation, embarking on building a new residential development, Sun City Hilton Head, wanted to simultaneously help build a solid foundation for learning at the local West Hardeeville School. Through a signed partnership agreement with the South Carolina State Chamber of Commerce, Del Webb initially focused on the school's building and grounds. Developing the new community of Sun City Hilton Head sprouted a group of eager volunteers that adopted the West Hardeeville School project. The Sun City Hilton Head volunteers initially painted the school's interior, assembled desks and shelving and created a geometric learning garden for students.

Del Webb's Sun City Hilton Head volunteers introduced the Sunshine Reader Program, which involves reading aloud with first and second graders, until they can read back to the volunteer.

Sun City Hilton Head volunteers also funded an artist-in-residence program, provided job-shadowing experiences, started a school-run newsletter and organized field trips.

To instill a knowledge and appreciation for music, the volunteers created a new program of hand chiming, an activity of the Sun City Chorus, teaching sight reading and promoting music understanding.

Achievements were acknowledged by the State Chamber's High Performance Partnership Award for two consecutive years, with developmental reading showing growth for first graders, increasing from 5.0 in August to 13.3 in January, and fourth grade benchmarks up 3.9 points in language arts and 4.3 points in math.

The Sunshine Reader Program expanded to provide one-on-one instruction for struggling readers in the primary grades. Some children receive four to five sessions of tutoring a week. Not only has the program improved academics, but also positively affected motivation, self-esteem and attitudes.

The West Hardeeville Chimers have been chosen to perform at the state convention of the South Carolina School Board Association.