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Meet Our President

William D. Nicholson II

PRESIDENT

Danny Nicholson was born alone on February 26, 1962. He was adopted by Billy and Mary Nicholson, a maintenance worker and school teacher, who took him home to 401 West Richardson Circle in Hartsville, South Carolina. He grew up in a Christian elementary school and developed a love for the game of basketball. While training for basketball in high school, he found his God-given talent for running and joined the high school Track and Field team in the spring of 1978. He ran 4:28 in the mile during the State Championship meet in 1979, which earned him an athletic scholarship at Charleston Southern University. He graduated from CSU in 1984 with a major in Communications and minor in Religion.

Meet Our President

William D. Nicholson II

PRESIDENT

Danny Nicholson was born alone on February 26, 1962. He was adopted by Billy and Mary Nicholson, a maintenance worker and school teacher, who took him home to 401 West Richardson Circle in Hartsville, South Carolina. He grew up in a Christian elementary school and developed a love for the game of basketball. While training for basketball in high school, he found his God-given talent for running and joined the high school Track and Field team in the spring of 1978. He ran 4:28 in the mile during the State Championship meet in 1979, which earned him an athletic scholarship at Charleston Southern University. He graduated from CSU in 1984 with a major in Communications and minor in Religion.

While attending CSU, he met his wife Debra
and developed a love for music and songwriting.

He began his fundraising career two weeks before graduation. From 1984 until 2017 (33 years), Danny served in University Advancement for eight different institutions of Higher Education, including, Medical University of South Carolina, Coker College, and Carson Newman University, to name a few. In these roles, he was responsible for leading fundraising campaigns that raised over 100 million dollars. Danny completed his Masters and Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy at the University of South Carolina in 2006 and was awarded the “Grenzebach Award” by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), which earned him the designation of writing the top dissertation for fundraising in the nation. He also graduated from the prestigious Harvard Leadership Institute in 2007.

Through the years, Danny honed his skills as a songwriter and completed four original albums that he used to minister to young people across the Southeast for over ten years. All proceeds from album sales were used to minister to children and support mission work. In 2009, “Legacy Road” was produced by singer/songwriter Gene Cotton and recorded in Nashville, Tennessee. “Legacy Road” featured original songs written and performed by his family and friends. The financial support received from the album was donated to the “Nicaragua Project” and was used to paint a school in Managua, install ten computers in their school, and construct a roof on the home of Roger and Sonia Gonzalez. Danny has always been convicted to tie his work to the needs of the “least of these.”

Danny has been recognized for his athletic accomplishments and service to others.

He was presented with the “Wynn Christian Athlete Award” and named “Alumni of the Year” at Charleston Southern University. His participation in Rotary International garnered him Rotarian of the Year and named a Paul Harris Fellow for his service above self. He completed the Boston Marathon in 2000 and 2007.

On September 1, 2017, Danny assumed the role of President at Connie Maxwell Children's Ministries, headquartered in Greenwood, SC.

He is inspired by the children and families he serves and is passionate about creating an environment grounded in faith, family, and the future. His phrase, “For the Dreams of Children,” was inspired by a chance meeting with a foster child at a seafood restaurant. Learn more about this encounter by watching this brief video.

Currently, Danny and his wife Debra reside on campus with their dog, Summer. They are the proud grandparents to Oliver Wooten and parents to Taylor and Bryson.

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MEDIA & PUBLICATIONS

Danny Nicholson named president of Connie Maxwell Children’s Home

Connie Maxwell trustees formally approved a search committee’s nomination of Nicholson Thursday morning during a board meeting at the ministry’s main campus in Greenwood.

Connie Maxwell Children’s Home receives $350,000 grant for foster care ministry

A recent $350,000 grant will strengthen Connie Maxwell Children’s Home’s resources in ministering to children and families through South Carolina’s foster care system.

Lackey represents third generation of Connie Maxwell trustees

Richard Lackey is following in both his father’s and his grandfather’s footsteps — all three have served as trustees for Connie Maxwell Children’s Home.

S.C. Baptists go on the record for aiding displaced children

Whether supporting adoption and foster care, or by partnering with Connie Maxwell Children’s Home, South Carolina Baptists have historically given public voice to the biblical imperative to care for children of broken families, and they have done so yet again in recent times.