Ms. Darla Moore

Darla Moore

A native South Carolinian, Darla Moore was born in Lake City, amidst the family cotton, soybean and tobacco farm, the oldest daughter of Eugene and Lorraine Moore.

Even in her youth, Ms. Moore strove for activities beyond the norm for young girls of her time; her parents encouraged this, particularly her Dad, who, in addition to working the farm, was also a school teacher, principal, and coach in Lake City. In 2003 Ms. Moore honored this remarkable man, a 1950 graduate of Clemson, with a significant gift to Clemson's School of Education; the University renamed the school the Eugene T. Moore School of Education in honor of her father.

Darla Moore has pursued her personal ambitions with remarkable zeal. As she spoke to the University of South Carolina Class of 2006, she noted that she was determined that growing up in rural South Carolina would not keep her from accomplishing her goals. Her story bears out this determination, as she started her journey by receiving a BA in Political Science from University of South Carolina and an MBA from George Washington University.

Ms. Moore, Vice President of Rainwater, Inc., is founder and chair of the Palmetto Institute (2002), a Columbia-based nonprofit think tank aimed at creating dramatic and sustained growth in the creation, distribution and retention of wealth for every person in South Carolina. She also founded and chairs The Charleston Parks Conservancy, a foundation focused on enhancing the parks and public spaces of the city of Charleston.

Ms. Moore serves on the board of New York University Medical School and Hospital and is a former member of the board of the University of South Carolina. She has served on numerous corporate boards, including Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, The South Financial Group and MPS Group. She currently serves on the National Advisory Board of JP Morgan and was formerly a managing director of the predecessor Chemical Bank.

The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce recently presented Darla Moore their Business Person of the Year Award. In 2007 she was inducted into the South Carolina Business Hall of Fame. In 2010 she received the Townes Award from the Governor's School for Science and Mathematics, recognizing her leadership in science, education, technology, and business innovation.The University of South Carolina’s Business School is named in her honor. She is the first woman to be profiled on the cover of Fortune Magazine and named to the List of the Top 50 Most Powerful Women in American Business.

In addition to Ms. Moore's initiatives on behalf of the business and civic communities in South Carolina, she has championed many causes that impact and improve the lives of our youth directly and indirectly. To name just a few:

She strongly supports the Boy Scouts in Lower Florence County.
She plays an important role in sustaining the Highway 52 Church Basketball League, providing a positive recreational outlet for area youth.
She was instrumental in implementing the "Stock Market Game" in schools throughout SC. Each year, more than 6,000 SC students in grades 4-12 in public, private, or home schools complete this investment exercise, sponsored by SC Economics, located at USC's Moore School of Business.
She strongly supports the arts, through groups such as the Lake City Community Chorale and the Lake City Concert Series.
Through the Lake City Community Foundation she assisted charter school Lake City College Preparatory Academy in acquiring two school buses.
Through the Palmetto Institute she is championing the cause of universal pre-kindergarten education for all children in South Carolina.
Her generosity has enabled the start-up of the Dr. Ronald E. McNair Center for Aerospace Innovation and Research at the University of South Carolina, whose programs will train both undergraduate and graduate students in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers in high demand in aerospace and aviation.
Through the Palmetto Institute and Francis Marion University, she has facilitated the placement of 30 Teach for America teachers in the neediest schools in four Pee Dee area counties.
Through the Palmetto Institute, the Benefit Bank has enabled South Carolinians to access $2 million in state and federal work supports, plus assisting youth to complete college FAFSA forms, and helping families access food and medical programs and tax credits they are entitled to claim.

Moore and her husband spend most of their time in Lake City in a house built on a plantation that has been in the Moore family for six generations.