Jennifer Tice Shares Lily Pad’s Vision at Pour Out Project Event with Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette

Recently, Jennifer Tice, Lily Pad's executive director and co-founder, shared a powerful message about creating spaces of dignity and care for vulnerable youth in foster care at the Pour Out Project's event with South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette. 

Drawing on 14 years as foster parents and backgrounds in nursing and law enforcement, Jennifer and her husband, Ben, recognized a critical gap: children experiencing trauma often waited hours - or overnight - for a foster care placement inside South Carolina Department of Social Services offices. Lily Pad was created to change that reality by providing “soft places to land” that reflect care, comfort, and God’s love in moments of crisis. No child should spend their worst moments in a cubicle.

Today, Lily Pad serves children in 64 spaces across 38 county offices in 33 South Carolina counties, with growing demand from both child welfare and law enforcement agencies. Jennifer emphasized that this work is not just a child welfare issue, but a community and future issue - one that calls South Carolina to lead differently. She also highlighted the importance of strong nonprofit infrastructure and collaboration, praising Pour Out Project for coming alongside organizations like Lily Pad with strategic coaching, shared resources, and a spirit of partnership. Together, she noted, nonprofits are stronger - and communities are better - when they work as part of a shared ecosystem serving the most vulnerable.