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The Achiever of the Year Award was established to honor an outstanding individual with a disability or disadvantaging condition who has shown great progress and accomplishment in overcoming barriers to employment. Drew Moore’s path to receiving this award has been nothing short of a miracle.
From a young age, Drew expressed a lifelong passion for cooking and the desire to become a chef. In 2005, his dreams became reality when he graduated from the prestigious Johnson & Wales Culinary Arts Institute in Denver, Colorado. After spending several years across the country pursuing his passion, Drew decided it was time to return home to Charleston, South Carolina where he became a chef at one of the city’s most well-known seafood restaurants.
However, his life would take a sudden and direful turn in February 2015. Drew’s brother, Parker, received an abrupt phone call one night from Drew’s roommate. According to his roommate, Drew was exhibiting unusual behavior which required emergency care. When Parker quickly arrived at the apartment, he discovered Drew laying unresponsive on the couch, surrounded by EMS.
Drew was rushed to the hospital, where it was revealed he had suffered a brain injury due to cardiac arrest after likely having gone without oxygen for nearly 20 minutes. Drew was placed into an intensive care unit (ICU) and doctors informed his family that he was not expected to live.
With family by his side, Drew defied all odds and awoke from a coma four weeks after being admitted to the ICU. Upon awakening, Drew was blind and completely paralyzed on his right side. Once again, doctors advised that his family “pull the plug.” Thankfully, Drew’s family never gave up hope, and day-by-day Drew continued to fight and miraculously recover.
After years of rehab, Drew set his sights on once again returning to the kitchen. As fate would have it, Drew’s family learned of an opportunity through Palmetto Goodwill at the Charleston Naval Weapons Station Galley. Daily, Drew is now able to help prepare food and even prepare a few soup recipes.
“He’s a marvel. He keeps growing. Part of that growth is continuing to be challenged and then doing something he really loves doing. Goodwill affords him that opportunity to be able to do that” said Parker, when asked of Drew’s recovery and willingness to accept a challenge.
Drew is a true testament to what hard work and perseverance can help you achieve. For this reason, Palmetto Goodwill is pleased to recognize Drew Moore as the 2019 Achiever of the Year.
