Lee Carter Joins All 4 Autism to Bring Resources and Support to the Pee Dee

Lee Carter (’98) is passionate about helping the community that helped him.

For Carter, a Partner and Client Wealth Manager at Armstrong Wealth Management Group in Florence, that’s meant devoting time and energy to All 4 Autism, a seven-year-old charity that supports autism awareness and assistance in the Pee Dee.

Carter and his wife, Courtney, first joined the local Autism community after receiving a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder for their son Holdon, who is now 11 years old.

“When you get a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder for your child, life significantly changes,” Carter says. “All your energy is directed towards figuring out your next steps. Then, you learn quickly you have to take things day by day.”

For the Carter family, that meant leaning on a close friend who had embarked on the same journey a few years prior. They found great value in having someone to talk to and support them as they navigated their new way of life. The support they received is what led them to help provide similar support to others by joining All 4 Autism.

“It was a blessing to be able to call on our friends and ask questions,” Carter says. “I wanted to help make that process easier for everyone and be a part of a local organization that serves families in our region.”

Soon after All 4 Autism was created, the organization invited Carter to join the Board of Directors.

He eagerly agreed and even served as the President of the Board for three years. Carter continues to help with fundraising, speak to groups in the community about autism, and share his family’s journey with autism spectrum disorder.

The organization has grown significantly since it was created in 2016 by founding members Jessica Brown and Amy Pennington, Carter says. It has helped a lot of people along the way — including the Carters.

“I was more than willing to help and get involved because of my family’s experience,” Carter said. “There was not a local organization to help us navigate the process and find the services we needed. That’s why I was glad to step in, to help other families that came after us down the same path. I wanted others to have a resource available right in their own backyard.”

In the future, Carter anticipates All 4 Autism expanding its services beyond autism to include other disabilities.

“I can see All 4 Autism becoming a hub for resources and support for disabilities in general,” Carter said. “Many parents seek the same support and services regardless of the diagnosis.”

Carter came to Francis Marion in 1994 after the head baseball coach at the time, Gerald Griffin, presented him with a scholarship opportunity.

The Kingstree native found FMU to be a good fit and stayed busy throughout his college career. In addition to baseball, Carter also juggled academic and social commitments— he was a member of FMU’s Kappa Alpha Order fraternity. Carter’s many responsibilities helped him develop skills that have been useful throughout his life.

“I had a very well-rounded college experience,” says Carter.

“The biggest lesson I learned as a student was time management.

Between athletics, academics and other activities, I did not have a lot of free time. My schedule was always very busy, and learning how to prioritize has benefitted me as I’ve grown in the business world.”

Carter joined Armstrong Wealth Management Group shortly after graduation. He’s been with the growing firm for 21 years.