Central Carolina Community Foundation announces the investment of over $134,000 through 12 impact grants awarded to nonprofit organizations in the Midlands.  Our Impact Grants support innovative programs focused on reducing the high-school dropout rate, preventing homelessness and increasing the literacy rate in our community.

Clarendon County Community Development – $16,704
LEAP into Action is a summer day camp designed to assist 30-35 low-income youth aged 5-18 in reading literacy.   The youth will participate in age appropriate reading and writing activities that will enhance their reading proficiency.  All sessions will be facilitated by qualified/certified instructors in the areas of reading, writing/language, financial literacy, science and health.  Supplemental materials will be obtained from the program partners, Clarendon County School District and Clarendon County First Steps.

EdVenture Children’s Museum – $10,000
The Future Leaders program provides leadership development for at-risk 7th graders and hands-on opportunities and career exploration in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.  Funding will allow 90 new 7th grade students to begin the program.  It will also serve to expand the program into a multi-year initiative by allowing current 7th grade students to proceed into a second year of programming during their 8th grade year.

Glenforest School – $10,000
Project Read is a comprehensive language arts program designed to provide explicit instruction in a structured reading curriculum.  Teachers at Glenforest have received the Project Read training and will now move on to the next step, Project Write.  Project Write will expand the existing reading program to include the written component that uses a method of teaching writing through graphic symbols, tactilely manipulating sentence design and sequential concepts and skills.  Teachers will be trained prior to the beginning of the school year and will receive additional support throughout the year as they implement the program in their curricula and classrooms.

Home Works of America – $10,000
Home Works of America provides home repairs to homeowners in need.  During the last three years the need for services continues to grow.  Home Works of America is seeking to hire a full-time staff member to develop and implement a community education program, develop fundraising materials and maintain donor records and files.  The grant will cover the supplemental costs of the position such as purchasing a computer, creating and distributing community education and fundraising materials, and local travel to implement the community education program.

Newberry Boys Farm – $14, 784
Funds are assisting with the Transitional Living Program (TLP).  TLP is designed to prepare young men living at Newberry Boys Farm to handle the challenges of living as adults.  Staff work with the young men to teach them basic living and financial skills, and assist them with researching college and career choices, pursuing regular employment, and obtaining a drivers license.  Once they graduate from high school, they are transitioned to the TLP apartment where they continue to learn how to live independently.

Newberry County Literacy Council -$6,000
The Families and Schools Together (FAST) program is a collaborative effort among parents, community stakeholders and educators for children aged 3 – 14.  The primary goal is to reduced risk for school failure, alcohol and other drug abuse, and juvenile delinquency.  The program develops a structure whereby both the child and his/her parent(s) have a respected voice and a valued role in the collaborative prevention process.

Reformation Lutheran Church – $10,000
SPASH is a six-week summer program for 50 refugee and immigrant children aged 4-12.  The full day program is Monday through Friday and includes academics (English, reading and math,) field trips, nutritious meals and snacks, recreation, and one-on-one tutoring.  SPLASH helps equip and prepare these children for more effective integration and participation in American culture as they both maintain and increase their academic, social and cultural skills.

Rolling Readers – $10,000
Rolling Readers has an intergenerational team of volunteers who donate a minimum of one hour per week to read aloud or tutor students from pre-K through fifth grade in Richland and Lexington counties. The program primarily serves disadvantaged, at risk children in Title 1 schools, children and family shelters, community and faith-based centers, and after-school programs.  In addition, Rolling Readers also holds two book giveaways per year, placing 2,000 new books in the hands of needy children.

Shandon Presbyterian Housing Resources – $10,000
Shandon Presbyterian Housing Resources improves the quality of life for low income individuals and families by providing safe and affordable rental housing opportunities in the local community.  The organization is seeking to expand the number of houses that it rents to formerly homeless families and individuals.  Funding will assist in hiring a part-time property manager to focus on organizational capacity building and property management.  This will be the first paid staff member for the organization.

Sistercare – $14,784
The Early Intervention Counseling Program helps reduce domestic violence and homelessness in central South Carolina and prevent its perpetuation in future generations.  The program assists economically disadvantaged and homeless domestic violence victims to develop the skills and abilities they need to become self sufficient and care for and support their children.

South Carolina Center for Children’s Books & Literacy – $12, 500
The South Carolina Center for Children’s Books & Literacy is convening a Literacy Summit in the fall to bring together reading advocates and practitioners to strengthen relationships across the Midlands and bring about greater productivity.  Through the summit, a shared community agenda to help advance reading will be created.  The ultimate goal is to form an association in order to promote the shared agenda of reading across South Carolina and to make the state more literate by 2030.

The Women’s Shelter – $10,000
The Women’s Shelter provides a safe environment for homeless women in crisis and the necessary resources to build strong and healthy lives.  Funding will for the Homelessness Prevention Initiative will help provide many of these needed resources.  A portion will be used for uniforms and shoes for newly employed women (usually in the food service and hospitality industries.)  A portion will also provide bus tickets and fuel for the shelter vehicle so these women have access to transportation to and from jobs.  The final portion will be used to make place deposits and first month’s rent for women moving into transitional housing to continue their journey to independent living.