Harmon Scholarship Revives Hope in the American Dream

Fred Harmon started his scholarship fund to foster a new generation of civic-minded innovators.
Read moreMarch 15, 2018
Central Carolina Community Foundation grants $335,770 to 11 Midlands Charities to Launch Innovative Projects
Fourth year of Connected Communities grants fund innovative projects to advance Midlands citizens’ engagement with the community
Central Carolina Community Foundation – the Midlands’ expert on philanthropy – is pleased to announce the eleven local nonprofits that will launch new projects to enrich the Midlands region with $335,770 in funding from the Foundation’s fourth annual Connected Communities grants.
The Connected Communities grant initiative aims to answer the questions, “What makes residents love where they live?” and “What draws them in and keeps them there?” Through this grant program, the Foundation funds philanthropic projects – spearheaded by Midlands nonprofits – based on these answers, with the common goal of further connecting residents to the community and knitting the Midlands region together. Since inception, the initiative has granted almost $1.5 million to local projects.
The nonprofit grant recipients presented innovative ideas to the Foundation that embrace one or more of the following three focus areas, identified by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and Gallup as the three most important elements of an attractive community: Welcoming Community, which promotes and encourages open and inclusive activities and programs; Vibrant Social Offerings, which support the availability of community events, arts and culture opportunities; and Superb Public Spaces, which enhance the beauty and physical setting of the Midlands community.
Through the Connected Communities grant initiative, the Foundation seeks to strengthen our region by investing in our community’s assets. Each selected project encourages citizen involvement and community-wide collaboration.
“Selected from 57 submitted Letters of Intent, these eleven projects are part of a creative group of organizations that are working to enrich our community in meaningful ways.” says JoAnn Turnquist, President & CEO of Central Carolina Community Foundation. “The initiatives and programs that will be launched will engage community members and increase our region’s livability. It’s an honor to support this work.”
Connected Communities grants are funded by the Foundation’s Community Impact Endowment (CIE) and Field of Interest funds for the arts. These funds are comprised of generous gifts from visionary donors who knew that their unrestricted gifts would allow the Community Foundation to respond to the ever-changing needs and opportunities in our community for generations to come. These gifts have allowed the Foundation to create the Connected Communities grant initiative and projects like Midlands Gives. This year’s grant awards total $335,770 and recipients are located in Kershaw, Lexington, Orangeburg, Richland, and Sumter counties.
Through these Connected Communities grants, the Foundation and its donors can leverage philanthropy to positively impact the attractiveness of the Midlands community, ensuring that residents of our region “love where they live.”
2018 Connected Communities Grant Recipients
The following projects have been approved by the Foundation and will be funded by Connected Communities grants:
For more information about Connected Communities grants, visit www.yourfoundation.org/community-impact/connected-communities or call 803.254.5601.