SPARTANBURG – The Spartanburg County Foundation Trustees recently met and awarded $142,571 in grants to 14 nonprofit organizations working innovatively to address the needs of Spartanburg County residents. Grants were awarded in the Spartanburg Community Indicator Areas consisting of education, public health, civic health, economy, and social environment to the following organizations:
1. Northside Development Group
Northside Development Group is the recipient of a $9,000 grant that will provide partial funds to savings accounts for the START ME entrepreneurial program participants. The Northside Development Group serves to encourage and manage the redevelopment of the City of Spartanburg’s Northside Community, honoring its past and expanding the mix of affordable and market-rate housing, economic, educational, recreational, health, and social opportunities.
2. Habitat for Humanity of Spartanburg
Habitat for Humanity of Spartanburg is the recipient of a $15,000 grant to clear and grade a .54-acre parcel of land in order to construct three homes. The parcel is located at the corner of Union Street and Ponce de Leon Avenue. Habitat for Humanity of Spartanburg’s mission is to offer local families a jumpstart to secure, stable futures by providing affordable houses.
3. SC Test Prep
SC Test Prep is the recipient of a $6,950 grant to provide 37 students with test and college preparation classes. SC Test Prep believes that post-secondary education is the most accessible path to economic stability and social empowerment. Through testing preparation and college counseling they seek to transform students into professionally and financially stable young adults who will enrich their communities.
4. The Children’s Museum of the Upstate, Inc.
The Children’s Museum of the Upstate, Inc., is the recipient of a $3,260 grant to implement the Finances for the Family program in Spartanburg County. This program promotes financial literacy to help break the cycle of poverty. The mission of The Children’s Museum of the Upstate is to spark a lifelong passion for curiosity and learning through play.
5. Hope Remains Youth Ranch
Hope Remains Youth Ranch is the recipient of a $15,000 grant to purchase a truck to operate a second mobile equine educational unit. Each unit works with special education teachers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech therapists within Spartanburg County schools to increase progress on Individualized Educational Plan (IEP). Hope Remains Youth Ranch seeks to be a place where youth, families, and adults are transformed using counseling, mentoring, and equine therapy.
6. Ruth’s Gleanings
Ruth’s Gleanings is the recipient of a $15,000 grant to establish two part-time positions, a Foodshare Coordinator and a Foodshare Administrator. Foodshare is a healthy fresh produce box that is aggregated and distributed bi-weekly at wholesale cost. It is geared toward participants of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Foodshare Spartanburg strives to connect families and communities to fruits and vegetables by increasing access to affordable, fresh food. Ruth’s Gleanings seeks to empower individuals in nutritional poverty by increasing access to healthy food.
7. Hub City Farmers’ Market
Hub City Farmers’ Market is the recipient of a $15,000 grant to renovate the Urban Farm and implement the Seed to Table program. The Seed to Table educational program includes in-school programming and field trips to the Urban Farm. Once a semester, students run a booth at the Farmers’ Market selling produce. The Hub City Farmers’ Market strives to increase supply, demand, and access to healthy, local food in Spartanburg County.
8. The Homeless Period Project, Inc.
The Homeless Period Project, Inc., is the recipient of a $2,500 challenge grant to purchase Period Packs for eight Spartanburg County schools. The Homeless Period Project was founded in 2015 with the mission to provide sanitary products to women and girls. The organization strives to educate and bring awareness to end the stigma of menstruation in society.
9. Hope Center for Children
Hope Center for Children is the recipient of a $14,467 grant to provide food for 121 youth served by Hope Center for Children residential programs. Hope Center for Children’s focus is building stable, healthy families, and providing children a safe place from abuse and neglect.
10. Christmas in Action
Christmas in Action is the recipient of a $15,000 grant to purchase building materials to repair 10 homes in Spartanburg County. Christmas in Action rehabilitates the houses of the elderly, disabled, and otherwise disadvantaged homeowners, to provide for their continued safety and independence.
11. Total Ministries
Total Ministries is the recipient of a $5,000 grant to implement a rebranding process to develop a new website and logo. Total Ministries strives to assist those in Spartanburg County who are facing financial hardships through the prevention of lost utility services, heating assistance in winter months, food assistance, obtaining birth certificates, and covering costs of life-sustaining medications.
12. Mobile Meals of Spartanburg, Inc.
Mobile Meals of Spartanburg, Inc., is the recipient of a $4,644 grant to purchase computer monitors and a color laser printer in order to increase staff productivity and efficiency. Mobile Meals provides nutritious meals, services, and fellowship to the elderly in Spartanburg County.
13. St. Luke’s Free Medical Clinic
St. Luke’s Free Medical Clinic is the recipient of a $11,750 grant to implement The Power of Healthy Living Program. The purpose of this program is to prevent and manage chronic disease, such as diabetes and hypertension, through healthy eating and an active lifestyle. St. Luke’s Free Medical Clinic’s mission is to offer quality healthcare services to uninsured Spartanburg County residents.
14. The Behavioral Health Taskforce
The Behavioral Health Taskforce is the recipient of a $10,000 grant towards the continuation of the Behavioral Health Taskforce’s Reassurance Line. The Reassurance Line is an intervention concept designed to help individuals with behavioral and mental health issues to live independently, reduce feelings of anxiety or depression, and to reduce the demand of hospitalization and emergency room visits.
These grants are made possible in partnership with the Alma M. and T.R. Garrison Fund, the Arkwright Foundation, Inc., Trustee Initiated Fund, the Erwin N. Darrin Fund, the Inman-Riverdale Foundation Trustee Initiated Fund, the John and Kitty Keith Fund, the Leland L. and Nell B. Larrabee Fund, the Robert E. Gregory, Jr. and Marie Gregory Trustee Initiated Fund, The Barnet Foundation Trust, Inc., Trustee Initiated Fund, The Donald C. Johnston, Jr. and Ann M. Johnston Trustee Initiated Fund, The John and Jean Williams Trustee Initiated Fund, The Martha C. Chapman Trustee Initiated Fund, The Reverend Clay and Jane Turner Trustee Initiated Fund, The Spartanburg County Foundation Community Fund, and the Virginia U. Russell Fund.
The Spartanburg County Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of Spartanburg County residents by promoting philanthropy, encouraging community engagement and responding to community needs. Established in 1943, The Spartanburg County Foundation is the oldest community foundation in South Carolina.
Confirmed in compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations.