SC Ports awards $205,000 to community organizations

Published on Wednesday, December 8, 2021 by Nicole Cornett, Expansion Solutions Magazine

Funding from SC Ports’ Community Giving Program will support Camp Rise Above’s mission of providing fun, life-changing camp experiences to children with serious illnesses, life challenges and disabilities. (Photo/Provided by Camp Rise Above)

Charleston, SC — South Carolina Ports has awarded $205,000 in grants to 111 community organizations and nonprofits throughout South Carolina as part of its fiscal year 2022 Community Giving Program.

SC Ports dedicates a portion of its revenues each year to support charitable organizations in the communities in which the port operates. Programs with measurable, sustained impacts receive priority during the selection process.

“The SC Ports team believes strongly in supporting the great organizations in South Carolina that work tirelessly to make a meaningful and measurable difference in people’s lives,” SC Ports CEO Jim Newsome said. “At a time of economic hardship for many, SC Ports is proud to play a small role in supporting the important work done by the Community Giving Program grant recipients.”

Many of this year’s grant recipients are dedicated to improving children’s lives through supportive mentoring programs, outdoor and enrichment activities, and confidence-building curricula.

Grant funding will support more than 135,000 children throughout South Carolina with programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lowcountry, Camp Rise Above, Healing Farms, Orangeburg County Community of Character, The Green Heart Project and Wings for Kids, to name a few.

Grants will also support literacy programs — such as Begin with Books and Reading Partners of South Carolina — benefiting nearly 7,000 students.

SC Ports continues to support organizations dedicated to addressing food insecurity and improving access to healthy foods. Programs such as East Cooper Meals on Wheels, Fresh Future Farm, Greer Community Ministries, Help 4 Kids Florence and Love Feeds will use grant funding to help serve more than 7,000 individuals around the state. SC Ports also recently donated $24,000 to the Lowcountry Food Bank.

Several grant recipients received funds for workforce development initiatives. Greenville Technical College will use the funding to create nine scholarships for its Truck Driver Training Program. Programs such as this create a career path and provide vital job skills for the logistics and maritime industry, which are crucial to the success of port operations.

This year’s grant funding will also support 17 health and wellness programs around the state, impacting more than 10,000 children and adults. Beyond Basic Life Skills, Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas, Greenville Area Parkinson Society, Girls on the Run Charleston, Going Places, Good Neighbor Medical Clinic and Mercy Medicine Free Clinic are among the grant recipients working to improve people’s lives by providing access to health care and wellness programs.

“SC Ports strives to have a positive impact in our communities, as do these 111 incredible grant award recipients,” said Jordi Yarborough, SC Ports’ senior vice president of community engagement. “It is through partnerships with organizations like these that we achieve our shared goal of making a difference in South Carolina.”

Fiscal Year 2022 Community Giving Program grant recipients:Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired SCAudubon South CarolinaBe A MentorBEGIN WITH BOOKSBerkeley Chamber of CommerceBeyond BASIC Life SkillsBeyond Our Walls, Inc. (BOWs)Big Brothers Big Sisters of the LowcountryBridges of HopeCamp DiscoveryCamp Happy DaysCamp Rise AboveCarolina Youth Development CenterCharleston Area Seniors – Meals on Wheels of CharlestonCharleston Gaillard Management CorporationCharleston Habitat for HumanityCharleston Parks ConservancyChildren’s Cancer Partners of the CarolinasClemson ExtensionCoaches 4 CharacterCocky’s Reading ExpressCommunities In Schools of South CarolinaCommunity PrideDee Norton Child Advocacy CenterDillon Community AllianceDillon County Chamber of CommerceDillon County First StepsDillon County Parks and RecreationDillon County United WayDorchester County Economic DevelopmentEast Cooper Community OutreachEast Cooper Meals on WheelsEdisto Island Youth Recreation (EIYR)First Tee – Greater CharlestonFlorence Area Literacy CouncilFlorence Crittenton Programs of SCFresh Future FarmFriends of Coastal South CarolinaFuture Entrepreneurs FoundationGeorgetown County Family YMCAGeorgetown County Historical SocietyGibbes Museum of ArtGirls on the Run Charleston (Coastal South Carolina)Going PlacesGood Neighbor Medical ClinicGreenville Area Parkinson Society (GAPS)Greenville DriveGreenville Tech FoundationGreer Community Ministries, Inc.Greer Development CorporationHabitat for Humanity of Greenville CountyHealing FarmsHeart Of LifeHelp 4 Kids FlorenceHelping and Lending Outreach Support, HALOSHistoric Camden FoundationMUSC Hollings Cancer Center – LOWVELOHospice and Palliative Care FoundationHumanities Foundation Inc.Junior Achievement of Greater SCKids On PointKingdom Restoration Community Development CorporationLatta Revitalization CommissionA Backpack JournalistLions Vision ServicesLove FeedsLowcountry Autism FoundationLowCountry Habitat for HumanityLowcountry Legal VolunteersLowcountry Local FirstLowcountry Maritime SchoolLowcountry Orphan ReliefMeals On Wheels of SummervilleMercy Medicine Free ClinicMingle of the Pee DeeMonroe’s Mighty MissionMother Emanuel Memorial FoundationMultiplying GoodMy Sister’s HouseNaomi ProjectOperation HomeOrangeburg County Community of CharacterPartnership for Tomorrow