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The Spartanburg County Foundation Awards $129,490 to Fifteen Nonprofit Organizations

The Spartanburg County Foundation Awards $129,490 to Fifteen Nonprofit Organizations

The Spartanburg County Foundation awarded $129,490 in capacity-building grants to 15 nonprofit organizations working to improve the lives of Spartanburg County residents across all seven Spartanburg Community Indicator Areas: Civic Health, Cultural Vitality, Economy, Education, Natural Environment, Public Health, and Social Environment. Recipients were recognized at an awards ceremony Monday, November 7, 2016, at The Spartanburg County Foundation.

Each year, The Spartanburg County Foundation Trustees set an unrestricted budget from The Community Fund and a partnership of other funds to award grants to nonprofit organizations and institutions serving Spartanburg County. The recipients of the Fall Grant Cycle received funding to build the capacity of their organizations in order to help fulfill their missions and positively impact the greater Spartanburg County community.

In 2016, The Spartanburg County Foundation has awarded more than $336,000 through The Community Fund. “The Community Fund offers the opportunity for anyone to be a philanthropist. The grants awarded today are made possible by the generosity of the Spartanburg community,” said Troy Hanna, President and CEO of The Spartanburg County Foundation. “We are grateful for the partnership with our donors as we connect vital resources to dedicated nonprofit organizations who work diligently to improve the lives of Spartanburg County residents each day.”

1. American Legion Post 28
American Legion Post 28 is the recipient of a $10,000 challenge grant toward the purchase of a 15-passenger bus to transport the Post’s Honor Guard and equipment to funerals, parades, and concerts. Post 28 provides an Honor Guard squadron free-of-charge to support any veteran’s funeral, regardless of military discharge.

2. The Bethlehem Center
The Bethlehem Center is the recipient of a $15,000 grant to create a computer lab that will transform the organization into a technology hub. The technology equipment currently used in the “Highland Video Village” for Seeing Spartanburg in a New Light will be converted into computers with monitors and keyboards. This project will create an opportunity for individuals living in the Highland community to take advantage of computer training and other educational classes.

3. Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Upstate, Inc.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Upstate, Inc., is the recipient of a $2,500 grant to install a new telephone system in its Spartanburg office. This system will replace the current system, which is more than thirty years old.

4. Hub City Farmer’s Market
Hub City Farmer’s Market is the recipient of a $12,000 challenge grant toward the purchase of a new truck to utilize for their Mobile Market. The Mobile Market carries food across Spartanburg County, providing greater access to healthy, local food for residents who have limited access to sources of healthy food. The Mobile Market made 400 stops across the Spartanburg County in 2015.

5. Mental Fitness, Inc.
Mental Fitness, Inc., is the recipient of a $7,500 grant to create and implement a strategic marketing plan. The ultimate goal is to connect more evidence-based mental health programs to Spartanburg County families.

6. Middle Tyger Community Center
Middle Tyger Community Center is the recipient of a $2,500 grant to conduct a sustainability matrix assessment. The matrix will evaluate each of Middle Tyger Community Center’s programs and activities to determine mission impact and financial viability. The matrix will also be utilized to make strategic decisions to maximize long-term impact and sustainability.

7. Music Foundation of Spartanburg
Music Foundation of Spartanburg is the recipient of a $7,960 grant to create a new website for the Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra. The website will have an interactive component to engage the community in the Orchestra’s worldwide search for a new conductor. This project creates an opportunity for the community to have a voice in the conductor selection process.

8. SC Test Prep
SC Test Prep is the recipient of a $5,000 grant to conduct a comprehensive organizational evaluation. The purpose of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of SC Test Prep since its inception as well as to create a clearly defined path forward as the organization continues to build capacity.

9. Spartanburg Area Conservancy, Inc.
Spartanburg Area Conservancy, Inc., is the recipient of a $7,500 grant to develop a sustainability plan through the assistance of a professional fundraising consultant. Additionally, a portion of the funding for this project will assist with preparing a renewal application for national accreditation with the Land Trust Alliance.

10. Spartanburg County School District Six
Spartanburg County School District Six is the recipient of an $8,000 grant to create a strategic plan for the District’s Farm to School Program. Spartanburg School District Six is one of the few school districts in South Carolina implementing a farm to school program on a district-wide level. The strategic plan will guide the District in how to best implement different components such as farm education, procurement, school gardens, and community involvement.

11. St. Luke’s Free Medical Clinic, Inc.
St. Luke’s Free Medical Clinic is the recipient of a $12,000 grant to hire a free clinic expert who will explore alternative free clinic models and expansion/satellite locations in Spartanburg County. This project will enable the organization to determine how they can best serve the uninsured in Spartanburg County.

12. Temple Education Ministries
Temple Education Ministries is the recipient of a $15,000 grant to obtain a temperature controlled walk-in freezer that will accommodate frozen meats. The freezer’s capacity will enhance the organization’s development of a unique program that consistently incorporates more meats into Take Home Blessing Bags.

13. The Shepherd’s Center of Spartanburg, SC, Inc.
The Shepherd’s Center of Spartanburg, SC, Inc., is the recipient of an $8,580 grant to create a digital marketing plan. This project will improve the organization’s visibility in the community and increase senior participation.

14. The Walker Foundation
The Walker Foundation is the recipient of a $9,350 grant to create a strategic plan as part of its rebranding efforts. The Walker Foundation seeks to raise awareness of the organization to stakeholders while also raising awareness of the services provided by the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind.

15. Women Giving for Spartanburg
Women Giving for Spartanburg is the recipient of a $6,600 grant to create a strategic plan. This plan will set the direction for the initiative over the next five years and will outline key priorities and goals for the next several years. Women Giving for Spartanburg, an initiative of The Spartanburg County Foundation, is designed to maximize women’s leadership in philanthropy by engaging and informing its membership, increasing charitable contributions, and significantly improving the greater Spartanburg County community through the impact of collective giving.

These grants are made possible in partnership with The Spartanburg County Foundation Community Fund; Jim D. and Johnnie G. Adams Trustee Initiated Fund; Arkwright Foundation, Inc. Trustee Initiated Fund; Rose and Vic Bailey, Jr. Trustee Initiated Fund; Bain Foundation Trustee Initiated Fund; The Barnet Foundation Trust, Inc. Trustee Initiated Fund; A.K. and Lois H. Caughman Fund; The Martha C. Chapman Trustee Initiated Fund; Stanley W. Converse Fund; Erwin N. Darrin Fund; Miller Foster Family Trustee Initiated Fund ; Robert E. Gregory, Jr. and Marie H. Gregory Trustee Initiated Fund; Tracy and Thomas E. Hannah Trustee Initiated Fund; Harriet Smith Harris, Philip Guy Harris, and Philip Guy Harris, Jr. Memorial Fund; Inman-Riverdale Foundation Trustee Initiated Fund; Betty and George Dean Johnson Trustee Initiated Fund; The Donald C. Johnston, Jr. and Ann M. Johnston Trustee Initiated Fund; The R.E. and Marion Littlejohn P Trustee Initiated Fund; Betty James and Walter S. Montgomery, Jr. Trustee Initiated Fund; John and Lynne Poole Trustee Initiated Fund; The Powell Family Fund; Virginia U. Russell Fund; Harry W. Sanders Fund; Shepherd Johnston Memorial Fund; The Reverend Clay and Jane Turner Trustee Initiated Fund; The Emery L. Williams Memorial Fund; Arthur Frederick Willis Childrens Fund; and Zimmerli Foundation, Inc. Trustee Initiated Fund.