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SPARTANBURG- The Spartanburg County Foundation awarded $101,500 in grants to 12 nonprofit organizations working to improve the overall social well-being of Spartanburg County residents- Children’s Advocacy Center of Spartanburg, Cherokee and Union Counties, Inc., Community Works, Inc., The Children’s Security Blanket, Greer Relief and Resources Agency, Inc., Maranatha Free Church of Jesus Christ – Angels Charge Ministry, Palmetto Council Boy Scouts of America, Project Hope Foundation, SAFE Homes-Rape Crisis Coalition, The Spartanburg Humane Society, Upstate Family Resource Center, Upstate Warrior Solution, Inc., YMCA of Greater Spartanburg. Recipients were recognized at an awards ceremony Tuesday, November 10, 2015, 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 providing services to the residents of Spartanburg County. For the past two years, the Foundation has focused its grantmaking efforts on the areas of Education and Social Environment, two of the Indicator Areas identified through the Spartanburg Community Indicators Project.

Having awarded more than $129 million in grants since its inception, the Foundation’s president and ceo, Troy Hanna, shared, “The funds from this responsive grant cycle will equip these nonprofit organizations with the capacity building tools needed to further their mission and make an impact on our community.”

1. Children’s Advocacy Center of Spartanburg, Cherokee and Union Counties, Inc.
The Children’s Advocacy Center of Spartanburg, Cherokee and Union Counties, Inc. is the recipient of a $10,000 grant that will be used to update and expand its forensic interview software and equipment. This grant will also assist in equipping an additional interview room to ensure that prompt forensic interviews will be performed and that all interviews can be shared with partners and preserved for court.

2. The Children’s Security Blanket
The Children’s Security Blanket is the recipient of a $10,000 grant to build a robust and comprehensive awareness campaign that targets children and families, donors, volunteers, corporate sponsors, and the community. The grant will be used specifically to increase social media presence, develop the website and build an online resource for clients, update its donor database, and build a volunteer development program.

3. Community Works, Inc.
Community Works, Inc. is the recipient of a $10,000 grant to launch an intensive three-part train-the-trainer program that will provide essential organizational and professional development for all Spartanburg Financial Stability Network Partners. During this training, the Network Partners will learn the fundamentals of financial coaching, budgeting, and credit monitoring. By participating in these financial coaching sessions, the organizations will be able to better educate underserved families through financial education, lending, and investing.

4. Greer Relief & Resources Agency, Inc.
Greer Relief & Resources Agency, Inc. is the recipient of a $4,150 challenge grant to implement an integrated donor system that will streamline their gift processing, volunteer tracking, and development work, saving valuable staff time and providing supporters with an enhanced donor experience.

5. Maranatha Free Church of Jesus Christ – Angels Charge Ministry
Maranatha Free Church of Jesus Christ is the recipient of a $5,000 grant that will be used to develop a strategic plan for Angels Charge Ministry. Angels Charge Ministry works to help prevent female recidivism in Spartanburg County by offering transitional housing and mentoring programs.

6. Palmetto Council Boy Scouts of America
The Palmetto Council Boy Scouts of America is the recipient of a $9,500 grant to build sustainable Scouting programs in areas of high minority populations within Spartanburg County. The grant will be used to purchase a mobile “Scout Hut” containing all of the resources needed for scout meetings and outings to be used by groups as they begin their Scouting experience. Materials such as camping gear, learning guidebooks for youth and adult leaders, a uniform closet, den and troop meeting supplies, and other items will be stored in a mobile trailer that will be transported to community meetings.

7. Project HOPE Foundation
Project HOPE Foundation is the recipient of a $10,000 grant that will be used to install a camera/security system at a recently renovated home where life skills are taught to clients with autism.

8. SAFE Homes-Rape Crisis Coalition
SAFE Homes-Rape Crisis Coalition is the recipient of a $10,000 grant to provide individuals in their emergency shelter and clients who visit the main office with access to computers. The grant will be used to purchase and install four computers, computers desks, and chairs.

9. The Spartanburg Humane Society
The Spartanburg Humane Society is the recipient of an $8,500 grant to update its website. The update includes creating a Spanish translation, adding an online scheduling feature for the clinic, and enhancing the overall usability of the website.

10. Upstate Family Resource Center
The Upstate Family Resource Center is the recipient of a $7,140 grant to revamp its website and create a secure exchange between administrative staff and board members via a board member portal. The new website will also provide a call to action on all pages, thus increasing the Upstate Family Resource Center’s opportunity to connect, educate, and engage its audiences.

11. Upstate Warrior Solution, Inc.
Upstate Warrior Solution, Inc. is the recipient of a $10,000 grant that will be used to purchase a new data management and measurement system. This system will allow Upstate Warrior Solution to share information with and provide referrals to non-licensed partners, as well as track the number of referrals and their outcomes.

12. YMCA of Greater Spartanburg
The YMCA of Greater Spartanburg is the recipient of a $7,210 grant to purchase diagnostic equipment to launch its “Diabetes Prevention” Program. The grant will be used to purchase two A1C mobile units used to test blood glucose levels, an “Inbody 230” machine that tests body composition, blood pressure cuffs, and stethoscopes.

These grants are made possible in partnership with The Spartanburg County Foundation’s Community Fund; The Balmer Foundation, Inc.; Lucile M. Cart Cancer Fund; Frank H. and Rose C. Cunningham Fund; John and Kate Dargan Trustee Initiated Fund; Alma M. and T.R. Garrison Fund; Harriet Smith Harris, Philip Guy Harris, and Philip Guy Harris, Jr. Memorial Fund; The Powell Family Fund; and The Harry W. Sanders 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.