SC Ports Community Giving Program Awards $106,000 in FY19 Grants

posted by AJOT | Dec 21 2018 at 11:15 AM | Ports & Terminals

Over 40,000 students benefit from Community Giving last fiscal year

CHARLESTON, SC - South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) announced $106,000 in grants to 54 charitable organizations through its annual Community Giving Program. The program provides grant support in regions where SCPA operates in order to positively impact maritime commerce, economic development, environmental awareness and community outreach.

“SCPA takes great pride in its Community Giving Program and the relationships we have formed with organizations that support critical programs and initiatives across the state,” said Jim Newsome, SCPA president and CEO. “As the Port continues to grow as an economic development engine for the state of South Carolina, so do our efforts to partner with charitable organizations.”

YouthBASE, located in Greenville, received a $1,000 Community Giving grant for its out-of-school program.

Totaling $106,000, this year’s giving cycle represents the most funding ever awarded by the Port. The program includes grants of $5,000, $2,500 and $1,000.

Recipients of a $5,000 grant include Charleston Waterkeeper, Greenville Tech Foundation, Kids on Point, Lowcountry Maritime Society, SC Future Makers, Team Backpack Journalists and USS Yorktown Foundation.

Charleston Waterkeeper, whose mission is to protect and restore Charleston’s waterways for our community and for future generations, will use the grant funds to conduct 90 samples as part of its Recreational Water Quality Testing Program.

Greenville Tech Foundation received SCPA funds for its Truck Driver Training Program, a 10-week certificate program that trains entry-level commercial truck drivers in long haul, short haul, and basic rules and regulations of the Department of Transportation.

Kids on Point is a year-round program that introduces young people to the world of opportunity outside of their under-resourced neighborhoods through academic, athletic and enrichment activities. Funding will provide daily after-school programming, six weeks of summer learning, enrichment activities and college and career counseling.

Lowcountry Maritime Society, whose mission is to inspire the Lowcountry’s young people to reach their full potential through boatbuilding and exploring maritime culture, will use the funds for its STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) boat building program at Sanders Clyde Elementary School.

SC Future Makers exposes and connects the next generation of students to statewide opportunities and works to close the STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) gap and retain emerging talent. SCPA funds will be used to engage high school students on the STEM Premier platform and provide a direct line of communication with businesses.

Team Backpack Journalists provides students with real- world journalism experiences, including the process of writing, storytelling, film making and promotion. The group will utilize the funding towards their maritime industry film and support youth coming to the program from Title One schools.

USS Yorktown Foundation, whose mission is to cultivate and support a unique learning environment at Patriots Point that connects generations by celebrating America’s history and its heroes, will use funding for its Panama Canal Project. The project will offer a hands-on learning experience that will supplement state standards in educating students about the lock system.

Fiscal Year 2019 Recipients

Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired - Charleston (ABVI)
Audubon South Carolina
Avian Conservation Center
Beaufort-Jasper Academy for Career Excellence (ACE)
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Berkeley Seniors, Inc.
Charleston Area Senior Citizens' Services, Inc.
Charleston Habitat for Humanity
Charleston Waterkeeper
Communities In Schools
Communities In Schools of Greenville
Community Pride Inc. of Charleston County
Dee Norton Lowcountry Children's Center (DBA Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center)
Dillon County Chamber of Commerce
Dillon County First Steps
Dorchester Children's Advocacy Center
Earth Heart Growers
East Cooper Community Outreach
East Cooper Meals on Wheels
Friends of Coastal South Carolina
Friends of Keep Charleston Beautiful
Greenville Tech Foundation
Greer Relief & Resources Agency, Inc.
Habitat for Humanity of Berkeley County (HFHBC)
Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County
Help 4 Kids Florence
Helping and Lending Outreach Support (HALOS)
I Heart Hungry Kids
Jasper County First Steps
Junior Achievement of Greater South Carolina
Kids On Point, formally Chucktown Squash
Louies Kids
Lowcountry Food Bank
LowCountry Habitat for Humanity
Lowcountry Maritime Society
MUSC C.A.R.E.S Clinic
Operation Home
Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach
Reach Out and Read Carolinas Inc.
Reading Partners South Carolina
Rebuild Upstate
SC Future Makers
SC School for the Deaf and the Blind Foundation
South Carolina Aquarium
South Carolina Operation Lifesaver
Steam Ed Publishing dba A Backpack Journalist
The Green Heart Project
The Village Group
Trident Literacy Association
United Ministries
USS Yorktown Foundation
Water Mission
WINGS for Kids
YouthBASE

Fiscal Year 2018 Impact

Community Giving recipients complete outcome surveys at the end of the fiscal year in order to be eligible for funding in the next giving cycle. The survey allows the Port to measure the positive lasting impacts of the grant program and fulfill its mission to be a strong community partner. In the FY18 giving cycle, SCPA awarded $103,000 to 56 charitable organizations. Impacts of the funding include: