The Children’s Museum of the Upstate, a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization, is dedicated to sparking curiosity in children that will result in life-long learning. Museum visitors of all ages and abilities will be able to connect, play, imagine, and learn in a quality, interactive environment. Scheduled to open later this summer, and conveniently located at Heritage Green in downtown Greenville, SC, the 79,000-square-foot facility will include 18 indoor exhibits, a performance space, outdoor garden elements, café, and learning store. The Children's Museum will be a vital cultural institution in Greenville and a powerful resource for parents, caregivers, teachers and the entire South Carolina learning community. To learn more, please visit
www.ymcagreenville.org/teens.php.
Greenville Family Partnership began in 1984 with a group of individuals determined to keep kids off drugs, tobacco, and alcohol. Providing information, promoting awareness, organizing task forces, and hosting community events, such as Red Ribbon Week, are some of the strategies keeping children safer and healthier. The goal to be reached with this donation is an advance in peer health training, specifically training 20 peers and impacting 150 youths. For more information, visit
www.gfpdrugfree.org.
GOFO Health & Education, Greenville’s organization for Organic food, educates the public about the environmental benefits of sustainable agriculture. Through cooking classes, activities such as “Be an Organic Farmer for a Day,” and partnerships with the Upcountry History Museum and 4-H organization, GOFO is teaching the community how to lead healthier lifestyles. The particular program being funded is 4-H Grow Healthy Kids, a summer program in which Greenville public schools plant vegetable gardens and increase environmental education. For more information, visit
www.gofohealthandeducation.org
Since 1994,
Hands on Greenville has helped individuals, families, and groups find volunteer opportunities at over 100 service organizations since 1994. It encourages civic engagement by partnering with others to identify and respond to the changing needs in the community. By providing flexible scheduling and commitments and a variety of services, Hands on Greenville delivered close to 17,000 hours of service last year. This donation will help fund the youth component of “Hands on Greenville” day. For more information, visit
www.handsongreenville.org
Hospice of the Upstate exists to provide support and care for patients with a limited life expectancy. We serve Upstate South Carolina and Northeast Georgia. Hospice patients and families are offered a different kind of hope - A hope to maintain dignity, live to the fullest, be free from pain and spend valuable time with loved ones wherever they call home. To learn more, visit
www.hospicehouse.net.
Loaves & Fishes was founded in 1991 by Sam Hunt, a local banker, who was inspired by a similar program in New York City. This food rescue organization donates perishable food, which would otherwise be wasted, to approximately 100 human services agencies and programs. In its first year, Loaves & Fishes rescued and donated 25,000 pounds of food. Today, with a staff of four, and 60 regular volunteers, that number has grown to around 750,000 pounds of food each year. For more information, visit
www.loavesandfishesgreenville.com.
The Meyer Center for Special Children was founded in 1954 by Dr. Leslie Meyer who strongly believed in the importance of education for every child. For over 50 years, the Meyer center has helped children reach their potential by offering high-quality, affordable developmental education, therapy, and family support services. Over 125 special needs pre-school children receive these services each year. The Meyer Center hopes to fund the music therapy program with this donation, which is an ongoing project that receives 100% attendance. For more information, visit www.meyercenter.org.
Peace Center for the Performing Arts Peace Outreach Program, a nationally recognized arts education initiative, fulfills a critical part of The Peace Center’s overall mission. Each year, the program serves nearly 70,000 students, teachers and community members from South Carolina, as well as parts of Georgia and Western North Carolina through its performance series, community outreach events and professional development programs for educators. For more information, please visit
www.peacecenter.org.
Pleasant Valley Connection is a multi-activity community center serving the youth and seniors in the surrounding areas. The After School program addresses the educational needs, life skills, and character development of young people in Greenville, while the programs for older members of the community offer health seminars focused on wellness and nutrition. The money from Local Boys Do Good will help fund the National Night Out, a nationwide crime and drug prevention evening that occurs in individual neighborhoods. For more information, call (864) 236-0151.
Project Host is a soup kitchen in downtown Greenville founded in 1981 as an outreach program of the local Episcopal Church. Since then, Project Host has expanded to accommodate the city’s needs and currently operates a 185-seat dining area and a fully-equipped commercial kitchen. Open year-round from 11am to 12pm, Project Host offers a meal to anyone who needs it. They also operate a Community Culinary School, teaching participants the skills they need to acquire a position in the service industry. Last year alone, Project Host served over 71,000 meals to the needy. With this donation, Project Host is dedicated to providing lunch every day of the year and graduating 60 students from the culinary school. For more information, visit
www.projecthost.org.
South Carolina Children’s Theatre purpose is to educate and stimulate the minds and imaginations of young people and their families through participation in high-quality theatre, year-round education, and accessible outreach. South Carolina Children’s Theatre offers a year-round educational program in the dramatic arts providing theatre instruction to young people ages 3 - 18 to develop performance, communication, cooperation, self-discipline, and critical thinking skills. Also a part of the South Carolina Theatre’s endeavors is its Theatre Outreach Partnerships (TOPs), which provide educational opportunities in the dramatic arts for youth who are at-risk, disadvantaged, hospitalized, or have special needs, at no cost to the participants. For more information, visit
www.scchildrenstheatre.org.
Special Olympics is an international organization helping individuals with intellectual disabilities become physically fit, respected members of society through sports training and competition. Offering year-round training and competition for 30 Olympic type sports for both adults and children, Special Olympics currently serves 2.5 million people in over 180 countries. Participants have shown improved motor skills and physical fitness, increased self confidence, and a more positive self-image. This donation will specifically help fund the fall games in Anderson. For more information, visitwww.specialolympics.org.
St. Francis Foundation established in 1982, the St. Francis Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Bon Secours St. Francis Health System. St. Francis Foundation is a charitable foundation that supports the healing mission of The Bon Secours St. Francis Health System. We seek out kindred spirits to join in generosity, embrace possibilities, and bring comfort, joy and hope to the community. One of the ways the Foundation helps St. Francis to serve the community is through the support of the programs of the department of Community Ministries. Some of those programs include Greenville Dental Project, Health at Home Books, Healthy Connections, Covered the Uninsured Week, Community Dialogues, and Vision for the Health & Wellness. For more information, visit www.stfrancisfoundation.com.
Triune Mercy Center is a non-denominational mission church to the homeless. More than a hundred years ago, Triune was founded as a small Methodist church to worship God and teach the gospel of Jesus Christ. In 1989, Triune answered a new call to service when a few of its women opened the church doors to provide a hot meal for eight people. In the 19 years since, Triune has fed, clothed, and shepherded thousands of people who had nowhere else to turn. For more information, visit www.thetriunemercycenter.org
YouthBASE exists for kids who need more intensive support to be successful behaviorally, academically, socially, and emotionally. Children are referred by schools, other after-school programs, or their families, and are accepted into our program based on a multi-dimensional assessment. Each child comes to YouthBASE five or more days each week, from 2:30-8:00 (and longer during the summer), with transportation provided to and from the program. Activities range from reading intervention to therapeutic arts, and are delivered in a family-like setting. Dinner is served Monday-Thursday. Families are not charged for participation. To learn more about YouthBase, please visit www.youth-base.org
YWCA Child Development Center is the oldest and largest women’s multicultural organization in the world, the YWCA strives to empower women and eliminate racism. The staff and volunteers offer career counseling, job training, childcare, and, most importantly, support for women in times of need. With over 25 million members in 122 different countries, the YWCA provides safe places for women and girls while advocating for women’s rights. With this money, the YWCA will provide healthy foods for children in the Child Development program who typically do not have the opportunity to eat a well-balanced meal. For more information, visit www.ywca.org.
Zest Quest is a not-for-profit children’s health initiative that promotes physical activity, healthy eating habits, and improved health literacy. In 2003, the Surgeon General of the United States, Richard Carmona, addressed obesity as the fastest-growing cause of death and disease in America. Zest Quest has helped over 6500 students in the Upstate to become more aware of their lifestyle choices through curriculum-based educational and mentorship programs. Zest Quest hopes to fund parenting programs and educational events with this donation, as well as distribute newsletters to over 10,000 parents and raise awareness of children’s health issues. For more information, visit
www.zestquest.org.
