Community Impact

 

EDUCATION & YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

Helping children and youth achieve their potential.

 

Camp Takoda-$9,500

Agency-Pickens County YMCA

Target population-low-income elementary school youth

A summer program that builds life skills and character development.  Key components of the program are service projects, devotions and character development activities, youth-lead activities that support development of creativity, learning enrichment activities, activities that support healthy behavior and physical well-being, as well as activities that support the development of new skills.

 

Early Steps Identification-$12,500

Agency-Pickens County First Steps

Target population-at-risk children and their families, ages 0-3

Program aims to expand and enhance early identification of developmental delays and comprehensive services.  This will be achieved by improving identification of children, providing increased access to existing services and increasing essential skills among parents.

 

Empowering Girls in Pickens County (EGPC)-$12,644

Agency-Prevent Child Abuse Pickens County

Target population-girls ages 11-18

Modeled after a national program called "Girl's Circle" to offer a year long program to improve relationships with peers and adults, reduce risk of substance abuse, enhance problem solving and decision-making skills, counter feelings of isolation and self doubt, increase self-respect for others and improve the ability to express themselves.

 

Leadership Experience-$9,168

Agency-Girl Scouts of SC Mountains to Midlands

Target population-girls ages 5-17

Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.  The Girl Scout Leadership Experience provides programs that give girls the specific knowledge, skills, attitudes and values that will make them leaders.

 

Mentoring at-risk Youth in Pickens County-$5,160

Agency-Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Upstate

Target population-at-risk youth ages 6-18

Through one-on-one mentoring, this program will help young people avoid high-risk behavior that can have lifetime consequences for themselves and society.

 

Raising a Reader-$12,500

Agency-Ready 4 Reading

Target population-low-income pre-school aged youth

Program provides pre-school children an early language foundation leading to high school graduation and a literate workforce by helping to motivate families to read to their children.  Each week children receive a rotation of new books in book bags.

 

Social and Life Skills Development Program-$9,998

Agency-Miracle Hill Children's Home

Target population-children and young adults ages 5-21

Provides necessary age-appropriate life skills to help children and young adults become more self-sufficient and independent upon leaving the foster care system.

 

Strides Club-$ 14,209

Agency-Happy Hooves

Target population-3rd-7th grade children referred by school counselors

Serves at-risk youth by providing therapeutic horseback riding and other equine activities to individuals with special physical, psychological, emotional, behavioral and other social needs.  The goal is to improve the emotional, psychological and social situation of elementary and middle school age children, their families and the community.

 

Youth Development-$7,600

Agency-Boy Scouts, Blue Ridge Council

Target population-boys ages 11-17

Offers year-round youth development programs that build character, train young people in the responsibilities of participating citizenship and develop personal fitness.

 

 

FINANCIAL STABILITY

Promoting employment, financial stability and independence.

 

CNA (Certified Nurse Aide) Job Training Program-$18,401

Agency-Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands South Carolina

Target population-individuals who have one or more barriers to employment

The CNA Nurse Aide Job Training program will provide low-income, unemployed or underemployed individuals with the skills and credentials necessary to obtain secure, competitive employment as Certified Nurse Aides.

 

 

COMMUNITY BASICS

Assisting individuals in need and supporting basic community services.

 

Assistance to Individuals with Special Needs

Agency-Anderson-Oconee Speech and Hearing Services-$3,400

Provides comprehensive hearing services to adults and children with speech and/or hearing problems including language screening and evaluations, hearing aid analysis, hearing tests, therapy and counseling.

 

Agency-The ARC of Pickens County-$6,000

The ARC of Pickens County works through advocacy, service and education to improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities and their families by assisting them in meeting their needs, pursuing their individual possibilities and achieving their life goals.

 

Agency-Meyer Center for Special Children-$5,585

Provides developmental education, therapy and family support services so children with disabilities will have the opportunity to reach their maximum potential.

 

Agency-National Federation of the Blind-$3,768

Provides limited medical, food, fuel, adaptive equipment and support services to blind individuals.

 

Case Management and Counseling

Agency-Alston Wilkes Society-$960

Provides offenders, former offenders, homeless, troubled youth, veterans and their families the tools they need to become productive citizens.

 

Agency-Safe Harbor-$5,831

Provides safe shelter, counseling and advocacy for victims of domestic violence and provides leadership for education and prevention efforts.

 

Disaster Relief

Agency-American Red Cross-$21,000

Provides relief to victims of disasters and helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.

 

Emergency Assistance

Agency-Clemson Community Care-$8,750

Provides emergency assistance with food, heat/utilities and home repairs for those who qualify and live in the greater Clemson area.

 

Agency-SHARE-$4,082

SHARE's mission is to help low-income individuals, families and neighborhoods end poverty and become self-sufficient.  The primary catalytic mission of SHARE is to invite the entire community to be more responsive to the needs and aspirations of the poor by mobilizing all available resources toward the goal of human advancement by assisting low-income citizens in breaking the cycle of poverty and becoming self-sufficient. 

Agency-United Christian Ministries-$23,850

Provides emergency assistance with food, heat/utilities, rent and clothing for those who qualify and live in the towns of Easley, Liberty, Pickens and Six Mile.

 

Emergency Shelter

Agency-Helping Hands of Clemson-$28,500

Provides emergency shelter to victims of domestic violence, child abuse and neglect.

 

Agency-MARYS House-$4,000

Provides emergency shelter to victims of domestic violence, child abuse and neglect.