December 21, 2018

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

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

CHARLESTON, SC - December 21, 2018- Today 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."

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)

BEGIN WITH BOOKS

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:

  • Over 40,000 students across the state benefited from Community Giving grants
  • 766 people received job skills training
  • Over 21,500 students participated in STEAM activities
  • 54,005 people were educated about environmental sustainability
  • 12,173 people received meals through hunger-relief programs

About South Carolina Ports Authority
South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA), established by the state's General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport and intermodal facilities in Charleston, Dillon, Georgetown and Greer. As an economic development engine for the state, Port operations facilitate 187,200 statewide jobs and generate nearly $53 billion annual economic activity. SCPA is soon to be home to the deepest harbor on the U.S. East Coast at 52 feet, and the Port is an industry leader in delivering speed-to-market, seamless processes and flexibility to ensure reliable operations, big ship handling, efficient market reach and environmental responsibility. For more information on SCPA, please visit www.scspa.com.

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