NOTE: As of Feb. 29, 2024, Carolina Youth Development Center (CYDC) has rebranded to Landmarks for Families. Our nonprofit, community programs and residential services remain committed to cultivating thriving youth and families in this new chapter.
This week Carolina Youth Development Center (CYDC) was awarded a $1,000 grant from the South Carolina Ports Authority as a part of their Community Giving Program. CYDC was one of 55 grantees across South Carolina with the total of grants awarded equalling $61,000.
CYDC is thankful for our amazing community partners at the SC Ports Authority and appreciate their support in an unprecedented year.
Below is a press release from the SC Ports Authority announcing the 2020 Community Giving Program grants.
SC Ports supports 55 charitable organizations across SC
Grants for hunger relief, educational programs, workforce training
South Carolina Ports Authority awarded $61,000 in grants to 55 S.C. charitable organizations through its annual Community Giving Program.
SC Ports dedicates a portion of its revenues each year to support charitable organizations in local communities in which the port operates in South Carolina. SC Ports awarded $2,500 and $1,000 grants for the fiscal year 2021 Community Giving Program.
The Community Giving Program is especially important this year as the ongoing global pandemic has caused great economic hardship for many, putting further demands on nonprofits.
“The SC Ports team believes strongly in giving back by partnering with organizations that know their communities’ needs and are already doing the important work to make a difference in South Carolina,” SC Ports President and CEO Jim Newsome said. “We are in awe of the work these charitable groups do, and we are incredibly proud to play a small role in making a positive impact with them.”
Many of this year’s Community Giving Program grant recipients — such as Fresh Future Farm, Fields to Families, East Cooper Meals on Wheels and The Green Heart Project — work to fight hunger and address food deserts by providing meals, urban gardens and affordable healthy grocery options in their communities.
With one in eight people and one in six children struggling with hunger in South Carolina, SC Ports has focused much of its community efforts this year on addressing food insecurity. In addition to the Community Giving Program grants, SC Ports donated $22,000 to Lowcountry Food Bank this summer, as well as partnered with the CMA CGM Group and The Salvation Army to distribute 500 meals for Thanksgiving.
Other grant recipients do the important work of positively supporting and impacting children and students across South Carolina, including Reading Partners South Carolina, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lowcountry, Kids On Point, Louie’s Kids, Dillon County First Steps and Jasper County First Steps, among others.
Several recipients — like the Greenville Tech Foundation, Spartanburg Community College Foundation and Gullah Geechee Initiative Foundation Inc. — received funding for their Commercial Driver’s License training programs. These workforce development initiatives provide vital jobs skills for motor carriers, which are crucial to the success of SC Ports’ operations.
Some recipients — such as Friends of Coastal South Carolina and Wounded Nature – Working Veterans — work to preserve, protect and enhance South Carolina’s natural resources and ecosystems. SC Ports consistently partners with environmental groups in an effort to bring lasting environmental successes to the region.
Grant applicants must clearly fit within one of the following focus areas: maritime commerce, economic development, environmental awareness and community outreach. Programs with measurable, sustained impacts receive priority during the selection process.
Fiscal Year 2021 Community Giving recipients:
· A Backpack Journalist
· Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired SC
· Be A Mentor
· Beaufort-Jasper YMCA of the Lowcountry
· Begin With Books
· Berkeley Chamber of Commerce
· Beyond Our Walls
· Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lowcountry
· Bridges for End-of-Life
· Camp Discovery
· Camp Happy Days
· Camp Rise Above
· Carolina Youth Development Center
· Charleston Area Senior Citizens’ Services Inc.
· Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas
· Clemson Cooperative Extension Service
· Communities In Schools of Greenville
· Communities In Schools of the Charleston Area
· Dillon County First Steps
· Dorchester Economic Development Corporation
· East Cooper Community Outreach
· East Cooper Meals on Wheels
· Fields to Families
· First Tee Greater Charleston
· Fresh Future Farm
· Friends of Coastal South Carolina
· Georgetown County Family YMCA
· Gibbes Museum of Art
· Greenville Tech Foundation
· Gullah Geechee Initiative Foundation Inc.
· Healing Farms
· Help 4 Kids Florence
· Humanities Foundation
· Jasper County First Steps
· Junior Achievement of Greater SC
· Kids On Point
· Louie’s Kids
· Love Feeds
· Lowcountry Legal Volunteers
· Lowcountry Maritime School
· Meals On Wheels of Summerville Inc.
· My Sister’s House
· Orangeburg County Community of Character
· Palmetto Leadership Dillon County Alumni
· Reading Partners South Carolina
· SC Future Makers
· SC School for the Deaf and the Blind Foundation
· South Carolina Aquarium
· South Carolina Operation Lifesaver
· Spartanburg Community College Foundation
· The Green Heart Project
· Trident Literacy Association
· United Ministries
· Wings for Kids
· Wounded Nature – Working Veterans
Fiscal Year 2020 Community Giving outcomes
Community Giving recipients complete outcome surveys at the end of the fiscal year to be eligible for funding in the next giving cycle. The surveys allow SC Ports to measure the positive lasting impacts of the grant program and fulfill its mission to be a strong community partner.
SC Ports awarded $128,500 in grants to 71 charitable organizations in fiscal year 2020.
Impacts of the funding include:
· 58,316 South Carolina students benefitted from Community Giving grants.
· 9,732 people received disaster assistance.
· 10,145 students participated in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) activities.
· 6,335 people were educated about environmental sustainability.
· 5,220 people received job-skills training.
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 225,000 statewide jobs and generate nearly $63.4 billion in 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.
