Manley wins Rotary Volunteer Award for Rebuild Upstate work
June 19, 2017
As Rebuild Upstate celebrates its 10th anniversary, founder and executive director, Chris Manley, received the Vocational Service Award from the Rotary Club of North Greenville this week.
Rotary of North Greenville is composed of business leaders in the Upstate uniting for the common good. They meet weekly to hear about business and non-profit developments in the community as well as host an annual Foundation Awards Luncheon where they disperse Foundation Grants to local charities and non-profits.
Rebuild Upstate is a non-profit agency that specializes in home repairs and accessibility improvements. Home repairs can range from small plumbing fixes to roof and floor replacements. Accessibility improvements range from installing grab bars and railings for vulnerable populations to building wheel chair ramps for those with disabilities. Typically Rebuild Upstate partners fall into one of three segments: low-income families with children in the home, seniors age 60 and older, and people with disabilities.
Manley helped found the organization while a Clemson student to help with repairs after Hurricane Katrina devastated communities along the Gulf Coast. The program changed its focus, though, after learning of the need for emergency home repair in the Upstate.
From that beginning as a campus mission, Rebuild Upstate performed 283 projects in 141 homes during 2016 in Greenville, Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties.
However, Rebuild Upstate is not Manley’s only endeavor. He also is the managing partner for Engenius, a web and marketing company based in Greenville as well as a past chairman of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce’s Non Profit Alliance; a board member of the Greenville Zoo Foundation ; a Greenville Health System Medical Scholar in 2015; a graduate of Leadership Greenville Class 39; he was named one of Greenville’s Best and Brightest under age 35 in 2012 and was named South Carolina’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2013 by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
“Chris is an extraordinary young leader and community volunteer,” said Shanda Jeffries, the club’s president. “We feel we have honored a person who is dedicated to make our region a better place and his dedication fits the goals of Rotary.”
About Rebuild Upstate
Rebuild Upstate is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving Upstate South Carolina low-income homeowners with home repairs and accessibility improvements to create safe, livable housing in existing homes and neighborhoods. Learn more at www.rebuildupstate.org.
