Community Foundation Receives Grant to Expand Digital Literacy Across Generations in Columbia
January 15, 2009
COLUMBIA, SC – January 15, 2009 – Central Carolina Community Foundation (CCCF) announced today it is one of 21 winners nation-wide in the Knight Community Information Challenge, a $24 million initiative to help community foundations find creative ways to use media and technology to keep communities informed. The two-year $383,332 grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, coupled with additional funding and in-kind donations from the partners, will have a total impact of over $1 million to help bridge ethnic, economic and generational lines to increase digital literacy among seniors.
Senior citizens in our community have much to contribute to the civic dialogue. However, they often lack the skills and opportunities necessary to use digital media. Led by CCCF, a group of diverse partners will work through senior centers and other community organizations to reach seniors interested in bridging the digital divide.
“Our community dialogue often lacks the valuable experiences, insights and historic perspectives that our seniors have to offer,” said CCCF President & CEO Susie VanHuss. “We have carefully selected our initial service sites to reach diverse ethnic and economic groups to ensure we engage seniors from all walks of life.”
The three sites chosen to participate in the first year are Capital Senior Center, Oak Reed Senior Apartments and Still Hopes. The IFRA Newsplex multimedia facility will train students from both Benedict and USC to teach seniors new media and technology skills at senior centers and community organizations. The media partners will ensure the voices are heard across our broader community.
The State Media Company will serve as a databank and conversation hub for the virtual Town Hall and ETV will record the process via its documentary series “Carolina Stories.”
For more information, visit www.BGTime.org.
About Central Carolina Community Foundation
Central Carolina Community Foundation’s mission is to promote, facilitate and increase philanthropy to create a sustainable impact on our community through responsible giving. CCCF serves 11 counties in the Midlands by distributing grants and scholarships and linking the resources of donors, nonprofits and community leaders to areas of need. For more information, visit www.yourfoundation.org. About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation promotes excellence in journalism worldwide and invests in the vitality of the U.S. communities where the Knight brothers owned newspapers. Knight Foundation focuses on projects with the potential to create transformational change.
For more information, visit www.knightfoundation.org
