Greenville Women Giving to award more than $575,000 in grants
May 17, 2016
Organization Distributes Grants in Support of Local Nonprofits
Greenville Women Giving, a local women’s philanthropic organization, presented grants totaling $577,250 to 12 nonprofit organizations at its annual meeting yesterday. Committed to strengthening the community through the collective resources of members by awarding high-impact grants in five areas, Greenville Women Giving has awarded more than $4.2 million over the course of its ten-year history.
“We are delighted that so many women – more than 530 – have embraced the mission of Greenville Women Giving and have contributed to its accomplishments,” remarks Sue Priester, Co-Chair of Greenville Women Giving. “But we’re not really surprised. Greenville is a generous and caring community, and Greenville Women Giving reflects that.”
These high-impact grants, supporting nonprofits in the areas of arts and culture, education, health, human services, and environment, are a direct result of Greenville Women Giving’s work during its 10th anniversary year. Because the organization met both its membership and giving goals, Greenville Women Giving surpassed its planned giving amount and provided the most annual funding to date.
The following organizations are recipients of Greenville Women Giving 10th Anniversary Year Grants:
Arts & Culture
The Music Club of Greenville – $73,242 to buy new instruments, repair existing ones and pay for supplies, so more disadvantaged students can benefit from Tanglewood Middle School Band.
Greenville Little Theatre – $42,208 to upgrade antiquated lighting by purchasing and installing new state-of-the-art “intelligent” LED lighting equipment of the same caliber used on Broadway.
Education
Meyer Center for Special Children – $56,292 to provide a reliable telephone system, commercial washer and dryer, and a new HVAC unit for the school, which serves children with disabilities.
Greenville Literacy Association – $59,158 to provide basic education courses to prepare 160 under-educated adults for specific skilled employment.
Environment
TreesGreenville – $40,000 to plant 250 trees in parks, schools and neighborhoods throughout Greenville County to promote and protect a healthy, long-term urban and community forest.
Friends of the Reedy River – $40,000 to build the infrastructure needed to carry out its mission of protecting the Reedy River by hiring a part-time staff person and upgrading its website.
Greenville County Schools: Washington Center – $35,450 to build a therapeutic nature trail, so disabled students can access and enjoy a safe, outdoor environment.
Health
Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Greenville – $44,240 to fund a coordinator and materials to train volunteers and teachers in proven intervention programs for three Title I schools.
Greenville Free Medical Clinic – $64,000 to expand the capacity of the Greer, Simpsonville and Berea clinics from one day to three or four days per week, tripling the number of patients served.
YMCA: LiveWell Greenville – $7,210 to staff a pilot study program in early childhood education (children 3-5 years old) to create a culture of health.
Human Services
City of Greenville: Police Department – $63,000 to fund Cops on the Court using basketball to foster trust and reduce gang involvement for youth in the Pleasant Valley and Nicholtown neighborhoods.
The Turning Point of South Carolina – $52,450 to furnish and finish Harmony House’s new transitional housing addition for women recovering from alcohol and drug addiction.
In recognition of the contributions made by Greenville Women Giving, and in celebration of its 10th
anniversary, Mayor Knox White declared yesterday “Greenville Women Giving Day.”
Greenville Women Giving is a part of the Women’s Collective Giving Grantmakers Network (WCGN), a national organization which promotes women-powered philanthropy.
About Greenville Women Giving
Greenville Women Giving, a women’s collective giving organization, was created as a special initiative of the Community Foundation in 2006. GWG is committed to improving the lives of Greenville County residents by awarding high-impact grants ranging from $40,000 to $100,000 in five areas: arts and culture, education, environment, health and human services. To date, GWG has contributed more than $4.2 million to Greenville non-profit organizations. Membership in Greenville Women Giving is open to all women who commit to the annual contribution. For information about membership, upcoming events and grants, please visit greenvillewomengiving.org.
