LEAD Upstate presents financial donations to three Upstate K-9 programs

LEAD Upstate held a press conference on Tuesday to present three Upstate K-9 programs with financial contributions.

Representatives from the Greenville Sheriff’s office, Greer Police Department and Travelers Rest Police Department were present to accept the contributions.

“LEAD Upstate was launched in 2015 with the goal of bringing the community and law enforcement together in the name of appreciation and gratitude. LEAD Upstate gives the community an opportunity to say thank you to all law enforcement personnel in Greenville County,” said Seabrook Marchant, founder of LEAD Upstate and President/Broker in Charge, Marchant Real Estate, Inc. “Closing out 2022 program we are grateful for the support of United Community Bank as the K-9 sponsor and pleased to provide much needed funds to these three programs.”

To view Photo Gallery, click on the images below :

K-9 programs are an invaluable asset to the communities they serve. However, the expense of acquiring, training, and equipping these skilled teams are often not included in the budget. Community support and partnerships are a critical component in the success of a law enforcement K-9 Unit. Without their generosity many units would not exist. The average dog (untrained) costs between $9,000 and $12,000. Outsourced training can cost an agency between $4,000 and $8,000 to complete. The annual expense for each dog averages around $1,800 per year for food and medical expenses.

“United Community Bank is proud to help support local law enforcement agencies and their K-9 programs,” said Michelle Seaver, President, United Community Bank, Greenville/Spartanburg. “This partnership is a wonderful way to show our appreciation for the incredible service they provide.”

Representing the respective agencies were Lieutenant Matt Lovelace, Greenville Sheriff’s Office K9 Services Division, Chief Hamby, Greer Police Department, and Chief Ford, Travelers Rest Police Department.

“We truly appreciate the support. If not for the great support we have received from our community I don’t know where our unit would be,” said Lieutenant Matt Lovelace, Greenville Sheriff’s Office K9 Services Unit.

“I am always pleased when the community gets involved in supporting our law enforcement officers. We are grateful for private organizations like LEAD Upstate which financially support K-9 programs that are becoming increasingly important to the work of law enforcement,” said Lt. Governor Pamela Evette. “Law enforcement agencies in South Carolina are held in such high regard and we could never say thank you enough for their sacrifices to keep South Carolina safe and a place where people want to live, and business want to be located.”

Now in its ninth year, LEAD Upstate looks forward to continuing efforts to connect the community and law enforcement officers in the spirit of working together to make our communities a better place to live and showing appreciation for the work of all law enforcement officers.

About LEAD Upstate

The goal of LEAD Upstate is to bring the community and law enforcement together in the name of appreciation and gratitude by giving the community an opportunity to say thank you to all the law enforcement personnel in Greenville County including Greenville, Greer, Traveler’s Rest, Mauldin, Simpsonville, & Fountain Inn. Partnering with sponsors and supported by volunteers LEAD hosts an annual “thank you event” for Upstate law enforcement officers. LEAD Upstate is a registered 501(c)3 organization. For more information about sponsorships and volunteer opportunities go to www.Leadupstate.com.