Lowcountry Youth Services receives $40,000 grant from Power:Ed to expand youth development and mentoring programs
March 19, 2024
Adults pictured L to R: LYS Associate Executive Director McKendrick Dunn; LYS Executive Director ReZsaun Lewis; Power:Ed Executive Director Claire Gibbons; SC Student Loan Board Member Gautum Ghatnekar; LYS Program Director Monica Scott; and youth members of the Distinguished Gentlemen’s Club and Queens’ Being programs.
Lowcountry Youth Services (LYS) has earned a $40,000 grant from Power:Ed, the philanthropy of SC Student Loan Corporation, to support middle and high school youth in Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester Counties with the skill building and mentoring support they need to succeed in every area of their lives. They learn the values of accountability, community, consistency, diversity, empowerment, integrity, and a commitment to success. The funds will support staffing, program benefits, and group outings.
“Lowcountry Youth Services has been striving to offer the best youth development programs in the tri-county area since 2009. Despite our limited resources, we are proud of our achievements so far. However, partnering with organizations like Power:Ed will enable us not only to sustain the services we take pride in but also to expand our programs, reaching out to even more youth,” said ReZsaun Lewis, Executive Director of Lowcountry Youth Services.
LYS enhances education through community-based and in-school initiatives. Its programs, including Distinguished Gentlemen’s Club, Queens’ Being, Girls on the Rise, and Young Men Rise, engage youth and foster a positive learning environment, providing essential life skills, leadership, responsibility, and decision-making. These programs are designed to engage and empower youth, creating a positive and supportive learning environment that instills college and career readiness through youth-centered mentorship.
“Lowcountry Youth Services has a great reputation, and we are pleased to help the organization support more area youth to achieve their full potential,” said Power:Ed Executive Director Claire Gibbons. “The ultimate goal is to achieve positive outcomes, such as better family relationships, increased high school graduations, and higher college enrollment rates for boys and girls of color.”
In FY2023-24 Power:Ed will award $1,000,000 in grants to South Carolina education and career readiness organizations. In this third quarter, Power:Ed has awarded five grants (including this grant to LYS) totaling $185,000. Grants are administered quarterly, and the next grant funding deadline is April 1, 2024.
About Lowcountry Youth Services (LYS)
Lowcountry Youth Services is a non-profit organization that is committed to the development and empowerment of young people. The organization was founded in 2009 and has been providing a range of programs and services that are designed to provide young people with the skills, knowledge, and support that they need to succeed in life. The programs that are offered by Lowcountry Youth Services include mentorship initiatives and community workshops. Since 2017, Lowcountry Youth Services has been able to serve over 1,100 young people in the tri-county area through its in-school and community-based programming. These programs are created and implemented by experienced and qualified professionals who are passionate about helping young people achieve their full potential. If you are interested in learning more about Lowcountry Youth Services, please visit www.lowcountryyouth.org.
About Power:Ed
Founded in 2019, Power:Ed, the philanthropy of SC Student Loan is dedicated to creating opportunities for South Carolina’s youth and adults by supporting low-income, minority, and first-generation students; improving access to college and degree completion; and creating pathways to quality workforce opportunities. Organizations serving middle school through post-college talent who are interested in applying for a grant or partnering with Power:Ed, should visit power-ed.org.
