Midlands Education & Business Alliance receives International Paper Foundation grant

November 10, 2020

Midlands Education & Business Alliance (MEBA) has been awarded a $15,000 grant from International Paper’s Eastover Mill and the International Paper Foundation. Funds will support science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and employability skills training, resources and professional development for students, educators and parents.

Founded in 1990, MEBA connects more than 250 business partners with more than 185 schools and 110,000 students at seven colleges and universities and nine school districts in Fairfield, Lexington and Richland counties. MEBA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that connects students of all ages, parents, and educators to career opportunities through business partnerships, training and resources.

“This grant will help us continue and expand our STEM and employability skills training at schools across the Midlands. International Paper’s support for the program is a welcome validation of our own work,” said Lisa Call, MEBA’s Regional Career Specialist and Senior Director of Education and Business Engagement.

The International Paper Eastover, S.C. Mill, located at 4001 McCords Ferry Road, employs approximately 700 team members and provides an economic impact of roughly $90 million annually for the community. The plant manufactures uncoated freesheet paper and pulp that is converted into products used for education, communication and personal hygiene.

The International Paper Foundation is one of the ways International Paper strives to reach its vision to be among the most successful, sustainable and responsible companies in the world. Started in 1952, the Foundation annually provides millions in grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations to address critical needs in the communities where International Paper employees live and work. Funding priority is given to programs related to its signature causes: education, hunger, health & wellness, disaster relief, and initiatives that improve the planet. For more information, visit ipgiving.com.

“International Paper strives to be a force for good in our communities, and we are delighted to play a role in helping fund the MEBA STEM program. Our continued partnership with MEBA directly connects our facility to promising students,” said Megan Inman, Communications Manager at International Paper’s Eastover Mill.

For more information about MEBA, contact Lisa Call at (803) 732-5258 or [email protected] or Samantha Ericson Turner at (803) 422-9856 or [email protected]. MEBA is online at www.mebasc.com.