Original Six Foundation raises $300,000 for rural South Carolina education
April 6, 2021
Grier Williford, Jessica Williford, Nikki Haley, Kevin Leonard, R. Lindsay Leonard – Photo Credit- Kate Thornton Photography
The Original Six Foundation (O6 Foundation) announced nearly $300,000 supporting educational programs for students in South Carolina’s rural school districts. Nearly 80 participants from businesses and organizations across the southeast took part in the 3rd Annual “Golfing for Youth Charity Classic” fundraiser held at the River Course on Kiawah Island, S.C.
“We could not be more thankful for each one of our sponsors. Because of their generous gifts we will be able to not only support our students in underserved areas, but we will be able to lift up families and communities across our state,” said Ambassador Nikki Haley, founder and chair of the O6 Foundation.
In addition to helping fund O6 after-school programming, proceeds from the tournament will sponsor 892 students through the My First Library program and will provide 8,920 books for rising 1st grade students in underserved counties.
Top sponsors who made the event possible include: The Boeing Company, US Brick Company, TD Bank, Bicycle Corporation of America, Collum’s Lumber Products, LLC, Global Medical Response, KJ’s Market IGA, Nucor Steel Berkeley, Pam and Pat McKinney, South State Bank, Walmart, and The Kiawah Island Club.
“We are blown away by the support we received from business and community leaders and are thrilled to be able to continue to expand our programming in underserved areas of South Carolina,” said Nicki Hood, executive director of the O6 Foundation.
The O6 Foundation provides after-school programming through its Practice Makes Perfect Homework Centers, where certified instructors reinforce school-day learning and aid students in the completion of take-home assignments. The centers provide a safe space for students after school and offer individual support from teachers and volunteers to help them achieve their academic goals.
Practice Makes Perfect Homework Centers are working to provide hundreds of students with access to supplemental instruction in Allendale, Bamberg, Clarendon, Marion, and Union counties, with the goal of expanding next school year. Since 2016, these centers and other supportive efforts have served over 800 students and have provided over 10,000 of hours of specialized assistance.
In addition to after-school programming, the O6 Foundation facilitates the My First Library program which provides South Carolina’s highest-need students with at-home libraries to encourage reading over the summer months.
In order to provide an early advantage, My First Library works with 5K students to ensure they are prepared to enter the first grade. More than 15 schools are enrolled to participate in the program. Just this May, over 1,200 rising 1st grade students will be impacted and more than 12,500 books will be distributed throughout South Carolina.
Founded in 2011, by then-Governor Haley, the O6 Foundation believes children across South Carolina deserve a quality education regardless of where they are born and raised. The O6 Foundation works to improve education by identifying gaps and filling them through hands on engagement and resources.
To learn more or to donate, please visit: www.originalsixfoundation.org
