The Original Six Foundation raises over $100,000 for South Carolina students
October 25, 2022
The Original Six Foundation (O6 Foundation) raised over $100,000 for educational programs that support South Carolina students in rural and underserved school districts. Two-hundred participants from businesses and organizations across the Carolinas took part in the 4th Annual O6 Foundation Sporting Clay Tournament fundraiser held at Rocky Creek Sporting Clays in Richburg, SC.
Original Six Foundation founder and chair, Nikki Haley asked the crowd to remember when they were little and walked into a classroom unprepared for a test or did not have their homework done. She asked them to remember how scared they felt.
“Those are the students the O6 Afterschool program is helping. What we’re doing is working with talented teachers to give students hope and we’re giving them confidence, and we’re letting them know they deserve better,” Haley said.
Top sponsors who made the event possible include US Brick, CBRE, Alliance Consulting Engineers, Inc., BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, Collum’s Lumber Products, LLC, Keowee Dock & Repair, Hood Construction Company, LLC, and Rocky Creek Sporting Clays.
“The number of students our O6 Afterschool program is serving this school year has nearly doubled in size over last year,” said Kara Gormley Meador, executive director of the O6 Foundation. “The growth in O6 Afterschool is why financial support from people who believe in our mission to help provide a quality education to students in rural and underserved areas is more important than ever,” Meador said.
During O6 Afterschool, certified educators reinforce school-day learning and aid 3rd-8th grade students in the completion of their take-home assignments. The program provides a safe space for students after school and offers individual support from teachers to help them achieve their academic goals. O6 Afterschool is providing hundreds of students access to supplemental instruction in Allendale, Bamberg, Clarendon, Marion, Union, Florence, Colleton and Greenville counties, with the goal of expanding. Since 2016, this program and other supportive efforts have served over 5,500 students and through a partnership with hundreds of teachers has provided over 16,127 hours of homework assistance and hands-on learning.
In addition to after school programming, The O6 Foundation My First Library program provides South Carolina’s highest-need students with at-home libraries to encourage reading. O6 My First Library works with 5K students to ensure they are prepared to enter the first grade.
About Original Six Foundation
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, please visit: www.originalsixfoundation.org.
