Upstate Forever’s “Reconnecting People To Rivers” Initiative Receives Funding for Work in Spartanburg County

Spartanburg Water and Spartanburg County Foundation Provide Grants For Project

SPARTANBURG, SC – Upstate Forever is pleased to announce two grants in support of its “Reconnecting People to Rivers” Initiative. While the four-year endeavor will benefit the entire Upstate region, funds from Spartanburg Water and the Spartanburg County Foundation will be targeted to projects in Spartanburg County.

Spartanburg Water’s $30,000 grant will support the program’s mission to raise awareness of the community’s limited water resources by connecting the public with their drinking water sources.

“Spartanburg Water is proud to support these continued efforts to keep the public concerned and involved in the community water process,” said Sue Schneider, CEO of Spartanburg Water. “We seek to engage the community in water initiatives to raise awareness for safe accessible water.”

In addition, the Spartanburg County Foundation has contributed $5,000 to the initiative.

The funding from the two groups will support a number of projects, including the creation of both printed and online maps of local river segments to help citizens access recreation opportunities on the Upstate’s waterways. The initiative is also engaging families and community groups in protecting the health of local waterways by providing training for volunteer water quality monitors.

“’Reconnecting People to Rivers’ is an effort to cultivate a stronger appreciation for our limited water resources and a fascination with the ecological richness of our rivers in the Upstate region of South Carolina,” said Van Whitehead, Deputy Director of Upstate Forever.

“In supporting this Initiative, Spartanburg Water and Spartanburg County Foundation have advanced a vital community goal of clean water and join the Callie and John Rainey Foundation, Duke Energy Foundation, and TD Charitable Foundation in their commitment to a future of improved stewardship of the Upstate’s precious waters,” Whitehead said.

Upstate Forever is a nonprofit, membership-based organization promoting sensible growth and the protection of special places in the Upstate region of South Carolina. Our three program areas are Land Trust, Sustainable Communities, and Clean Air and Water. Founded in 1998, Upstate Forever now has nearly 2,000 members, two offices, and a staff of 18. For more information, visit www.upstateforever.org.