Women in Philanthropy Investments 2006


In the spring of 2006 WIP established an endowment fund through the Central Carolina Community Foundation which was the largest portion of WIP allocable dollars for 2006. The interest from this fund titled, “The Women in Philanthropy Initiative of the United Way of the Midlands,” will enable annual investments in future community initiatives. 

The Alliance for Women at Columbia College.  $10,000.

Bluff Road Shalom Zone Center. $30,000 set aside to support year two of the grant awarded to them in 2005, pending satisfactory completion of year one.

Fast Forward Technology Center. $7,000 mini-grant to help fund an Environmental Science Camp for at risk fifth-seventh grade girls. This project creates a model for merging hands-on-science (something young women need) with personal development. The participants will be mentored by women scientists and encouraged to stay in school.  The WIP investment funded a summer director, counselors, supplies, and a formal evaluation of impact.

KEYS (Keeping Every Youth Safe). $6,700 mini-grant to Lexington Improvement League to fund 20 students in their highly successful program that helps youth to develop life skills through music and martial arts. The unique blend of these two learning mediums increases students’ discipline, concentration, physical fitness, communication, self-esteem and leadership.

Carolina School for Inquiry (a new public elementary charter school in Richland One). $6,300 mini-grant to support the development of an After School Enrichment Program with two foci: artist in resident and parenting education. Professional artists will come to the school for one week at a time to engage the students in meaningful learning.

Bluff Road Shalom Zone Center.  Spring 2005 - $30,000 to begin a comprehensive out-of-school program for students ages 12-15. It has a successful history of working with elementary and middle school students and is ready to offer an exciting, dynamic and meaningful program for older students.  WIP investors will have an opportunity to work directly with the Bluff Road Center to support our investment.

Fast Forward, Inc.  Spring 2005 - $5,000 to support out-of-school programs for at-risk high school students.  WIP invested in Fast Forward summer camps through the Central Community Foundation allocation process. The academic outcomes of the programs were impressive and the grant will assist in expanding student participation.

Family CDC Seeds of Hope Spring 2005 - $5,000 for a consultant from the After School Alliance to assist with developing an administrative and assessment infrastructure to make the program more competitive for future grants. Seeds of Hope is a new community based out-of-school program working with at-risk children.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program Fall 2003 - $22,500 awarded for a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.  This support provided eligible families with information on applying for Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC), free tax filing and access to current underutilized health, social service and financial service programs. 

Healthy Families Lower Richland (HFLR) Fall 2003 - $45,000 awarded to Healthy Families Lower Richland (HFLR), an initiative of Prevent Child Abuse South Carolina. HFLR provides home-based services to Medicaid eligible, high-risk new or expecting first-time parents living in the Lower Richland communities of Arthurtown, Gadsden, Eastover and Hopkins. Funds were used to expand services and help develop a community coalition committed to addressing the challenges of families living in poverty.  The project expanded an existing and successful community based program by adding a component of family literacy.  

Riverbanks Zoo Teen Apprenticeship Program:  $2,955 to fund five teen apprenticeships in a joint partnership between Riverbanks and the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Midlands, where teen apprentices learn about careers in zoos and aquariums, and do an apprenticeship in one of four Riverbanks Zoo work areas.  The focus of the program is to increase student success rates and align workforce capabilities with potential career opportunities.

Communities in Schools – DJJ Learning for Landscapes: $7,000 for the Learning for Life project for Communities in Schools at DJJ, which builds upon work accomplished by the Palmetto Pride grant to beautify and improve the environment by creating raised ornamental gardens at the school. The grant will allow students to analyze garden plans, add plantings and learn how plant growth and development is contingent upon environment.

Fast Forward – Arts Summer Camp:  $5,000 to support technology-based summer camps directed specifically toward arts oriented technology projects such as “Author, Author,” filmmaking, “Island Edventure,” and other technology-based programs with an art focus.

Keep America Beautiful – Campus Compost Program:  $1,555 to develop and implement a one-year project to help one school in Richland County and one school in Lexington County implement a comprehensive campus composting program.

Arts, Education, and Environment - $20,000 in 2004

Crayton Middle School:  $6,000 to fund expansion to Bienvenidos a Crayton! (Welcome to Crayton), a project which provides academic, social and health support to 55 students and their families for whom English is a second language. The program focuses on organizational skills, self-concept, and strategies to improve study skills to increase PACT scores, and offers workshops to help families and parents better assist their children.

Richland One – Alcorn Middle School:  $7,000 to expand the Knights Electronic Learning Center by providing computer resources for targeted students and parents to receive intense academic, social and technology support classes through a parent center, parent/student workshops, hands-on training and technology support classes.

Midlands Middle College High School:  $7,000 for this partnership involving nine school districts, Midlands Tech and the Midlands Education and Business Alliance. MCHS is a community college campus school designed for at-risk students focusing on reducing the dropout rate, preparing students for work or college, and attracting more students to higher education. Funding provided a program development consultant, curriculum materials, and student/parent outreach marketing and travel.