In June, GCCF awarded its bi-annual Innovation Grant to substantially support a project with the promise of significant community impact.

The Greenwood Lions Club Foundation received $50,000 from GCCF for the development of a Mobile Diabetes Clinic that will bring professional services to areas of the county that are greatly underserved. Diabetes screening and education will be available as needed, free of charge, to all residents of Greenwood County. The Lions Club’s proposal demonstrated well-developed collaboration with Self Regional Healthcare providers, local nonprofits offering medical services (such as Greater Greenwood United Ministry and Clinica Gratis), and a strong plan for implementation.

Phyllis Zuehlke, Lions Club Member who spearheaded this project, said, “[Greenwood Lions Club] wanted to expand our service projects into more areas than just vision. What better [related concern] than diabetes? The GCCF Innovation Grant was exactly what we needed. The Mobile Diabetes Clinic is a major project that will enrich the county and brings together many organizations that are striving for the same goals we have. People in our area desperately need identification of, education about, and care for diabetes. We can take our free clinic to community centers and rural areas and give not only screenings but also information about effective, healthy lifestyle changes and how their medical needs can best be met.”

Clients who have not had a medical home, are impoverished, have little or no access to transportation and are uneducated about an improved and healthier lifestyle will be offered health consultations and be directed to other programs that can provide reduced cost or free services and medications.

The Foundation is pleased to provide for the development of such beneficial projects in our community!

GCCF gave grants in our 2018 Open Granting cycle to the following organizations to fund specific programs or projects:

Alston Wilkes Society for staff salary and client workshop materials

Beyond Abuse for protective awnings at agency site

Connie Maxwell Children’s Home for “Fostering Families” program

Engaging Men of Color for “Standing Firm to be My Brother’s Keeper” conference expenses

Greenwood Pathway House for a commercial dishwasher for the men’s shelter

Hospice and Palliative Care of the Piedmont for furnishing a community room at the palliative care center

Immanuel Lutheran Church Soup Kitchen for purchase and installation of an AED

Meg’s House  for client transportation to places of employment

United Center for Community Care (UCCC) for a digital information sign at UCCC highlighting nonprofits housed and services offered at UCCC

Thank you to these organizations that carry out such good work for the benefit of our community!

Nine local nonprofits were awarded grants in GCCF’s 2018 Youth & Education cycle for programs and projects benefitting Greenwood County. They are:

City of Greenwood for fire prevention education programs and materials for children and youth

Community Initiatives for vehicle expenses for transport of Safe Haven schoolchildren

Cornerstone  for collaborative community campaign about opioids abuse and related issues

Emerald City Rotary Foundation in support of the Imagination Library project

Goodwill Industries for job training programs at Greenwood site

Healthy Learners for transportation for medical services for school-age children with limited resources and for staff support

The Museum and Railroad Historical Center for scholarships to summer camps at The Museum and Railroad Historical Center

P. H. Carmichael Foundation for youth academic and career development programs

Panola United Methodist Church for a collaborative summer literacy program in an underserved neighborhood

GCCF is honored to support the efforts of these local organizations!

GCCF congratulates the following organizations that received funding in our 2017 Community Enhancement granting cycle:

Arts Council of Greenwood County for summer art outreach camps and Black history Month exhibit costs

Greenwood Lions Club Foundation for an otoacoustic screener for hearing assessment of children and adults

Greenwood Pathway House toward the purchase of minivan for client transport

Humane Society of Greenwood for Trap, Neuter, and Return costs to treat 300 feral/community cats

Project Hope Foundation to fund the development of online training about autism for the community

United Housing Connections for security upgrades to Section 8 housing complex

Thank you for your continued, dedicated good work in our community!