Youth Opportunity Grants are one of the Rotary Club of Spartanburgs signature projects. These competitive grants benefit hundreds of students every year.
Among the current uses of funds are leadership training, educational enrichment, science education, pediatric dental referrals, development of independent living skills and drowning prevention classes. In 2021, the Rotary received 20 requests totaling $82,511, of which seven requests were funded for a total of $29,262.
The process began with a Request for Proposals that was distributed through the United Way, the Spartanburg County Foundation, the Spartanburg Academic Movement, the Mary Black Foundation, the Chapman Cultural Center, and club members. Applications were received, committee members read and scored them. Grants were awarded based on aggregate scoring.
Organizations funded in 2021 and a description of their programs are:
The Citizens Scholars Institute has been awarded $2,856 to support its Emerging Leaders Internship Program. Thirty-two 11th grade Scholars will participate in an intensive three-day leadership immersion course, serve as peer-mentors to rising sixth and seventh grade scholars, and serve as facilitators at the CS annual conference, The Summit: Opportunity Looks Like Hard Work. The event is scheduled for June 15on the campus of the Evans Academic Center of Spartanburg Community College.
Healthy Smiles of Spartanburg has been awarded $5,000 to support the Pediatric Dental Clinic and Pediatric Specialist Referrals. At the Pediatric Dental Clinic, low-income, uninsured children access no-cost case management, preventative and restorative treatment. However, some children, due to age, behavior and extent of decay, need specialized treatment including sedation that Healthy Smiles coordinates with pediatric specialists. This program will provide access to preventative and specialized care and mitigate the potential for emergent dental or medical treatment.
Hope Center for Children has been awarded $4,049 to support the development of an incentive room at the Faucette House shelter, which recently began serving a higher-risk foster population. The incentive room will be aimed at the teenage population living at the shelter and will help to build independent living skills through goal setting and behavior modification while the teens heal from trauma and abuse. Access to the incentive room will be earned through an accrued point system.
The Palmetto Council of Boy Scouts of America has been awarded $4,500 to support a week-long summer camp experience at the Glendale Outdoor Leadership School (GOLS) for members of the TK Gregg Community Center Cub Scout pack. At GOLS, youth will be able to participate in biking, rock climbing, fishing, and hiking. Palmetto Council will also provide programs on topics such as Health, Safety, and First Aid; Sports and Physical Fitness; Healthy Eating Habits and Nutrition; Wood Work and Building; and Outdoor Skills.
The Salvation Army of Spartanburg and Union Counties has been awarded $4,000 to support its Summer Day Camp Program. The program operates from 8 a.m.to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday for nine-weeks during the summer. It is designed to help at-risk children in our area have a safe, secure place to be during the summer months. The children receive snacks and a meal daily, physical activities, trips to local museums and parks, and character-building skills.
VCOM has been awarded $3,857 to support its Research Institute Young Investigators Science Camp Program, which is an informal science education program designed to combat the lack of student diversity for those entering the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math education) fields. A group of 10-20 middle school students will participate in the VCOM science camp focusing on life sciences. Funds will be used to provide a hands-on research experience, e.g. extracting and analyzing DNA to illustrate basic biological scientific methods to students. Other materials, including shirts, bags and journals are take-home items so students can show their participation and record their activities during the event.
The YMCA of Greater Spartanburg has been awarded $5,000 to provide free swimming lessons using YMCA Safety Around Water curriculum for 60 children and teens from low-income homes in Spartanburg County, focusing on the Northside and District 7. Additionally, funds will be used to provide teens living in the Northside and Highland communities with free lifeguard certification classes to prepare them for employment as lifeguards. Teens from the Northside and Highland Communities who achieve these certifications will be considered top-priority candidates for employment.
Youth Opportunity Grants have been a line item in the Spartanburg Rotary Club budget for many years. Part of the funding comes from the annual Spartanburg Sings event, which brings together middle school students from across the county for a one-afternoon musical performance. Spartanburg Sings has been another way the Spartanburg Rotary Club serves youth, and it has become very popular among middle school administrators, faculty and students.
Ashley Dill is a native of Spartanburg and has been on staff for the Herald-Journal for 14 years. She covers community news and can be reached at ashley.dill@shj.com or on Twitter at @ashleydill_shj.
