The South Carolina Ports Authority announced $103,000 in grants to 56 charitable organizations through its annual Community Giving Program, which provides grant support in regions where SCPA operates in order to positively impact maritime commerce, economic development, environmental awareness and community outreach.

“As the Port continues to grow, so does our commitment to be a strong community partner and neighbor,” said Jim Newsome, SCPA president and CEO. “Our mission extends beyond maritime commerce and economic development activities, and there is great pride in the Community Giving Program and the relationships formed with the recipients across the state.”

The organizations selected to receive grant funds will support critical programs and initiatives in the communities where the Port operates. At $103,000, this year’s giving cycle represents the most funding ever awarded by the Port. The program included grants of $5,000, $2,500 and $1,000.

Recipients of a $5,000 grant included Charleston Chamber Foundation, Charleston Waterkeeper, Chucktown Squash Scholar, Friends of Keep Charleston Beautiful and Team Backpack Journalists.

Charleston Chamber Foundation supports the enrichment of the business environment in the Charleston area through talent, leadership, research and collaborative initiatives of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce. SCPA grant funds will provide support for 50 instructors from Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester Counties to participate in a three-day training course in Project Based Learning.

Charleston Waterkeeper, whose mission is to protect and restore Charleston’s waterways for our community and for future generations, will use the grant funds to conduct five weeks of sample analysis as part of their Recreational Water Quality Testing Program.

Chucktown Squash Scholars is a year-round sports-based youth development organization that uses the sport of squash, in combination with academic tutoring, fitness education, civic engagement and mentoring to make a difference in the lives of Charleston’s under-served youth population. SCPA grant funds will provide support and services for under-served students and families throughout the Charleston community.

Friends of Keep Charleston Beautiful, whose mission is to create a cleaner, more beautiful Charleston through awareness, education and community involvement, will use SCPA grant funds to support their Green Spaces Recycling Program. The program provides adequate recycling and trash containers in Charleston’s public parks.

Team Backpack Journalists is an after-school STEAM-based (science, technology, engineering, art and math) program that provides students with real- world journalism experiences, including the process of writing, storytelling, and film making. The group will utilize the grant for the Cars & Ports project. Students will explore the process of manufacturing cars and how they are shipped through the port to customers around the world.

“Ones to Watch”

This year the Port chose three organizations as “Ones to Watch,” a new funding category for programs demonstrating promising growth in areas across the state where the Port operates. Each group was awarded a $2,500 grant. This year’s recipients included The City of Greer “Railfest,” Beaufort- Jasper Academy for Career Excellence and Dillon County First Steps.

Fiscal Year 2018 Grant Recipients

American Red Cross

Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired – Charleston (ABVI)

Audubon South Carolina

Avian Conservation Center/Center for Birds of Prey

Be A Mentor

Beaufort-Jasper Academy for Career Excellence (ACE)

Charleston Area Senior Citizen’s Services, Inc.

Charleston Chamber Foundation

Charleston Habitat for Humanity

Charleston Waterkeeper

Chucktown Squash Scholars

City of Greer “Railfest”

Communities In Schools

Communities In Schools of Greenville County, Inc.

Corpus Callosum

Dillon County Fire Department

Dillon County First Steps

Dillon County Free Medical Clinic

Earth Heart Growers (EHG)

East Cooper Community Outreach

East Cooper Meals on Wheels

Engaging Creative Minds (ECM)

Florence Crittenton Programs of SC

Friends of Coastal South Carolina

Friends of Keep Charleston Beautiful

Greer Relief & Resources Agency, Inc.

Habitat for Humanity of Berkeley County (HFHBC)

Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County

Harvest Hope Food Bank

Help 4 Kids Florence

I Heart Hungry Kids

Jasper County First Steps

Junior Achievement of Greater SC

Louie’s Kids

Lowcountry Food Bank

LowCountry Habitat for Humanity

Lowcountry Maritime Society

Metanoia

Palmetto Project/BEGIN WITH BOOKS

Reach Out and Read Carolinas

Reading Partners South Carolina

Redux Contemporary Art Center

South Carolina Aquarium

South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics Foundation

Team Backpack Journalists

The Charleston Museum

The Green Heart Project

The Walker Foundation at the SC School for the Deaf and the Blind

Tricounty Family Ministries

Trident Literacy Association

United Ministries

USS Yorktown Foundation

Water Mission

WINGS for Kids

Yo Art Inc.

YouthBASE

Fiscal Year 2017 Community Giving Impact

Community Giving grant recipients complete outcomes surveys at the end of the fiscal year before they can apply for the new giving cycle. The survey allows the Port to measure the positive lasting impacts of the grant program and fulfill its mission to be a strong community partner. In the previous giving cycle, $85,000 in grants was awarded to 49 charitable organizations. Impacts of the funding include:

• Over 30,000 students across the state benefited from Community Giving grants

• 17,183 people educated about environmental sustainability

• Over 24,000 students participated in STEAM activities

• 1,400 people received job skills training

• 2,910 people received meals through hunger-relief programs