MURRELLS INLET, S.C. – The Waccamaw Community Foundation, the Grand Strand’s leading philanthropic organization, awarded a total of more than $74,000 to 14 programs as part of its annual Granting Day initiative.
The competitive grants, all awarded with the idea of making Horry and Georgetown counties a better place to live, benefitted a wide range of initiatives that focused on everything from children’s reading programs to health and wellness counseling.
“Our spring Granting Day is one of the most important days of the year for us,” said Mike Mancuso, Waccamaw Community Foundation’s executive director. “We were able to provide vital funds to 13 different organizations and that is at the heart of what we do here at the Waccamaw Community Foundation.”
Waccamaw Community Foundation administers the Elsie Beavers Carver and E. Louise Carver Educational Fund, which awarded $30,000 to four organizations, and the Waccamaw Community Trust, which handed out $44,804.
The Elsie Beavers Carver and E. Lois Carver Educational Fund awards grants in the amount of $1,000-$10,000. The Carver Educational Fund gives children, grades K-12, access to programs that improve and enrich their education. These grants focus specifically on the core subject areas of language arts, math, science, social studies, health and physical education, and the arts. Funding is available for equipment and supplies, general operating support and special projects or programs.
Recipients of spring competitive grants from the Carver Educational Fund were:
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Grand Strand – $7,500 grant for education and programming.
Freedom Readers – $7,500 grant after-school and summer literacy programs.
Georgetown County Family YWCA – $7,500 grant for after-school programs.
South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Math Foundation – $7,500 grant for STEM summer camp.
The Waccamaw Community Trust Fund awards grants in amounts that range from $1,000-$5,000. The Community Trust Fund supports a variety of causes that share one common purpose: to improve the lives of individuals and families living in Horry and Georgetown counties. Funding is available for equipment and supplies, general operating support and special projects or programs.
Waccamaw Community Trust Fund spring competitive grants were presented to:
Barnabas Horse Foundation – $5,000 grant for sponsorship for therapy horses Gage and Compliments.
The Center for Counseling & Wellness – $5,000 grant for EMDR certification training.
Freedom Readers – $2,500 grant for in-person program – site operations.
Habitat for Humanity of Horry County – $4,228 for the Good Start Program.
Helping Hands of Myrtle Beach – $5,000 grant for operations assistance.
Mobile Meals of the Grand Strand – $4,000 grant for Mobile Meals program.
Operation Sight – $5,000 grant for Restoring Visions, Improving Lives program.
The Period Project – $5,000 grant for advancing menstrual equity in Horry and Georgetown counties.
S.O.S. Health Care – $4,076 grant for recreation equipment for S.O.S.’s Murrells Inlet Clinic.
United Way of Horry County – $5,000 grant for Camp United.