HOPE worldwide Columbia (SC) Programs

HOPE worldwide SC receives Partner In Education Award!      
HOPE worldwide SC received notification that we are recipients of the 2008 Partner In Education Award! The Partner is Education Award is given to business partners and volunteers in Richland School District 2 who make unforgettable contributions and create the positive climate needed between communities and schools. The award honors the work of HOPE worldwide SC staff and volunteers who have faithfully and consistently served the school district through their efforts at Keels Elementary School since 2002.

For several years, the HOPE worldwide – Keels Elementary Saturday Academy program operated without any or minimal funds. When faced with the tough decision at the end of each school year whether to come back for another year or call it quits, it was hearts like volunteer Jonnia Fanning who responded each time with “we have to help our children….to close is not an option,” or volunteer Sheryl Kinard who makes the 2 hour commute each Saturday from Newberry, South Carolina, forsaking employment obligations and gas prices because she “cannot stand to miss spending time with my kids." These quotes reflect the hearts of all the volunteers who have invested in the lives of the district’s children, families and school administration.

Lynne Ladue, Keels Elementary Principal says “There's a place our children go where it is safe to be themselves. There is a place our children go where laughter and tears, "hopes" and fears flow freely. There is a place our children go where truth is spoken and dreams are shared. It's a place of acceptance and understanding, honesty and love. It's a place called Saturday Academy. It’s HOPE worldwide! Words do not seem adequate to describe what the leadership, mentors, and volunteers from HOPE worldwide have meant and do mean to the Keels family. However, I can tell you that hope is what they have brought to Keels' students and families for the past 6 years.”

HOPE worldwide is proud to be recognized as a partner who has given an extraordinary amount of time to play a tremendous role in the success of the district through providing quality education and sincere friendships to the students we serve. We are grateful to the volunteers, “our engines”, who sacrificially give of their hearts and time to make a difference in the communities we serve.

Christmas Toy Drives Reflect Grateful Hearts

Christmas is a time of magic and excitement. For many, it is the highlight of the year. Everyone enjoys receiving gifts, especially over the holidays. Yet, giving can be just as enjoyable and rewarding as receiving. Sometimes the gift of our time is more valuable than any tangible gift. During this holiday season, many families across the state of South Carolina received joy because of someone else’ heart to give. As you continue to read the article below, you will feel the hearts of people who decided it is better to give than receive.
 
Columbia Christmas Toy Drives.
HOPE worldwide- Columbia hosted two Christmas Toy Drives. The first toy drive was at the River Oaks Community Center on December 13, 2007. A total of 35 families and 62 children received gifts, toys and indulged in a hot catered dinner donated by Culinary Consulting and Design. The second toy drive was held at the Booker Washington Heights Cultural Arts Center on December 15, 2007 from 11:00am to 1:30pm. Children and parents stood in excitement as Santa and Mrs. Clause (volunteers Delia and Prentiss Brooks) arrived on the Station 11 Fire Truck. The screams and smiles coming from the children left parents and volunteers proud to be apart of the moment. Santa and Mrs. Clause entered into the building to hand out toys and take pictures with the children. After the children received their toys and took their photo with Mr. and Mrs. Clause they proceeded to enjoy the outdoor games, various arts and crafts, and face painting. There were also health educators on site to inform parents about Medicaid, asthma and other critical health topics. At noon, parents and children enjoyed hot dogs with homemade chili as they were entertained by The Elements (a local hip hop group), and the Irmo High School Dance/Step Team. From both events a total of 109 volunteers served a total of 146 families and over 400 children.

As a non-profit organization, HOPE worldwide South Carolina depends on its volunteers, partners, board of directors, organizations and corporations to serve the families of the midlands. Their contributions are shown through volunteerism, funding support, toy donations, and their encouragement. For more than eight years, without hesitation, their love for the people has made an incredible impact on our communities. So we would like to say a special thanks to all of our supporters: Prentiss and Delia Brooks for being Santa and Mrs. Clause, The Columbia Church of Christ, The Booker Washington Heights Cultural Arts Center, CMC Steel of South Carolina, Ironmart, Attix employees, Carolina Care Plan employees, The Bell Family Dentistry, Dr. Gary Bell Medical Practice, The City of Columbia Fire Department, The City of Columbia Parks and Recreation, The Elements, Irmo High School Dance and Step Team, Small Smiles Dental Clinic, Family Connections, Select Health, Palmetto Health Richland, Synergy Business Park, Dicks Sporting Goods, CC&D Catering, Wal-Mart (Harbison), HOPE worldwide SC Board of Directors and Staff Members for embracing the vision of HOPE worldwide South Carolina to bring hope and Change lives.

Charleston Christmas Toy Drive.
HOPE worldwide SC – Charleston, with the help of community partners, celebrated our first ever Hursey - HOPE worldwide Christmas Toy Drive! Approximately 200 parents, children and volunteers attended the event held at Hursey Elementary on December 15, 2007. Hazel Lowman, 21st Century Community Learning Center Site Coordinator, organized and coordinated the activities with the help of her staff and students. The Christmas Spirit was floating in the air as the excitement swelled. The entire school and community were invited. Games, prizes, and a smorgasbord buffet of meatballs w/sauces, hot dogs, desserts, punch, and hot chocolate was provided. Everyone raved about the food! The Hursey Bulldog Stomp Team, of which many of our 21st CCLC students are members, provided some foot stomping enjoyment! Other entertainment included an African Dance and singing performance. Near the end of the event, our special guest arrived: Santa Claus (alias Mr. Cox)! Mr. Cox mentors several of Hursey’s African American boys. He donned his Santa gear and flashed his huge, warm smile! Adorned with his natural salt & pepper beard and his love for the children that he impacts daily as he walks the halls of Hursey Elementary, he was the perfect choice! Santa welcomed the children with smiles and toys as they sat on his lap to pose for pictures and eagerly share their Christmas Wish List. Over 300 toys were distributed at the Toy Drive and 50 volunteers supported the event. Thanks to the generous donations of our partners (Asten-Johnson, the Charleston Church of Christ, Eagle Harbor, Sunfire Grill, South Carolina Army National Guard) our efforts were magnified as we were able to do more than we asked for or imagined.  This is a prime example of the community coming together to meet unmet needs!

Greenville Christmas Toy Drive.
Faithful HOPE worldwide SC volunteers from Greenville, South Carolina spread Christmas cheer throughout their city. They partnered with the local Salvation Army to conduct a Christmas Toy Drive for needy families in the local area. Needy Parents provide a wish list of their children's Christmas gifts. Then the Salvation Army collected toys to fill those request. In partnership with the Greenville Church of Christ, McCar Homes, Freeland & Kauffman Co., Hilton & Williams Home Builders over 500 toys were collected this year. One church member, who has his own business, took his family to Toys-R-Us to purchase toys totaling over $2000. He and his family have made this a yearly Christmas tradition. They just love it! With all the donations we were also able to assist six (6) individual families directly. With these six families with a total of sixteen children, we were able to provide at least four toys per child and the remaining toys went to the Salvation Army to help meet their needs. Child volunteer, Kaitlin, attends the Greenville Church of Christ with her parents. She asked her 3rd grade class to get involved and they helped by bagging the toys for the needy families. Kaitlin and her classmates were totally impacted by this experience. So with the help of the Salvation Army, the Greenville Church of Christ, McCar Homes, Freeland & Kauffman Co. and Hilton & Williams Home Builders, this was a special Christmas for families in need.

Season of Service Starts with Mentoring Grant
Summer time has come and gone and the leaves of another season are falling. HOPE worldwide SC (HwwSC)) is excited about the newly implemented United States Department of Education Mentoring Grant that will allow our volunteers to deepen the extent of their impact through one-to-one mentoring relationships with 4th & 5th grade students.

All children possess the potential to succeed and make valuable contributions to society. Far too often, that potential lies dormant. Children need a caring, supportive person in their lives to encourage, inspire, guide and build a trusting relationship. HwwSC already offers a safe place for children to go, where few other exists (particularly on Saturdays), a nurturing environment to learn and gain new experiences, and a caring relationship with staff and mentors. What the Mentoring Program does is expand existing services, recruit additional volunteers, and provide support for our at-risk children to have a caring, one-to-one relationship with an adult, based on effective research for mentoring programs, that promotes increased self-esteem, positive character and behavior, and improved academic performance.

The Mentoring Program is based on best practices – one-to-one relationships, frequent contact, and of 12 months or more duration. Our youth programs use activities designed around academics, arts, sports, community service and parental involvement to provide an early intervention program to at-risk youth. Children will not only gain academically, but also develop a character of self-esteem and respect for others, discover the value and enjoyment of community service, and reduce behavioral incidents at school to strengthen academic competence.

Children in mentoring relationships have shown improved self esteem, they stay in school, improved in their academic skills, they find resources they might not find on their own; gain support for new behaviors, attitudes and ambitions, show increased motivation, broaden their horizons and experience, etc. On the other hand, mentors develop an immense satisfaction from helping another person grow, develop interpersonal and communication skills, increased self-awareness, gain a reciprocal relationship, learn how to adapt and be flexible in relationships, etc.

Any caring person willing to give of themselves and their time in order to invest in a young person . . . might that be you?  Many students have been identified and are waiting for a caring adult to step into their lives. Our youth need caring adults guiding them through their struggles with growing up while learning to make responsible choices. Mentoring provides a great opportunity for broadening your own view of today’s youth and letting them know we care. Our life experiences have already equipped us to be mentors. You can be that special person a child is looking for. Become a mentor and you both will change and grow.

We offer several options for you to fulfill your commitment as a mentor through our Saturday Academies, 21st Century Afterschool Programs, Summer Programs, and during school hours. The Mentor-Mentee Matches have already begun in our Afterschool Programs and Saturday Academies.  Becoming a mentor is a win-win situation.  Please contact the HOPE worldwide SC office at 803.561.0060 if you would like to become a mentor and change our world!

*Please note below upcoming events during our Season of Service:
December 13, 7:00pm: Christmas Toy Drive at River Oaks Apartment Community
December 15, 11:00am: Christmas Toy Drive at Booker Washington Heights Cultural Arts Center
January 19, 10:00am: MLK Day of Service, Magic Johnson Empowerment Center, Eastover, SC

HOPE worldwide SC Receives New Grants
The organization received award letters confirming receipt of four grants: Bank of America Community Grant, Sisters of Charity Responsive Grant, and a United States Department of Education Mentoring Grant, and South Carolina Department of Education 21st Century Community Learning Center!

Bank of America
Bank of America Charitable Foundation awarded HOPE worldwide SC a $10,000 grant to support our child development programs. HOPE worldwide SC operates three 21st Century community Learning Centers, a Family Resource Center, five Saturday academies and four Summer Enrichment Programs. To meet the needs of the entire community, families are helped through parenting & health workshops, fatherhood initiatives, community coalitions, environmental initiatives, Community Service Days, Christmas Toy Drives, etc. The Bank of America Charitable Foundation is dedicated to providing opportunity for all in its commitment to our communities and HOPE worldwide SC is proud to be a new partner.

Sisters of Charity
The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina awarded thirteen Responsive Grants totaling $752,860 to non-profits and faith-based organizations across South Carolina. Responsive Grants are designed to address the root causes of poverty using strategic methods that allow the Foundation to work closely with grantees and develop collaborative relationships. HOPE worldwide SC received $49,000 to operate its Saturday Academy Program. HOPE worldwide SC staff and volunteers have operationalized a Saturday Academy program that includes an academic, character, cultural, recreational, and service learning component to give students the enrichment and extra help needed to succeed. Volunteers serve as caring adults to provide academic and social skills development to the participants. Families are served through parenting workshops, fatherhood initiatives, community service opportunities and other special interest services that meet their needs. “These organizations are relentlessly working to address poverty in South Carolina through their programs and services,” said Thomas C. Keith, executive director of the Foundation. “It is our hope that the funding from the Foundation will help strengthen and build their capacity to serve those in need.” The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina has been a valuable, trusted partner of HOPE worldwide SC and we are very fortunate to be aligned with such an organization whose team is full of dedicated, sincere, and caring individuals. HOPE worldwide SC was presented with the award check at the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina Orientation and Responsive Grant Luncheon on Wednesday, September 19, 2007.

Department of Education
HOPE worldwide SC is proud to be amongst the 2007 recipients of the United States Department of Education Mentoring Grant from the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools!  The grant is a three-year grant with the first year award being $186,967. HOPE worldwide South Carolina will incorporate a Mentoring Program based on best practices – one-to-one relationships, frequent contact, and of 12 months or more duration – into its existing programs at four elementary schools in Columbia, South Carolina. HOPE worldwide youth programs use activities designed around academics, arts, sports, community service and parental involvement to provide an early intervention program to at-risk youth. Through staff and volunteer support, children not only gain academically, but also develop a character of self-esteem and respect for others, discover the value and enjoyment of community service, and reduce behavioral incidents at school to strengthen academic competence. Students will be linked with mentors who will receive ongoing training and support in mentoring, and have been screened using appropriate background checks. We are very humbled by receiving this grant as HOPE worldwide South Carolina was the only applicant awarded this grant in the entire state!!

21st Century Community Learning Center
The Malcolm C. Hursey Elementary - HOPE worldwide 21st Century Community Learning Center started operations on Tuesday, September 11! The grant was awarded to HOPE worldwide from the South Carolina Department of Education in the amount of $147,000 for the initial year of the four year grant. Hursey Elementary is located in a high poverty area in North Charleston, South Carolina. The Program is in partnership with the school district, School’s Out of North Charleston, Hursey’s current partners; and others through a community-based, “family resource center” model for youth in grades K-5 and their families. The program will better meet the needs of working parents through after-school (Mon-Fri), Saturday, summer, and adult learning programs that emphasize academics, enrichment, character development, and international service. Hazel Lowman, newly hired Program Director, is working diligently to meet the needs of these Charleston families. Welcome aboard Hazel, and keep up the good work!

“All our lives we search for someone who makes us complete. We choose partners and change partners. We dance the song of heartbreak and hope all the while, wondering if somewhere, somehow there is someone searching for us.” -Anonymous.

We are immeasurably grateful to our partners for funding us, choosing us, and most of all believing in us!

HOPE worldwide South Carolina Recognized by Sisters of Charity
The HOPE worldwide South Carolina program has been recognized by the Sisters of Charity organization as a program that is making a difference in our community. The Saturday Academy Programs at Keels Elementary School in Northeast Columbia in particular has been featured as a program that changes lives of children in the district.

Click here to read more about HOPE worldwide South Carolina and the lives being changed.