Greenville women award more than $500,000 in grants to six nonprofits

Greenville Women Giving on May 15 awarded $503,555 in grant funding to six non-profit organizations operating in Greenville County.

Since its inception in 2006, GWG has awarded $8.5 million through 152 grants to 92 nonprofit organizations, according to a news release

“Greenville Women Giving is thrilled to be able to make a positive impact on these extremely worthy organizations,” GWG Co-Chair Jane Pannier said in the release. “The sheer volume of grant applications this year tells us our community’s needs are growing. Through the collective giving of our 500-plus members, we can initiate lasting change for the good of our community. The more members we have to contribute, the greater our impact can be.”

Fifty-four qualified grant applications were submitted to Greenville Women Giving for consideration this year, the release said. To qualify, an application for a grant mustmeet a need in at least one of GWG’s five focus areas: arts, education, environment, health and human services. In addition, the grant request must provide services in Greenville County and range from$50,000 to $100,000.Based on a vote of GWG members, six outstanding organizations were selected to receive 2024 grants.

The grantees are:

ARTS: South Carolina Children’s Theatre , awarded $76,430 to create an inclusive experience for all families by purchasing assistive technology for individuals with sensory sensitivities. Ssouth Carolina Department of Education data show that of more than 106,000 children in special education classes, 11% are diagnosed with autism and 28% are diagnosed with multiple sensory-sensitive disorders. The technology SCCT will purchase with the grant money includes two live feed cameras and viewing screens for both theater spaces, side tab curtains and microphones

EDUCATION: Nicholtown Child and Family Collaborative , received $100,000 over two years to help fund staff salaries, program supplies and participant meals for individuals participating in the “Nurturing Parenting Skills and Parent Cafe” program. The program provides free, family-based education and training for adults who have experienced past child abuse and neglect or are at high risk for repeating the cycle of abuse and neglect with their own children

ENVIRONMENT: Loaves & Fishes , was awarded $100,000 over two years to help cover the operating costs of four refrigerated trucks that deliver more than 1 million pounds of donated perishable produce to organizations that provide meals to 42,000 people in Greenville County food that would otherwise go into a landfill for people who otherwise would go unfed, according to the release. In addition to the continued operation of the refrigerated truck fleet, GWG funding will allow Loaves & Fishes to adapt and expand routes, keeping more food out of landfills and feeding more people, the release stated.

HEALTH: The Period Project , received $80,000 to distribute 12,100 period packs in Greenville County for one year. The access to period packs is intended to improve the menstrual health of Greenville County women and girls experiencing period poverty by reducing the number of vulnerable women and girls with no or limited access to monthly menstrual products. Period packs include menstrual health cards to document menstrual cycle information for discussion with a health care provider.

HUMAN SERVICES: Generations Group Home , was granted $50,000 to update the 32-year-old kitchen of this nationally accredited residential and psychiatric treatment facility for young boys who are victims of sexual abuse. The updated kitchen will allow the organization to store frozen food donations as well as purchased items, and to sanitize kitchen utensils properly.

HUMAN SERVICES: Greenville Homeless Alliance : was granted $97,125 to construct two tiny homes designed by Fine Arts Center high school architecture students, built by Soteria prison re-entry program participants, and rented to Soteria program graduates. This is the pilot phase of a broad, innovative vision to create a mixed-income neighborhood community with up to 30 tiny homes for individuals re-entering society from incarceration as well as people emerging from chronic homelessness. It is thought to be the first program of its kind in the nation, according to the release.

A video has been posted online about the organizations receiving the 2024 awards.

Grants are funded by the contributions of Greenville Women Giving members.

Greenville Women Giving is a philanthropic women’s collective giving organization created as a special initiative of the Community Foundation in 2006. The organization has more than 500 members. Membership in Greenville Women Giving is open to all women who commit to the annual contribution. For information about membership, upcoming events and grants, visit their website .

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