Recent News

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06/16/2009

P R E S S R E L E A S E
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Christine Beddia
843-723-5736 x103

Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester, and Colleton Counties S.C. °V June 16, 2009: The Neighborhoods Energized to Win (N.E.W.) Fund, managed by Coastal Community Foundation, awarded annual grants totaling $30,875 to 13 grassroots, neighborhood groups in the Tri-county area and Colleton County to strengthen those communities through beautification programs, after-school tutoring, senior center activities, and more.

In its 18th year of grantmaking, the N.E.W. Fund continues the important work of strengthening neighborhoods and of building leadership through training programs offered by the Foundation. The program remains one of the few funding sources for organizations without formal 501 (c) (3) [nonprofit] statuses and has awarded more than $700,000 in total to grassroots organizations that often form the backbone of their communities.

Two primary goals of the N.E.W. funding are to maintain or increase participation in community meetings and to achieve 80% attendance level at the Foundation-hosted and facilitated N.E.W Leadership Development Institute sessions.

Five desired outcomes among neighborhood group recipients are:
ÑX Families are strong, healthy, and self-sufficient
ÑX Residents live in safe, supportive neighborhoods
ÑX Residents take pride in and use neighborhood skills and resources
ÑX Residents have the power to influences and shape their own communities
ÑX Residents create and participate in a thriving economy

Begun in 1991 with a grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the 2009 N.E.W. Fund program has been generously supported by the following endowments managed by Coastal Community Foundation:

N.E.W. Fund Endowment
Zucker Family Endowment for N.E.W.
Harry Frank Guggenheim Endowment
Rhodia Endowment
Sylvia & Henry Yaschik Fund of the Jewish Endowment Fund
Bakker Family Fund
Annual gifts from supportive donors

Small grants do make a difference. Below are the 2009 N.E.W. Fund grantees that are making a difference in your area:

Charleston County

Concerned Citizens of Sol-Legare Foundation
To renovate the Seashore Farmer°¶s Lodge, in the heart of the community. The structure was erected in 1915 and previously served as a meeting hall to encourage African-American fraternal orders in the community. In 2007, the Lodge was listed on The National Register of Historic Properties. Currently, the building is dilapidated. The citizens of Sol-Legare would like to renovate it to serve as a Post-Civil War Agricultural Museum and as a central meeting point for community members.

Committee for Concerned Citizens of Petersfield
To purchase and install a personnel gate for improved access to the Petersfield Community Center, make additional fence repairs for the compound fencing and install security lighting on the building.. Also, funds will facilitate site clearing work on Petersfield°¶s new Children & Seniors Recreational Center and Park.

East Oak Forest Neighborhood Association
To repair brickwork and ironwork on 12 aging and deteriorating signs, including the °ßWelcome to°K°® signage.

Lincoln School Advisory Board
To support the Summer Math and Science Enrichment Program for middle and elementary school students in the McClellanville Area. The program encourages participants°¶ interest in science through experiments, scientific testing, and educational field trips to Sewee Santee, the SC Aquarium, Caw Caw Interpretive Center, and Legare Farms. This is the only summer program offered to middle school students in Awendaw and McClellanvile.

Metanoia Community Development Corporation
To develop a new strategic plan for 2010-2013 that will deepen the scale and scope of their involvement and outreach in the Chicora Cherokee Neighborhood in North Charleston. Through internet and paper surveys, community meetings, individual interviews, and board and staff retreats, Metanoia hopes to engage residents, Board members and staff in a highly participatory process.

Phillips Community Association
To support the °ßAdopt-A-Highway°® program and Community Family Day. Phillips, a historically African-American community in Mount Pleasant on Hwy 41, will organize a community clean-up, with adults acting as mentors and youth being team leaders. At the family day celebration, the youth would be recognized for their dedication. This program has been operating in this community since 1999.

Put the Holly back in Hollywood
For neighborhood beautification via °ßWelcome To°K°® signage and plantings for the Rantowles Community to beautify their front entrance on Highway 16 North in Hollywood. In addition, the community plans to engage in community clean-up and crime watch activities. One of the goals of Put the Holly Back into Hollywood is to obtain signage and beautification for each of the 10 communities in Hollywood. The Rantowles community is the first community that one approaches heading to Hollywood, Megget, and Edisto Beach. It is their hope that beautification efforts will be a catalyst for a cleaner community in general.

Rosemont Community Senior Citizens
To purchase exercise equipment and supplies for the Senior Center, and entertainment supplies for °ßmixers°® with other senior citizens in the area.

Snowden Community
To charter Cub Scouts (first to fifth grade) and Boy Scouts (sixth to twelfth grade) groups in Snowden. The program provides activities in order to build character, develop self reliance and confidence through a wide range of activities, outdoor, educational and career-oriented programs.

St. John AME Church
To expand their successful Summer Reading & Math Camp into an afterschool program in order to better improve academic skills and provide a safe environment for youth. They will also offer parenting classes through a curriculum called °ßGene°¶s for Glory°® founded by Dr. Queenie Crawford, a former State Department Administrator. Dr. Crawford will be providing consulting services to the program for free.

Sweetgrass Cultural Arts Festival
To help support the marketing and promotional costs associated with expanding the organization°¶s outreach to attract visitors to the annual festival and to ensure that a younger generation is exposed to sweetgrass basket making as an art form. Marketing efforts include Charleston Magazine, Piccolo Spoleto Festival Guide, Skirt Magazine and billboards.

Wiltown Improvement Organization
To support a 5-week summer program and a twice a week academic tutoring program for youth, providing educational and recreational activities in the James Clyburn Community Center. Foster grandparents, retired educators and teachers will serve as staff for the program. The program is one of the only summer camps available in this rural area

Colleton County

Jacksonboro Community Center - To support the after-school program for children of single parents in this rural community, which includes tutoring, recreational activities, teaching computer technology, gardening and nutrition to children between the ages of 5-15.