We are excited to announce that a total of $150,000 has been awarded by the Junior League of Columbia to organizations proposing transformational projects and initiatives related to our mission and focus area and specifically addressing poverty and basic needs of children and families in the Midlands. Read more about these projects and how they impact the community below. Thank you to the more than 50 dynamic organizations that submitted a proposal for this year’s grants – we appreciate all you are doing in our community!

Home Works of America will receive $15,000 for its Healthworks Project, a partnership with Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital to repair unsafe and/or unsanitary homes for families of Children’s Hospital patients and make more accessible for their needs.

Lighthouse for Life will receive $19,000 to be used for victim response and recovery for child or teenage victims of human trafficking in the Midlands through their long-term residential care program – Karis Home, along with awareness training for communities across the state.

Richland Library will receive $25,000 for its collaborative project with FoodShareSC making books and fresh produce available to children and families in the Midlands with a book mobile and pop-up farmers markets.

Serve & Connect (formerly Heroes in Blue) will receive $31,000 for its Greg’s Groceries Program providing shelf stable food from Harvest Hope Food Bank to officers for distribution to families in need in the Midlands area.

A total of $60,000 will be awarded to partners Homeless No More, Junior Achievement, and Sexual Trauma Services for a collaborative project that provides basic needs, financial literacy and interpersonal relationship programs for those in need in the Midlands.

A special thank you to our grant review committee:

Mandy Wren
Misty Burton
Bonnie Anzelmo
Kim Leighton
Kristy Ellenberg
Pamela Adams
Lee Patterson
Shannon Kvam
Twyla Wofford
Maureen Grewe
Amy Larkin
Ann-Stanton Gore
Andrea Lance
Alexa Godwin
Emily Bedenbaugh, CRPD chair

We look forward to celebrating all of the recipients along with our membership at the year-end celebration May 10!