Foundation awards more than $355,000 in grants

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The Central Carolina Community Foundation has awarded more than $335,000 to 11 Midlands nonprofit organizations through its Connected Communities grant program.

In its fourth year, the program aims to connect residents with their communities. Since its inception, the program has distributed almost $1.5 million to nonprofits that target one or more of three focus areas: welcoming community, vibrant social offerings and superb public spaces.

The 11 recipients, representing Richland, Lexington, Kershaw, Orangeburg and Sumter counties, were selected from 57 submitted letters of intent, CCCF president and CEO JoAnn Turnquist said.

“These 11 projects are part of a creative group of organizations that are working to enrich our community in meaningful ways.” Turnquist said in statement. “The initiatives and programs that will be launched will engage community members and increase our region’s livability.”

Recipients include West Columbia’s Enabling Park, an all-inclusive park for children of all capabilities.

The grants, totaling $335,770, are funded by CCCF’s Community Impact Endowment and Field of Interest funds for the arts.

The following projects received Connected Communities grants:  

• Acermineto Hispano de Carolina del Sur/South Carolina Hispanic Outreach: La Vida Sana (The Healthy Life). This program promotes community engagement, healthy eating and active lifestyles through the revitalization of a West Columbia garden as well as the development of gardens in Northeast and North Columbia. 
•  Cola Town Bike Collective: Columbia Cycling Transportation Network. The collective will provide visitors and residents access to the region’s public greenways, business centers and recreational parks.
• Columbia City Ballet: Lexington Amphitheater Performances. The ballet will present performances at the Ice House Amphitheater.
• Columbia Chapter, The Links Inc: Links to a Healthy Lifestyle. An expansion of the exercise fitness trail at Burton Pack Elementary School will place kid-friendly activity signage and park benches along the trail.
• Edisto Habitat for Humanity: The Michael G. Salley Community Park. A new community park will be developed in the Kings Road area in Orangeburg.
• Historic Camden Foundation: Redoubt Revitalization at Historic Camden. The foundation will rebuild an earthen fort used by British soldiers during the Revolutionary War to serve as an education and event space.
• Keep the Midlands Beautiful: Gervais Street Train Bridge Beautification. An iconic image will be painted on the Gervais Street train bridge.
• Sumter Cultural Center: Sumter Yarn Explosion. The project will decorate area trees in an attempt to leaving a lasting visual asset and spark interest and conversation in the community.
• Richland Library: My Life Experience. A mobile virtual reality simulation lab will give users a chance to explore the experiences of society’s most vulnerable people.
• Town of North: Beautification of 178 & 321 Intersection. The town will landscape the southwest corner of the intersection with rose plantings and a utility box wrap.
• West Columbia Beautification Foundation: West Columbia Enabling Park. The project will fund all-inclusive park for children of all capabilities.

For more information about the grants, visit www.yourfoundation.org/connectedcommunities.