Power:Ed Awards Three Grants Totaling $100,000
The Philanthropy of SC Student Loan Creates Educational & Workforce Opportunities in SC
Columbia, S.C., February 16, 2021 — Midlands Technical College Foundation received a $50,000 grant, the Hispanic Alliance of SC received a $25,000 grant, and Teachers’ Supply Closet received a $25,000 grant. This is the second time Teachers' Supply Closet was awarded a grant.
Midlands Technical Foundation, which serves adult learners in the Midlands, will use their
grant to fund scholarships to their QuickJobs programs. The program provides workforce development training in jobs that are vital to our economic recovery.
MTC created the QuickJobs job training programs to close the job skills gap and fill available positions with middle-skilled workers and are designed to provide intensive and complete job training. There are more than 50 training programs, lasting from three weeks to 15 months, all of which prepare students for careers in business, healthcare, information technology, skilled trades and advanced manufacturing. This type of program isn’t eligible for federal or state financial aid, making scholarships vital for students who would otherwise have no way of gaining the skills they need to quickly enter the workforce.
“MTC’s QuickJobs programs truly transform lives by helping the unemployed and underemployed have access to job training that prepares them for success in living-wage jobs, and positions them and their families for economic success in the Midlands and beyond,” said Nancy McKinney, Associate Vice President for Philanthropy/CEO of the MTC Foundation.
The second grant was awarded to The Hispanic Alliance of SC to facilitate leadership
development for 11th and 12th-grade students in Greenville who identify as Hispanic or Latino. This is part of their effort to address state and county-wide disparity in educational outcomes between Hispanic students and their peers.
The leadership program, named the Student DREAMers Alliance (SDA), brings Hispanic and Latino students from nearby high schools together to participate in seminar sessions, knowledge building, and mentorship opportunities. The grant will be used to provide small scholarships for graduates of the program who are now enrolled in higher education.
“This partnership between Power:Ed and Hispanic Alliance will allow us to support exceptional students at a critical time of need to help them achieve their dream of higher education and pursue their self-defined success," said Adela Mendoza, Executive Director of the Hispanic Alliance of SC. "Together, we are removing financial barriers and opening doors of opportunity for a new generation of leaders who will bring transformational change to South Carolina and, in turn, build prosperity for our state."
The final grant was awarded to Teachers’ Supply Closet, which serves schools in Charleston, Dorchester, and Berkeley Counties. This is the second time the organization has won a grant from Power:Ed. They will use these funds to ensure teachers and students in local Title I schools have the classroom supplies they need to learn.
Without Teachers’ Supply Closet, many teachers would be forced to use their own funds to get their students the supplies they need to learn—or ask the students to go without. While supply shortages are always an issue in these high-poverty schools, the COVID-19 crisis has made it even more difficult because pandemic protocols don’t allow students to share materials and many students are still learning virtually.
“Teachers' Supply Closet is thrilled to have Power:Ed as its partner in making sure that every child is ready to learn," said Lynette Duggins, Executive Director of Teachers' Supply Closet. "With Power:Ed's support, we are making sure that teachers do not need to pay out of pocket to provide children with needed supplies and that low-income families do not have this added expense. Covid has created many additional hardships for families, and through this partnership, we are pleased to be able to touch so many lives in a positive way.”
About Power:Ed
Power:Ed, a philanthropy of SC Student Loan, is dedicated to creating opportunities for South Carolina’s youth by supporting low-income, minority, and first-generation students; improving access to college and degree completion; and creating pathways to quality workforce opportunities.
“We’re proud to be able to support the mission of these three organizations,” Power:Ed Director Sara Fisher says. “Their efforts align with the goals of Power:Ed and the overall mission of SC Student Loan, which is to create opportunity for the future of South Carolina.”
If you're interested in applying for a grant or partnering with Power:Ed, visit power-ed.org. The deadline for the next round of grant funding is April 1.