In early August, Katy Hilbert, executive director of YouthBASE, was preparing for the upcoming school season when she received the welcome news of a $35,000 donation that would cover the cost for a reliable bus to transport children. The following week, a call from the Community Foundation of Greenville let her know of another anonymous donor’s gift of $25,000 toward transportation needs, greatly enhancing the nonprofit’s ability to serve its students.
“Getting funding for large expenses like this is a universal challenge for a lot of organizations, and we were so grateful to get two fantastic donations a week apart,” said Hilbert, who joined the organization last year.
YouthBASE, which provides after-school and summer programming for students in kindergarten through second grade to help them stay on track academically, was faced with rising costs to maintain its aging fleet of buses and limits on how many children it could serve.
“Transportation has been a linchpin for us expanding,” Hilbert said. “Our services are primarily for low-income students at Title I schools, and we pick up from multiple schools at the same time. Having only two buses was a barrier for more students to participate.”
The nonprofit applied for a grant from Greenville Women Giving, and although the proposal was not selected at this time, the process opened doors for YouthBASE. The need had not gone away and was noticed by those who support and care for the mission.
“The community heard our plea and really responded,” Hilbert said. “Securing reliable transportation is the first step in our expansion. Before we can welcome additional students, we need to remodel several rooms to create classrooms. The third vehicle positions us to serve more children once those spaces are ready.”
Gina Blohm, Community Foundation of Greenville’s chief development officer, said, “It is incredibly rewarding to see the impact when generosity meets a clear need. By connecting donors with local nonprofits like YouthBASE, we are not simply funding buses — as in this instance — but creating opportunities for children to learn, grow and thrive.”
YouthBASE’s after-school program provides interactive, small-group lessons in reading, writing and math, as well as enrichment activities in STEM and the arts, with field trips to places like The Children’s Museum of the Upstate. A summer program covers the same core subjects and includes more hand-on experiential learning and swim lessons. The programs are free of charge except for a $25 enrollment fee.
“We’re really focused on academic intervention,” Hilbert said. “We hope the students who start with us in kindergarten will stay with us through second grade. Our goal is to have all of the students engaged and reading on grade level by grade three.”
The program relies on collaboration between teachers, volunteers and parents to meet each child’s individual needs and support future success.
One parent said, “What I like best about the program is that my child’s self-esteem has vastly improved with her reading skills.”
YouthBASE will hold its Brighter Futures Awards Breakfast from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Oct. 2 at Southern First Bank, 6 Verdae Blvd. Honorees include Volunteer of the Year Bill Kreger, Individual Donors of the Year Lisa and Alan Shusterman, and Philanthropic Partner of the Year Jolley Foundation.
For more information, to donate or volunteer, visit youthbase.org.
Visit cfgreenville.org to learn more about the Community Foundation of Greenville.
