Visit cfgreenville.org to learn more about the Community Foundation of Greenville.

Visit cfgreenville.org to learn more about the Community Foundation of Greenville.

Visit cfgreenville.org to learn more about the Community Foundation of Greenville.

Visit cfgreenville.org to learn more about the Community Foundation of Greenville.

Visit cfgreenville.org to learn more about the Community Foundation of Greenville.

Visit cfgreenville.org to learn more about the Community Foundation of Greenville.

Visit cfgreenville.org to learn more about the Community Foundation of Greenville.

To help fund her education, Majarais received financial aid from the university, as well as three local scholarships administered by Community Foundation of Greenville: the Greenville County Fire Chiefs’ Association Scholarship; the Obermier Scholarship; and the Rama Memorial Scholarship for the Greenville City Fire Department.

The Greenville County Fire Chiefs’ Association set up a scholarship fund in 1995 to promote higher education for firefighters and their spouses or children. Mary Belle Obermier established the Obermier Scholarship with a gift from her estate in 2012 to help academically deserving students. The Rama Family funded a scholarship in 2006 to promote opportunities for higher education for children of members of the Greenville City Fire Department.

Majarais qualified for two of the scholarships through her father, a firefighter, and learned of the other when applying through CFG.

“My dad always told us there is a scholarship for kids of firefighters,” she said. “Applying for scholarships is not always easy and fun, but even if it’s not a ton of money, it helps bridge the gaps. Community Foundation of Greenville makes it easy to apply, with a streamlined process. You never know what’s out there until you look.”

Majarais, who attended the Fine Arts Center’s theatre performance program while in high school, has enjoyed her college classes in acting, stage movement, voice and diction.

“The acting classes are teaching the Meisner method,” Majarais said. “The professor worked in the industry, so her knowledge and coaching are fantastic.”

Majarais heard about Belmont’s program when someone mentioned it during a college visit at Vanderbilt. She and her mother made a detour to check it out.

Majarais advised high school students to keep an open mind when choosing a college until they find the one that feels right.

“Put yourself out there and really be yourself — that lets you stand out,” she said. “Use whatever makes you uniquely talented. That will take you a lot further.”

To learn more about scholarships administered by the Community Foundation of Greenville, visit https://www.cfgreenville.org/grants-impact/scholarships/

Visit cfgreenville.org to learn more about the Community Foundation of Greenville.

For individuals facing reduced mobility, hearing or vision, or less obvious disabilities like asthma or mental illness, Able South Carolina provides connections, services and a voice to work toward making South Carolina more accessible for all.

For more than 30 years, Able SC has helped people with disabilities live independently and fully by providing peer support, advocacy and practical help navigating systems like health care, housing, education, employment and benefits.

Kimberly Tissot, president and CEO, said a key factor in Able SC’s effectiveness is that it is disability-led, with over 80% of its staff and over half its board made up of people with disabilities. Tissot herself lost a leg to childhood cancer at age 2 and walks using crutches.

“If you haven’t lived with barriers, you don’t know how isolating it can be. Society is not built for people with disabilities,” she said. “What makes Able SC different is lived experience. We know where systems break because we’ve had to navigate them ourselves. We don’t ‘fix’ people; we remove barriers, change policies and build pathways so people with disabilities can make their own choices, stay out of institutions and live the lives they choose.”

Able SC offers programs to facilitate transition to adult life, out of institutions to the community, and adjustment to disability. Leadership training is available for youth and adults, as well as assistance with independent living, employment and assistive technology. Able SC also carries out accessibility assessments for businesses and organizations.

Recently, Able SC partnered with nursing-education programs to promote better support and broader opportunities for students with disabilities. For example, working in an emergency room setting may seem impossible for nursing students with certain disabilities, but their skills may be ideal for other nursing positions, including telemedicine.

This year Able SC, which receives significant support from federal grants, is facing a shortfall due to significant funding cuts. To help fill the gap, the nonprofit launched a crisis campaign, We are all Able SC, with a goal of raising $350,000 by year’s end.

“Losing this funding will cause disruptions to vital programs that are impacting real people and families every day,” Tissot said. “We hope to be able to continue to provide services that build critical skills for independence, break down barriers, identify real solutions and ensure the disability voice is not only heard, but at the decision-making table.”

Community Foundation of Greenville awarded Able SC a Capacity Building Grant of $10,000 in 2025 to upgrade their technology. The project provided tablets and laptops for staff serving disabled youth in rural communities.

Visit cfgreenville.org to learn more about the Community Foundation of Greenville.

For them, giving is fun and intentional.

“Each January, we sit and review our previous year’s giving and chart our course for doing more in the new year,” Mike Andrews said. “We don’t wait until Q4 to make giving decisions. Our goal in January is to replenish our donor-advised fund and then deplete it again.”

The couple moved to Greenville in 2006, having retired from careers in engineering research and development. They each pursued second careers, Mike as a doctor of ministry and an author, and Beth as an artist. Their faith led them to engage in philanthropy, donating to their church and other organizations.

The Andrewses make contributions from a donor-advised fund established with Community Foundation of Greenville, which helps donors support the causes they care about through convenient and tax-efficient means. CFG’s history and connections with local nonprofits provide unique insight for giving with impact.

“Community Foundation has been stellar at understanding what we want to do and how to use our DAF to achieve it,” Mike Andrews said. “It’s been vital to our efforts to be philanthropic.”

Mike and Beth love that Greenville is often featured in lists of the 10 best places to live and want to ensure that the city’s charms aren’t accessible only to those with privilege and resources.

“Greenville is our chosen home, and we agree that it’s pretty wonderful. We want Greenville to grow to be in the ‘10 best’ for all its citizens, so our local giving focuses on improvements that support people on the margins, especially people of color,” Beth Andrews said. “Can we be among the best in ensuring everyone has opportunities for affordable housing, food security, health care and opportunities to thrive?”

To that end, they have been involved with Triune Mercy Center, a faith community that serves people living without shelter. They have invested in Greenville Housing Fund, which works to increase affordable housing for the full spectrum of needs, from families living below 50% of the area median income to those earning 100% of the AMI.

The couple donates to nonprofits that provide entrepreneurial support and adult skill enhancement, such as Mill Village Ministries’ Village Launch, Soteria and Greater Good Greenville’s RevUp GVL.

“We also enjoy participating in forums where we can learn about local needs in order to give more effectively and meet others who wish to invest in Greenville’s future, like Greater Good Greenville, Mill Village’s Village Engage and Greenville Women Giving,” Beth Andrews said.

The couple sees themselves as cheerleaders for organizations doing innovative work in the community.

“We talk to nonprofits about their plans, their successes and lessons learned and their dreams for the future,” Beth Andrews said. “It is inspiring and so much fun. We are not some huge foundation, but our gifts can make an impact here in Greenville.”

Visit cfgreenville.org to learn more about the Community Foundation of Greenville.

“Sustain SC’s mission is to connect the sustainability goals of business in South Carolina with local solutions for the benefit of the state’s economy, environment and people,” said Kristen Austin Gunter, senior vice president of conservation.

“We serve at the intersection of commerce and conservation by bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders across different sectors who share the same values,” Gunter said. “Our secret sauce is bringing industry, utilities, nonprofits, academia and government agencies together to rally around challenges we face in a rapidly growing South Carolina.”

Over 100 entities comprise the membership of the nonprofit, which will celebrate its five-year anniversary in March 2026. Gunter said Sustain SC was formed with the understanding that as South Carolina’s population grows — it is projected to double over the next 50 years — protecting land and water resources is crucial.

Sustain SC’s strategic plan, the Roadmap to Sustain South Carolina, identifies seven accelerators to boost sustainable improvements in the following key areas: Strategic partnerships; resilience and conservation; sustainable workforce; innovation and sustainable growth; the circular economy; affordable, reliable and sustainable energy; and metrics and reporting.

The organization’s impact is felt in its Land and Water Action Platform. Launched in 2023, the initiative was instrumental in protecting a portion of Waites Island — one of South Carolina’s last pristine barrier islands — by providing $1 million in funding for the effort donated by Google and an anonymous Sustain SC member.

“The Land and Water Action Platform was relaunched in April 2025 as a fund where individuals and businesses can invest in land and water conservation across South Carolina to safeguard our natural resources and landscapes while strengthening local economies and communities,” Gunter said.

The fund prioritizes costs that are often not covered by other grant programs: up-front fees like appraisals, surveys, and environmental assessments and operations, and stewardship endowments to cover long-term monitoring costs.

To date, the platform has raised $325,000. Designed to be nimble, it has already completed two rounds of grant cycles, allocating $252,907 to 12 projects across 11 counties, protecting 13,305 acres of land.

Committed to educating the public and decision-makers, Sustain SC holds monthly webinars on trending topics that anyone can join and will begin offering legislative briefings for members in 2026.

“Sustainability is the cornerstone of ensuring the future for our economy and the environment,” Gunter said. “We’re providing important research and data so key stakeholders can make informed decisions based on the most relevant and up-to-date information.”

To learn more, join Sustain SC, or donate to the Land and Water Action Platform, visit sustainsouthcarolina.org.

Visit cfgreenville.org to learn more about the Community Foundation of Greenville.

GHA has awarded over $38 million to date, with the aim of making Greenville County the healthiest county by funding initiatives that improve the health of Greenville County residents.

Phillip Liston, GHA president, said this year’s grants focus on GHA’s goal of targeting access to health care and health care-related resources.

“Based on our most recent community-needs assessment, mental health support services continue to be a priority item. As such, several of our awards were presented to provide mental health support services for school-age children, victims of abuse, victims of domestic violence, and the daily struggles of coping with homelessness and food insecurity,” he said.

Other grants will fund increased opportunities for fitness and exercise and invest in bloodmobiles, which are essential to maintaining a stable and sufficient blood supply.

“The Greenville Health Authority is proud to be closely aligned to the points of impact provided by our area nonprofit organizations for the residents of Greenville County,” Liston said.

2025 Healthy Greenville Grant Awards

City of Travelers Rest, $249,723. The Gateway Fitness Park will provide free, inclusive exercise opportunities in Travelers Rest’s downtown district.

Greenville County Schools, $483,000. This project aims to transform school-based mental health services, emphasizing early intervention and expanded access to improve student well-being.

Julie Valentine Center, $996,000. This grant supports the Julie Valentine Center’s clinical program, providing comprehensive, trauma-focused health services to adult and child victims of abuse and sexual assault.

Lead Collective Inc., $100,000. Lead Collective’s Reach Greenville ministry is expanding its mental health services for justice-involved youth by providing free, year-long counseling and increasing social worker support to ensure individualized, trauma-informed care.

Meals on Wheels Greenville, $500,000. This grant provides capital support for MOW’s new facility, which was designed to maximize efficiency and service opportunities to address hunger and lack of food access in the homebound population.

Mill Village Ministries, $490,000. FoodShare Greenville will expand its fresh-produce-box program by implementing direct, volunteer-based home delivery through a school referral system.

Miracle Hill Ministries, $200,000. Miracle Hill Greenville Rescue Mission will hire a licensed mental health counselor to serve on staff to improve access, timeliness, quality and quantity of mental health care for men experiencing homelessness.

Safe Harbor Inc., $400,000. Safe Harbor will open a new Greenville shelter and support center in early 2026, increasing emergency-shelter capacity by over 200% and improving access to care for survivors of domestic abuse and their families.

The Blood Connection, $500,000. This grant supports replacement of aging bloodmobiles, which are critical to ensuring continued access to lifesaving blood products for hospitals and patients throughout the region.

To learn more, visit greenvillehealthauthority.org.

Community Foundation of Greenville has served as the administrative home of Greenville Health Authority since 2019 and is proud to distribute grants in alignment with its mission each year.

Visit cfgreenville.org to learn more about the Community Foundation of Greenville.

Beginning this fall, some callers requesting Greenville County Emergency Medical Service assistance will be offered comprehensive care tailored to their needs through the Prehospital Assisted Treatment and Healthcare Services program.

The PATHS project will triage low-acuity EMS calls — which are less severe — to determine appropriate interventions with the help of a community paramedic and a nurse practitioner. The goal is to provide a high quality of care for nonurgent medical needs in the most cost-effective manner, preserving critical resources for the most urgent cases.

PATHS was developed through a collaborative effort with Greenville County EMS and local health care providers. Community Foundation of Greenville made a grant of $80,000 for the project. Additional funding was provided by a grant from the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

Lindsey K. Kilgo, program officer for the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation, said the need for such a program was noted during multiple conversations with Greenville County EMS.

“Co-investing with Community Foundation of Greenville allows us to support innovative, community-driven solutions that help do more and do better for the health of South Carolinians in Greenville County,” Kilgo said.

In Greenville County, during a three-month period in 2024, 2,700 low-acuity calls were received, all of which could be intercepted through this project.

The nurse practitioner can help connect patients to continuous primary care and health education and assess other barriers to care such as transportation and economic instability. The program has the potential to decrease response wait times, since often patients are stalled in the emergency room along with EMS staff and ambulances if there is no bed available in the hospital.

“This project aligns clinical response to meet patient needs while helping reduce barriers to care and easing the burden on emergency systems. If successful, it could serve as a model for how EMS delivers care in other communities across the state,” Kilgo said.

Phil Head, director of clinical services for Greenville County EMS, said the grant covers salaries, technical equipment, medical oversight and consultancy with an epidemiologist to assist with population statistics and research to identify gaps in care.

“If we can safely offer them an assessment, either in their home, or via telehealth, the health care team will be able to provide care and potentially connect them with community resources to help them engage more efficiently with the health care system,” Head said.

Although similar programs exist, PATHS was created specifically for South Carolina with enhancements to the project design.

“The foundation is excited about this project because it’s not been done before in South Carolina,” Kilgo said. “As South Carolina’s only state-based, statewide health funder, it’s our role to seek unique projects that can make an impact.”

Visit cfgreenville.org to learn more about the Community Foundation of Greenville.

On July 3, the group launched its housing surge, a concerted effort to get people off the streets and into homes quickly. Within 10 weeks, 20 households were placed into housing, comprising 32 people who no longer have to worry where they will eat, sleep, shower and just be.

Cody Carver, director of Greenville Together: A Home for All, said participants include a domestic-abuse survivor who had lived in a tent for two years, and a 72-year-old man who had been without stable housing for almost 30 years. A working family, parents with children ages 14, 10 and 7, had been living in their car for nearly a year before finding housing through Greenville Together.

“Just before move-in, they discovered all their belongings, including their children’s bikes, had been auctioned off because they couldn’t pay the rent on their storage unit,” Carver said. “Thanks to our partner Village Wrench, they were able to get new bikes when they moved into their home.”

Carver said the process has been streamlined to move people from intake to housing in fewer than eight days, showing promise that the coming months could bring stability for increasing numbers of people.

“We’ve made incredible progress so far,” Carver said. “This success is grounded in the collaborative nature of the initiative. We have brought together an entire community to tackle this complex problem: nonprofits, local government, landlords, business leaders and those with lived experience, working with one shared goal.”

Launched in August 2024, Greenville Together developed a one-year action plan grounded in national best practices and tailored to the community’s unique needs. By early 2025, the task force expanded its partnerships to include landlords, housing providers and developers, and began implementing strategies that address both urgent needs and long-term solutions. These include rapid housing placement for the most vulnerable residents, strengthening data systems, building a sustainable pipeline of permanent supportive housing and improving Greenville’s overall response to homelessness.

Beyond housing, Greenville Together is also advancing efforts to raise public awareness of the systemic causes of homelessness, expand day services, provide more support for front-line providers and track outcomes to ensure accountability.

“At the same time, we’re building for the long haul — creating a true pipeline of permanent supportive housing, with real plans to fund it, build it and make it available to those who need it most,” Carver said.

Helping to shape these plans and priorities are the voices of those who have lived without shelter.

“Our Lived Experience Council has been at the table from the beginning, helping us think differently,” Carver said. “The most important thing is not getting housing, but keeping them housed, with wraparound services, life-skills training and a sense of community to support them through their housing journey.”

Greenville Together is a collaborative effort led by a diverse group of community partners, including United Way of Greenville County, United Ministries, and Triune Mercy Center. For more information, visit greenvilletogether.org.

 

Visit cfgreenville.org to learn more about the Community Foundation of Greenville.

FoodShare Greenville, Mill Village Farms’ fresh-food program in partnership with FoodShare South Carolina, is on a mission to change that.

“Many people in Greenville County don’t have access to healthy produce, either for financial reasons or due to lack of transportation. We want to be sure that everyone has access to healthy fruits and vegetables that are affordable,” said Rhonda Rawlings, community director for Mill Village Ministries.

Suli Sorcia, FoodShare representative, said the program, which started in 2015, is currently providing about 600 boxes twice monthly. Boxes are ordered online and can be picked up at over 20 private and public distribution sites across the county. The goal is to spread the word so more people can participate, expanding the program’s reach to overcome remaining barriers to access.

Each box comes with 10 to 12 varieties of fruits and vegetables, valued at around $30, and recipe cards with easy ways to use the produce. The cost for the box is $5 for SNAP/EBT card, $20 for credit/debit card or a $25 market rate for those who want to receive a box and also support the program.

“Anyone is eligible to order a food box,” Sorcia said. “Those who choose to pay $25 are helping us give back.”

Some doctors, like those at partner site Unity Health on Main, prescribe FoodShare boxes for their patients.

“We’ve heard so many stories about people who’ve lost weight and their A1c numbers are going down,” Sorcia said. “People want to be healthier, and they know it starts by eating better.”

A1c numbers are a biomarker for diagnosing and monitoring diabetes and prediabetes.

FoodShare representatives visit schools to talk to with children, educating with recipes, minimarkets and cooking demonstrations.

“They are more than just clients; they’re participants in a program,” Sorcia said. “It’s not just a box; it’s an opportunity for change. If they eat better, they perform better, their mood is better. They feel better as they get up in the morning and go about their day, and they help shape a better future.”

Another way to support Mill Village’s work is by attending the Mill Village Farms Culinary Concert Oct. 16 at 6:30 p.m. at Hotel Hartness. Presented by Air Compressor Services, the event will include artisanal liqueurs and a five-course meal with wine pairings. All proceeds benefit Mill Village Farms’ urban-gardening efforts that help develop young leaders and feed local families.

“This fun evening will include a live auction and music from local band the RnD Music Experience,” Rawlings said. “As a nonprofit, we depend on the support of partners and donors to continue our mission. The Culinary Concert is a great time to get together, enjoy fine food and promote a healthier community.”

To order a box, visit millvillagefarms.org/foodshare.