J. Marion Sims | Press Release

J. Marion Sims Foundation - Lancaster County, Fort Lawn, Great Falls - South Carolina

FOUNDATION AWARDS ADULT LITERACY GRANTS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 14, 2009

Contact: James T. Morton
President,
J. Marion Sims Foundation
(803) 286-8772

The J. Marion Sims Foundation, Inc. has made awards totaling approximately $600,000 to nine different community organizations in its Adult Literacy and Basic Skills Grantmaking Initiative.

“The Foundation has chosen to focus a significant portion of its grantmaking on adult literacy and basic skills programming,” said President Jim Morton. “Increased literacy holds the potential to positively affect a number of health-related issues in Lancaster County, Great Falls and Fort Lawn. And, with unemployment high and job availability low, many of these programs offer citizens a chance to improve their skills in preparation for a time when jobs do become more available.”

The grants are in the form of one-year “transition grants” as some organizations transition from higher to lower levels of funding, and two-year “challenge grants” that require a portion of the Foundation’s funds to be matched from other sources.

The Foundation awarded grants to the following organizations:

Brooklyn Springs Elementary School, $81,650 two-year challenge grant for its “Home Literacy Trail” family literacy program
Chester County Literacy Council, $69,901 one-year transition grant for its “Guided Academic Preparation Program” workplace literacy program in Great Falls
The Children’s Council, $50,049 one-year transition grant for its “Skills for Success” family literacy program
Christian Services of Lancaster, $104,992 two-year challenge grant for its “Lit-Up” workplace literacy program
Faith, Hope and Victory Christian Church, $57,459 one-year transition grant for its “Community Powerhouse” family literacy program
Housing Authority of Lancaster, $75,905 one-year transition grant for its “MAP to Success” family literacy program
Lancaster County Literacy Council, $73,000 one-year transition grant for its “Reading for Workplace Success” workplace literacy program
The Multi-Cultural Information Center, $37,824 one-year transition grant for its “Empowering our Future Today” citizenship literacy program
York Technical College, $58,000 one-year transition grant for its “Bridges to Enhanced Skills Training” workplace literacy program.

The J. Marion Sims Foundation supports programs of prevention and education that enhance health and wellness in Lancaster County, South Carolina and the communities of Great Falls and Fort Lawn.