The Congaree Foundation is dedicated to supporting our local community, and we are excited to announce a new, multi-year grant to our community partners at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry. The three-year, $167,000 grant will be used to establish and fund a job readiness and career development program called “Congaree Career Launch.” This program will connect underserved youth in Jasper County to careers and educational pathways that lead to economic stability and future success. The funding will support access and exposure to workforce opportunities in the hospitality and other industries represented in the Lowcountry region.
Key components of the Congaree Career Launch program will include:
Job Readiness/Career Development training that emphasizes the development of knowledge, attitudes and skills that prepare participants to obtain employment and succeed in their chosen field.
Money Matters, a program that helps young people learn financial literacy and independence, such as managing a checkbook, creating a budget, saving and investing, and how to pay for college.
Junior Staff program that allows Boys & Girls Club teens to be hired on a part-time basis to assist in the management and execution of many programs conducted within Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry. This provides teens hands-on work experience that can help them obtain other jobs, while providing a chance to earn money.
The Congaree Foundation and Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry share a commitment to helping young people access opportunities for training and education that will lead to economic stability and independence.
“At Congaree and the Congaree Foundation, we have always been impressed by the hard work of the Boys & Girls Club and the incredible impact that they have on Jasper County’s youth. The educational and mentoring opportunities created by the Boys & Girls Club are vital, and we are honored to continue to support this important community partner,” said Bruce Davidson, Director of Golf at Congaree.
The Boys & Girls Club will work with Jasper County businesses to identify potential job opportunities for graduates of the program. Walmart, Peacock Automotive and Dominion Energy have indicated an interest in becoming corporate partners with the program.
“It is my pleasure to support an initiative that focuses on developing the career potential of our teens in Jasper County,” said Warner Peacock, President and CEO of Peacock Automotive. “As a local business owner, I personally know the value of having a qualified workforce in our community. I’m glad to be able to contribute to a program which furthers that effort.”
“With the partnership of the Congaree Foundation we believe we can create an integrated curriculum/program that will greatly benefit the underserved youth of Jasper County, while at the same time fulfill our shared mission,” said Chris Protz, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry.
