United Way invests $2.8 million to address needs in the Midlands

Columbia, SC (August 31, 2020) – United Way of the Midlands is investing $2.8 million in grants for its 2020-2021 fiscal year to improve the health, education and financial stability of everyone in the Midlands. These grants include $636,000 donated to the United Way of the Midlands COVID-19 Response Fund.

Grants will be awarded to 33 programs in Calhoun, Fairfield, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg and Richland counties and will focus on early childhood literacy, ending homelessness, improving access to health care, and responding to COVID-19.

“Last year, United Way programs impacted the lives of more than 44,000 people. We’re committed to creating meaningful change in the Midlands,” said Sara Fawcett, United Way of the Midlands President and CEO. “One way we drive change is by investing in programs to impact our community's children and their families."

In the area of education, one of the United Way grant recipients, Communities in Schools of the Midlands, will receive a grant investment of $106,000. Communities in Schools actively work to improve the lives of surrounding students with a community of support empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. It integrates the Sanford Harmony Social & Emotional Learning (SEL) Program into its model of dropout prevention that seeks to improve academic performance, attendance, school behavior and literacy outcomes.

Among this year’s health-related grants, United Way is investing $25,000 in grant dollars to Free Medical Clinic of Newberry County, Inc. The clinic provides a medical home for uninsured patients in Newberry County. The clinic offers healthcare, diagnostic, specialty care, treatment, educational services, dental and eye care.

And an example of investment in the area of financial stability includes United Way’s $70,000 grant to Mission Lexington. Mission Lexington partners with Lexington School Districts One through Four to assist Lexington County families who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.