Bunnelle Foundation distributes $494,000 in grants to nonprofits

Employment and entrepreneurship are the focus of three recipients of Frances P. Bunnelle grants to 27 Georgetown County programs. The “grants for the common good” total $494,000 in the areas of basic needs, economic vitality and the environment.

The grants announced Nov. 9 are in the foundation’s fall cycle of competitive grants. Distributions are also made in the spring. In 2015, the foundation has made 142 grants totaling $1,760,605 to 72 organizations.

The three economic and jobs-related grants ($20,000 each) are to 5thT Innovation Group, AMIkids Georgetown, and the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office Re-entry Services. The latter assists inmates of the Georgetown County Detention Center in learning life skills and training in a variety of job skills such as auto body, barbering, carpentry and electrical. Amy Downing, Bunnelle program officer, says re-entry services has a remarkable zero percent recidivism rate for the first year after release. The program has 200 graduates since Sheriff Lane Cribb started the program in 2007.

AMIkids Georgetown helps boys who have been in the juvenile justice system, teaching the value and rewards of work, and respect for the law. “They’ve turned around a lot of lives,” Downing says. Georgetown Police Chief Paul Gardner is the board chairman of AMIkids Georgetown. “He’s a great [community] asset,” Downing says. The chief is also involved in the Black River United Way and Friendship Place, another $20,000 Bunnelle grant recipient.

Georgetown Innovation Center is a project of 5thT, which is affiliated with Coastal Carolina University and has expanded to Georgetown the concept of its Conway Innovation Center. Other “Promoting Economic Vitality” grants ($20,000 or amount noted) are to A Father’s Place ($19,908); American Rivers ($13,750); Connect S.C.; Helping Hands of Georgetown; Waccamaw Center for Mental Health.

“Preserving the Environment” grants in the fall cycle are to Open Space Institute Land Trust; Pee Dee Land Trust ($18,000); S.C. Environmental Law Project; USC Baruch Institute/NERR ($14,403); Winyah Rivers Foundation ($15,000).

Other “meeting basic human needs” grants ($20,000 or noted) are to: American Red Cross ($16,523); Birthright of Georgetown ($14,000); Caring and Sharing ($16,000); Children’s Recovery Center; Family Justice Center of Georgetown County; Georgetown County Diabetes CORE Group; Georgetown County Water & Sewer District; Lowcountry Food Bank ($16,234); Martha’s House; Smith Medical Clinic; St. Peter’s Lutheran Church - Backpack Buddies ($14,000); Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments ($16,523).

Since the foundation started giving in 2003, more than $20 million has been distributed to a variety of Georgetown County organizations. Frances Peace Bunnelle, who died in 2001, set up the foundation in her estate.

Her generosity continues through the grants announced last week. The next round of competitive awards begins on Nov. 30, with application for grants in the Bunnelle Foundation areas of “Addressing the Root Causes of Poverty” and “Encouraging Positive Youth Development.”

This story was originally published November 18, 2015 at 7:48 AM with the headline "Bunnelle Foundation distributes $494,000 in grants to nonprofits."