A local group of women is reaching out to help girls in crisis. Philanthropic Empowerment Among Rural Lowcountry Sisters, or PEARLS, has been established to help women pool their financial resources together so they can support local nonprofit causes. This year PEARLS is focusing on girls in crisis and will award grants that address things such as teen pregnancy, mental health issues, education or gang issues as it relates to girls.
Nonprofits that wish to apply for grant funds must attend a mandatory grants information session on March 23 at 5:30 p.m. at Wade Hampton High School in Varnville. Grant applications are due to the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry offices at 4 Northridge Drive Suite A on Hilton Head Island by 5 p.m. on April 6.
For a grant application and location for the mandatory grants information session, nonprofits can access the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry's Web site www.cf-lowcountry.og or may email a request for an application to csmith@cf-lowcountry.org.
If you would like more information about applying for a grant, call Advisory Board Member Madeleine McKenzie at 625-3036.
PEARLS is a fund of the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry but all funds are used to benefit organizations in Hampton County.
An investment of as little as $200 or 55 cents a day allows you to become a member of PEARLS. If you choose to become a member, your dues will be used along with others to help offer local nonprofits grants.
"We welcome everyone and anyone," Advisory Board member Peggy Parker said at last year's annual meeting. Parker said in later interview that it is the most diverse and inclusive group of women she has ever been associated with.
Last year PEARLS funded three local nonprofit groups that wanted to launch or enhance existing programs involving youth development.
The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry in Hampton County received $800 for the Triple Play program. Triple Play is a health and wellness program designed to help young people make good decisions about their physical, mental and social well-being. The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry Hampton County office closed so those grant funds were returned to PEARLS.
Huspah Baptist Church received a grant for $500 for Camp Hope's schools out enrichment program. Camp Hope is a summer day camp designed specifically to provide a camp experience to families with single parents or multiple children who can't afford the cost of camp.
The Alexander Community Development Center received a grant for $700 for their Jump into Reading Program. The goal of the program is to build strong readers. The program was held one Saturday per month and helped children ages 6-12 years of age.
If you would like more information about joining PEARLS, then call Advisory Board Member Dethane McKenzie Johnson at 625-3136.
PEARLS will hold its annual meeting on May 6 where they will announce this year's grant awardees.