$30,000 Awarded to Local Organizations
Tuesday, May 16, 2023
By Joe C. Mullinax
Youth Opportunity Grants are one of the Rotary Club of Spartanburg’s signature projects; these competitive grants benefit hundreds of students every year.



"This year the Rotary Club of Spartanburg received grant proposals from 23 area nonprofits supporting economically and socially vulnerable youth that collectively requested $112,257.  Through the hard-work of our committee we were able to identify six recipients capable of making a significant impact on our community through their youth programming.  I am thrilled to be able to award each of the following organizations a grant in the amount of $5,000 for a total commitment of $30,000 from the Rotary Club of Spartanburg," says Ryan Gaylord, Chairman of the Youth Opportunities Grant Committee.

Here are the award recipients and an overview of their programs:

Children's Advocacy Center CAC’s mission is to heal and give voice to abused children through assessment, treatment, education, and community partnerships.  This grant will support treatment for youth who have exhibited sexual behaviors that pose a risk to themselves or others. Through a children's group and concurrent caregiver group, therapy will be provided to teach sexual behavior rules, impulse control skills, and behavior management strategies.  Eliminating problematic sexual behaviors in youth, promoting positive social behaviors, and enhancing parenting skills helps the family and child served in the program and provides positive ripple effects by helping protect other children and enhancing the wellbeing of other youth and families in the community.    

Healthy Smiles The mission of Healthy Smiles of Spartanburg is to advocate and promote the health of Spartanburg and Cherokee County children through community dental health screenings, education, and oral health services for qualifying children at no cost to their families.  This program will aim to increase equitable access to quality oral healthcare resources for children experiencing poverty in Spartanburg County. Funding will be used for cover treatment costs for children with extensive needs that require specialized treatment and sedation.  This program served 534 children in FY 2022. Of these, 54 children received specialized treatment and last year’s grant award provided specialized treatment for 5 of the 54.      

The Period Project  The mission of the Period Project is to facilitate better access to menstrual hygiene products to individuals in need; advocate for equal and tax-free access to these essential products; and raise awareness of period poverty by leveraging voices around the country.  The Period Project will supply 5,000 period packs to Spartanburg County schools and youth-serving organizations during 2023. These packs ensure that Spartanburg’s 16,000 children in poverty have equal access to their education and do not miss class, sports, and other confidence-building activities when they have their period.  Ultimately, this program will help remove one more barrier from the opportunity to achieve success for young women in our community.            

Brothers Restoring Urban Hope The mission of Brothers Restoring Urban Hope is restoring the urban community through mentorship, leadership, training, and spiritual guidance, and they are seeking to encourage and equip youth to discover and develop their unique talents, achieve in academic settings, and rise above any circumstances detrimental to their opportunity to become thriving, productive and engaged adults.    These funds will support the Connected Scholars Economic Mobility Program, which uses career planning, social capital networking, mentorship, and positive racial identity to engage and facilitate the development of life-long skills within at-risk youth in the City of Spartanburg and Spartanburg County.    

YMCA  The YMCA seeks to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.  These funds will be used to support the YMCA’s afterschool tutoring services.  The YMCA provides free tutoring services at all six of its Spartanburg Afterschool Program sites to support and improve academic performance.  Last year the program served 466 children at six program sites.    

Bethlehem Center The mission of the Bethlehem Center is to support, strengthen, and inspire individuals and families as well as to facilitate opportunities for personal and community advancement.  This grant will support the Bethlehem Center’s after-school program and summer camp.  These are free programs that serve youth 5-12 years of age and focus on academic enrichment, character education, computer and reading literacy, and mentoring. The grant will also support the Junior Leadership Program geared towards 13–16-year-olds.  The program helps the youth develop and enhance their leadership skills and understanding about the role and responsibility of leadership, and encourages them to become the leaders they are meant to be. 

On behalf of the Rotary Club of Spartanburg, thank you for all that you do for Spartanburg’s youth!

Youth Opportunity Grants have been a line item in the Spartanburg Rotary Club budget for many years with funding coming from member support. Additional funding comes from the annual Spartanburg Sings event, which brings together middle school students from across the county for a one-afternoon musical performance. Spartanburg Sings has been another way the Spartanburg Rotary Club serves youth, and it has become very popular among middle school administrators, faculty and students.

Learn more about our Club, our work, and how to become a member at SpartanburgRotary.com.