AFL Awards $55K to Nine South Carolina Organizations

AFL, an international manufacturer of fiber optic cable, equipment, and accessories, recently presented $55,000 in community outreach grants to nine organizations in the Upstate. As part of its Community Outreach Program, these grants support initiatives that focus on STEM education and health and human services. Grants were presented to the following organizations:

BirthMatters of Spartanburg in support of its “Improving Birth Outcomes” program which trains women from low-income neighborhoods to become community based doulas. Funding will be used for the development of an updated doula specific curriculum.

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Upstate was a grant recipient for its STEM at the Club program and will provide technology tools that will enhance programming in math and science for students in grades 1 – 5 in seven high poverty Spartanburg County elementary schools.

AFL presented a grant to Fostering Great Ideas to aid in the “Our Common Loss” program. FGI aims to improve the experience of children in foster care. The grant will support training for this program with the intent of aiding in retention and care of current foster families.

Formerly known as Greenville Family Partnership, Just Say Something was awarded a grant for its Strengthening Families Program, an evidence-based family skills training program for children and families that runs 10-14 weeks. The grant will support staff and facilitators plus handbooks and will target the Greer area.

Miracle Hill Ministries received a grant for its Foster Care program in support of care coordinators. As the state’s largest provider of foster families for Level 1 foster children, Miracle Hill’s care coordinators work to create a sense of balance and adjustment between the child and family.

Operation Santa Inc. provides basic necessities to Greenville County Title 1 elementary school children who otherwise might not experience the joy of gifts during the holiday season. AFL is supporting their initiative to provide gifts to 700 children in the county.

The Spartanburg Science Center (SSC) received a grant for a robotics program. SSC is pulling all its robotics activities together under one umbrella known as Hub City Robotics. AFL’s grant will help ensure that students of all socio-economic levels can pursue robotics in after school clubs or summer 2019 camps.

AFL presented a grant to St. Luke’s Free Medical Clinic to help with their initiative to provide access to critical medications for low-income uninsured members of Spartanburg County.

Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County also received a grant for its Homes for Heroes program. As the search for affordable housing remains one of many burdens veterans face when returning from active duty, AFL is supporting Habitat’s program to meet the housing need of a veteran family.

AFL’s extensive Community Outreach Program provides grants, sponsorships, volunteer projects for associates, scholarships, disaster relief and more. For additional information on AFL and its community initiatives, visit www.AFLglobal.com.