Community Foundation of the Lowcountry Supports Nursing Retention Efforts and Summer Math Camp

South Carolina Nurse Retention Fund received a $25,000 grant to support “reverse scholarships” to recent BSN graduates in order to keep them in Beaufort County, addressing the shortage of qualified nurses in our local communities, and providing high quality healthcare to our citizens. South Carolina and Beaufort County are both designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) for primary care. Reverse scholarships provide a stipend to retain graduating nurses, keep them in our area and help them pay off college loans. As our local population grows, ensuring we have qualified nurses becomes increasingly important to our quality of life.

University of South Carolina Beaufort received a “last dollars in” grant for up to $33,075 to fund a summer math program for low-income students of Ridgeland-Hardeeville High School. End-of-school test scores indicate that high school students in Jasper County show a substantial deficit in mathematics. The summer program will provide a 10-day, intensive summer enrichment program, providing instruction and support so students can master mathematics, potentially putting them on track to attend technical school or college. Additionally, the program provides an opportunity for students to spend time in a university setting.

Since 1994, Community Foundation of the Lowcountry has been connecting people, resources and needs by helping build stronger communities and assisting donors in making a difference through charitable giving. With more than 400 charitable funds, and grantmaking and scholarships reaching $89 million, Community Foundation of the Lowcountry is the largest source of unrestricted philanthropic resources dedicated to Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper Counties.