Over the past month GraceLife has been privately announcing the selection of the 2015 Back to School Grant recipients at the faculty meetings of the chosen guidance counselors and teachers.  Now we have the pleasure of publicly announcing the results!  

• Karen Brown - Guidance Counselor for LW Conder Elementary
  Received a $1,000 Grant to help create an outdoor recreation area that includes garden boxes and butterfly garden.

• Debra McQueen - Special Education Teacher - Center For Achievement
  Received a $500 grant to purchase a specialized curriculum for students with autism or other learning disabilities.

• Sierra Barnes - Guidance Counselor - Kelly Mill Middle School
  Received a $500 grant to help fund learning opportunities and field trips for at risk middle school girls through the YELL (Young Ladies Experiences Life Lessons) program.

• Erika Heitman - Reading Intervention Teacher - Bookman Road Elementary
  Received a $500 grant to purchase a specialized curriculum to identify and assess students with reading deficiencies.

• Sandra Grant - Guidance Counselor - Joseph Keels Elementary   
  Received a $500 grant to help create and stock an emergency food pantry aimed at serving students and their families that fall outside of the criteria of the existing food programs.

GraceLife is honored to partner with Richland 2 School District and these awesome educators!  We want to say thank you to all of the teachers and guidance counselors who submitted grant requests.

On Friday, October 24th, GraceLife partnered with EMPOWER (a movement to end human trafficking) and the Richland 2 School District to facilitate an EMPOWER Talk Forum for guidance counselors, social workers, administrators and students from Richland School Districts 1 and 2. This event centered on three presentations and Q&A from experts in the area of human trafficking. The speaking panel included: Alan Wilson, Attorney General of South Carolina; Holly Smith, author and survivor; and Amena McShea, clinical director of ON EAGLES WINGS. The event had over 80 attendees from both school districts and was a great opportunity for connections between influential individuals in our community. The goal of this EMPOWER forum was not just to impact the attendees but also 27,000 students in their respective school districts. 

Thank you to EMPOWER, Richland 2, and Andrea Wind with LightHouse For Life for your partnership! Additional thanks goes to Sam’s Club and Chick-Fil-A for providing lunch to the speakers and participants.  Thank you also to the people of GraceLife for making this event possible through your serving and giving.

Just stepping out - even when you feel you have no idea what you're doing - can create a movement. Watch this story from Global Outreach 2014: You Too at GraceLife Church. This is Andrea's story about that moment when she know she had to take action, and LIGHTHOUSE FOR LIFE was born. Watch: https://vimeo.com/111142476.