WHAT WE DO:

CURRENT INITIATIVES

Our Enrichment/Tutorial Program serves more than 40 District One children, the number being limited only by the condition and size of our facility. Available support includes academic assistance with language arts, social studies and mathematics. Enrichment activities encourage students to apply previously acquired knowledge to new situations, as well as to develop skills of observation, interpretation and critical thinking. This program is currently supported by individual donors and by funds from State Street Global Philanthropy Fund.

A new BDPF program, Parents as Partners in Education, has the aim of creating a powerful constituency of families that will foster improvement in literacy and educational achievement of District One's school children. Start-up funds have come from the Verizon Literacy Foundation. Additional funding is currently being sought.

Our Healthy Choices/Healthy Lifestyles Program seeks to promote healthy lifestyles and reduce risky behaviors by cultivating youth as good health advocates. It also engages a group of highly "at risk" children in focused and individualized intervention activities. This program is supported by funds from Clarendon County Turning Point.

To help trigger economic development in the targeted area, BDPF conceived the idea of a Sewing Cooperative. Although a submitted grant proposal was not funded, a partnership with the Rural Development Office of the South Carolina US Department of Agriculture has developed. Collaborative efforts have resulted in the creation of a incorporated entity named Sew What, Inc. Funds are being sought to help cooperative members purchase equipment and materials.

Our Summer Science Camp for middle school students will be offered again in Summer 2006 at the District One Middle School. This initiative is a partnership between BDPF and District One. It is supported by individual donations and in-kind donations from the school district.

Via membership in NAEIR, we continue to supply goods to Clarendon County public schools. To date, the market value of goods delivered (classroom supplies, educational materials, etc.) is in excess of $70,000. This initiative is supported by individual donations.

With money from donations and grants, we sponsor educational trips for groups of District One students. In partnership with Randolph Middle School (Charlotte, NC), BDPF is sponsoring a select group of District One eighth grade students on a 4-day educational historic Civil Rights tour. Partial funding for the trip was obtained from the Knight Foundation. At least three additional day trips to historic/educational sites in South Carolina will be arranged for other groups of District One students (State Street Global Philanthropy Fund).

We are engaged in a Capital Building Campaign to raise funds for a permanent BDPF Center. Unfortunately, legal, financial and logistic problems prevent us from sharing school facilities, and Summerton - like most small towns - has no suitable rental properties. The new BDPF center will be placed on property already owned by BDPF. When we move from our present inadequate, cramped and borrowed quarters, the new location will be able to accommodate a NEW community center, in addition to its offices, other programs, and Briggs v. Elliott artifacts.