Category: Press Release

GREENVILLE, SC (September 2, 2025) – Greenville Convention Center today announced ticket sales are now live for Holiday Fair, a cherished tradition in the Upstate, bringing joy of the season to families, friends and holiday enthusiasts alike.
Proceeds of Holiday Fair benefit Rotary Charities, the philanthropic arm of the Rotary Club of Greenville, which seeks ways to make meaningful, sustained differences in the quality of life of the citizens of Greenville County.
Holiday Fair will offer more than 500 vendor booths, featuring one-of-a-kind gifts, decorations, accessories and more, a children’s play area, local entertainment, chef prepared food offerings and tastings from local favorites Six & Twenty Distillery and Methodical Coffee from December 4-7, 2025.
The holiday extravaganza will attract thousands of local and out-of-town visitors and will build on holiday traditions of the past while offering new elements that create memories for the future.
Show Dates and Times:
• Thursday, December 4 10am – 6pm
• Friday, December 5 10am – 7pm
• Saturday, December 6 10am – 7pm
• Sunday, December 7 11am – 6pm
Cost:
• Tickets:
o $10 for adults
o $9 for seniors (60+)
o Free for children 2 and under

• Parking:
o $10 per vehicle
To purchase tickets, click here.
For information on becoming a vendor, click here.

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About Greenville Convention Center
As one of the Southeast’s largest venues, boasting 280,000 square feet of impressive exhibit and event space in one of the most sought-after cities, the Greenville Convention Center is committed to providing you with the resources you need to turn your event into an experience that brings your plans to life.

Greenville, S.C. – 8/28/2025– Pendleton Place, a trusted nonprofit serving youth and families in crisis, has launched the Solid Ground, Bright Future campaign to raise $500,000 in unrestricted funds by March 1, 2026. The campaign will support core operational needs and ensure the continued delivery of life-changing services during a period of strategic realignment.

With more than 50 years of impact in the Upstate, Pendleton Place provides housing, shelter, and support services for youth experiencing homelessness, family instability, or involvement in the foster care system. This campaign comes at a critical time as the organization responds to rising infrastructure costs and increasing demand for services—expenses often left uncovered by traditional grant funding.

As part of the effort, Pendleton Place has reimagined its 50th Anniversary celebration. Originally planned as a formal luncheon in 2025, the event will now take place in spring 2026 as a casual, on-site celebration at Pendleton Place. Guests will have the opportunity to experience the organization’s mission firsthand, meet staff and youth, and see the impact of their support up close. The event will serve as the culmination of the campaign, celebrating both the organization’s legacy and its future.

“While we are facing a significant funding gap, we are not standing still,” said Stacy Hyde, Executive Director of Pendleton Place. “We’re actively realigning resources, strengthening our financial position, and making the strategic shifts needed for long-term sustainability. Now, we are asking our community to stand with us and ensure that no young person is turned away when they need us most.”

The Solid Ground, Bright Future campaign will help stabilize essential operations such as facility expenses, utilities, and staffing—critical investments that make Pendleton Place’s mission-driven programs possible.

Supporters can give today at www.pendletonplace.org/donate and are encouraged to share the campa

The partial collapse of a bridge in Pickens County earlier this year was a jarring reminder: sometimes the danger isn’t other drivers, it’s the road itself.

Thankfully, no one was hurt, but it raised an unsettling question: how often do hidden hazards in our infrastructure contribute to accidents without victims realizing it?

We tend to see failures like this as once-in-a-generation events. But the truth is, everyday hazards such as uneven shoulders, standing water, or a deep pothole can set off a chain reaction that leads to life-changing accidents.

I’ve seen it firsthand:
• A driver swerves to avoid a pothole and clips another vehicle.
• A worn shoulder drops off unexpectedly, sending a car off course.
• Poor drainage leaves water pooled on a highway, causing hydroplaning.

These incidents don’t make headlines like a collapsed bridge, but for the people involved, the consequences can be devastating.

If you’ve been in an accident, it’s worth investigating if road conditions played a role. It’s not always obvious, so these are the steps we advise our clients to take:
Document the scene. Photograph not just the vehicles but the road surface, shoulders, guardrails, and construction signs.
Look closely for hazards. Even trivial defects such as potholes, faded lane markings, or standing water may matter later.
Talk to witnesses. They may have noticed something you didn’t.
Review the accident report. Ensure hazards are noted; if they’re not, add your observations.
Don’t assume it was just bad luck. These conditions will matter in the courtroom or at the negotiating table.

Infrastructure failures don’t always look dramatic. Sometimes they are hidden in plain sight. That is why it is essential to consult with an experienced attorney who can thoroughly investigate all aspects, including whether unsafe infrastructure played a minor or significant role.

By Alex Stalvey, leader of the Personal Injury practice group at Bannister, Wyatt & Stalvey

GREENVILLE, SC – The Rick Erwin Dining Group (REDG) announces a $25,000 pledge to the Meals on Wheels of Greenville Capital Campaign, supporting the company’s core value of “Commitment to
Community” through their Crab Cakes for a Cause initiative.
The Crab Cakes for a Cause initiative was created by the dining group in 2023 as a way to draw attention to non-profits in need of community support and to create a program that provides more meaningful
financial and volunteer support by the company and its employees. The popular Company Crab Cake, found on all six restaurant’s menus, is given special attention to help create the awareness of these
organizations.
The donation was presented to Catriona Carlisle, Executive Director of Meals on Wheels, and is designated toward their $13 million capital campaign funding the construction of a new facility in Greenville. Construction began in January 2025 and is expected to be completed by early 2026.
Michael Ivey, Owner and Chief Financial Officer at REDG shared, “We adopted this initiative as a Core Value of our company and call it our Commitment to Community; we see our financial and volunteer
support as our corporate responsibility to the communities we serve”. Ivey, who has been CFO for REDG since 2009, added, “With this pledge to the Meals on Wheels Capital Campaign, our Crab Cakes for a
Cause initiative has enabled us to cross the threshold of $100,000 in donations to our partner non-profits since the initiative was created in 2023. We are so grateful for the ongoing support from our guests.”
To learn more about Crab Cakes for a Cause, visit rickerwins.com/crabcakes.
Rick Erwin Dining Group, with six locations across the Upstate of South Carolina, is committed to creating the most memorable dining experience in the upstate through genuine hospitality and sincere
appreciation for our guests. This year marks the company’s 20th anniversary.

Lander University is once again shattering enrollment records, launching the 2025-26 academic year with the most students in the University’s 153-year history. This marks the 10th consecutive year of growth for the institution, and the seventh year in a row with record enrollment.

Following the first week of classes, Lander’s total enrollment is 4,589, up 5.9% over last year at the same point in cycle and surpassing the University’s goal of 4,500 students. Fueling this tremendous growth is another record-setting achievement: Lander’s largest-ever class of first-time freshmen. With 1,031 members, the Class of 2029 represents a growth of approximately 21.7% over last year’s freshman class.

Lander University President Richard Cosentino called the historical growth a “remarkable milestone” for the institution.

“The strategic, steady growth we have experienced over the past decade is a testament to Lander University’s reputation for delivering an exceptional education and student experience,” he said. “More students than ever before are choosing Lander for our outstanding faculty and innovative programs. Our hands-on learning opportunities and internship programs with valued community partners are helping to prepare our students for success as they step into their careers or continue on to graduate school.”

Four student teams from Greenville Technical College’s Management program recently ranked in the Global Top 100 of the GLO-BUS Business Strategy Simulation, an internationally recognized, highly competitive learning experience used by two-year and four-year institutions worldwide.

Among the standout teams, GTC’s Team Angle NRJ earned the #1 global ranking for both Earnings Per Share (EPS) and Stock Price—a remarkable accomplishment, given that the simulation included more than 700 teams from colleges and universities around the world this semester. Multiple Greenville Tech teams placed in the Top 10 globally across several performance categories, demonstrating the exceptional capabilities of GTC students in navigating complex strategic decisions in a dynamic, real-world business environment.

“This level of achievement is exceptional for two-year colleges, which make up less than 10 percent of GLO-BUS participants, and our students’ performance speaks volumes about their understanding of business strategy,” said Vincent Weaver, department head and instructor for Greenville Tech’s Management programs.

As a result of their impressive success, GTC students participated in an elite 10-day global competition in August, joining other industry champions from colleges and universities around the world. This “best of the best” competition brought together top performers from GLO-BUS to compete at the highest level, and Greenville Tech’s team tied for fourth place in the world.

GLO-BUS (Global Business Simulation Strategy Game) places students in the role of executive leadership for a fictional company. Teams make weekly decisions on production, marketing, finance and corporate strategy, competing against peers worldwide in a simulation that mirrors the complexities of global business operations.

EASLEY, S.C. (August 27, 2025) – Truliant Federal Credit Union and Easley High School are proud to announce the launch of a Student-Athlete Assistance Program for the school’s Green Wave sports teams.

Truliant is providing financial support for clothing and athletic items for Easley High School student-athletes facing challenges. The school had about 1,900 students in the 2024-25 school year. The funds will help cover the cost of uniforms, shoes, travel suits, practice shirts and shorts, and other expenses.

“The cost of youth sports can make it very costly for kids to participate,” said Stella Freeman, who manages the Truliant branch in Easley. “We’re always looking for ways to make an impact in our communities. This is a great way to help local students with financial challenges who want to participate in athletics.”

The Green Wave Athletic Booster Club (GWABC) will administer the funds. Easley High School has about 700 student-athletes per year participating in the athletic program. The grant will be active on August 1 as students return to school. An application form will be placed on the Easley Athletic website at www.easleyathletics.com

“Easley High School Athletics is excited to partner with Truliant in this unique opportunity,” said Gill Payne, Easley High School Director of Athletics. “This will make a substantial difference in the lives of student-athletes at Easley High School.”

All student-athletes will be eligible for the assistance program. Truliant aims to positively impact families by helping students with options to cover athletic costs. Interested student-athletes are encouraged to complete an application form. According to the Aspen Institute, the average U.S. sports family spent $1,016 on their child’s primary sport in 2024.

The partial collapse of a bridge in Pickens County earlier this year was a jarring reminder: sometimes the danger isn’t other drivers, it’s the road itself.

Thankfully, no one was hurt, but it raised an unsettling question: how often do hidden hazards in our infrastructure contribute to accidents without victims realizing it?

We tend to see failures like this as once-in-a-generation events. But the truth is, everyday hazards such as uneven shoulders, standing water, or a deep pothole can set off a chain reaction that leads to life-changing accidents.

I’ve seen it firsthand:
• A driver swerves to avoid a pothole and clips another vehicle.
• A worn shoulder drops off unexpectedly, sending a car off course.
• Poor drainage leaves water pooled on a highway, causing hydroplaning.

These incidents don’t make headlines like a collapsed bridge, but for the people involved, the consequences can be devastating.

If you’ve been in an accident, it’s worth investigating if road conditions played a role. It’s not always obvious, so these are the steps we advise our clients to take:
Document the scene. Photograph not just the vehicles but the road surface, shoulders, guardrails, and construction signs.
Look closely for hazards. Even trivial defects such as potholes, faded lane markings, or standing water may matter later.
Talk to witnesses. They may have noticed something you didn’t.
Review the accident report. Ensure hazards are noted; if they’re not, add your observations.
Don’t assume it was just bad luck. These conditions will matter in the courtroom or at the negotiating table.

Infrastructure failures don’t always look dramatic. Sometimes they are hidden in plain sight. That is why it is essential to consult with an experienced attorney who can thoroughly investigate all aspects, including whether unsafe infrastructure played a minor or significant role.

By Alex Stalvey, leader of the Personal Injury practice group at Bannister, Wyatt & Stalvey