Category: Press Release

FUEL Accepting Applications for 1H25 Nonprofit Grant Program
Online applications accepted until January 15

Greenville, S.C. – FUEL, a Greenville, S.C.-based brand building agency, is accepting applications until January 15, 2025 for its FUEL for Good Grant program for the first half of 2025. As part of its commitment to community service, FUEL selects local nonprofits each year and provides pro bono marketing services, enabling them to further their missions and address important needs in the Greenville community.

Applicants must be based in Greenville County, S.C., serve the local community, hold a valid 501(c)(3) certification, and have a clearly identifiable need for marketing assistance. Nonprofit organizations meeting these requirements are encouraged to complete an online application at www.fuelforbrands.com/fuel-grant by the January 15 deadline.

In its sixth year, the FUEL for Good Grant program allows the agency’s team to collaborate and dedicate strategic marketing and branding expertise to help local nonprofits with specific marketing challenges. To date, FUEL has awarded the grant to 16 local nonprofits and donated more than 1,600 hours, providing services ranging from logo refreshes and rebrands to social media campaigns and collateral development.

Following an internal review of the grant applications, FUEL will select the recipient and begin work in February. For more information or to apply for the FUEL for Good Grant, please visit www.fuelforbrands.com/fuel-grant or contact Meredith Kinsey at meredith@fuelforbrands.com.

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Acclaimed Jazz Comedian David Zasloff is coming to the Sigal Music Museum this month for ShofarPalooza.

“ShofarPalooza is a celebration of Jewish heritage with some comedic twists that only David can offer,” said Courtney Tessler, CEO of the Greenville Jewish Federation, one of the sponsors of the event.

Zasloff is a stand-up comedian/multi-instrumentalist jazz vocalist and has performed in a wide variety of venues throughout the United States including: “prisons, NA, AA, CA, and OA comedy festivals and conventions, nightclubs, universities, theaters, retirement homes, corporate events, private parties, temples, weddings, funerals, birthday parties, affairs of state, spiritual living centers a few churches and one bris.”

In addition, he played the Japanese shakuhachi flute on Linkin Park’s multi-million selling record “Meteora.” He was musical director for 14 Comedy Channel shows and one Showtime Special. In a ddition, his music can be heard on TV’s “The Young and the Restless.” He also is the creator of If There Weren’t Any Jews, a short animated film that is playing at numerous festivals.

During the show, Zasloff will demonstrate how to play the shofar, the history of the shofar, and the various shofar calls played during the high holidays.

ShofarPalooza will be held Sunday, December 15 at 3 p.m. at the Sigal Music Museum, 516 Buncombe Street, Greenville. Tickets can be purchased here (https://greenvillejewishfederation.ticketspice.com/shofar-palooza-a-hysterical-musical-celebration-of-judaism)

About the Greenville Jewish Federation:

The Greenville Jewish Federation is a dynamic organization dedicated to serving and strengthening the Jewish community in Greenville and neighboring counties. With a rich history of philanthropy and community building, the Federation works tirelessly to support educational programs, social services, cultural events, and advocacy efforts that promote Jewish values, heritage, and unity.

To learn more about

GREENVILLE, S.C. – The retiring CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Greenville was honored with the Order of the Palmetto Wednesday night.

The Order of the Palmetto is awarded to South Carolinians who demonstrate extraordinary lifetime achievement, service, and contributions of national or statewide significance. Since 2009, Monroe Free has served as the President and CEO of Habitat Greenville. He is retiring at the end of the month and LaTonya Phillips will be leading the nonprofit going forward.

During his more than four decade career across the Southeast, Free focused on helping socially and economically disenfranchised people. He has consulted and worked with dozens of nonprofits throughout the Southeast helping with communications strategy, infrastructure development and fundraising. Since Free took the helm of Habitat Greenville the organization has experienced tremendous growth in its capacity to serve the families of Greenville County as well as expanding into Laurens County.

“Each of us gets to be an instrument of miraculous work,” Free said. “I believe that when we serve a meal for the poor or swing a hammer for a family in need of housing, when we shelter the homeless, when we give a kind word to someone who is weary and distressed, we create the miracle process.”

About Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County:
Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County opened its doors in 1985 to bring families, community partners, and volunteers together to construct affordable, energy-efficient homes that help families build strength, stability, and self-reliance. As of April 2024, Habitat Greenville has completed the construction of 410 homes. Habitat Greenville ReStores are located at 3033 Wade Hampton Boulevard in Taylors and 1818 Woodruff Road in Greenville. Call 864-312-5016 for free donation pickups. Learn more at www.habitatgreenville.org.

SIMPSONVILLE, S.C. — A local woman has written her first book, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made– a true story of how she overcame trauma, rediscovered her faith, and began to heal herself.

A Michigan native, Liz Williams works in human resources and earned a bachelor’s degree in English (Grand Valley State) and a Master of Business Administration (Strayer University). She and her husband have two children.

However, Williams suffered childhood abuse and that trauma haunted her for years, which is what led to her writing Fearfully and Wonderfully Made. Fearfully and Wonderfully Made delves into how Williams confronted her painful past and jumped on a transformative spiritual journey that resonates with every woman seeking inspiration on their own paths of resilience.

Williams said motherhood led her to decide to write this book. While she wrote often growing up, Williams stopped after finding her calling in human resources, which allowed her to innately help others.

“One of the themes of my book is that it is never too late to connect with your authentic self in a fast-paced world full of distraction,” she said. “I am finding that my book resonates the most with Christian believers as a powerful Testimony. “

The story is divided into three sections. Childhood, Early Adulthood, and Motherhood.

Williams candidly recounts her challenging childhood marked by an abusive father, showing how her unwavering relationship with God provided strength and hope. Her experience of becoming a mother compelled her to confront buried memories and highlight faith’s critical role in her recovery to discover her authenticity.

About Liz Williams and Fearfully and Wonderfully Made:
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made invites readers to explore the profound themes of healing and faith. This is the first book from Liz Williams, who has worked in human resources since 2005. Learn more at https://fearfullylizwilliams.com.

Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands South Carolina (GIUMSC) has partnered with Greenville Literacy Association (GLA) to launch an innovative GED® Bootcamp, combining resources and expertise to enhance educational outcomes and workforce readiness for underserved adults. This 16-week program is designed to provide participants with the skills and support needed to achieve their GED® and pursue meaningful career opportunities.
To kick off this transformative initiative, GIUMSC is hosting a GED® Application Event on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at their Youth and Family Services Center (YFSC), located at 45 E. Main Street, Greenville, SC. The event will include two informational sessions where attendees can meet with career navigators to discuss application specifics, scheduling requirements, and the benefits of the program.
GED Application Event Details:
• Session 1: 10:00 AM – Noon
• Session 2: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
The GED® Bootcamp, set to begin February 3, 2025, and run through May 22, 2025, will take place at the YFSC location (45 E. Main Street, Greenville). Participants will benefit from personalized instruction, mentorship, and career coaching provided by GLA and Goodwill’s expert teams.
“This partnership embodies our shared mission of empowering individuals to overcome barriers and achieve their fullest potential,” said Monique McDaniels, Goodwill Vice President of Community and Workforce Development. “By combining education with workforce readiness, we are paving the way for brighter futures in our community.”
“Our partnership with Goodwill is in perfect alignment with our mission to increase literacy and employability of adult learners in our community,” said Victoria Novak, executive director of GLA. “GED® Bootcamp, made possible by a generous grant from Power:Ed, allows motivated students to move closer to reaching their education goals and opens new doors of opportunity.”

Greenville, SC – Jasmine Road is proud to announce that Grace Church received the prestigious Outstanding Community Partner award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals Piedmont Chapter for their exceptional work in the Upstate. This recognition celebrates their unwavering commitment to making a last impact through their generosity and dedication to serving marginalized communities.

Lee Anne Cavin, Front Porch Housing Executive Director and Grace Church Executive Director of Housing, Outreach, & Care & Recovery, said “Housing instability comes through several paths, but one common thread is a crisis of healthy connection. Just as we encourage and support our residents in developing healthy relationships, we value partnerships and know it takes all of us playing our part for a vibrant community. Being recognized as an outstanding partner is an honor that aligns with our core values and is greatly appreciated.”

Grace Church has been a vital supporter of Jasmine Road, playing a key role in opening our second residential home and on-going operations. Their contributions have impacted adult women survivors of commercial sexual exploitation and substance abuse disorder, offering them a chance for total life change.

“Jasmine Road is honored to partner with Grace Church. They actively seek out organizations serving those that need help most in the community and invest in so many important ways. Grace Church is a philanthropic model. We couldn’t serve the number of women we do at Jasmine Road without their investment. Many of our volunteers are also members of Grace Church. This award is for them too…” said Lisa O’Connell-Hall, Jasmine Road and Jasmine Kitchen Chief Executive Officer.

This award is presented annually by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Piedmont Chapter on National Philanthropy Day to organizations who exemplify outstanding community service.

Carolina Handling, one of the country’s leading integrated material handling solutions providers, has won five RepVue Reppy Awards, including top overall sales organization and top Greater Charlotte area company, for Fall 2024.
An online platform for B2B sales professionals, RepVue surveys almost 20,000 users nationwide about the culture and leadership, base and incentive compensation, product-market fit, professional development and training, inbound lead flow, and diversity and inclusion at their organizations. Twice each year, RepVue awards Reppys to the top sales organizations in each category, along with overall top-rated organizations and the top-rated organizations in metro areas in the U.S. and around the world.
In addition to receiving Fall 2024 Reppy Awards for Top Sales Organization and Greater Charlotte Area Companies, Carolina Handling also was recognized in the categories of Incentive Comp Structure, Mid-Sized Companies and Bootstrapped Companies.
Mid-sized companies are those with 250-10,000 employees that provide a balance of resources and a tight-knit community, fostering a productive and supportive work environment for their sales teams. Bootstrapped companies demonstrate exceptional self-sufficiency while enabling their sales teams to excel in competitive markets.
Carolina Handling has received numerous RepVue Awards, including top sales organization for both the first and second half of 2023.

ABOUT CAROLINA HANDLING
Founded in 1966, Carolina Handling is one of the Southeast’s leading integrated material handling solutions providers and the exclusive Raymond Solutions and Support Center for North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida’s Central time zone. The company provides forklifts and automation solutions for manufacturers, warehouses and distribution centers, along with parts, racking, storage, lighting and dock and door equipment.
Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Carolina Handling operates branch offices in At

GREENVILLE, S. C. — Integral Leaders in Health (ILH) and the Upstate Independent Medical Association (UIMA) have formed a strategic partnership designed to strengthen the growing community of independent physicians in the Upstate.

Through this partnership, ILH will assume key operational and strategic responsibilities for UIMA thus delivering essential management services that foster collaboration among individual medical practices across a variety of specialties, said Dr. Spence Taylor, MD, CEO of Integral Leaders in Health.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Upstate Independent Medical Association to support a vision of healthcare that prioritizes patient choice, access, and the autonomy of physicians,” Taylor said. “As healthcare is increasingly influenced by MBAs rather than MDs, our collaboration with UIMA empowers independent physicians to maintain their autonomy and deliver care that’s deeply personalized. By supporting these dedicated providers, we’re helping to advance a healthcare model that values patient relationships and individual physician expertise — giving patients more options and ensuring that independent medicine continues to thrive in the Upstate of South Carolina.”

This partnership aims to advance independent medicine’s commitment to delivering personalized, patient-centered care without the influence of corporate policies or procedures, said Jerome Aya-Ay, MD, President of the Upstate Independent Medical Association, a practicing primary care physician, and owner of an independent practice.

Launched only six months ago, UIMA already has an active membership of more than 60 Upstate physicians. The organization’s collaboration with ILH will not only further develop the membership base and enhance resources for autonomous physicians but also ensure patients have greater access to quality, patient-centered care across the region.