Category: Press Release

Greenville, S.C. – The Upcountry History Museum – Greenville County has joined museums nationwide in the Blue Star Museums program, a collaboration that provides free admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families to museums throughout the summer. The program runs from Armed Forces Day on May 18, 2024, through Labor Day on September 2, 2024.

Blue Star Museums is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, in collaboration with the Department of Defense and museums across America. The free-admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States Military and up to five family members – Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, members of the Reserves, National Guard, Space Force, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, and NOAA Commissioned Corps.

“The Upcountry History Museum is proud to participate in the Blue Star Museums program,” said Museum CEO Dana L. Thorpe. “We consider it a privilege to support the men and women who serve in all branches of the armed services and look forward to welcoming members of the U.S. military and their families to the Museum throughout the summer.”

Blue Star Museums include art, children’s, history, and science museums, as well as zoos, gardens, lighthouses, and more, and hail from all 50 states, District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Find the list of participating museums at arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.

The Upcountry History Museum is located at 540 Buncombe St., in Greenville, S.C. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. For more information, call 864-467-3100 or visit www.upcountryhistory.org.

Liberty Fellowship, a dynamic and diverse network of 350 leaders across South Carolina, will celebrate its 20th anniversary with special activities and initiatives over the next 12 months that will culminate in a celebration event on April 24 – 27, 2025 in Greenville. To kick off the year, Liberty Fellowship has released a commemorative video and logo mark in addition to a detailed timeline of the organization’s history on their website www.libertyfellowshipsc.org.

“As a member of the first class of Fellows, I have witnessed the incredible growth of Liberty Fellowship since its founding. It is exciting that we are taking the next 12 months to recognize how the Fellowship has shaped South Carolina’s leaders and the positive impact it has created for communities across the state,” said Betsy Fleming, chair of the Liberty Fellowship Board of Directors. “Even more important than a celebration, we see this moment as an inflection point and an opportunity to explore how Liberty Fellowship will continue to evolve and have an impact in the state. We are just getting started.”
BlueCross® BlueShield® of South Carolina, Boeing, and SouthState Bank are supporting the yearlong celebration as 20th Anniversary Legacy Partners in honor of the Fellowship’s impact in South Carolina since its founding.

“We are so grateful to our Legacy Partners for helping to make this milestone year possible,” said Kerri Forrest, vice-chair of the Liberty Fellowship Board of Directors. “Their support is an important recognition of the value of the Fellowship experience and the individual and collective impact Fellows continue to have in communities across the state.”

FAST FACTS
• Liberty Fellowship was founded by South Carolina businessman Hayne Hipp and his wife Anna Kate in partnership with Aspen Institute and Wofford College to create a better future for all people in South Carolina.
• The first class of Fellows was announced in 2004. The Fellowship has grown into a dynamic and diverse network of 350 leaders.
• Each Liberty Fellow completes a rigorous, 18-month curriculum and an individual impact venture before joining the Liberty Fellowship South Carolina Network.
• Liberty Fellowship is a lifelong commitment. Through the Fellowship’s affiliation with Aspen Institute, all Liberty Fellows are members of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
• 76% of Liberty Fellows are professionally affiliated with the business sector, 12% with the nonprofit sector, and 12% with the public sector.

WHAT LIBERTY FELLOWS ARE SAYING
• “What Liberty does is create an environment in which it is safe to both share and to disagree, which is not something I think we do well in modern American discourse,” said Kacey Eichelberger (’18), chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Prisma Health.
• “We need leaders in this country, in this state, and in all of our communities that look at the world differently and understand it’s not just about me today, it’s about a long-term future,” said Sam Erwin (’11), executive vice president and mid-Atlantic regional president for First Horizon.
• “Our moderators have found a way to encourage this type of discussion in this type of controlled environment to be able to have civil discourse and at the end, still find our commonality,” said James Jordon (’23), president of Jordon Construction Company and Jordon Development Company.
• “When I came out of the seminars, I was so confident and I was enthusiastic, and I was ready, because my Fellows had given me that strength to understand that I can tackle problems, and I can resolve conflicts, and I can and be supported as I do that,” said Bridget Laird (’16), chief executive officer of WINGS.
• “It’s given me more courage to make difficult decisions. It’s given me more courage to not always make the decision that makes the most people happy, but the decision that’s the right decision,” said Leighton Lord (’08), and president and chief strategy officer at Maynard Nexsen.
• “You have a brotherhood or sisterhood that is there for you at a moment’s notice. You become a part of this team that wants the best for the state and for the country,” said Seema Shrivastava (’23), chairwoman of the South Carolina Board of Health and Environmental Control.
• “I didn’t expect it. Nobody does, but it’s a really powerful experience, and it’s changed me permanently,” said Jim Stritzinger (’06), director of the South Carolina Broadband Office.
• “No matter what your political background is or no matter what your past life experiences have been, it teaches you how you can use those and move society forward in a positive way,” said J.E.B. Wilson (’20), managing partner of Cotton Hills Farm.

ABOUT LIBERTY FELLOWSHIP
Liberty Fellowship is the only state-based Fellowship program of its kind in the United States. The Fellowship activates individual leaders through a deeper understanding of a just, free and equitable society; serves as a convener for bringing together diverse perspectives to advance civil discourse; and provides infrastructure for taking action. Through the Fellowship’s affiliation with Aspen Institute, Liberty Fellows also become members of the Aspen Global Leadership Network. There are 350 Liberty Fellows working individually and collaboratively across South Carolina. Learn more at www.libertyfellowshipsc.org.

ABOUT THE ASPEN GLOBAL LEADERSHIP NETWORK
The AGLN at Aspen Institute is a growing, worldwide community of nearly 4,000 high-integrity, entrepreneurial leaders from over 60 countries who share a commitment to values-based leadership and to using their creativity, energy and resources to tackle the foremost societal challenges of our times. Because of their demonstrated accomplishment and abilities, they have been selected to join one of 13 geographic or sector-specific AGLN Fellowships around the world. Fellows convene annually at the AGLN’s flagship event, the Resnick Aspen Action Forum. For more information, visit aspeninstitute.org/agln.

Racquel Collier, a real estate developer with a focus on the concept of third spaces, will be part of a panel at New Jersey Planning and Redevelopment Conference next month.

The panel, “Beyond Home and Work: Cultivating Community in Third Places,” will discuss how to recapture third places through innovative development, redevelopment, zoning reform, and programming.

The 2024 New Jersey Planning and Redevelopment conference will be featuring a multitude of timely sessions and will bring together hundreds of visionary professionals, elected officials and community activists from New Jersey and beyond. By bringing together big players in the planning and redevelopment game, the conference hopes to reimagine land use to optimize efficiency and promote sustainable growth.

Collier is the president of Caliber Real Estate, a local development firm specializing in acquiring and developing multifamily communities and land. When it comes to real estate development, Caliber takes a comprehensive approach to include interests like food, art, media and people to yield meaningful projects.

“Understanding the needs for and the why people seek third places is one of the keys to the future of development,” Collier said. “Developers want to balance creating ROI on projects while also providing a place where people can go for community.”

About Caliber Real Estate:

Caliber Real Estate is a development firm specializing in developing multifamily communities and land. They take a comprehensive approach to real estate development, combining their interests in art, food, media, music, and people to produce impactful projects. Learn more at www.calibersouthcarolina.com.

YMCA of Greenville’s 2024 Annual Campaign Raises More Than $1.5 Million to Ensure Accessibility for All

GREENVILLE, S.C. (May 14, 2024) – YMCA of Greenville announced today that it has raised more than $1.5 million for its 2024 Annual Campaign. All the funds raised will go towards providing financial assistance so that anyone who wants to participate in the Y’s programs or services is able to, regardless of their ability to pay.

The $1.5 million will provide children, adults, and families scholarships for wellness memberships, youth sports programs, swim lessons, the SC Youth in Government program, afterschool care and summer day camps, as well as funding the Y’s food delivery programs for those experiencing food insecurity across Greenville County.

Over the past 15 years, the YMCA of Greenville has raised more than $14 million for the annual campaign, putting those funds back into helping the community thrive.

“We are thrilled that we were able to exceed our 2024 Annual Campaign goal,” said Melanie Sudduth, YMCA of Greenville’s Annual Campaign chair. “The true success of raising $1.5 million is that it will have a significant impact on the health of our community and will positively change the lives of so many of our neighbors.”

“This year’s annual campaign theme is “YOU are Y,” said Diana Watson, senior vice president and chief philanthropy officer, YMCA of Greenville. “Helping children and adults reach their potential is at the heart of what we do, and every year our volunteers and staff embody this with their dedication to this campaign. I am so grateful for their work, the financial support of each of our donors, and for the opportunity we have as an association to provide life-changing programs in our community.”

To learn more about the YMCA of Greenville’s Annual Campaign and the programs it supports, visit https://www.ymcagreenville.org/give.

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About the YMCA of Greenville, SC

The YMCA of Greenville is a cause-driven non-profit organization. Our mission is, following the example of Christ, to build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. With a focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Y nurtures the potential of every youth and teen, improves the health and well-being of our community and provides opportunities to give back and help support our neighbors. Founded in 1876, the Y serves more than 70,000 people annually through programs that include after-school care, resident and day camps, aquatics, youth and adult sports, and health and wellness. Programs are offered through four family branches, as well as the Verdae YMCA, Y Camp Greenville, YMCA Judson Community Center, and Hollingsworth Outdoor Center. The Y is also home to Y Teen Services and the SC Youth in Government programs.

For more information about the YMCA of Greenville, visit ymcagreenville.org, or call (864) 412-0288.

Greenville, SC — May 15, 2024 — Rymedi and Precision Genetics, two leading pioneers in healthcare technology solutions, proudly announce their strategic partnership aimed at transforming health outcomes and efficiencies through precision medicine. The collaboration will combine Precision Genetics’ PrecisionOp, a personalized means to reduce adverse drug reactions  and reliance on post-operative opioids for patients undergoing surgery, and Rymedi’s block-chain enabled clinical trial and registry platform. 
 
Rymedi and Precision Genetics, both founded and headquartered in Greenville, SC, have experienced remarkable success with their digital health platforms. Rymedi was recently named one of the 50 fastest growing companies in South Carolina due to its ability to enhance and scale patient and population health data management and workflow solutions. Similarly, Precision Genetics was named the South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) Company of the Year in 2022 for its exceptional job and revenue growth, demonstrated during the pandemic through COVID-19 testing. Now, with combined efforts, these two companies are poised to improve patient medical outcomes and overall care experience. 

Nate Wilbourne, CEO and Founder of Precision Genetics commented, “We are thrilled to join forces with an innovative team like Rymedi. I see tremendous value and synergy between our efforts, putting us in a unique position to move the needle on health outcomes in this state. By integrating Rymedi’s expertise in patient-facing entry points and data analysis with Precision Genetics’ genetic testing solutions, we can modernize how we approach patient care, and ultimately transform care delivery for the better.” 

Rymedi’s clinical trial and registry platform will support Precision Genetics’ IRB-approved research study, Prospective Outcomes & Molecular Implementation Support Registry (PROMISRx), to track, analyze and find predictors of medication response for patients in a surgical setting. The registry study will provide genetic information that can be used to tailor drug regimens for patients to reduce risk and optimize recovery after surgery.

David Stefanich, CEO and Founder of Rymedi, and Chair, SCBio Board of Directors, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, saying, “This partnership represents a pivotal moment in our mission to transform healthcare through data-driven solutions. By combining forces with Precision Genetics, we are positioned to deliver tangible benefits to healthcare providers and patients alike, driving efficiency and efficacy in the delivery of care.” 
 
The collaboration between Rymedi and Precision Genetics underscores their shared commitment to innovation and scaling digital healthcare. Together, they are ready to drive meaningful improvements and bridge ecosystems to advance precision health. 
  
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About Precision Genetics 
Headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, Precision Genetics offers value-based care solutions, powered by a molecular diagnostic platform to drive better patient outcomes while reducing the overall cost of care. 
Precision Genetics is modernizing the standard of care to enable doctors to prescribe medications with precision and safety. Our solutions help provide better patient outcomes and lower overall healthcare costs. 
By combining evidence-based technology and population risk analysis into a comprehensive and actionable solution, we can deliver seamless clinical decision support to foster nothing less than research-based personalized medicine for patients. 
At Precision Genetics, we’re ushering in a new, less costly and more efficient standard-of-care. For more information, please visit www.precisiongenetics.com. 

About Rymedi
Founded in 2018 as a software as a service (SAAS) company, Rymedi enables life science organizations to improve human health. Rymedi’s blockchain enabled patient and population health data management software supports clinical trials and patient registries, clinical diagnostic and toxicology testing devices, clinical lab integrations, and the secure and compliant storage of healthcare data. For more information, please visit our website at www.rymedi.com, or our MassBioEdge program link at www.massbio.org/massbio-edge/ .

GREENVILLE, SC May 15, 2024 – Luxor Scientific and CIMA Sciences join forces for the US launch of OWLiver®, an exclusive non-invasive blood test able to detect all dangerous stages of Metabolic dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) and Metabolic dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH). The OWLiver® metabolic assay meets the urgent need for a non-invasive test for identification of individuals who have “at-risk” MASH and are at high risk for progressing to end-stage liver disease. This collaboration coincides with the FDA’s March 2024 approval of the first and only medication for MASH treatment, marking a transformative step forward in enhancing liver disease testing and management.

Luxor Scientific is the only laboratory offering CIMA Sciences’ OWLiver® testing in the US, which utilizes the MASEF® (Metabolomics-Advanced Steatohepatitis Fibrosis) score.1 With advanced metabolomics technology, this test holds the potential to transform approaches in understanding and treating metabolic dysfunction associated liver conditions.

“As we continue to see a rise in metabolic syndrome in the US, MASLD is becoming more and more prominent,” stated Dr. Marion Snyder Luxor Scientific. “For years, physicians have had to rely on invasive liver biopsy procedures and costly imaging studies. OWLiver® can identify MASLD in its early stages, giving patients the chance to stop and reverse the disease and live a healthier lifestyle.”

MASLD, previously known as Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), is the most common cause of chronic liver disease, impacting over 30% of adults in the US, and is expected to increase in the coming years with the steady rise of obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. As many as 20% of type 2 diabetic individuals with MASLD will develop MASH. Studies show that 15-20% of patients with MASH can progress to liver disease and ultimately liver failure. Early identification of “at-risk” MASH is a priority, as these patients are at increased risk for disease progression and may benefit from developed therapies to prevent the disease and further liver damage and related complications.

“The availability of this test is incredibly significant for patients at this time,” expressed Alejo Llopart-Mascaro, CIMA Sciences. “We take pride in our collaboration with Luxor Scientific to address the growing issue of metabolic associated liver disease. This partnership enables healthcare providers to diagnose and subsequently offer effective treatments that are now readily available to their patients.”
About CIMA Sciences, LLC
Strategically bringing proprietary technology to the US, CIMA Sciences is a biological company which primary focus is on developing and providing the scientific community and the US population with cutting-edge, non-invasive diagnostic technologies for high-prevalence diseases, with a specific emphasis on liver and cardiovascular risk. CIMA recognizes the critical need for accurate and early detection of diseases and aims to revolutionize the diagnostic landscape and empower healthcare professionals with groundbreaking, accurate, non-invasive and accessible tools to identify and manage these conditions effectively. CIMA actively collaborates with key stakeholders in the scientific and medical communities to ensure the effective deployment of its solutions and their integration into existing healthcare systems. For more information about CIMA Sciences, please visit www.cimasciences.com
About Luxor Scientific

Luxor Scientific was founded with the mission of providing better information faster. As a full-service privately-held CAP-accredited medical and research laboratory, Luxor offers a robust menu of clinical and anatomical testing services. Today, Luxor Scientific is one of the fastest-growing companies in the southeast, specializing in cutting-edge diagnostic testing solutions in the areas of metabolomics, genomics, toxicology and histology. Luxor’s industry-leading turnaround times and state-of-the-art equipment and diagnostic solutions, allows Luxor to provide personalized service, accurate testing, and innovative functional reporting. For more information about Luxor Scientific and our full test offering, please visit www.luxorscientific.org.

[1] The Metabolomics-Advanced steatohepatitis fibrosis score (MASEF). Hepatology. 2024 Jan 1;79(1):135-148.doi: 10.109724

Greenville Women Giving, a philanthropic women’s collective giving organization, dedicated to identifying and funding local organizations in the areas of arts, education, environment, health and human services, has awarded the Greenville Homeless Alliance (GHA) with a grant totaling $97,125.72.

Funding will support an unprecedented, collaborative effort with partners from Greenville County Schools Fine Arts Center architecture program, Bonds Career Center building construction program, Soteria Community Development Corporation, Architecture 224, LLC, Craig Gaulden Davis Architecture, and Clancy Theys Construction. With the Greenville Homeless Alliance as the convener, this grant will kick start a pilot introducing an innovative, one-of-a-kind initiative to build two tiny homes designed by high school students and built by interns from Soteria, a non-profit organization addressing the needs of formerly incarcerated people. The challenge to access safe, affordable housing is even more stark for people with criminal convictions. Research shows that they are nearly ten times more likely to experience homelessness than the general population which can lead to chronic homelessness.

“We are humbled to have this generous investment from Greenville Women Giving to support the Greenville Homeless Alliance’s goal to lead a tiny/micro home pilot,” said Susan McLarty, Director of the Greenville Homeless Alliance. “As noted in GHA’s 2023 Unsheltered Homelessness Brief, chronic homelessness costs the taxpayer an average of $35,578. This pilot can help address our affordable housing crisis and build capacity for future expansion on land Soteria owns, ensuring stability, a supportive community, and a continued 0% recidivism of Soteria 12-month graduates.”

With a pipeline of students and graduates from Soteria Community Development Corporation, this pilot offers the opportunity for ongoing collaboration that benefits students, Soteria interns, and community members who yearn for a permanent place to call home.

“As architects, we have an innate ability to help facilitate a solution to the problem,” said Fine Arts Center, Architecture Studio Instructor + Department Chair, Dr. Catherine Smith-Gates. “I don’t have words to describe how exciting it is for students to use their gifts for good and to see their work solve a real-world problem.”

In the pilot phase, students in the Fine Arts Center architecture program have created architectural plans for two tiny homes with pro bono review from local architects. Participants in Soteria’s prison reentry program will construct the two homes and place them on land owned by Soteria. Homes will then be rented to Soteria 12-month program graduates for approximately $300 per month.

“We reclaim wood and reclaim lives,” said Jerry Blassingame, Founder and Executive Director of Soteria Community Development Corporation. “This provides much needed permanent rental homes for our 12-month graduates to continue working in jobs in Greenville County.”

The full vision is to create a supportive community of affordable homes for people graduating from Soteria’s 12-month reentry program and for people emerging from homelessness. This broader vision will include still more local people and organizations, like students in Greenville County career centers working on construction.

Research conducted by the Greenville Homeless Alliance has cited exits from homelessness in the form of safe, affordable housing as the top priority since the 2019 Report on Homelessness in Greenville County. Convening a tiny home pilot to explore this innovative housing option utilizing local talent was identified as a top goal for 2024 by GHA’s Steering Committee. This investment from Greenville Women Giving will help address the affordable housing crisis and create a supportive mixed-income community.

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About Greenville Women Giving
Greenville Women Giving is a philanthropic women’s collective giving organization created as a special initiative of the Community Foundation in 2006. Since its founding, GWG has awarded 152 grants totaling over $8.5 million and has grown to over 500 members. For more information, visit: https://www.greenvillewomengiving.org/

About the Greenville Homeless Alliance
The Greenville Homeless Alliance is a partnership of public, private, and nonprofit organizations committed to finding solutions to homelessness in Greenville County. Growing out of the “Tent City” crisis, GHA was formalized in 2018 as a collective impact organization. For more information, visit: https://www.gvlhomes4all.org/.
About Soteria Community Development Corporation (CDC)
Soteria CDC advocates for economic and social justice for those and their families impacted by the criminal justice system. They work to create opportunities for previously incarcerated individuals to reenter society through transitional housing, life skills, and job training. For more information, visit: https://www.soteriacdc.org/.
About The Fine Arts Center Architecture Program
In 2013, the Greenville County School District, Fine Arts Center, private donors, and Clemson University partnered to create the first of its kind high school architectural program. This program would allow and introduce students to the study of architecture and offer them the unique opportunity to achieve up to eight credit hours at Clemson University in the School of Architecture. For more information, visit: https://www.fineartscenter.net/.

Team members from BASF’s sites in Mauldin, White Stone (Spartanburg), Seneca and Central (Clemson) Converse helped celebrate Ruthie Gregory’s fifth birthday at Cleveland Park in Spartanburg, complete with balloons, birthday cake and a trip to Zoo Miami at the end of the month.

“We are deeply honored to help grant Ruthie her wish of going to Zoo Miami,” said Gerald Murphy, Site Manager for BASF in Mauldin and White Stone. “We know she is excited and so are we. All the teams in the Upstate couldn’t wait to be part of this event.”

The trip was funded by a $7,500 charitable contribution made by the BASF sites through Make-A-Wish’s Corporate Wish Sponsorship.

“The sponsorship was created to offer corporate and community supporters a first-hand giving experience to grant a life-changing wish for a child with a critical illness,” said Kea Wade, Corporate and Community Engagement Manager at Make-A-Wish. “We are grateful to have BASF sites as partners in wish-granting for the tremendous wish kids of South Carolina. Their combined generous charitable investment in our mission will provide encouragement and healing for many children facing critical illnesses. Their corporate impact will transform lives.”

The funding of Ruthie’s trip, including her parents, Martina and Dillon and sisters Maryleigh and Mattie, came about when staff from Make-A-Wish reached out to the BASF site in Converse. Jerome Kirkland, the site manager at Converse, realized this was the perfect way for the BASF sites in South Carolina to come together.

“Individually, each of the sites does a lot for the community and gives back in a lot of ways,” Kirkland said. “However, we have been looking for a project that could bring all of us in the Upstate together.”

Ruthie, who has Revesz syndrome, a rare bone marrow disorder, chose Zoo Miami to see the animals and hold a koala and a tiger.

“She’s excited to be going on this trip and really excited to be spending time with her sisters,” Martina Gregory said. “It really means a lot. It was very special to us to get this wish, and go with her, and live life to the fullest with her.”

BASF’s South Carolina sites employ approximately 750 people and invest nearly $85 million in the state through annual payroll, purchases, investments, taxes and charitable contributions.

The BASF sites in South Carolina produce materials that are vital to the sustainability of our economy and quality of life. Employees are committed to producing safe, clean and reliable products that are essential ingredients in many consumer items used in homes around the world every day.

For more information about BASF in South Carolina, visit www.basf.us/sc.

About BASF

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has approximately 16,000 employees in North America and had sales of $20.5 billion in 2023. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.com/us.

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 112,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €68.9 billion in 2023. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.