The Post and Courier Greenville

The City of Greenville and the State of South Carolina officially proclaimed March 1 as Meyer Center Day in 2024 in honor of the Meyer Center for Special Children’s 70 years of empowering children with disabilities to reach their maximum potential through early education and intensive therapy services. Meyer Center Day will now be celebrated annually to recognize the organization’s lasting impact on the community.
Located at 1132 Rutherford Road, the Meyer Center has been a pillar of the Upstate community, providing comprehensive early intervention programs tailored to meet the needs of children with physical and developmental disabilities. Through its specialized curriculum and dedicated team of educators and therapists, the Meyer Center has transformed countless lives, helping children build the skills they need to thrive alongside their same-age peers and be included in their community.
Meyer Center Day serves as a testament to the impact the organization has had on families throughout the region, made possible by the unwavering support of our community. We are deeply grateful for our donors, volunteers, and advocates who help sustain our mission. The community is invited to participate in the Meyer Center’s celebratory annual giving campaign by visiting www.meyercenter.org/donate. For those looking to make a lasting impact, joining the 1954 Club with a monthly contribution of $19.54 helps sustain Meyer Center operations and ensures every child, regardless of ability, has access to comprehensive education and therapies. Additionally, the Meyer Center welcomes community members to tour the school and witness firsthand the incredible work being done to empower children with disabilities. To schedule a tour, contact Monica Gibson at mgibson@meyercenter.org.
“As a grandfather of a Meyer Center student, I have seen firsthand the transformative impact of the education and therapies provided here,” says Dave Gable, Meyer Center Board President. “Meyer Center Day is a c

PUMPKINTOWN, SC – A historic Black Church in the Upstate has received a $250,000 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund.

The Soapstone Preservation Endowment (SPE) was selected from among 622 applications nationwide to receive a 2025 grant that goes to “support growing a perpetual endowment to protect & promote Soapstone Baptist Church’s buildings & grounds.”

The story of Soapstone has spread throughout the Upstate because of the efforts of Mable Owens Clarke, the sixth-generation steward and matriarch of the church. In 1999, her mother, Lula Mae, made her promise never to let the historically Black church close. As part of her mission, Clarke began holding monthly fish fries for the community for the next 22 years. The preservation site today boasts the church, one-room school, a slave cemetery, and soapstone rock outcrops used by the Cherokee for centuries as the source material for cooking implements.

“I stand amazed by God’s blessings of this tiny church. We are deeply moved and humbled by the recognition granted by the National Trust for Historic Preservation,” said Clarke.

Carlton Owen, Chairman of SPE, said that the nonprofit was established in June 2022 to amass a perpetual fund to protect the history and legacy of the Liberia Community and its centerpiece, Soapstone Baptist Church.

GREENVILLE – February 24, 2025 – Ogletree Deakins, one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, is pleased to welcome Sara Olschewske back to the firm’s Greenville office as a shareholder. Sara returns to Ogletree Deakins after two years serving as Senior Labor and Employment Counsel at Instacart.

Sara began her legal career at Ogletree Deakins in 2016 and has since gained extensive experience in labor and employment law. Her practice focuses primarily on traditional labor relations, including representing employers before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). She has successfully represented employers in union campaigns and negotiations and defended them in grievance and arbitration procedures, unfair labor charges, objections to elections, and Board hearings and trials.

In addition to her traditional labor relations practice, Sara has a proven track record of handling litigation related to retaliation and wrongful termination. She has also defended employers against claims of harassment and discrimination on various bases, including protected concerted activity, race, gender, age, national origin, disability, and sexual orientation.

“We are thrilled to welcome Sara back to Ogletree Deakins,” said Ashley Prickett Cuttino, office managing shareholder in Greenville. “She previously developed a robust traditional labor practice, and her time spent in-house has only given her a deeper understanding of the nuances of labor law. She will be an immediate asset to our Greenville office, clients, and the firm as a whole.”

Sara earned her J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law and her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Buffalo.

About Ogletree Deakins
Ogletree Deakins is one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management in all types of employment-related legal matters. Premier client service, as outlined in the firm’s Client Pledge, is one of the firm’s top priorities and a cornerstone of its core

GREENVILLE, S.C. – In celebration of National Engineers Week, Saint Joseph’s Catholic School held its first “Engineering Your Future” career fair on Thursday, February 20.

The event was arranged by the Introduction to Engineering Design Class to showcase the various fields of engineering and the ways students can pursue these careers.

Nearly 30 St. Joe’s alumni, parents and alumni parents were available to discuss their engineering experience. Among the fields represented were industrial, mechanical, electrical, software/computer science, environmental, civil, chemical, aerospace and biomedical.

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Last week, beloved award-winning Upstate meteorologist Christy Henderson announced she was leaving her post with WSPA after 21 years.

This week, Herlong Sotheby’s International Realty is proud to announce it has hired Henderson, who will be using her legal name of Christy Ross when she lists and sells homes for her clients, full-time as a Realtor Associate.

Originally from Fort Worth, Texas, Ross grew up among conversations about ranching, mineral rights, and owning land. Though most of her family has been involved with real estate, she chose an initial career path that followed her love of math and science. She graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Meteorology. Her on-air debut was at KCEN-TV in Waco, Texas, followed by stints in New Orleans, Los Angeles, Atlanta (where she did weather segments with guests such as The Rock, Kevin Bacon and Ed McMahon), Washington, D.C., and Dallas.

She is a six-time winner of the South Carolina Broadcasters Association’s “Weathercaster of the Year” award, and three-time winner for the SCBA’s “Personality of the Year” award.

“Christy’s honors underscore the trust she has earned among her viewers and colleagues,” said Joan Herlong, CEO of Herlong Sotheby’s International Realty. “Through her ability to connect, a deep rooted understanding of the value of owning a home, and a passion for the area she serves, Christy serves as an incredible Realtor for her clients.”

Jackson joins Truliant Financial Advisors as Senior Advisor for Upstate, S.C.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Feb 20, 2025)— Truliant Federal Credit Union is pleased to announce that Donna Panton Jackson, Senior Financial Advisor, is joining Truliant Financial Advisors offered through CUSO Financial Services, L.P. (“CUSO”).
Truliant Financial Advisors partners with CUSO to offer straightforward and objective financial guidance to Truliant Federal Credit Union members. Donna will focus on the Upstate South Carolina and the south-central and western North Carolina Piedmont regions.
Jackson is the first dedicated CUSO financial professional to assist Truliant Financial Advisors (TFA) in South Carolina. The TFA program offers a range of services to help clients pursue their financial and investing goals, including financial planning, portfolio management, retirement strategies, education savings, insurance options, and estate planning.
“Donna believes in focusing on the fundamentals. She brings a holistic and practical approach to helping clients,” said Tiffany Lam-Balfour, director of the Truliant Financial Advisors program. “Her three decades of experience in the financial industry shows a deep commitment to guiding clients through their journey to help them reach their financial goals.”
The addition of Jackson follows Truliant’s expansion in the Upstate S.C. market. The credit union recently added its fifth branch in the region.
Jackson is available for appointments at several Truliant branches, including Cherrydale, Mauldin, Pelham Road, Greer, Easley, and Boiling Springs in South Carolina and Gastonia and Shelby in North Carolina. She will also meet with some clients in Charlotte branches, as needed.
Jackson holds multiple securities licenses, including the FINRA Series 7, 63, and 65, and is a licensed insurance agent. Jackson can be contacted at (336) 293-2049 or via email at