UFRC Receives Grant from Dollar General Literacy Foundation

CONTACT: Kelley Ezell 864.578.69013 Kelley.ezell@spartanburg2.k12.sc.us

THE UPSTATE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER RECEIVES $7,500 GRANT FROM THE DOLLAR GENERAL LITERACY FOUNDATION TO EXPAND PARTERNSHIP WITH SPARTANBURG COUNTY ADULT EDUCATION

Boiling Springs, SC – May 2012– The Upstate Family Resource Center received a $7,500 grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. The grant will be used to expand evening adult education services provided via collaboration with Spartanburg County Adult Education. Kelley Ezell, Executive Director of the Center said “The need for these evening classes has been on our radar for a while. We are thrilled to collaborate with Dollar General to finally provide these much needed classes in our community.” With assistance from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, Upstate Family Resource Center (UFRC) will expand its GED program to provide access during evening hours. 

Barriers to adult education during daytime hours prevent many adults in Spartanburg County from improving literacy rates, education, and family incomes. These barriers include lack of childcare, the need to work when employment is available, and the need to seek employment during daytime hours. The goal of this project is to expand access to GED instruction for persons experiencing barriers to attendance during daytime operating hours.

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation awards grants to organizations in communities served by Dollar General. The literacy grants support nonprofit organizations that provide literacy services such as adult basic education, GED preparation, English language acquisition or programs for youth who struggle with reading. For more information on the Dollar General Literacy Foundation and a complete list of grant recipients, visit www.dgliteracy.org.

About the Upstate Family Resource Center: The Upstate Family Resource Center’s mission is to help families thrive by providing educational opportunities, engaging activities and support services. The Center is located at 1850 Old Furnace Road in Boiling Springs, South Carolina. For more information please check out our website at www.upstatefrc.org

About the Dollar General Literacy Foundation: The Dollar General Literacy Foundation is proud to support initiatives that help others improve their lives through literacy and education. Since 1993, the Foundation has awarded more than $71.2 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, helping more than 4.1 million individuals take their first steps toward literacy, a general education diploma or English proficiency. To learn more about the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, visit www.dgliteracy.org.

Family Solutions Graduation!

There are days when I just absolutely love my job. Yesterday was one of them. We celebrated the graduation of 4 wonderful families from our Family Solutions Program. What an awesome night!

These families have worked hard over the last 10 weeks. Getting to know one another, learning new ways to communicate, and realizing that… “Hey, we’re not the only family out there that needs to work through some things.” One mom commented that her family had tried several different programs and by far this was the most effective because they WORKED TOGETHER. So…hats off and congratulations to these parents and kiddos who invested a little time in each other so that they could be stronger, healthier and happier.

If you are interested in participating in our next session…..call Liv Hayes at 578-6013.

So Much EXCITEMENT!

One wonderful thing about working at a nonprofit, is that you never know what you will be doing on a day to day basis. One day you will be processing paperwork, the next you are trying to meet the needs of a struggling family, then you are organizing a fundrasing event.
That brings me to the Udderly AMAZING Hullabaloo. This promises to be a huge, fun-filled event for our community.

Boulevard Music is presenting the live local music all day, featuring Tobacco Road. So make sure you bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and your dancing shoes!
You don't want to miss seeing the Hullabaloo Car Show, either. If you have a vehicle you would like to enter, be sure to visit our website for the registration form. Kids, young and old alike will enjoy seeing these marvelous machines in person!


What I am most excited to see is, Cow Patty Bingo. If you are unsure what that is, let me explain:
A grid is placed on the 9th Grade Campus' football field, participants purchase tickets (3 for $20 or one for $10) which will correspond to a square on the field. Then we all stand around while "Bessie" is escorted onto the field. Bessie will mosey around the field until she is moved to leave her mark. If it happens to land in your square, you win!

Make sure you get your ticket(s) so you don't miss your chance to support the Center and winning the pot! Tickets are available at the Resource Center, Parr's Automotive and Car Wash, Parker's Carpet One and Home Furnishings on Asheville Hwy., and Bill Wilkin's State Farm Insurance (next to Game Stop). And don't worry, squares will be assigned in a random process so that the person who purchases the last ticket has just as much of a chance at winning as the person who bought the first ticket.
PLUS! There will be inflatables (even for us big kids!), a Cornhole and Tug-O-War Tournament, and kid's activities.
There is SO much involved in this Hullabaloo, you don't want to miss it! If you would like to be a part of it-please give us a call! We are still looking for sponsors, so click here to see our sponsorship levels.

Get Involved with GoodSearch!

Here's an easy way to raise money for UFRC. Just start using Yahoo! powered GoodSearch.com as your search engine and they'll donate about a penny to the Center every time you do a search!

In addition, do all of your shopping through their online shopping mall, GoodShop.com, where you can shop at more than 2,400 top online retailers and a percentage of your purchases will go to the Center also.

You pay the same price as you normally would, but a donation goes to the Upstate Family Resource Center!

Click HERE for the website. You can also read about GoodSearch in the NY Times, Oprah Magazine, CNN, ABC News and the Wall Street Journal.

Food Pantry Needs!

Our pantry is getting a little low.

We tend to go through certain items quite often:
-Canned meats (tuna, chicken, spam, etc)
-Spaghetti sauce
-Noodles
-Peanut butter and jelly
-Soups
-Meal starters (ie: Hamburger Helper)


Thank you all in advance for your donations!!!

Helping a child out is as simple as 1-2-3!

The Upstate Family Resource Center is collecting school supplies in an effort to meet the needs of District 2 students who need help starting school with their necessary school supplies.

Helping a child out is as simple as 1-2-3!
1.) Print off the list of school supplies needed

2.) Shop for supplies

3.) Drop off supplies at the Upstate Family Resource Center!

How Cool Would It Be To Learn Chinese?!

Do you have or know a rising 3rd, 4th, and/or 5th grade student who tends to get bored over the summer? Or would you like something interesting to keep them occupied? How about enrolling them in Chinese Classes?
On Tuesdays and Thursdays starting June 14 (10:00am to 11:00am) the Upstate Family Resource Center is hosting Beginning Chinese classes, presented by the University of South Carolina Upstate.

The course costs $75 and that includes 6 classes, books and study material. The class will focus on Mandarin Chinese and the Chinese culture. Space is limited to register today!!

Registration ends June 9th--Please make checks payable to the Upstate Family Resource Center--Payments are non-refundable.

Registration forms can be found here