Here, we believe every child should enter school with the tools they need to succeed.
We believe every student graduating from high school should have the chance to earn a degree or certification that will advance their career. And we believe the neighborhood you are born in shouldn’t determine the rest of your life.
Dear Movement 2030 Investors and Community Partners,
Spartanburg is working to strengthen outcomes for children and families across the county through cross-sector partnership, collaboration, and data driven improvement. In 2021-2023, the Spartanburg Academic Movement led a community-wide planning process culminating in the creation of Movement 2030, a $220 million, 7.5 year plan to drive social and economic mobility across Spartanburg County. Movement 2030 is our community’s plan to dramatically advance economic mobility in Spartanburg County. Our primary focus is three areas that were elevated as priorities by community residents in past planning processes: early care and education, postsecondary attainment and workforce development, and spurring economic mobility in disinvested neighborhoods.
Thank you for your unwavering support as we officially launched our comprehensive economic mobility plan in late fall 2023. It is our pleasure to provide you with an update on our progress over these last months as we collaborated with our numerous community partners to kick off this critical work.
While early in the process, we hope through the pages of this report you will see your initial impact reflected in the data and voices of those already benefiting from our efforts. Spartanburg County is rapidly becoming a model community for collective impact, highlighting the remarkable
Sincerely,
Russell W. Booker, Ph.D CEO, Spartanburg Academic Movement
outcomes that can be achieved when we align our efforts and resources towards common goals for our children and families.
To date, you have helped us leverage historic investments—private and public, national, regional, and local, large and small—to catalyze this work.
Keeping you, our investors and partners, updated on our progress is a key imperative. By conveying to you our milestones, benchmarks, measurable outcomes, along with our successes and challenges, we hope to continue to engender your ongoing support as we move this multi-year plan forward.
On behalf of the SAM Board of Directors, our staff, our Community Advisory Committee, working groups, and partners, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your support.
We look forward to welcoming you to an in-person gathering on Thursday, October 16, 2024 to delve deeper into our collective work and progress. In the meantime, we hope this initial report will provide you with valuable insights into how your investment and partnerships are already making a significant impact in our community. We encourage you to stay informed about our progress through the various channels highlighted in this impact report.
Because of you, everyone can thrive here...
Phil Feisal COO, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Board Chair, Spartanburg Academic Movement
key focus area 1
our goals
65% of children enter school prepared for success
2021-22 baseline: 49%
550 more kindergarterners in our school ready to learn
Approximately 3,500 babies are born in Spartanburg County each year. From that early start, their experiences influence their long-term trajectory and access to opportunity. Therefore, we are focused on the earliest needs of Spartanburg County residents and families—starting with prenatal care and extending through a strong start in education. We will hold ourselves accountable to the goal of having a higher proportion of children born in Spartanburg enter school prepared for success, from less than half of our children today in 2023 to 65 percent in 2030.
There is a strong link between high-quality prenatal care and parent supports and school readiness. As part of this strategy, we will expand these programs and improve how we connect and deliver programs to families.
• BirthMatters* will hire an additional doula by December following their fall training. Movement 2030 has provided capacity to recruit and retain staff while supporting 52 mothers through a breastfeeding group.
• Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System—Maternity Management & Family Connects* Maternity Management has successfully reached 365 mothers with positive feedback despite early challenges with data documentation. Family Connects and Maternity Management have hired new staff, enhancing support and resource access for patients.
• Early Literacy* Literacy supports such as Dolly Parton Imagination Library, Reach Out and Read, and LENA are all on track to achieve first year goals.
• Triple P Expansion* Triple P anticipates hiring an additional provider this fall.
“We believe that every mom deserves the utmost care and support during this transformative chapter of their life.”
Hope Garcia, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, Director of Women’s & Children’s Health
2
Young children who participate in childcare programs and school environments that offer high-quality learning experiences are more likely to be prepared for school success. Research suggests children who are not enrolled in high quality programs can arrive at kindergarten as much as 18 months behind their peers.
• Quality Counts: Quality Counts has hired additional staff and will begin expanding into Spartanburg School Districts 3 and 7 this fall. Up to four additional childcare centers will join the program by year end.
94% of moms enrolled in Maternity Management had adequate prenatal care
52 mothers supported through the Breastfeeding Support Program
When Yasmin Wilson became pregnant, she was determined to take all the right steps to have a positive birthing experience and a healthy, thriving baby.
Through a friend, Yasmin was familiar with BirthMatters, a community health education program providing doula support, and contacted them early in her pregnancy.
With no family in Spartanburg, Yasmin said the support BirthMatters provided made a difference that’s difficult to put into words.
Yasmin is now the mother of a healthy, happy baby girl who at four months, is meeting all developmental milestones. She’s still involved with BirthMatters in the monthly Mother Support Group and chiropractic services offered through Sherman College.
BirthMatters offers weekly home visitations with expectant mothers, trains women to advocate for themselves and their child and makes development milestone observations and referrals when necessary.
Movement 2030 supports programs like BirthMatters because of their proven effectiveness, said Kaitlin Watts, Director of the Center for Early Childhood Success for Spartanburg Academic Movement.
“The data shows BirthMatters works,” Kaitlin said. “The earlier we can set babies up for success, the better. We want moms to have the resources and tools they need to have healthy pregnancies and make the best decisions possible for their babies.”
When babies are delivered as close to full term as possible at a healthy birth weight and are breast fed, the more successful the child is likely to be. When babies are born healthy and meet milestones, neonatal admission rates and emergency room admissions are lower.
“BirthMatters is a wonderful program and I tell everyone I know about how wonderful the doulas are,” Yasmin said. “It’s like having a network of family and friends for support. I don’t know what I would have done without them.”
“I’ve heard all of the horror stories, but my birth experience was wonderful.”
Childcare is a major challenge in Spartanburg County. An estimated 1/3 of Spartanburg residents need quality childcare but are unable to access it. Childcare is expensive for some with waitlists across the County. Stakeholders have underscored the need to expand childcare capacity, in addition to improving the quality of care. A recent talent study found that lack of childcare is among the top barriers to talent attraction and retention.
• Open Public 3K in the County’s Highest Poverty Schools: Spartanburg School Districts 3 and 7 have identified an opportunity to pilot public 3K expansion in four elementary schools (Cleveland, Mary H. Wright, Pacolet, and Cowpens) in partnership with local communities. This expansion is occuring in parallel with Quality Counts support. Seven newly established classes welcomed a group of three-year old learners to high quality programs this fall.
• Launching Parents as Teachers: Spartanburg School District 6 will launch a Parents as Teachers home visiting pilot program for children birth to 3 at Jesse Bobo and Lone Oak Elementary School to serve up to 18 parents. Parents as Teachers is an evidence-based program that supports early childhood development, providing parents with education and resources to enhance their child’s growth and learning.
“We are finding that our 3K students are better prepared for the classroom environment, both socially and emotionally, as they begin their academic journeys in Spartanburg School District Three.”
Dr. Julie Fowler Superintendent, Spartanburg School District 3
We are investing in a system to ensure access to high-quality services and increase enrollment in those services. Spartanburg County families share they are not aware of all the services available to them and providers have identified opportunities to better coordinate and reach out to families to maximize offerings and fully utilize existing funding streams.
• Launched countywide enrollment campaign: An enrollment campaign was launched in April and included yard signs, billboards, radio ads, social media ads, and banners in Spartanburg County. Additionally, an enrollment page was added to the Hello Family website. We have connected dozens of families with preschool enrollment information through this campaign, which continues through mid-August. Data will be available this fall.
105
3-year-olds will be served across 4 schools
under.
our goals
70%
Increase enrollment of Spartanburg County high school graduates within one year of graduation in postsecondary programs
2021 baseline: 61%
500 additional career-ready certifications
2021-22 baseline: 2,500
1,000 additional completed degrees
2021-22 baseline: 2,700
5,000
re-engaged adults in a degree or certification program by 2030-2031 school year
Spartanburg County has spent the last two decades calling for a more educated citizenry that will build a stronger workforce, raise the standard of living, strengthen the tax base and grow international competitiveness. K-12 education investments have ensured that postsecondary education enrollment rates within one year from high school consistently hovers around 60%.
Postsecondary graduation rates follow national trends with about 37% of students obtaining a postsecondary degree within 6 years. The bachelor’s degree attainment rate has grown slowly over time, but Spartanburg County is falling short of the 2030 goal set in 2008.
Movement 2030 aims to increase the number of high school graduates who enroll in postsecondary programs, create more career-ready certificates, allow more students to finish their degrees and allow more than 5,000 adults to re-engage in a degree or certification program.
A student’s transition to postsecondary education is highly dependent on a smooth and clear transition between K-12 and postsecondary education bolstered by community navigation supports. Spartanburg has identified two strategies for this priority.
• Strengthen dual enrollment: Spartanburg Community College (SCC) increased course offerings at the high school campus from 114 for the 2022-2023 school year, to 147 for the 2023-2024 school year. SCC has hired two success coaches (four planned) to be based at the high schools to advise students on courses and support their success once enrolled. Funding for six additional high school teachers to earn certification to teach dual enrollment courses on their campuses is being piloted in two school districts. Plans to certify an additional 14 teachers are underway.
• Expand credentialing: Increase number of high-value certificates by 500 each year at the three career centers. Planning will launch during 2024–2025 school year.
Many high school students face barriers to enrolling in postsecondary education, including financial constraints, mental health issues, academic challenges, and the perception that “college is not for everyone.” Movement 2030 will integrate strategies into a systemic pathway, similar to Promise programs piloted elsewhere, ensuring a smooth transition to postsecondary education.
• Expand mentorship and navigation to support transition to postsecondary while lowering financial barriers through expanding FAFSA completion, streamlining access to aid, expanding targeted lastdollar scholarships to fill gaps, and advancing policy.
• Three colleges hired additional outreach capacity in their financial aid office to support students and families with FAFSA completion.
• Spartanburg Methodist College hired a bilingual FAFSA outreach coordinator hosting 17 in school events, 400 current students, and 189 new students with FAFSA support.
• SCC hired an outreach coordinator who has led high school and community-wide completion events.
• USC Upstate hired their FAFSA coordinator this summer to support students in the upcoming school year.
• We are engaging community partners and a national consultant to begin designing a comprehensive Promise Program that will provide targeted last-dollar scholarships and a host of student supports to include mentoring, mental health, academic support, and to mitigate risks of disconnection from school. We are on track to launch this program in spring 2026.
OneSpartanburg, Inc’s STAR Fellowship program afforded more than 200 high school students the opportunity to receive hands-on training this summer.
Spartanburg school districts offer career center training to most students, but not all students are served through the centers and internships offer meaningful job shadowing experiences for students.
“We had 201 interns and 169 of those were paid, with an average earning of $15 an hour,” said Taylor Dement, Director of Talent Solutions at OneSpartanburg, Inc.
Students interned across Spartanburg County in healthcare, nonprofit organizations, businesses, government, and law offices to name a few.
Byrnes High School Senior Damian Lopez interned at the Mary Black
Foundation completing several projects and reported to staff during team meetings. Upon graduation, Damian plans to attend a four-year college, then medical school to become a dermatologist.
“Damian was eager and quick to learn and assisted on several projects this summer,” said Natalia Swanson, Senior Program Director at the Mary Black Foundation.
Damian said he enjoyed the internship and said the experience has helped him build his skillset.
“I’ve learned so much in the classroom, but there is no substitute for hands-on learning,” Damian said. “I had a great summer working with the foundation.”
“I’ve learned so much in the classroom, but there is no substitute for hands-on learning.”
Upward mobility requires not only enrollment in locally-relevant postsecondary degree and certificate programs, but completion of those degrees. Fewer than half of our students enrolling are graduating, with significant variance by institution given differing populations and models. The five undergraduate institutions in Spartanburg have come together to invest deeply in persistence and completion.
Expand completion supports, adapt practices, and build out community-driven student supports
• United Way of the Piedmont has scaled their Community Resource Coordinators to four college campuses. These CRCs supported 73 students and provided $7,000 in support.
• SCC launched a new advising department, including a director, advisors, and success coaches to support at-risk students
• USC Upstate reduced barriers to completion by hiring advising and success staff, contracting 24/7 tutoring services, and awarding completion grants.
• Converse University hired a Director of Student Programming with a focus on retaining male students.
• Spartanburg Methodist College expanded tutoring programs and launched student peer coaching. while increasing counseling and mental health support through a partnership with Emerge Family Therapy.
Deepen mental health and well-being supports for students enrolled in postsecondary institutions in Spartanburg, through cross-community collaboration
• The Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Foundation is serving as the lead convener on to establish a county-wide behavioral health plan.
A recent talent gap analysis in Spartanburg County identified opportunities to more clearly align postsecondary institutions with local current and future industry needs. Local corporations have demonstrated an appetite to work collaboratively on programs tailored to local needs, with the opportunity to draw students across institutions.
Adapt institutions to local industry needs and provide work-based learning opportunities
• OneSpartanburg, Inc., has convened a Talent Advisory Group to analyze talent gaps in Spartanburg County and prepare for the second Talent Gap Analysis next year. OneSpartanburg Inc., has piloted two collaborative programs to align industry and education.
• The first is to expand work in recruiting new teachers. Converse University, Wofford College, OneSpartanburg Inc., and Spartanburg County School Districts 3 and 7 announced a new initiative in Spartanburg to strengthen the teacher pipeline.
• The second pilot is a Healthcare Career Pathway at two high schools. This pilot aligns course curriculum at the high schools and creates a clear pathway with Spartanburg Community College and USC Upstate for students who are interested in pursuing nursing.
• SAM and OneSpartanburg, Inc., have partnered together to launch the STAR (Spartanburg Talent and Retention) Fellowship to better align internship, apprenticeship, and mentorship opportunities with the current and future needs of industries across Spartanburg County.
OneSpartanburg, Inc. resources for work-based learning opportunities.
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Kimberly Anderson’s story is one of perseverance and resilience. As a special education assistant in Spartanburg School District 7, she dedicated herself to her students while her dream of a college degree was put on hold due to family responsibilities. A single mother, Kimberly was one course short of graduating when her mother’s dementia required her full attention, making it difficult to balance her duties.
Earlier this year, she discovered Re: Degree, a program by OneSpartanburg, Inc. and powered by Movement 2030, which helps individuals
like her complete their education. With their support, Kimberly completed her final course and is set to graduate from Converse University in December with a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art. Kimberly is the first graduate of Re: Degree.
Kimberly plans to further her education in Early Childhood Development or teach Art. Her journey inspires her daughters and others facing similar struggles. Kimberly’s story is a testament to how support, determination, and opportunities can transform lives.
“More than anything, this proves to me and my girls that I have the ability to graduate from college and just needed the push.”
Approximately 47,000 Spartanburg residents aged 25 and up have unfinished degrees. Re-engaging these adults can translate to a certificate or degree with immediate economic value.
Adult re-engagement program
• Re: Degree was launched with catalytic funding from Movement 2030. Since the program’s launch in April, 369 individuals have reengaged in the process. The program’s goal is to connect with 5,000 adult-learners by 2030.
• OneSpartanburg, Inc. has hired a Director of Adult Degree Reengagement and two college navigators to work oneon-one with students. Funding has been sub-granted to local colleges to expand staffing in support of adult students. Several major employers, like Milliken, Contec, Polydeck, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, ReGenesis, and Tietex, have committed to encourage cohorts of employees to participate in Re: Degree.
Tailored adult programs
• Converse University expanded their online offerings to include 1-2 online options in most general education categories for the upcoming Fall 2024 term. Converse has partnered with OneSpartanburg, Inc., to expand services for veterans.
• Spartanburg Methodist College has developed and launched a new online bachelor’s degree in general studies that provides a clear path to a degree for adult learners who want to return.
If you’ve ever wondered Should I or Could I finish my degree? The answer is yes.
Connect with a college navigator
There’s no commitment, pressure, or obligation. redegreespartanburg.com
our goals
1,500 children (birth-24) served by both neighborhoods
350 children (birth-24) on a path to economic mobilty by 2030
The goal is to reach countylevel performance across all academic milestones, aiming for a 15-30% increase in positive outcomes, or about 5-10 more children per age group on the path to economic mobility
Make tangible improvements in the built, social, and economic environments, building on existing development and transformation plans in these neighborhoods
The research is clear—where people live has a significant impact on economic mobility outcomes. In Spartanburg, economic mobility varies significantly by neighborhood. Movement 2030 focuses on two neighborhoods— Northside and Highland—that together serve a growing population of nearly 5,000 residents, the majority of whom are minorities. The neighborhoods together comprise just over one square mile within the City of Spartanburg and are among Spartanburg County’s most concentrated areas of poverty.
Northside has seen significant progress, with 3rd-grade reading scores now on par with the county average.
• The Northside Development Group (NDG) launched its Family Academy, modeled after Harvard University’s EdRedesign Lab’s Success Planning, to expand twogenerational support in the community.
• To address academic achievement gaps, NDG has implemented a two-teacher model in K-2 classrooms, which has shown promise in improving student outcomes.
• Two additional 3K classrooms have opened this fall in partnership with District 7 and the Franklin School, a local high-quality early learning center.
Homeownership is a crucial pathways to wealth building for low- and moderate-income residents in the US. Down payments and closing costs are the largest financial barriers to purchasing a home and the cost of both expenses have steadily increased since 2020. These barriers significantly narrow the path to homeownership.
• To date, NDG has worked with four families to provide them a path of homeownership. NDG is working on a number of housing developments to assist with the goal of creating 70 new homeowners by 2030.
• A goal of NDG is to expand Start:ME programming countywide to support small and minority-owned businesses. This investment has enabled 14 new small businesses to start using the Start:ME accelerator program with a goal to increase the number of businesses started by Northside residents by 40.
• NDG has begun the process of creating their next strategic plan, which will take them through 2030. In anticipation of their work evolving, they have already applied and been approved for $600,000 in City of Spartanburg ARPA funds to assist homeowners across Spartanburg with repairs to their homes. Plans are underway to create a new uniquely-branded initiative that will deploy the skills and expertise of NDG to empower and assist other communities in furthering their community goals.
Leroy Jeter has been a Highland resident for 70 years and is hopeful about the neighborhood’s future. Known as Mr. Jeter, he and his late wife Gloria have been mentors and advocates.
Mr. Jeter has led the Highland Neighborhood Association for many years, and Gloria enjoyed activities at the Bethlehem Center, sewing for the community.
Mr. Jeter is optimistic about the Movement 2030 investment in a new Bethlehem Center, which will provide resources and support to the area. The plan addresses issues in Highland and Northside, neighborhoods with high poverty rates. Mitch Kennedy,
Spartanburg’s Deputy City Manager, acknowledges the challenges of reversing the effects of historical disinvestment but praises community leaders like Mr. Jeter for their dedication.
Highland has faced significant social issues, including high poverty and violence rates. The new Bethlehem Center aims to provide services and programs for children and families, expanding on the Early Learning Center opened in 2021. Mr. Jeter believes the new center will greatly benefit the community, and he hopes to see it come to fruition with the support of Movement 2030.
“We’ve been waiting a long time for a new center, and I believe that will make the most difference here in Highland.”
Highland aims to achieve at least the county average across key academic milestones, from school readiness to postsecondary completion. This requires a 15-30% improvement in outcomes, translating to 5-10 more children per age group on a path to economic mobility.
• Several critical positions have been added or revamped to best align with Harvard University’s EdRedesign Lab’s Institute for Success Planning model. These roles are designed to work directly with students and families to meet their unique needs as it relates to student academic achievement.
The Bethlehem Center has been a cornerstone of Highland since 1930. However, the current facility, built in 1950, limits its ability to fully serve the community. The new center will expand capacity, enhance programs for early learning, youth, and seniors, and provide space for community collaboration and events. This redevelopment will strengthen the center as an anchor institution and drive Highland’s transformation.
• Programming and architectural design for the new Bethlehem Center is already underway, with multiple teams and workgroups actively supporting its development. $11 million in private funding has been secured, and efforts are ongoing to obtain additional public funds and new market tax credits.
The effectiveness of two-generation supports is deeply influenced by the neighborhood environment. Key factors like safety, quality housing, and strong leadership directly impact children’s health, educational success, and economic opportunities. Highland is focusing on three key efforts to ensure children can thrive in a safer environment with better housing, strong community assets, and passionate leadership to serve as role models and mentors.
• Launched Highland Neighborhood Leadership Institute—20 cohort members were trained in 2023 through the Spartanburg County Foundation.
• LISC Upstate’s Safety & Justice program is supported by a three-year, $1 million DOJ grant. The program, in collaboration with LISC’s National team, the City of Spartanburg, and The Bethlehem Center, focuses on enhancing community safety through training, technical assistance, and partnerships with local police and Neighborhood Services.
Strategic Spartanburg (formerly the Community Indicators Project) is leveraging data and evidence to improve the quality of life of Spartanburg County residents. It was formed from a collaboration of partners across the county to analyze key indicators of well-being and community engagement across seven areas, including Education in partnership with SAM. The seven areas are: Civic Health, Cultural Vitality, Economy, Education, Natural Environment, Public Health, Social Environment.
Strategic Spartanburg recently became a nonprofit and is building its team to provide technical assistance, research, reporting, and measurement/evaluation support in partnership with neighborhoods and indicator-area leaders.
Movement 2030 provided the anchor funding to launch Strategic Spartanburg. To learn more visit strategicspartanburg.org
Faith Initiative to End Child Poverty
Movement 2030 supports the Faith Initiative to End Child Poverty, a collaboration of diverse faith-based institutions across Spartanburg. These institutions are sharing priorities, ongoing work, and exploring ways to deepen their impact together. To learn more, visit faithinitiativespartanburg.org
Strategic Spartanburg leverages data and evidence to improve the quality of life in Spartanburg County.
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Through the Four Schools Project, SAM has provided Continuous Improvement support to four high-poverty schools since 2018. These schools have more than doubled proficiency and disparities have begun to narrow. The districts and SAM plan to expand Continuous Improvement from four to ten of the highest-poverty elementary schools and pilot Continuous Improvement at Carver Middle School.
Spartanburg Third Grade SC READY Proficiency Four Schools Project
In 2024, SAM was awarded a three-year, $15 million Full-Service Community Schools grant to provide extensive mental health services, expanded early childhood education and access to high-quality afterschool learning and enrichment programs in partnership with school districts 3 and 7. The federal grant will improve student achievement and other outcomes around four pillars: holistic integrated student achievement, active family and community engagement, expanded and enriched learning time and opportunities and collaborative leadership practices.
Nationwide there are over 300 college promise programs. As we look ahead, one of our most significant endeavors is the establishment of a Spartanburg County promise program, an initiative designed to remove the barriers that often prevent deserving students in Spartanburg from pursuing higher education. This promise to our community’s youth is rooted in a commitment made over a decade ago through the Spartanburg County Compact. In 2008, community leaders envisioned a future where every high school graduate in Spartanburg County, regardless of financial need, would be able to access higher education within our county. Today, we are building upon that foundational vision with renewed vigor and expanded support.
The Spartanburg County promise program is Movement 2030’s pledge to ensure that every student who desires a college education will have the opportunity to attend, free from the obstacles that have historically hindered their success. These barriers include limited access to pre-college programs like Advanced Placement (AP) courses and Dual Enrollment, prohibitive tuition costs and fees, and challenges related to persistence through college. Moreover, we recognize the importance of mental health support, mentorship, and the social capital necessary for first-generation college students to navigate the complexities of higher education successfully.
Our vision is clear: to create a community where educational attainment is within reach for all, where the promise of a better future is not just a possibility but a guarantee. Through the Spartanburg County promise, we will forge pathways for our students, providing them with the tools, support, and opportunities necessary to achieve their academic and career goals.
our number
7,000
By 2030, these strategies will reach over 60,000 people, and will contribute to 7,000 additional young people being on a pathway to economic mobility as measured by progress against key milestones. Strategies are designed to spur durable systemic changes, meaning impact will extend and compound past 2030. These strategies will also contribute to broader benefits including redeveloping blighted communities, expanding the local talent pool, contributing to economic growth, and elevating the profile of Spartanburg nationally.
We will drive these results by implementing collaborative, community-driven, and evidenceinformed practices. For each focus area, strategies were developed by community stakeholders, building on momentum developed over years of piloting and growing initiatives that have already shown positive results in our community.
With new resources and momentum in our favor, we aim to establish Spartanburg County as a leading national model for effective strategies that shift outcomes and advance opportunities for children and families. Our work in Spartanburg is already making waves across South Carolina and the nation, inspiring communities to adopt our innovations and approach.
SAM is actively supporting neighboring Union County in developing a comprehensive plan to achieve stronger outcomes, backed by significant philanthropic funding. Additionally, Spartanburg regularly hosts visitors from communities across the state and country, eager to learn from our successes.
Our deep connections with state and national intermediaries, including StriveTogether, the Institute for Child Success, the William Julius Wilson Institute at Harlem Children’s Zone, Purpose Built Communities, Partners for Rural Impact, Harvard University’s EdRedesign Lab, Blue Meridian Partners, and the Children’s Funding Project, further solidify our influence and impact. The Spartanburg Academic Movement has earned a top designation from StriveTogether as a Systems Transformation community, and the Northside Development Group is recognized as a leading partner within Purpose Built Communities.
It is our hope that Spartanburg will continue to serve as a beacon of what can be achieved when a community comes together with a shared vision and commitment to transformation. We remain dedicated to providing ongoing proof points, demonstrating the power of collaboration, and serving as an inspiration for others across the country.
Since October 2023, SAM deployed $12.2 million to 27 organizations towards Movement 2030 Initiatives made possible through your support and in partnership with our community. In October 2024, Movement 2030 will deploy an additional $11 million to further our work.
• Strengthen and grow prenatal and parent supports
• Improve quality of early learning
• Expand seats and investment in ages birth to three
• Increase enrollment in early care and education
• Align K-12 and postsecondary institutions
• Ensure postsecondary access
• Address barriers that hinder completion
• Create tighter linkages between the education and workplace
• Re-engage adults to degree and certification programs
disbursed funds $12,232,234
• Invest in two-generation and academic supports
• Improve the built, social and economic environment
• Strengthen anchor community institutions
• Grants for other neighborhoods, community-based organizations, and leadership/resident participation
• SAM • Strategic Spartanburg • Spartanburg County Foundation
National Anchor Partner ($50M)
Blue Meridian Partners
Regional Anchor Partner ($25M)
The Duke Endowment
State Anchor Partner ($5M)
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Catalyst Partners ($2M–$4.9M)
Bill and Valerie Barnet
Contec
Leon Levine Foundation
Mary Black Foundation
Milliken & Company
Strategy Partners ($1M–$1.9M)
Jay & Ali Beeson, Laura Henthorn and Mark III Properties
BlackRock Foundation
Margaret Bridges
Susan Bridges
Beth & Ravenel Curry Foundation
David & Saunders McCollum
Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Foundation
Strive Together
Vision Partners ($250K–$999K)
Anonymous
Kathleen & Andrew Babb
Marsha & Jimmy Gibbs
Ballmer Group
Nancy Milliken, M.D.
Spartanburg County Foundation
Mission Partners ($100K–$249K)
BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC.
Duke Energy Foundation
The Falatok Foundation
Keurig Dr. Pepper
Phifer Johnson Foundation
Jim & Elaine Smith
United Way of the Piedmont
Nelly Zimmerli
*Public Sector and Institutional Partners investing in Movement 2030
Community Partners (Up to $99K)
AFL
Anonymous
Dr. Kofi and Marjorie Appiah
Arkwright Foundation
LK Aylor
Bank of America
Tom and Joan Barnet
William Barnet & Son, LLC
Mr. & Mrs. H. Walter Barre
Dr. Russell & Sheryl Booker Family Fund
Judy Bradshaw Children’s Foundation
Reed & Suzanne Brown
Terry L. Cash
Dorothy Chapman Josey
Nancy & Paul Coté
Star Douglas
Ray and Kathy Dunleavy
Shaunté Evans
Sloan and Mary Elizabeth Evans
John and Lisa Featherston
Phil and Katrina Feisal
First Horizon Bank
First Presbyterian Church
Steve and Clare Ford
The Freeman Family
Mr. & Mrs. Roger Habisreutinger
Craig & Johana Haydamack
Dr. Eric Hayler
Dr. Araceli Hernandez-Laroche
Rick and Mary Higgins
Alexis Howlett
Peter Kobes
Public Sector/Institutional Partners*
City of Spartanburg
Spartanburg County
Converse University
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
Sherman College of Chiropractic
Spartanburg Community College
Spartanburg Methodist College
University of South Carolina Upstate
Wofford College
Stephanie & Trent Lancaster
Joe and Ruth Lesesne Donor Advised Fund
Scottie Lummus
Ginny and Rhett Mabry
Bill and Sandra Mayrose
McMillan Pazdan Smith
Mental Fitness
Timothy R. Metz & Molly Talbot-Metz
John Milliken
Molina Healthcare of South Carolina
Ogles Family
Park National Bank
Stan and Vicky Parker
Lydia Patterson Memorial
PwC Charitable Foundation
Dr. Kira L. and Dexter Reaves
Jonathan Russell
Jenni & Allen Smith
South State Bank
Spartanburg County Public Libraries
Spartanburg Gives, Inc.
Paige Stephenson
Todd & Julie Stephens
Drs. John C. Stockwell & Diane C. Vecchio
Summit Hills Retirement
Jaime & Benjamin Wall
Linda Sangster West
White Oak Pharmacy
Dione Williams
Margaret Wilson
Bob and Carolyn Wynn
Spartanburg School District 1
Spartanburg School District 2
Spartanburg School District 3
Spartanburg School District 4
Spartanburg School District 5
Spartanburg School District 6
Spartanburg School District 7