BLACK RIVER UNITED WAY INC

THE WACCAMAW REGION FOR CHILDHOOD SUCCESS IS OUR TRI-COUNTY RESPONSE TO EARLY CHILDHOOD NEEDS IN GEORGETOWN, HORRY, AND WILLIAMSBURG COUNTIES. BLACK RIVER UNITED WAY FOCUSES ON GEORGETOWN AND WILLIAMSBURG COUNTIES (UNITED WAY OF HORRY COUNTY FOCUSES ON HORRY COUNTY). THIS INITIATIVE FOCUSES ON KINDERGARTEN READINESS AND EARLY GRADE READING, BIRTH 3RD GRADE, AND PROMOTES WORKING COLLABORATIVELY BETWEEN SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES THAT ARE COMMITTED TO THE SUCCESS OF EVERY CHILD. THROUGH OUR WACCAMAW REGION FOR CHILDHOOD SUCCESS INITIATIVE WE WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, CHILD DEVELOPMENT FACILITIES, AND EARLY EDUCATION PARTNERS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS STRUGGLING IN READING, PREPARE RISING LEARNERS FOR KINDERGARTEN, AND EMPOWER FAMILIES, CAREGIVERS, AND TEACHERS TO HELP CHILDREN READ, LEARN, AND THRIVE. WACCAMAW REGION FOR CHILDHOOD SUCCESS IMPLEMENTING THE FIVE BASICS PRINCIPLES IN LOCAL CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS THE BASICS WACCAMAW CONTINUES TO GROW ACROSS OUR REGION, BRINGING EARLY LEARNING PRINCIPLES TO LIFE THROUGH CREATIVE, HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN. GROUNDED IN EARLY CHILDHOOD BRAIN SCIENCE, THE BASICS EMPOWERS FAMILIES, CAREGIVERS, AND EDUCATORS TO MAKE EVERYDAY INTERACTIONS POWERFUL MOMENTS FOR LEARNING. THE FIVE BASICS PRINCIPLES 1.MAXIMIZE LOVE, MINIMIZE STRESS 2.TALK, SING, & POINT 3.COUNT, GROUP, & COMPARE 4.EXPLORE THROUGH MOVEMENT & PLAY 5.READ & DISCUSS STORIES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BLACK RIVER UNITED WAY, UNITED WAY OF HORRY COUNTY, AND THE WACCAMAW REGION FOR CHILDHOOD SUCCESS, LOCAL CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS ARE INCORPORATING THESE PRINCIPLES INTO DAILY ROUTINESHELPING CHILDREN BUILD LANGUAGE, MOTOR, SOCIAL, AND COGNITIVE SKILLS FROM THE START. WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE COLLABORATED WITH THE FOLLOWING CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS IN 2025 TO IMPLEMENT THE BASICS: 1. LITTLE LAMB CHILD CARE 2. LITTLE SMURFS CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER 3. PAWLEYS ISLAND CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER 4. SAMPIT COMMUNITY CHILD CARE CENTER 5. THE BIBLEWAY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER 6. THE SUNSHINE PLACE ALL SIX CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS ENTHUSIASTICALLY PARTICIPATED IN MONTHLY MADNESS, AN ENGAGING AND INTERACTIVE INITIATIVE CREATED SPECIFICALLY FOR 3 AND 4-YEAR-OLDS. THIS THOUGHTFULLY DESIGNED ACTIVITY PACKET OFFERED A WIDE RANGE OF FUN, HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES THAT ENCOURAGED CHILDREN TO EXPLORE, IMAGINE, AND LEARN THROUGH PLAY. EACH ACTIVITY WAS CAREFULLY ALIGNED WITH EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT GOALS, FOCUSING ON BUILDING FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS IN LANGUAGE, MOTOR DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL INTERACTION, AND COGNITIVE GROWTH. THE GOAL OF MONTHLY MADNESS WAS NOT ONLY TO PROVIDE VARIETY IN THE CLASSROOM, BUT ALSO TO PROMOTE MEANINGFUL BRAIN DEVELOPMENT DURING THESE CRITICAL EARLY YEARS. TEACHERS AND CAREGIVERS REPORTED THAT THE CHILDREN LOOKED FORWARD TO EACH NEW ACTIVITY, AND THE PROGRAM ADDED AN EXCITING LAYER TO THEIR DAILY ROUTINES. BY FOSTERING CREATIVITY AND CURIOSITY IN SUCH AN INTENTIONAL WAY, MONTHLY MADNESS PROVED TO BE A VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR BOTH EDUCATORS AND YOUNG LEARNERS ACROSS ALL PARTICIPATING CENTERS. THRIVING FAMILIES WITH TRIPLE P TRIPLE P (POSITIVE PARENTING PROGRAM) CONTINUES TO EQUIP PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS WITH THE TOOLS, STRATEGIES, AND CONFIDENCE TO NAVIGATE THE EVERYDAY UPS AND DOWNS OF RAISING CHILDRENESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO BEHAVIOR AND EMOTIONS. OFFERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHILDRENS TRUST OF SOUTH CAROLINA, TRIPLE P IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAM THAT HELPS STRENGTHEN PARENTCHILD RELATIONSHIPS, BUILD RESILIENCE, AND ENCOURAGE POSITIVE BEHAVIOR THROUGH PRACTICAL, PROVEN STRATEGIES. IN 2025, BRUW WAS PROUD TO BRING TRIPLE P TO FAMILIES ACROSS GEORGETOWN AND WILLIAMSBURG COUNTIESHOSTING SESSIONS IN COLLABORATION WITH A FATHERS PLACE, LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. THESE PARTNERSHIPS ENSURE PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS CAN ACCESS SUPPORT WHERE FAMILIES ALREADY LEARN AND GROW TOGETHER. WHETHER YOUR CHILD IS FACING A CHALLENGING PHASE OR YOU SIMPLY WANT TO BUILD STRONGER CONNECTIONS AT HOME, TRIPLE P OFFERS GUIDANCE THAT HELPS FAMILIES THRIVE. 2025 YTD TRIPLE P PARTICIPANT DATA: 128 UNDUPLICATED ENROLLED FAMILIES 14 DUPLICATED ENROLLED FAMILIES 15 SEMINARS COMPLETED 212 CHILDREN IN FAMILIES 147 FAMILY PARTICIPANTS 5 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS 3 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS BUILDING A CULTURE OF EARLY LITERACY: 1,000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN WE ARE EXCITED TO SUPPORT A NATIONWIDE INITIATIVE THATS SIMPLE, FUN, AND IMPACTFUL1,000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO HELP PREPARE YOUNG CHILDREN FOR A LIFETIME OF LEARNING. THE CONCEPT IS EASY: FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO READ 1,000 BOOKS WITH THEIR CHILDREN BEFORE THEY ENTER KINDERGARTEN. READING ALOUD FROM BIRTH PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN STRENGTHENING LANGUAGE SKILLS, BUILDING VOCABULARY, AND LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR READING SUCCESS AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GEORGETOWN COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM, GENEROUS COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS, AND DONORS, WE ARE WORKING TO SPREAD THE JOY OF READING AND MAKE EARLY LITERACY A SHARED COMMUNITY PRIORITY. OUR GOAL IS CLEAR: TO BUILD A STRONG CULTURE OF READING AND EARLY LITERACY THROUGHOUT GEORGETOWN COUNTY AND BEYOND, EMPOWERING EVERY CHILD TO START SCHOOL READY TO LEARN, GROW, AND THRIVE. BRIDGING THE GAP TO KINDERGARTEN: KINDERWAVES KINDERGARTEN READINESS CAMP BLACK RIVER UNITED WAY IS COMMITTED TO HELPING YOUNG CHILDREN START SCHOOL WITH CONFIDENCE AND SUCCESS. RECOGNIZING THE VITAL ROLE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT, WEVE LAUNCHED INITIATIVES THAT SUPPORT FAMILIES AS THEIR CHILDREN PREPARE FOR KINDERGARTEN. OUR KINDERWAVES KINDERGARTEN READINESS CAMP, HELD JUNE 912, GAVE RISING KINDERGARTNERS FROM MARYVILLE, KENSINGTON, ANDREWS, AND WACCAMAW ELEMENTARY A FUN AND ENGAGING START TO THEIR SCHOOL JOURNEY. THE 4-DAY CAMP HELPED CHILDREN ADJUST TO CLASSROOM ROUTINES, BUILD SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS, AND EXPLORE HANDS-ON LEARNING. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED CRAFTS, GAMES, AND A SPECIAL VISIT FROM MOLLY MCNEILL WITH SCDNR, WHO SHARED PHOTOS OF SEA ANIMALS, READ THE RAINBOW FISH, AND TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SHARING. EACH CHILD EVEN WENT HOME WITH A DNR COLORING BOOK TO CONTINUE THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE AT HOME 3,000 STUDENTS, ONE POWERFUL MESSAGE: THERES ONLY ONE YOU - UNITED TO READ 2025 OVER THE PAST NINE YEARS, BLACK RIVER UNITED WAY HAS BEEN HOSTING ITS ANNUAL UNITED TO READ DAY, WHERE OVER 125 VOLUNTEERS ARE CONNECTED TO EVERY PRE K - 2ND GRADE CLASSROOM IN GEORGETOWN AND WILLIAMSBURG COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THERE'S ONLY ONE YOU BY KATHRYN HELING AND DEBORAH HEMBROOK WAS SHARED WITH OVER 3,000 PRE K2ND GRADE STUDENTS DURING UNITED TO READ 2025 ON NOVEMBER 6TH, CELEBRATING INDIVIDUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND SELF-WORTH. THROUGH VIBRANT ILLUSTRATIONS, THE BOOK HELPED YOUNG READERS APPRECIATE WHAT MAKES THEM UNIQUE AND RECOGNIZE THE VALUE IN OTHERS. CREATIVITY MEETS LITERACY: MAKE YOUR MARK BOOKMARK CONTEST BRUW LAUNCHED ITS FIRST ANNUAL MAKE YOUR MARK BOOKMARK CONTEST, INVITING 2ND GRADERS TO DESIGN A BOOKMARK TO BE FEATURED DURING OUR UNITED TO READ EVENT EACH NOVEMBER. THE WINNING DESIGN IS SHARED WITH OVER 3,000 PREK2ND GRADE STUDENTS ACROSS WILLIAMSBURG AND GEORGETOWN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THIS YEARS WINNER, WAS A STUDENT FROM GREELEYVILLE STEAM ACADEMY, IMPRESSED JUDGES WITH HER DETAILED THE WILD ROBOT BOOKMARK. THIS CONTEST WAS SPONSORED BY OUR FRIENDS AT GEORGETOWN KRAFT CREDIT UNION. AS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING, SHARED: WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO COMBINE ARTISTIC TALENTS WITH LITERACY SKILLS THANK YOU, GKCU HEROES FOR LITERACY: CHANGING CHILDRENS STORIES, ONE PAGE AT A TIME HEROES FOR LITERACY CONTINUES TO THRIVE AS PART OF BLACK RIVER UNITED WAYS YOUTH OPPORTUNITY INITIATIVE. EACH WEEK, COMMUNITY HEROES VOLUNTEER TWO HOURS PER WEEK FOR NINE WEEKS, PROVIDING ONE-ON-ONE AND SMALL-GROUP READING SUPPORT IN LOCAL CLASSROOMS. 20 HEROES TUTORED 107 STUDENTS. REAL MENTORS BLACK RIVER UNITED WAY WAS PROUD TO PARTNER WITH HTC (HORRY TELEPHONE COOPERATIVE) TO BRING THE REAL MENTOR PROGRAM BY SCHOLASTIC TO KENSINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THIS INITIATIVE CONNECTED CARING VOLUNTEERS WITH FIRST- GRADE CLASSROOMS FOR A YEAR OF SHARED READING AND MENTORSHIP. EACH QUARTER, MENTORS READ A FEATURED BOOK WITH THEIR CLASS, AND EVERY STUDENT RECEIVED THEIR OWN COPY TO BUILD A PERSONAL HOME LIBRARY. 78 CHILDREN WERE IMPACTED AND 156 BOOKS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO THESE CHILDREN.

EVERY COMMUNITY DESERVES THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROSPER. AT BLACK RIVER UNITED WAY WE WORK WITH OUR NEIGHBORS TO BUILD RESILIENT COMMUNITIES THAT ARE READY FOR ANY CHALLENGE. THROUGH DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RECOVERY AND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, WE ARE STRENGTHENING THE FOUNDATIONS OF COMMUNITIES FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE AND SECURE FUTURE. BE READY DISASTER PREPAREDNESS & RECOVERY THROUGH BE READY BLACK RIVER UNITED WAY EMPOWERS OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO PREPARE FOR, RECOVER FROM, AND RESPOND TO DISASTER. OUR PROACTIVE APPROACH ENSURES THAT ALL OUR RESIDENTS ARE RESILIENT AND READY FOR ANY KIND OF NATURAL OR MAN-MADE DISASTER. THROUGH OUR BE READY KIDS EDITION, BRUW PROVIDED IN-SCHOOL DISASTER TRAINING TO 1,114 STUDENTS AND EACH STUDENT RECEIVED A DISASTER KIT. WINYAH BAY COAD: COLLABORATION IN ACTION AS THE LEAD AGENCY FOR THE WINYAH BAY COAD (COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ACTIVE IN DISASTER), WE WORK ALONGSIDE A DEDICATED STEERING COMMITTEE OF EIGHT PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO STRENGTHEN DISASTER PREPAREDNESS, RESPONSE, AND RECOVERY ACROSS GEORGETOWN AND WILLIAMSBURG COUNTIES. OUR WORK DOESNT START WHEN A STORM HITS IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY, IN THE BLUE SKIES BUILDING STRONG SYSTEMS AND TRUSTED RELATIONSHIPS SO OUR COMMUNITY IS READY WHEN THE GREY SKIES COME. IN 2025, WE EXPANDED OUR IMPACT BY PARTNERING WITH THREE FOOD TRUCKS TO DELIVER MEALS TO AFFECTED COMMUNITIES AND JOINED FORCES WITH TWO MINISTERIAL ALLIANCES TO PROVIDE CRITICAL EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL SUPPORT DURING RECOVERY. LOOKING AHEAD TO 2026, WERE DEEPENING THESE COLLABORATIONS AND REFINING OUR DISASTER RESPONSE STRATEGIES ALL TO ENSURE THAT EVERY NEIGHBOR RECEIVES THE CARE, SUPPORT, AND DIGNITY THEY DESERVE AFTER DISASTER STRIKES. REACHING ACROSS SOUTH CAROLINA: STRENGTHENING RECOVERY EFFORTS STATEWIDE AFTER THE UNEXPECTED IMPACT OF HURRICANE HELENE, MANY COMMUNITIES IN SOUTH CAROLINAS MIDLANDS AND UPSTATE REGIONS WERE LEFT REELING. HURRICANES WERE NEVER EXPECTED TO REACH SO FAR INLAND, LEAVING THESE AREAS UNPREPARED FOR THE DEVASTATION. THE WINYAH BAY COAD HAS BEEN ACTIVELY SUPPORTING THESE COMMUNITIES BY TRAINING LONG-TERM RECOVERY GROUPS IN THE ESSENTIAL PROCESSES OF DISASTER RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE BUILDING.