NEWS
Jasper County foundation receives funds for tutoring
Shellie Murdaugh Jasper County Sun Times
Published 3:00 a.m. ET Feb. 17, 2021
A local foundation is helping students with their school assignments thanks to a grant it recently received.
The Legacy Foundation of South Carolina, a nonprofit working in Jasper County, was awarded $4,800 by the Lowcountry Community COVID-19 Response Fund to assist thirdthrough sixth-grade students with an online tutoring program for eight weeks. It is working with the Jasper County School District to provide tutoring for 40 students.
"We felt these funds will help us meet the families and students where they were, as they are in the midst of this pandemic," said Maurice Lawyer, the foundation’s chief operating officer.
Lawyer said the foundation is able to provide individual and small group tutoring.
"When the COVID-19 pandemic hit our nation, and specifically our community, (the foundation) was just starting to plan our field trips and off-campus learning experiences, but all of that came to a screeching halt," Lawyer said. "It was not only important to me but to our entire team to find a way to help our students navigate through the educational hardships they faced in transitioning from traditional in-school learning to virtual."
Lawyer said the tutors are employed by the school district, and the program has gotten support from superintendent Rechel Anderson and district principals.
"Over the last few months, each of them played an integral (role) in working with our team to ensure we designed a program to meet the needs of students, identify the students most in need of these services, and assist with obtaining the tutors," he said.
Lawyer said the foundation has continued to share information for residents in need of resources including health care, government updates and food services during the pandemic.
In a separate initiative, the foundation is exploring a partnership with local service providers to offer high-speed internet hotspot locations for students experiencing access or connectivity issues.
Two other Jasper County organizations also recently received funds from the Lowcountry Community COVID-19 Response Fund.
The Agape Family Life Center received funds for direct emergency financial assistance to include rent, mortgage and utilities for at least 25 families. Antioch Education Center received a second grant to support education programs and a food pantry.
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