Newsletter

 

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NEW RESEARCH: 53% of South Carolina’s Children Lived in Households Experiencing Financial Hardship in 2022

 In 2022, 53% of South Carolina’s children lived in households that couldn’t afford the basics, according to new data from Trident United Way and its research partner United For ALICE®. This ranks South Carolina 38th in the nation, with the ranking of 1 representing the lowest percentage of hardship for children.

ALICE in Focus: Children reveals that traditional measures of poverty have severely undercounted the number of children ages 18 and younger in South Carolina who are growing up in financially insecure households.

The research also shows that the 53% of children in 2022 who were living below the ALICE Threshold – the threshold combining the number of ALICE households and households in poverty–decreased slightly from 55% in 2019.

“Overlooking ALICE households severely undercounts the number of children living in financial hardship in our state,” said Trident United Way President and CEO DJ Hampton. “This not only masks the true scale of the issue, but also hinders our ability to provide all families equitable access to a number of vital resources and financial supports.”

Because ALICE households often earn too much to qualify for public assistance, yet not enough to afford the rising cost of basic necessities, the data finds that in 2022, more than 369,500 children in struggling families didn’t access the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

 

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Kicking Off a New Service Term with AmeriCorps

By Angie Williams, AmeriCorps Program Director

As we embark on a new AmeriCorps service term, there's a sense of excitement and purpose in the air. We’re thrilled to have filled 9 of the 14 slots needed for our summer startup, welcoming a mix of seasoned veterans and enthusiastic newcomers. Six of our members are returning, bringing their valuable experience back to the program, while three new faces have joined us, eager to make their mark. Our orientation ran from August 12 to August 23, culminating in a heartfelt pinning ceremony to honor our members' commitment to service. 

 

As we move forward, we are energized by the potential of our team and the impact they will make. Our AmeriCorps members are ready to "Get Things Done" for our community, and we look forward to seeing the difference they will make this year.

 

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Insights from the 2024 Advocacy Forum & Capitol Hill Day

By Joey Current, Director of Strategic Partnership

Attending the 2024 Advocacy Forum and Capitol Hill Day was an enlightening experience that underscored the power of collective advocacy and the importance of engaging with policymakers at all levels. Hosted by United Way Worldwide, this event brought together leaders from across the country’s United Way network to share knowledge, develop strategies and build relationships that will drive impactful change in our communities. 

I valued having the opportunity to network with public policy colleagues from around the country. We had many opportunities for informal discussions and knowledge sharing, allowing us to learn from each other’s experiences and to build connections that will support our advocacy efforts in the future. My highlight was meeting our United Way Worldwide President and CEO Angela Williams.

Learn more about our experience building relationships, exploring funding opportunities, and diving into data with policymakers by clicking here.

 

 YOU'RE INVITED!

Trident United Way's 2nd Annual State of Our Families brings together key community leaders to learn what families in the Tri-County area are currently experiencing in their day-to-day lives.

Panelists include:

Bernie Mazyck  // SC Association for Community & Economic Development

Geona Shaw Johnson // City of Charleston, Department of Housing & Community Development

Dr. Reshma Khan, MD // Shifa Clinic

Principal Johnathon Wideman // A.C. Corcoran Elementary

Seating is limited. Join us in this important conversation and reserve a spot today - click here to get your tickets!

 

Coastal Community Foundation and Trident United Way Partner to Help Those Impacted by Severe Weather this Storm Season

Coastal Community Foundation (CCF) and Trident United Way (TUW) stand ready to help those impacted by severe weather this storm season. CCF’s Lowcountry Disaster Relief Fund is open for contributions and supports all nine counties in the foundation’s coastal South Carolina footprint. In partnership with Trident United Way, this disaster relief fund provides a one-source contribution portal to support two organizations serving the Tri-County area.

 

All donations to this fund go directly toward disaster relief. Any administrative fees are covered by Trident United Way and CCF’s Community Partnership Program. If relief is not necessary following the current storm, donations will remain in the fund for future recovery efforts. Contribute to the Lowcountry Disaster Relief Fund through CCF here or through TUW here.

 

Watch our Segment on Lowcountry Live Now!

TUW in the News

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