Community Foundation of the Lowcountry has awarded more than $58,000 to two local programs that support healthcare and education.

South Carolina Nurse Retention Fund received a $25,000 grant to support “reverse scholarships” to recent BSN graduates in order to keep them in Beaufort County, addressing the shortage of qualified nurses in our local communities, and providing high quality healthcare to our citizens. South Carolina and Beaufort County are both designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) for primary care. Reverse scholarships provide a stipend to retain graduating nurses, keep them in our area and help them pay off college loans. As our local population grows, ensuring we have qualified nurses becomes increasingly important to our quality of life.

University of South Carolina Beaufort received a “last dollars in” grant for up to $33,075 to fund a summer math program for low-income students of Ridgeland-Hardeeville High School. End-of-school test scores indicate that high school students in Jasper County show a substantial deficit in mathematics. The summer program will provide a 10-day, intensive summer enrichment program, providing instruction and support so students can master mathematics, potentially putting them on track to attend technical school or college. Additionally, the program provides an opportunity for students to spend time in a university setting.