Greenville Health Authority Board of Trustees Celebrates 2023 Healthy Greenville Grant Recipients

On Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, the Greenville Health Authority Board of Trustees presented Healthy Greenville Grants, totaling more than $2.6 million, to eight nonprofit organizations in Greenville County.

With the $2.6 million added together with previously awarded multi-year grants, the GHA awards a total of $4 million a year in health grants to the community.

To be eligible to receive a grant, an organization must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, a government agency, an academic institution, or a collaborative combination of these types of organizations.

The organizations receiving 2023 Healthy Greenville Grants include:

Neighborhood Cancer Connection - awarded $316,337 for the Growing Greenville's Cancer Support System. (Formally Cancer Society of Greenville County.)

Conestee Nature Preserve – awarded $100,000, for the Upstate's First Nature Playscape at Greenville's Conestee Nature Preserve.

Gateway House, Inc. – awarded $250,000, for Breaking Down Barriers to Mental Health.

Greenville County EMS – awarded $91,737, for Greenville County Emergency Medical Services Special Operations Response Team Expansion.

Meyer Center for Special Children – awarded $643,341, for Access to School-Based Rehabilitative Services.

Project HOPE Foundation – awarded $56,215, for Increasing the Autism Community's Access to Lifelong Healthy Choices.

Triune Mercy Center – awarded $187,070, for Social Work Services Expansion.

USC Columbia Technology Incubator – awarded $1,000,000, over the next two years.

The Greenville Health Authority has awarded nearly $30 million in grants through Healthy Greenville Initiatives.

Officials say the goal of the Healthy Greenville Grant Initiatives (Healthy Greenville and Healthy Greenville, Too) is to make Greenville County the healthiest county by funding health-related care, health research, and health education that improves the health of Greenville County residents.

With the passage of Act 432 by the S.C. State Legislature in 1947, what is now Prisma Health–Upstate evolved from a city-owned hospital (Greenville General Hospital) to one mandated to provide hospital services for “all the people of Greenville County.”

With the formation of Prisma Health-Upstate (formerly Greenville Health System), the governmental entity that remained became “Greenville Health Authority.”

The Greenville Health Authority (GHA) Board of Trustees is a volunteer board of up to 17 members responsible for overseeing the lease agreement between the Greenville Health Authority Board of Trustees and Prisma Health–Upstate Board of Directors, assessing community need, and administering the Healthy Greenville and Healthy Greenville, Too grant initiatives to improve the health of the Upstate community.

The Greenville Health Authority Board of Trustees is chaired by Rev. Stacey Mills.

For more information, go to www.greenvillehealthauthority.org.

Pickleball Kingdom Announces Deal for Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, and Charleston Metro

Pickleball Kingdom, a leading name in the world of pickleball, announced a partnership with Kelly and Christopher Ogden, CEO of RT2 Holdings and past franchisees with Orangetheory Fitness, Restore Hyper Wellness & Cryotherapy, and Tony Roma's Restaurant.

The couple is set to bring indoor pickleball to the Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, and Charleston Metro areas through a six-club deal.

Officials said Pickleball Kingdom will join forces with the Ogdens, who have a proven track record of success in the franchise industry.

The Ogden's extensive experience and passion for health and wellness align perfectly with Pickleball Kingdom's mission to provide accessible and high-quality pickleball facilities, the officials said.

"Pickleball is the fastest-growing sports in the United States, and we believe that the Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, and Charleston Metro areas are ripe for the growth of indoor pickleball facilities," said Ace Rodrigues, Pickleball Kingdom CEO.

Officials said the new indoor pickleball clubs will feature state-of-the-art facilities, professional coaching, and a welcoming atmosphere for players of all levels.

Pickleball Kingdom and the Ogdens are committed to community engagement and plan to collaborate with local organizations and schools to promote active and healthy lifestyles through pickleball, the officials said.

They said the exact locations of the new indoor pickleball clubs will be announced soon, with plans for Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, and multiple locations throughout the Charleston Metro area.

Spinx Raises $324,960 For American Cancer Society

The Spinx Company, the Greenville-based fuel and convenience retail company, raised $324,960 for the American Cancer Society during a month-long, state-wide campaign to provide support for cancer patients and their families.

The annual company-wide initiative brings awareness to the American Cancer Society (ACS), and those in need throughout the month of October. 

The mission of ACS is to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families through advocacy, research, and patient support, to ensure everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer.

“As a cancer survivor myself, this campaign is very special to me and the entire Spinx family, and we work tirelessly to raise funds that can support those battling this horrible disease,” said Stewart Spinks, chairman and founder of The Spinx Company.

He added, “I am so proud of our stores, the local communities and our team for bringing awareness to the American Cancer Society and providing help to all those in need during their most trying time."

Founded in 1972 in Greenville, S.C., The Spinx Company operates more than 80 convenience retail stores across the Carolinas.

Fed's Beige Book

In the Federal Reserve’s Fifth District, which includes South Carolina, the regional economy grew slightly in recent weeks mainly due to modest increases in consumer spending, according to the Fed’s latest Beige Book report.

In the regular survey of businesses, manufacturers reported mixed activity, underlying volumes in the transportation sector were low, and residential real estate continued to be constrained by limited inventory.

Elsewhere, commercial real estate activity and lending demand declined. Employment increased modestly and price growth moderated slightly.

The report is published eight times per year. Each Federal Reserve Bank gathers anecdotal information on current economic conditions in its district through reports from bank and branch directors and interviews with key business contacts, economists, market experts, and other sources. 

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