NMC² Gives $250,000 to Kids Upstate for Spartanburg After-School Programs

NorthMark Compute & Cloud (NMC²) has announced a $250,000 gift to Kids Upstate, a Spartanburg nonprofit that runs after-school programs for elementary students. The gift makes NMC² the lead sponsor of the Pine Street Kids Club and of Kids Upstate’s Kids Club basketball and cheer programs.

“Being a good neighbor means investing in Spartanburg’s kids,” said Mark Johnson, chief operating officer of NMC². “Kids Upstate has given children a safe place to learn after school for more than 35 years, and working parents count on it. We’re proud to support their work at Pine Street, just down the road from our site, and across District 7.”

Of the total, $100,000 supports hands-on STEM, summer learning and career-connected field studies at the Pine Street Kids Club, along with Teachers Up, a paid apprenticeship for aspiring teachers. The other $150,000 covers transportation, field experiences, team activities, and food at six Kids Clubs in Spartanburg School District 7.

“With this generous $250,000 gift, NMC² becomes the lead sponsor of our Pine Street Kids Club and our Kids Club basketball and cheer programs. We are thrilled to welcome NMC² as a partner in creating more opportunities and brighter futures for children across Spartanburg,” said Greg Tolbert, president of Kids Upstate.

According to Kids Upstate, 98 percent of Kids Club parents say the program allows them to hold a full-time job.

About Kids Upstate
Founded in 1988 as Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Spartanburg, Kids Upstate runs school-based after-school and summer Kids Clubs for more than 1,000 first- through fifth-graders in Spartanburg and Cherokee counties. Learn more at kidsupstate.org.

About NorthMark Compute & Cloud
NorthMark Compute & Cloud (NMC²) builds and operates high-performance computing for scientific research and complex modeling. Its South Pine Street Technology Center, on the former Kohler site in Spartanburg, South Carolina, supports the company’s own operations. Through its community giving program, NMC² invests in STEM education, workforce development, public safety and resource stewardship across Spartanburg County. Learn more at SouthPineStreet.com.