The organization has been a force for positive change over the years, empowering women and supporting initiatives that serve critical needs in the area. The support comes in three meaningful ways: through leadership development, volunteer service by Junior League members and in capacity-building grants awarded each year, said Mary Latrick, community impact vice president for the Junior League of Greenville. 

“The Community Enrichment Committee (of the Community Impact Council) sends volunteers to all the different agencies that we partner with to support them in their efforts throughout the year,” said Latrick, who oversees the Community Impact Council. “And the Grant Committee has the good fortune to be able to give away critical funding to different agencies in the area that go through an application process.”

This year, the Junior League’s members volunteered with Pendleton Place, Jasmine Road, United Ministries, the Julie Valentine Center and SWITCH. Additionally, GirlUp GVL, the Greenville Free Medical Clinic, the Nicholtown Child and Family Collaborative, Soteria Community Development Center, and Triune Mercy Center received a total of $50,000 in grants for 2023-2024 League Year.

The Junior League is raising funds to further its mission of advancing women’s leadership through meaningful community impact at its Celebrating With Purpose: Mardi Gras Magic gala on March 1, 2025, at The 405. This event also celebrates the remarkable achievements of its grants recipients and honors the League’s 95th anniversary milestone.

“We’re inviting our grant recipients this year to be recognized,” Latrick said. “It’s a lovely celebration, but it’s also a good purpose to make folks aware of the impact that their donations have.”

A perfect way to celebrate nearly a century of important work in the Upstate – and of impacting women’s lives, Latrick said.

“Part of our mission is to advance women’s leadership,” she said. “Not only are they getting the opportunity to work with these nonprofits, they’re getting the opportunity to learn on our different committees. They really have that support network to become an effective leader in the community.” 

For more information and tickets to Celebrating With Purpose, visit jlgreenville.org.

Celebrating With Purpose: Mardi Gras Magic

March 1, 2025

The 405, 405 Westfield St., Greenville

Tickets: $150, $195 (VIP)

information@jlgreenville.org

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This time of year, as visions of sugar plums dance in everyone’s heads, Christmas parties swing into motion and family gatherings start to dot calendars, selling one’s home might need to take a back seat for a few weeks.

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Amid the holiday bustle, a group of talented young musicians is hard at work preparing for an upcoming concert in the nation’s capital. Greenville County Youth Orchestras Association is sending its most advanced ensemble, the Young Artist Orchestra, to perform in the Capital Orchestra Festival on Feb. 17, 2025.

Visit cfgreenville.org to learn more about the Community Foundation of Greenville.

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For too many Greenville residents, this question does not always come with an easy answer.

Lack of access to safe and reliable transportation has become a growing barrier to financial stability, with 22% of people in Greenville County reporting they have trouble getting to their jobs due to transportation, according to a 2015 survey.

It’s a problem that goes beyond just getting to work. For those without cars, the simple task of going to the grocery store or pharmacy can be a trial. Even those with access to a car often face difficulties, as nearly half of car owners in Greenville County reported being occasionally unable to drive due to the cost of gas or maintenance.

“As our community continues to grow and rising costs push people farther and farther away from our city centers, transportation has become a significant barrier to success” said Meghan Barp, president and CEO of United Way of Greenville County. “The issue impacts just about every aspect of a person’s life, from where they work, where they go to school, how they access medical care, and so much more.” 

That’s why United Way of Greenville County has taken a critical step toward addressing these transportation challenges in its How We Win impact strategy, highlighting the need for expanded public transportation access alongside other key issues like education, housing and child care.

Greenlink, the city’s bus system, is a particular focus. United Way is part of a larger collaboration, Greenville Connects, working to increase service hours, routes and route frequencies countywide.

“Adding routes or expanding hours means someone can take a new job, or gain access to high-quality child care for their kids, or eat healthy food from a grocery store,” Barp said. “This can be literally life changing.”  

That comes as the organization is also working to maximize the number of people who can safely utilize public streets and thoroughfares — pedestrians, cyclists and motorists alike.

“The county is expected to grow by another 220,000 people in the next 15 years alone,” Barp said. “We need to work now to solve the transportation gap in our community.”

If you want to help, visit unitedwaygc.org/get-involved.

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While the holiday invokes ideals far greater than gift giving — faith, family and community — children still dream of what they’ll awaken to under their trees on Christmas morning.

With the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program, 1,900 children in Greenville County and hundreds more in Oconee and Pickens counties have their Christmas wishes granted by community members who pick their names off an Angel Tree and go out shopping in an effort to become the child’s personal secret Santa Claus.

Angel Trees are set up in a variety of public spaces, including at retailers like Walmart, and churches. On those trees sit several paper angels. On each is written a child’s name, age and wish list. Anyone can pick an angel from a tree to sponsor the Christmas of a child within the community, with presents to be brought to a predetermined drop-off site in the days leading up to Christmas and eventually landing under family Christmas trees.

Donors don’t participate for any kind of recognition, as “we rarely meet the Angel Tree donors,” said Maj. Mike Harris, Salvation Army area commander.

“For them, it’s the satisfaction that there’s a child that’s having a Christmas because of them,” he said. “When I was a kid growing up, we didn’t have a lot of money, (but) my parents put everything into making it the most exciting day of the year, and that revolved around us kids getting gifts under the tree. The idea of some kid not having that is awful to me — and these donors, bless their hearts, go out there and make sure that kid has the best day of their year.”

The Angel Tree program started in 1979 when Majs. Charles and Shirley White set up the first iteration of it at a mall in Lynchburg, Virginia. Some 700 children received gifts that year from generous donors, and the Whites expanded the program to their next Salvation Army assignment, in Nashville, Tennessee, three years later.

Since then, the program has expanded nationwide, now bringing joy on Christmas morning to more than 1 million children annually who would otherwise likely go without gifts.

While it’s preferred that donors purchase all items on a child’s wish list — some might ask for three, while others ask for seven — Harris said he “doesn’t want to stop people from being generous just because they might have a limit as to what they can spend.

“It’s the preference, of course, but we’re very mindful that some people just want to be kind and do something. If you can’t afford to get all (wish list items), we do have ways of augmenting” the lot a child gets, he said, through a partnership with Toys for Tots.

Many Angel Trees within Greenville, Oconee and Pickens counties are set up by businesses, offices and churches that have been part of the program for years. But there’s room for more, Harris said.

“For anyone that would like to have an Angel Tree: If you set up the tree, we’ll make sure you get angels,” he said.

To locate an Angel Tree and become a donor, visit the program’s interactive map at www.tsamm.org/angeltree.

To put an Angel Tree on site at your office, church or retail business, contact Leslie Poppe at lpoppe@uss.salvationarmy.org

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“It matters because sellers are no longer obligated to pay anything to the buyer agent,” Herlong says. “Most of my sellers, for example, aren’t committing to a set fee, or percentage, any longer. They’re instead opting to negotiate buyer-agent fees as part of the final sales contract.”

This is tied to a change in National Association of Realtor rules that took effect in August related to guaranteed compensation for buyer agents.

“As of August, listing agents cannot recommend, imply or expect sellers to offer compensation to buyer agents,” Herlong says.

As a result, Herlong says, sellers are beginning to base buyer-agent compensation on whether the buyer agent is bringing any value to the transaction.

“Are they facilitating the transaction or just throwing up roadblocks?” Herlong says. “Because too many buyer agents simply parrot the buyer’s concerns and that doesn’t bring value. It only adds static and difficulty.”

This doesn’t mean a buyer must cater to the seller, but it does mean that buyers’ agents should ask intelligent, informed questions on behalf of the buyers.

A recent transaction underscores Herlong’s point.

“The buyer agent simply relayed her buyer’s concerns over and over again, making us wonder if she was not relaying our answers back to them, or whether the buyers were not listening,” Herlong recalls. “Either way, it gave the seller pause, and they went with an offer from another agent.”

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This year’s grants, totaling over $3.1 million, will expand access to physical and mental health care and vision care for underserved residents and provide support services for students and previously incarcerated people.

“The Greenville Health Authority is steadfast in its mission to make Greenville the healthiest county in America,” said Lance Byars, GHA board chair. “Each of the eight organizations we are celebrating this year serves unique, essential roles in our community. Each is vital to keeping our neighbors safe and healthy.”

Communities In Schools of South Carolina (Greenville County), $300,000. In partnership with Greenville County School District, CISSC will place staff at four Greenville elementary schools serving low-income students to provide whole-child support to improve mental wellness.

Fostering Great Ideas, $250,000. The grant will further build the Aspire program, which provides support for older youth and young adults experiencing foster care, through the expertise of life coaches and community connectors, to improve the mental and economic stability of this population.

Greenville Free Medical Clinic, $975,000. Greenville Free Medical Clinic will expand health care access for low-income, uninsured individuals in outlying community-service centers. The nonprofit will also enhance efforts to address social barriers that impact patients’ ability to manage chronic disease or access preventive care and screenings.

Momentum Bike Clubs, $90,000. With funding support from Healthy Greenville over three years, MBC will expand its clubs and riding opportunities in Greenville County middle and high schools, creating access to physical activity and positively affecting mental health in vulnerable youth.

Servants for Sight, $300,000. Community partners Servants for Sight, Lions Vision Services, and the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired SC will expand their continuum of vision care, including preventive appointments, eye-saving surgeries and vision-rehabilitation services for low-income, uninsured or underinsured patients.

Soteria Community Development Corporation, $240,000. Soteria will initiate a mental health program for previously incarcerated individuals in its Residential Reentry Program, providing access to mental health services including assessments, case management, medication and therapy.

The Salvation Army, $500,000. This grant provides funding for The Center of Hope, a new, 45,000-square-foot facility where community members can access case management, diversion services, shelter, transitional housing, basic needs and access to health care.

Urban League of the Upstate, $500,000. The grant will fund educational initiatives targeting critical health issues for minorities and underserved residents such as diabetes prevention and hypertension management. It also aims to provide comprehensive health screenings and enhance access to primary care services.

GHA’s Healthy Greenville, Too Grants are providing $10,000 each to support the work of the Blue Ridge Council (Boy Scouts of America), Compass of Carolina, First Impression of South Carolina, Fountain Inn Kid Enrichment Center, Greer Relief & Resources Agency Inc., Hispanic Alliance and YouthBASE. A Child’s Haven, Brook Glenn Elementary, Greenville Literacy, Jasmine Road, Travelers Rest Farmers Market and Walt’s Waltz each received $5,000.

The Community Foundation of Greenville has served as the administrative home of Greenville Health Authority since 2019 and is proud to distribute grants in alignment with its mission each year.

Visit cfgreenville.org to learn more about the Community Foundation of Greenville.

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Yes, Hilltop of Greenville Memory Care’s facility is safe and secure.

Yes, Hilltop of Greenville Memory Care offers professionally trained employees.

But did you know Hilltop of Greenville Memory Care is committed to keeping your loved ones engaged and active?

Hilltop’s Life Engagement Director, Jenna Teague, said a carefully planned, collaborative, life-engagement program is at the core of Hilltop’s care routine.

“I like to collaborate with families before their loved one moves in,” Teague said. “Doing this gives me a chance to learn more about them, and tailor activities to meet their needs.”

Teague said “life engagement” is a holistic approach to memory care.

“When we say, ‘life engagement,’ potential families should be hearing that we are doing physical exercises, mental exercises and brain games, music and art therapy, spiritual activities, and occupational activities,” she said.

Teague said these things are key in a memory-care setting, because they bring residents a sense of purpose and joy.

“I have so many residents that love to help me, whether by sweeping the floors or passing out napkins for ice cream socials,” she said. “It gives them that sense of purpose, keeps them socially engaged, which is important for all of us.”

Even something as small as knowing the answer during a fun round of trivia can make a difference.

“They get excited,” Teague said. “We talk about the answer and laugh together, and many times, the residents will reminisce about a childhood memory, or perhaps when they were first married, and it brings them so much joy.”

Meanwhile, physical activities such as bowling, miniature golf or balloon volleyball keep residents on an active footing.

“I love to incorporate music and exercise at the same time, so we are all having fun singing along to the music, but also moving and working those muscles, keeping them strong,” she said. “Many of our residents grew up going to church on Sunday, so we make sure to plan activities that foster a sense of connection to their core beliefs.”

Families who entrust their loved ones to Hilltop of Greenville Memory care can expect these things — and more — on a regular basis, Teague said.

“We always make sure we have both physical and mental exercises every day,” she said. “We have a lot of women here, so we bake (and eat) cookies ever week, which of course brings back so many wonderful memories of their time baking cookies at home.”

It is why Teague advises families to look beyond just the quality of the facility, or the makeup of the staff.

“Are the residents and staff interacting with one another? Are they joking and laughing? Or are they simply tucked away in their rooms, only coming out for meals?”

“Here at Hilltop of Greenville Memory Care, we love our residents the way we would love our own families,” she said. “We feel lucky to be doing what we’re doing.”

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Some people spend a lifetime trying to get to Washington, D.C., especially in an election year.

Starting this fall, travelers in the Upstate will have additional options to get to the nation’s capital — and from there, connect to international destinations throughout Asia, Europe and the Middle East. On Sept. 26, Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) expanded its already wide-reaching air service with three nonstop daily flights to Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD) on United Airlines’ 50-seat Embraer 145 aircraft.

Now a vacationer can have breakfast in the Upstate and enjoy the sights along the National Mall by lunchtime. An executive can easily connect onward to London, Paris, Rome or any of the other over 50 international flights departing from Dulles every day.

United now provides daily nonstop flights from GSP to five key destinations — Washington, D.C., Chicago, Denver, Houston and New York/Newark — and gives the Upstate airport a presence in all of United’s major hubs in the United States.

“We applaud United’s continued investment in Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport and the Upstate South Carolina region,” said Greenville-Spartanburg Airport District President and CEO David Edwards. “In addition to being a critical link to our nation’s capital, Washington-Dulles is a valuable access point for international passengers traveling to and from GSP. We welcome the resumption of service on this very important route for our region.”

The airline had served the GSP-IAD route for years before suspending the service in 2022, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the addition of the new United route, the seven major airlines that serve GSP now offer nonstop service to 27 destinations.

The route is the 10th addition to GSP’s air service this year. In 2024, flights began to Providence, Tampa, Orlando, Los Angeles and Hartford via Breeze Airways; Denver and Nashville through Southwest Airlines; and Rochester and Manchester-Boston with Avelo Airlines.

GSP is also well on the way to another destination: a record-breaking year. The airport is on pace to set a new record for passengers served in a year, exceeding the 2,612,236 benchmark set in 2019. Through August, GSP has seen a 10.9% increase in passenger traffic compared to the same period in 2019, with May, June and July 2024 setting records for the highest monthly traffic in the airport’s history.

In addition to transporting millions of passengers each year, GSP is also a hub for air cargo, including flights regularly flown to and from Europe, Mexico, Asia and points across the United States. In 2023, GSP was recognized as the Best Airport in North America in the 2 million-5 million passenger category by its customers and Airports Council International. Each year, GSP contributes over a $4 billion economic impact to the regional economy and is responsible for nearly 20,000 jobs.

Learn more — and start your journey — at gspairport.com.

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“That’s not just a saying” for The Family Effect, but a firmly held belief, said Cynthia D. Fryer, M.A., director of development and mission advancement for the Phoenix Center of Greenville. That’s because substance use disorder is a leading cause of family collapse and harm to children not just locally but nationwide.

“Usually, it’s a direct root cause for children to be removed from their homes due to neglect or abuse,” Fryer said, adding that at any given time, Greenville County has the highest number of children in the state who are in the South Carolina Department of Social Services foster care system.

The community can make a difference for those children and families through The Family Effect. It was established as a nonprofit organization in 1998 to support the work of the Phoenix Center, which helps more than 5,000 people each year through its research-based treatment, prevention and recovery services.

“We believe if you are working with someone in recovery, if they have the support system of their family, and you work with the family unit, the chances are they will remain in recovery longer,” Fryer said.

There are many ways to help, whether through monetary or in-kind donations or volunteering.

“We actually call our volunteers our family champions because they do so much,” Fryer said.

Volunteers of The Family Effect work with the Phoenix Center, its adolescent and outpatient services and the ECHO mobile drug education unit.

“They staff and do the education,” she said.

There are also numerous volunteer opportunities at Serenity Place, which provides residential treatment to pregnant women and young mothers recovering from substance abuse. It is one of the few publicly funded centers across the nation that allow children to enter residential services with Mom.

Volunteers provide child care while mothers attend recovery-support meetings, tutor women working to earn their GED, mentor and support them in employment goals, and lend “their expertise in improving skills and their self-esteem,” Fryer said.

“All of these programs and services provide opportunities for volunteers,” she said, adding that each volunteer must complete an application, get a background check, take a two-step tuberculosis test and go through an orientation.

To learn more about volunteering with The Family Effect, call 864-467-4757 or email thefamilyeffect@phoenixcenter.org. If you or someone you know needs treatment, call the Phoenix Center’s helpline at 864-467-3790.

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“The difference between active voice and passive voice is the difference between acknowledging one’s responsibility and dodging it,” Herlong says.

“Active voice says, ‘I’m sorry. I dropped the ball. I know I was supposed to call you, and I forgot to do that.’” she says. “But passive voice says, “Gee, I’m sorry we’ve lost touch. I’ve been on vacation.’”

Herlong says agents who choose the former over the latter can lose business to other agents.

“I had an agent who recently lost a sale and blamed it on ‘losing touch with the buyer’,” Herlong says. “It’s not the buyer’s job to stay in touch with the agent! The agent dropped the ball and wouldn’t acknowledge he’d dropped it.”

“The easiest way to determine whether someone is going to be responsible is how they handle it when they screw up,” she says. “We don’t have to be perfect, but we have to be pretty close to perfect about acknowledging our own imperfections.”

Herlong says when an agent sells a property, they don’t say “the property sold.” They say, “I sold it!”

“Therefore, we have to embrace our foibles the same way, with the same active sense of ownership,” she says.

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The store specializes in gently used, upscale clothing and housewares, said Emily Paterra, who oversees The Nearly New Shop as the vice president of fund development for the Junior League of Greenville.

“We get really high-quality consignment items,” said Paterra, who counts fur coats, a Coach handbag and other designer-label treasures, as well as holiday items and children’s wear, among the shop’s finds. “That’s what we take pride in. We try to only put out good stuff.”

Another thing you’ll be sure to find at The Nearly New Shop, which has served the community for more than 75 years, is evidence of an organization dedicated to giving back.

Proceeds from the store, which opened in 1948 as The Opportunity Shop downtown before moving to its current Greenacre Road home, help fund $50,000 in grants to local nonprofits awarded each year by the Junior League. Last year’s grant recipients included the Soteria Community Development Center, Triune Mercy Center, GirlUP GVL, the Nicholtown Child and Family Collaborative, and the Greenville Free Medical Clinic.

The store also provides valuable training to Junior League volunteers, who learn about retail operations while supporting the organization’s other philanthropic work.

“It’s professional development for women in our community, as well as other impactful projects in the area,” Paterra said. “When you shop here, your money stays here, and it supports folks in your neighborhood.”

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But why?

“Home prices and rents have risen faster than inflation in recent years,” according to Meghan Barp, president and CEO of United Way of Greenville County. “While income growth has allowed some households to keep pace, many in our community with lower incomes struggle to keep up and have few options — especially for homeownership. These rising costs for housing are often a budget-buster for people already struggling to make ends meet.”

Barp said United Way’s ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) Report paints “the best picture we’ve ever had of the actual need in our community” as it compares what people are actually earning versus what it costs to live in our community.

The report shows how the region’s population growth and real estate boom has put a disproportionate strain on low-income families. The market has had difficulty keeping up with demand, which has increased the competition and cost for housing. Median household income is not keeping up with cost, decreasing the affordability of housing for families in Greenville County.

Barp noted that the lack of affordable, quality homes has broader ramifications for the entire Upstate.

“Without access to affordable housing, Greenville County workers struggle to find and maintain employment close to home, hindering productivity and economic growth,” she said. “Stable housing is essential for attracting and retaining a skilled workforce and fostering a resilient local economy.”

The agency’s focus goes beyond access to affordable housing, however.

“Our housing work covers everything on the spectrum from homelessness to families purchasing their first home, Barp emphasized. “By addressing the housing challenges facing Greenville County, we can create a community where everyone has access to safe, stable and affordable housing. Together, we can build a future where housing is not a source of stress or insecurity, but a foundation for thriving individuals, families and neighborhoods.”

If you want to help, visit unitedwaygc.org/get-involved.

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“Bicycles are not only for recreation,” said Rhonda Rawlings, community director for Mill Village Ministries. “They are a necessity for some people, especially in under-resourced communities. Public transportation doesn’t go everywhere, and many rely on bicycles to get to and from work.”

True to its origin, Village Wrench still offers free, basic bike repairs the first Saturday of every month at seven locations across the Upstate. Liv Singfield, program manager, said these monthly events are led by volunteers and provide more than just a tune-up and reliable transportation.

“It’s an opportunity to connect with people from the community,” Singfield said. “We teach them and give them the opportunity to work on their own bicycle using our tools and stands.”

For anyone who doesn’t have a bicycle, Village Wrench’s Earn-a-Bike program allows adults and young people to earn a cycle by logging service hours anywhere in the community, such as helping at a soup kitchen, church, fire department or local business.

All of the bikes sold in the store or earned through service hours are donated by individuals and groups.

“We depend on bike donations,” Singfield said. “We like to say, ‘Bring us your dusty — but not rusty — bicycles.’”

Singfield leads a weekly after-school program called 6-Cycle that aims to help teens flourish in work and life. It is linked to the Propel program for youth and young adults offered by Mill Village Ministries.

“6-Cycle 1st Gear is an opportunity for kids in grades 8-11 to learn light mechanic skills and character development. If they like it, they can continue with 2nd Gear and apply to become an apprentice in the shop in the summer,” she said. “They often stay involved in this and our other youth programs. We have several success stories.”

One of those success stories is Lane McConville, a third-year apprentice whose passion for mountain biking first connected him with Village Wrench and its youth programs.

“I enjoy helping people,” McConville said. “The program has taught me many things about bikes and bike mechanic skills.”

Through hands-on learning and mentorship, he developed both technical expertise and valuable life skills, demonstrating personal growth that extends far beyond the bike, Singfield said.

“Lane’s journey is a testament to the impact of Village Wrench in shaping confident, capable individuals ready to tackle challenges on and off the trail,” she said.

In addition to donated bikes, Village Wrench relies on grants and donations to continue its work.

The Community Foundation of Greenville contributed $50,000 toward the capital campaign of Mill Village Ministries, the umbrella organization for Mill Village Farms, Village Engage, Village Launch and Village Wrench.

For more information, visit villagewrench.org.

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And now that they’ve shot up, many potential home buyers and sellers are sitting still, hoping the rates will return to those historic lows, says Joan Herlong of Joan Herlong & Associates Sotheby’s International Realty.

But they may be in for a long wait, she warns.

“I don’t think rates will ever drop back down to 3% or below,” Herlong says. “I’d love to be wrong, but I just don’t see it happening again.”

In the white-hot Greenville market, waiting on rates to change creates a dearth of inventory.

“So many homeowners refinanced during that 2020, 2021 period when rates were so low,” she says. “As a result, they’re incentivized to stay put.”

Even skyrocketing values — and the enormous growth in equity those skyrocketing values bring — is not enough to move them off-center, Herlong says.

“Therefore, we’re seeing the other side of that two-edged sword — those artificially low interest rates of a few years ago are continuing to drive a very low inventory in this market,” she says.

So, what is a potential homebuyer to do?

Herlong says the first step is to keep it in perspective.

“If you’re preoccupied with interest rates, you might be missing a great opportunity, because there are several options for working with the seller to lower costs,” Herlong says, “such as asking the seller to buy down your rate.”

But even if rates are a little higher than they were two or three years ago, they’re still reasonable, Herlong says.

“Even when interest rates were up to 18%, people still bought and sold houses,” Herlong says. “They didn’t put their lives on hold. They bought and then refinanced when rates dipped.”

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