Greenville Tech Foundation donors expand student success
Greenville Tech Foundation has numerous stories of seeing students succeed.
For 50 years, they’ve awarded scholarships, provided emergency needs assistance, helped create special programs like the African American Male Scholars Initiative (AAMSI), and supported Greenville Technical College’s needs.
These efforts are made possible through the generosity of corporations, foundations, and individual donors. “We exist to support the college and the students, and our donors allow us to do just that,” says Ann Wright, the Foundation’s vice president for advancement.
Donors cite enabling education and seeing Greenville Tech’s impact in the Upstate community as the “why” behind their support.
“The students that benefit from our donations are doing everything they can to better their own lives and oftentimes the lives of their families. By supporting them we support and strengthen our community,” said Kay Hill, a trustee of the Gilreath Family Foundation. Over three years, it has supported both AAMSI and DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) students.
Businesses’ need for skilled employees combined with young people’s need for well-paying jobs is why Peg and Harry van Bergen have established an endowed scholarship and committed an estate gift in the past three years. “I think tech schools provide tremendous opportunities,” Harry van Bergen says.
Workforce training programs are part of the reason Bradshaw Automotive Group President and Owner William Bradshaw began his involvement with Greenville Tech 17 years ago. He established two endowed scholarships and has served as the Foundation Board’s Chair and on the Area Commission. “The value for the money and the education students get make Greenville Tech one of the community’s secret weapons,” he says.
Elizabeth Clayton, a trustee for John I. Smith Charities, also believes Greenville Tech and the Foundation are assets to Upstate businesses. Her foundation’s 21 years of support includes establishing an endowed scholarship; supporting student emergency needs and the Quick Jobs program; naming rooms at the Center for Manufacturing Innovation, the aviation training facility at SC Tech and Aviation Center (SCTAC), the Truist Culinary and Hospitality Innovation Center; and more.
“They not only give individuals an opportunity to get an education and get training in a variety of fields, which will give them the opportunity for a better life . . . they also work with businesses in the Upstate when they need workers,” she says.
Interested in donating to the Greenville Tech Foundation? Visit greenvilletechfoundation.org/donate to find out how to give.
Numerous donors have helped the Greenville Tech Foundation. Among them are:
- Ray Martin, an Area Commission member, has supported AAMSI.
- Minor Mickel Shaw, a trustee of the Daniel-Mickel Foundation, has established endowed scholarships and supported AAMSI, student emergency needs, and the Quick Jobs programs over 19 years of giving. Her gifts also have gone toward Career Training, lab equipment and supplies, and naming a classroom at the Truist Culinary and Hospitality Innovation Center.
- Sue Priester, managing director of The Priester Foundation, has served on the Foundation Board, established an endowed scholarship, and supported both AAMSI and student emergency needs over 23 years of giving. Her gifts also have gone toward engineering technology equipment, student nurse testing fees, and the Truist Culinary and Hospitality Innovation Center.
- Tim Reed, a past Foundation Board member, has established an endowed scholarship over 10 years of giving.
