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2008

Community Champion in Active Living: Laura Henthorn

Laura Henthorn is a catalyst for change in Spartanburg County. Laura worked to bring together neighborhoods to create a vision, raise funds, and advocate for the Wadsworth Trail, a 7-mile loop that will connect more than 4,000 families to each other and to shops, the library, and an elementary school. Laura also established a local council of Girls on the Run, a national program encouraging young girls to develop self-esteem and healthy lifestyles through running. Laura exemplifies the leadership required to make Spartanburg a more activity-friendly community.

Community Champion in Early Childhood Development: Marsha Gibbs

Marsha Gibbs works as a community champion in many ways, but her dedication to and involvement in efforts to improve the lives of children is surely one of her most important and enduring contributions to Spartanburg County. One project that has been especially important to Marsha is Imagination Library. Marsha’s commitment to young children and the health of our community is an inspiration to all of us who hope for a brighter future for Spartanburg County.

Business Champion in Active Living: JM Smith Corporation

JM Smith Corporation promotes health and quality of life among its employees and their families through a comprehensive wellness program. JM Smith Corporation is an excellent example of how businesses can improve the quality of life in Spartanburg County.

Business Champion in Early Childhood Development: Carolina First Bank

Carolina First Bank is taking the lead in Early Childhood Development in the Upstate by providing special support to its employees with young children. The implementation of family-friendly policies and programs emphasize the importance of early childhood development while providing a positive workplace environment.

2007

Community Champion in Active Living: Wanda Cheeks

Wanda Cheeks has been personally motivated to become involved in efforts to create a more activity-friendly community.  As PTA President at Mary H. Wright Elementary School, she connected with Partners for Active Living and spearheaded efforts to install a crosswalk across Church Street to improve the safety of children who walk to school.  She advocated for the school’s participation in “Walk to School Day” and helped parents form “Walking School Buses.”  Wanda founded Southside Unity in the Community to address the lack of safe places for children to play in the Southside area of Spartanburg.  Last year, she successfully completed the first “Spartanburg Park It Day”.  By raising funds and organizing volunteers, Wanda oversaw the construction of a new play structure at Irwin Park.  Her goal is to gain nationwide recognition for Spartanburg as a “Playful City” and construct a new playground each year.  Most recently, Southside Unity in the Community has partnered with Partners for Active Living to co-host “Walk it Out,” a program that encourages area children and senior citizens to walk at the Northwest Recreation Center.  Wanda has been a quiet partner of the Foundation and its grantees since the Foundation selected its priority areas.

Community Champion in Early Childhood Development: Carolyn Brooks

Carolyn Brooks has dedicated her life to improving the lives of others.  Not only does Carolyn affect the lives of children and their families through her work as executive director of Spartanburg County First Steps; she is an active volunteer with organizations that improve outcomes for children ages birth to five.  Carolyn effectively works with children, parents, teachers, community leaders, child care providers, early childhood advocates, and policymakers.  Some of her most important work occurs with policymakers in Spartanburg County and Columbia as she tries to help them create policies that positively affect young children and their families.  The Foundation has worked closely with Carolyn for years and staff is continually impressed with her passion and commitment to improving the lives of young children and the health of families.

Business Champion in Active Living: BASF White Stone

BASF White Stone encourages active living for its employees through a wellness program that includes: Financial reimbursement for gym and health club membership fees, a Safety and Awareness Committee providing social support through weight loss challenges and recognition for employees who meet their goals, giving employees pedometers to promote health through walking, and educational programs on health-related topics. In addition to promoting active living for its employees, BASF has adopted the Glenn Springs Passage of the Palmetto Trail. BASF White Stone clearly recognizes the importance of the health of its employees and the community.

Business Champion Award in Early Childhood Development: USC Upstate

The University of South Carolina Upstate has a number of family-friendly policies and programs that encourage positive early childhood development for their employees, including comprehensive health insurance with 60% dependent coverage, a Flexible Spending Account to pay for child care with pre-tax dollars, up to one year of Family Medical Leave,  educational information and communications regarding work-family balance, and an onsite, NAEYC child care center. USC Upstate is an example of a local employer committed to early childhood development.

Community Champion in Active Living: Sheila Snoddy

Sheila Snoddy has been working as a volunteer for a long time to promote and encourage active living.  When she joined her church, she introduced the concept of active living to the congregation and other community members.  She implemented free exercise classes open to the community, as well as walking and running clubs.  It has been estimated that, in the several years that these programs have been offered, Mrs. Snoddy has reached over 5,000 men and women in Spartanburg County.  Sheila is proof that all of us can make a difference in the health of our community. 

Community Champion in Early Childhood Development: Dr. Nancy Henderson
Dr. Henderson spends many of her days addressing one of the most difficult issues facing children: child abuse.  For a decade, this pediatrician has performed child abuse medical exams at the Children’s Advocacy Center.  She has the skills, patience, warmth, and compassion to calm an anxious child, while gathering facts and medical evidence without further traumatizing the child. Just as importantly, she serves as an expert witness in Family and Criminal Court.  Her testimony is often instrumental in the prosecution of child molesters. 

Business Champion in Active Living: Spartanburg County Public Libraries System

In October 2006, the Mary Black Foundation selected the Spartanburg County Public Libraries System as its Business Champion in Active Living.  The Library recognizes the importance of the health of its employees and serves as a model for other employers in Spartanburg County that want to support active lifestyles among their employees by providing amenities such as a locker room, free pedometers, health-related information and bicycle racks. 

Business Champion in Early Childhood Development: Smith Barney

Smith Barney has made a commitment to implementing policies that support early childhood development, including: 13 weeks of paid maternity leave, flex-time, a new baby tool kit, a forum for employees on work/life balance, and a flexible spending account for tax-free childcare payments. Smith Barney serves as an example of what other businesses can do to support their employees with young children. 

Community Champion in Active Living: Herald Journal

The Herald Journal led the way in promoting and encouraging active living in 2005.  The newspaper sponsored a unique opportunity for residents to become more active with “Weekend Walkabouts” in the spring and fall of 2004.  More than 300 people participated in all eight weekend walks, and over 2,400 people attended at least one.  In addition, the Herald Journal provided major support to the Bike Town initiative. The newspaper went above and beyond in offering daily coverage of the Bike Town festivities, spotlighting local businesses, bicycling safety, and what it means for Spartanburg to become a “bicycle-friendly” city. The Herald Journal was instrumental in the success of Bike Town by increasing the dialogue about active living issues, and getting people to recognize the importance of being physically active.

Community Champion in Early Childhood Development: Patricia Voelker

Patricia Voelker has dedicated her life to improving the lives of others.  As the Chair of the Early Childhood Development Department of Spartanburg Technical College (“STC”), Pat has trained thousands of childcare providers in Spartanburg County.  Her work directly affects the quality of the care and education of children birth to age five.  In addition to teaching providers, Pat has developed the Advanced Childcare Management, Special Needs, and Infant/Toddler certificate programs at STC.  Pat is known locally, statewide, and nationally for her dedication to and excellence in early childhood development.  The Foundation has been working with Pat since it selected early childhood development as a priority area, and staff is continually impressed with her passion and commitment to improving the lives of young children. 

Business Champion in Active Living: Milliken & Company

Milliken & Company not only encourages healthy lifestyles among its employees, the company provides parkland for all members of the community to be active.  Drive by Milliken's grounds on a sunny day and you will see scores of citizens running, walking and recreating on the beautiful corporate campus.  Milliken provides a Fitness Center at their corporate headquarters for employees with several fitness programs, classes and special interest clubs available. Employees are also encouraged to participate in health awareness events in the community, including the Milliken Earth Day Run.  Milliken and Company's emphasis on and contribution to healthy lifestyles in Spartanburg County makes the company a vital community asset.

Business Champion in Early Childhood Development: Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System

Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System opened the Child Development Center (“CDC”) in 1974, as one of the first company-sponsored childcare facilities in Spartanburg County.  The CDC (recently renamed the Ida Thompson CDC) is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the highest standard of quality, for its comprehensive programs serving children and their families.  The CDC meets the needs of parents with unique working demands required in a hospital environment by offering care with extended hours and on holidays, regardless of inclement weather.  Because of the CDC’s high quality of care, hospital employees are at ease and are more productive at work.  Parents can feel close to their children by using the observation booths, without disturbing the classroom.  In addition to providing quality care to the children of hospital employees, the CDC serves as a laboratory environment for local colleges, helping to improve the quality of all childcare in Spartanburg County. 

Community Champion in Active Living: Partners for Active Living

Since Partners for Active Living (“PAL”) was formed in 2000, it has been instrumental in creating policy, environmental and social changes that encourage active living.  Through its educational events, advocacy efforts, and hands-on projects, PAL’s energetic staff and strong board of directors have become recognized by community leaders as local authorities in creating active communities. Much of the momentum for and interest in creating walkable communities in Spartanburg is due, in part, to the work of PAL.

Community Champion in Early Childhood Development: Wanda Fowler

Wanda Fowler has dedicated her life to improving the lives of others.  Not only does Wanda affect the lives of children and their families through her work as executive director of the Middle Tyger Community Center, she is an active volunteer with organizations that improve outcomes for children ages birth to five.  Wanda brings passion and commitment to improving the health of families in Spartanburg County.