Congratulations to the 2019 Nonprofit of the Year, Dorchester Two Educational Foundation. Creating and building partnerships to support the advancement of education in the community has been the top priority of the Dorchester Two Educational Foundation. By bridging the funding gap, they are able to support Dorchester District Two (DD2) in producing world-class students who are world ready.  

Recognizing the need to find alternate sources for funding, Dorchester District Two and the Board of Trustees established the Dorchester Two Educational Foundation in 2013. The Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that seeks donations and partnerships to support innovative educational opportunities for all students across District Two. Due to Act 388 (owner-occupied homes are exempt from property taxes for school operations), DD2 has been significantly underfunded.   

Since its inception, the Foundation is doing its part to help meet the funding needs while also building partnerships in the community to unite business and education. These partnerships will enable our students to be educated to meet the workforce demands in our community, region, and state. One example of this has been the Advanced Manufacturing Program in which the Foundation raised $624,628, through partnerships, to provide state-of-the-art equipment, such as mechatronics labs, for the future capacity of 400 students. The outcome of this will build a pipeline of skilled workers and support the entire region's economy.   

Leaders from the manufacturing industry and economic development issued an SOS for skilled laborers in the Lowcountry region. Dorchester District Two is ready to answer the call but can only do so with the Foundation's help. Funding for the state-of-the-art equipment of the Advanced Manufacturing Program was a three-year initiative of the Foundation.  

Leadership gifts from Bosch, ECPI University and Volvo were the catalyst to additional partnerships that made the program a reality. Now that the Career and Technology Education Center is operational, the program will support existing industries, play a key role in the recruitment of new industry, prepare our students for well-paying jobs, and build a pipeline of talented local workers able to fill the existing and forecasted labor shortage. 

While this is one example of success, the Foundation continues to create and build partnerships to support the advancement of education in our community. To date, The Dorchester Two Educational Foundation has raised over $1 Million in support of education in our community. They continue to build partnerships with individuals, community organizations, small businesses to global businesses that all believe in creating opportunities for our students. Their impact is reaching the entire district of 26,000 students. 

Since its establishment in 1911, the Greater Summerville/Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce has been an integral part of the growth of Summerville and the surrounding areas. Our mission is to protect and promote the quality of life in the community, with specific emphasis on improving economic vitality and providing a favorable business climate. For more information, please visit www.greatersummerville.org or call (843) 873-2931.  

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