When We Come Together, Children Thrive - SC First Steps

A Night to Celebrate Community - Tickets on sale now!

When We Come Together, Children Thrive

Growing Capacity Through Connection in Laurens County

In Laurens County, the funds were used to hire interns from Lander University.

“The first time we had an intern from A Night to Celebrate Community funds, we had an intern who was instrumental with capital letters in helping us with our strategic plan,” said Toni Able, executive director of Laurens County First Steps. “If I could hire her full-time, I probably would have.”

Three years later, Laurens County is on its fifth intern.

With an office of two part-time childcare educators and one administrative coordinator, interns are essential for handling the many tasks in an office with limited manpower.

Staff get assistance, and interns get valuable experiences as well. “You use those connections that you make throughout your life,” said Able.

The interns assisted with capacity building, administrative tasks, and communications, such as writing press releases for events and updating employee information in childcare training systems.

They don't just save time—they save money. Laurens County First Steps uses funds from A Night to Celebrate Community to allocate more formula funding to go toward programs that directly support children and families.

From putting food on tables to enabling staff development and retention, every dollar makes a difference for families across South Carolina.

But each county has its own unique set of challenges.

 

Overcoming Barriers in Orangeburg County

More than 100 miles south, 60% of children live in poverty in Orangeburg County.

“Being a rural county comes with its own set of dilemmas,” said Kathy Jenkins, executive director of Orangeburg County First Steps. “We have these great plans to have group meetings in person, but getting people there is the issue.”

Despite its size, the county has limited public transportation. Some families receive services at schools, libraries, and other safe spaces, but they often lack transportation to travel to group meetings.

Last year, Orangeburg First Steps used funds from A Night to Celebrate Community to provide gas and food gift cards to families, allowing them to travel to meetings and access all resources and connections First Steps offers.

When you donate, you help reach children and families in hard-to-reach areas across the state, ensuring every child in South Carolina can get on the road to success.

 

More Than Just Programs—A Place to Belong

Thanks to funds from A Night to Celebrate Community, local partnerships have flexible resources to meet unique community needs. Funds don’t provide just educational programming, but meals that brought families together around tables—where the real magic happens. At these gatherings, parents build resilience to weather life's storms, form connections that end isolation, gain knowledge about child development, and find tangible support in times of need.

Join us for A Night to Celebrate Community on May 1st, 2025—and help us create a future where every family has what they need to thrive. All proceeds from this event benefit the young children, families, and communities served by First Steps local county partnerships statewide.

Topics: Local Partnerships, Equity, Service


More Blog Post Posts

First Steps 4K Leader Spotlight: Karen Durand, Saint John Catholic School

Read More

Karen Durand's dedication to early childhood education spans over 30 years, a journey that began with summer camp counseling and Sunday school teaching in her high school years. These early experiences ignited a passion that led her to a fulfilling career shaping young minds. Today, Karen serves as the principal at Saint John Catholic School in North Charleston and is this month’s First Steps 4K Leader Spotlight.

First Steps 4K Leader Spotlight: Gary and Shamaria Staggers, Kiddie University

Read More

Two years ago, Gary and Shamaria Staggers embarked on a journey to provide top-notch childcare in Marion, SC. As passionate educators, they opened Kiddie University with a vision to create a nurturing and stimulating environment for young learners. Their dedication to their community and staff has earned them the well-deserved recognition of this month’s First Steps 4K Leader Spotlight.

First Steps 4K Leader Spotlight: Deserae Beard, Learning On Main

Read More

Deserae Beard graduated with a degree in Early Childhood Education in 2011. Despite advice to take the first job offer, she was determined to work with 4K and 5K-aged children. Today, as the owner and director of Learning on Main in Warrenville, S.C., Deserae’s commitment to innovative, out-of-the-box practices with her staff and families has earned her recognition as this month's First Steps 4K Leader Spotlight.