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Waccamaw Community Foundation Awards Grant to Limos for Learning™

Limos for Learning™ was awarded a $28,000 grant in June 2008 through the Waccamaw Community Trust fund, managed by the Waccamaw Community Foundation.  This grant will provide funding to hire a Regional Project Director.  The Director shall work collaboratively with the organization to provide local administrative services, coordination and project oversight, and secure operational and developmental funding through sponsorships and other available resources within the local communities served.

In December 2003, business woman Elizabeth (Betsy) Ross, President of Limos for Learning, founded the program as incentive to encourage reading improvement for third grade students in her community.  The first Limos for Learning program was held in Laurens County utilizing one limousine to reward 12 students with a limo ride to lunch.  In August 2004, the program was implemented in Laurens and Horry counties, South Carolina benefitting over 5,000 third grade participants.

Horry County (the third largest school district statewide) requested expansion of the program to incorporate all Title I schools, doubling the number of children initially served.  In 2005, participating schools from two districts (Horry and Laurens District 55) were cited as the TOP leaders in Closing the Gap.  The program expanded to include additional grade levels in targeted schools - 8,200 students from the Pee Dee and Upstate regaional markets.  Over 15,600 students from 7 S.C. counties benefited from the program this past year with a waiting-list of S.C. schools and program participation requests from 11 other states.

The organization's current level of services in Horry and Georgetown counties benefits approximately 3,000 students in 18 elementary schools:  14 Horry schools, 2,410 students, Grade 3 only; 4 Georgetown schools, 582 students, Grades 3 & 4.