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