The Citizen Scholars Program was founded in 1996 as an initiative of The Spartanburg County Foundation. Since its inception from 1996 to 2015, the program served 212 students. In 2016, the Program became the Citizen Scholars Institute and was reformatted to expand its reach and impact. With the full support of all seven school districts, sixth graders are identified each year from each district as Scholars on a continuing basis. Scholars attend a monthly seminar where they are instructed by local teachers and counselors throughout Spartanburg County. They attend multiple summer events that have academic, professional, and cultural focuses. Additionally, Scholars are mentored through college graduation and are engaged in an active Alumni Association as soon as they graduate from high school. Currently, there are more than three hundred Scholars being served in grades 6 through 12 across Spartanburg County each year. Citizen Scholars serves first-generation college- bound students. In many cases, the Scholars have additional barriers, such as an incarcerated parent, which may impede their progress to college. It is designed to support Scholars and their families in navigating the college application process as well as teach and practice college and career skills.

Wish List Items:

1. School supplies- copy paper, 2-pocket paper folders, 2G flash drives, mechanical pencils, and Clorox wipes

2. Paper Products- paper plates, napkins, and paper towels

3. Food- single serve snacks, water bottles, gift cards for pizza

Greenville Literacy Association’s mission is to enrich our community by increasing the literacy and employability of our citizens for over 58 years. In our region, 40,000 adults lack a high school diploma and 20,000 lack fluency in English. While the local economy has boomed, many of our neighbors have been unable to keep up with the cost of living, leading to a lack of affordable housing, transportation, and basic needs. We know that education is power and access to education is the gateway to economic mobility. 

Amazon Wishlist: LINK

1. School Supplies- staples and staplers, electric pencil sharpeners, dry erase markers, Expo white board cleaner, Post-It Super Sticky Easel Pad (25in x 30in)

2. Texas Instruments TI-30XS Multiview Scientific Calculator

3. GED Prep Plus Book (2022-23)

4. Educational board games and vocabulary, grammar, and sentence builder flash cards

5. Cleaning Supplies: Paper towels, Foaming Dish Spray, 99% Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA)