The United Way of the Lowcountry has enjoyed a long and mutually beneficial relationship with the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry. The funding we provide to the Boys and Girls Club supports programs that are directly improving the lives of children in our community.

Recently, the issue of the Boys and Girls Club of Beaufort receiving United Way funding was raised in a letter to this publication. The letter suggested that with a state-supported charter school now leasing space in the Boys and Girls Club building, United Way funding would somehow be supporting the school. This is not correct.

As with all United Way partner agencies, the Boys and Girls Club has gone through a rigorous application process to ensure that United Way funding is directed to the agencies and programs making the most impact in our community in areas of education, health, income and basic needs.

In the past year, the United Way of the Lowcountry has funded four Boys and Girls Club programs in five locations, including Beaufort, Jasper, Sheldon, Hilton Head Island and Bluffton. These programs are successfully reaching children in all parts of the Lowcountry, and as the Beaufort branch of the Boys and Girls Club is transitioning based on financial need, United Way funding allocations for these programs are undergoing evaluation.

While the United Way of the Lowcounty supports the efforts of all of our schools, United Way of the Lowcountry funding won't be used for a state-supported charter school.

Tina Gentry

President and CEO

United Way of the Lowcountry

Beaufort