ALINE has been a proud supporter of several Spartanburg nonprofits over the years, and we love promoting their work. This past year, COVID-19 has impacted the ways many of these organizations operate, from how they provide services to how they raise money and donations. Most nonprofits have had to rethink their approach to fundraising completely in the midst of the pandemic.
We’ve been so impressed to watch several of our clients demonstrate incredible creativity and innovation in their ability to adapt to these circumstances in order to continue providing services, meeting community needs and raising funds. We want to celebrate their hard work and ingenuity! Here are just a few examples of how Spartanburg nonprofits continue to serve, adapt and thrive.
Healthy Smiles of Spartanburg 2021 Smile-A-Thon
As a proud sponsor of Healthy Smiles of Spartanburg, ALINE enjoys attending their annual Laugh for a Child fundraising event. Unfortunately, they won't be able to hold the event this year due to the challenges presented by COVID-19, but they aren't letting that stop them from reaching their goals! This year Healthy Smiles will be hosting the 2021 Smile-A-Thon, a "Jerry Lewis" style telethon, to raise funds instead. They will be joined by local dentist offices, WSPA, Your Carolina, Living Upstate, Eastside Living Magazine, and other publications. Watch the Smile-A-Thon on CW62 (channel 9) on Thursday, March 4, from 7:30-8:00 p.m., and donate to help them reach their fundraising goal of $225,000 to benefit the children of Spartanburg County!
SCSDB Foundation Chili Cook-Off
The SCSDB Foundation recently held their 11th Annual "So You Think You Can Cook" Chili Cook-Off to benefit the students at the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind. Teams of community leaders competed with their favorite chili recipes, and a judge's panel of local chefs and caterers chose the winner. The cook-off looked a little different this year without the in-person event, but with the support of sponsors, ticket holders, and everyone who voted for the awards, the SCSDB Foundation was able to raise over $85,000! ALINE was proud to be one of the many sponsors for the fundraiser, and we enjoyed the tasty chili too! You can check out more photos and contestant videos from the event on the SCSDB Foundation's Facebook page.
Ballet Spartanburg
Even though Ballet Spartanburg is not able to provide traditional stage performances this season, they are still committed to offering live, quality ballet performances. From February through April, they are offering virtual ballet performances that you can enjoy from the safety of your home, including Cinderella, The Great Gatsby and Coppelia. Visit their website to learn more about how you can enjoy these virtual performances and continue to support Ballet Spartanburg.
SPACE
Our friends at the Spartanburg Area Conservancy (SPACE) recently collaborated with the Spartanburg Science Center and USC Upstate Arboretum to provide "Seeing Through Their Eyes," a nature tour and STEAM program for children. By signing up for this program, kids received a take-home kit with a disposable camera, a nature guide with suggested activities, and guided tours for three locations in Spartanburg, including one of our favorites, the Cottonwood Trail. They returned their cameras to the Spartanburg Science Center so the photos could be developed and a digital gallery could be created. Selected photos will be displayed in the Chapman Cultural Center Lobby during an ArtWalk event on March 18. What a fun and creative way to encourage kids to get outside and learn about the world around them!
At ALINE, we love supporting and celebrating our community. These are just a few recent examples of how some of our nonprofit partners are adapting to challenges with creative solutions—and we know there are a lot of other local nonprofits and businesses who are doing the same! We also know there are some organizations who might be struggling to shift gears or get their operations back on track. If you need help realigning your marketing strategy or finding creative solutions to adapt your business, ALINE would love to partner with you.
