2006 was year of progress in the area of recognition and increasing public awareness of Foothills and the services we provide. Thanks to community involvement efforts we have been able to emerge into the mainstream of Greenville life. We hope to continue in this light and become a household name that is synonymous with the meaning of giving.
In September we celebrated our 20 year anniversary. It was in September of 1986 that Slater-Marietta Health and Human Services opened it's doors to begin a long time mission of providing services to families living in poverty in Northern Greenville County. We hosted an open house reception and unveiled a portrait of our founding father, Dill Blackwell.
Also in September, Foothills Family Resources was presented with the Travelers Rest Area Business Association business of the month award. It was a great honor to be selected by our business peers in the area. Shortly after that, Michele and Board Members, Jimmy Batson and Derek Turner were interviewed for an article in the November 8 Greenville News edition of City People. It was a wonderful article, well written, that has increased our public exposure dramatically. Hot 98.1 radio station called soon after and asked Michele for an interview to be aired on Thanksgiving weekend. In November, Michele was also invited to represent Foothills at the annual Dynamic Women's Express Network annual agency highlight luncheon.
In 2006 we were chosen to participate in the BMW Charity Pro-Am for the first time. It was a fun event. We raised $3,800.00 and had a great time volunteering at the tournament. It was another wonderful opportunity to get the word out about the Strawberry Festival. We hosted our fourth annual fund-raiser, the Strawberry Festival and made more money than ever before, clearing $8,000 this year. The day of the festival The Slater Hall Citizens Committee and Greenville County Recreation District "unveiled" Slater Park.
The agency received $20,000 in Federal Emergency Food and Shelter funds this year and we spent every penny on low income families needing help with rent, utilities and heat. Due to the high summer temperatures, United Way gave $1,000 for us to purchase fans for area families. You would be surprised how many were living without air conditioning let alone fans to move hot air around.
Overall donations of goods, funds, time and talent more than doubled from previous years. We now recognize long-time continuing supporters and welcome new donors every month. For example, our neighbor, Olga Bowles who photographed our first Strawberry Festival five years ago, decided to take a web design class at Greenville Technical College. She chose us as her project. She created a beautiful website full of information and pictures of our clients.
Another highlight for the year is Piedmont Women's Center who joined us to provide free pregnancy testing and counseling to all women in the area.
Community Outreach activities included the Strawberry Festival, the dedication of the Slater Playground, hosting the annual Farmer's Market, a flu shot clinic, hosting the St. Francis dental van and Country Santa and Toys for Tots sign up and the annual Marietta Christmas parade.
"Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson