Adopt-A-School of Beaufort County, Inc. provides grants to St. Helena Elementary School in response to requests from teachers and administrators for special projects and supplies not covered in the school district budget. Listed below are the grants awarded in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

2023 Grants (totals approximately $19,000)

Major items included:

• Books purchases for 2 school book fairs held by AdAS
• Uniforms for students in need
• Backpacks purchased for United Way’s Operation Backpack
• Support for students attending the Penn Center Heritage Days
• Support for students attending the Gullah Festival
• Supplies for guitar lessons provided by AdAS to students
• Funding for a student healthy eating club
• Snacks and lunches for teacher as part of regular appreciation events
  
  This excludes funds raised separately for the Angel Tree Project.

2022 Grants (totals approximately $22,000)

• Renovation of Recording Studio
• Custom made Lighthouse purchased in recognition of SHES certification as a Lighthouse School
• Storage cabinet and supplies for Mimi’s Closet
• Books purchased for book giveaway
• Donation for school Book Fair
• YMCA Summer Camp tuition for four students
• Donation to United Way of the Lowcountry Operation Backpack program
• Donation to SHES Angel Tree Project
• MacDonalds gift cards for Fifth Grade Moving Up Celebration

Luncheon to honor teachers for Teachers Appreciation Week; Gift cards for teachers’ holiday celebration

2021 Grants (totals approximately $9,800)

• Adopt-A-Book, the program to give each student a new book of their choice, was held in the Spring and the Fall.  Every student also received a beautifully painted bookmark designed and donated by the Dataw Island Visual Arts Club Mixed Media Group.
• Collected donations and gifts for the school Christmas Angel Tree Project 2020 and made a donation from Adopt-A-School
• Collected donations on behalf of United Way Operation Backpack and made a donation from Adopt-A-School
• Awarded a grant for furniture and supplies to redecorate the Art Classroom into an art studio atmosphere
• Arranged a lunch during Teachers Appreciation Week for teachers and staff to show support and thanks for their dedication during a particularly challenging year
• Funded 3 students to attend YMCA Summer Camp
• Purchased “reading aloud” books for St. Helena Early Learning Center teacher