Charleston Chamber Foundation

“Expenses insurance 609 talent initiative program 19,500 accel greater chas. Prog 15,000 other programs 50,000 total 85,109”

“Pledges receivable 58,851 120,351 total 58,851 120,351”

“Accounts payable and accrued expenses 11,547 34,047 deferred revenue 0 5,000”

“Lead>chs foundation supports the enrichment of the business environment of metro charleston through the talent, leadership and research initiatives of the charleston metro chamber.”

“Empowering the tri-county area a supporting organization of the chamber, lead>chs is aligned to maximize our communitys ability to take advantage of a once-in-a-generation set of economic development and community advancement opportunities focused to strengthen the charleston region as a globally competitive metro. A primary focus of the foundations work is delivered in its efforts in talent development and skills building programs. Shaping students for success career academies look past the traditional learning environment, letting students experience our regions high-demand industries and gain valuable skills. Think beyond sitting in a desk, listening to yet another lecture. Rather students are engaged in projects, learning from industry professionals and exploring through capstone experiences. Career academy pathways are aligned with the talent demand study and are offered in high schools throughout the region. Business management computer science & it construction & trades engineering health hospitality manufacturing youth apprenticeships the charleston regional youth apprenticeship program is about advancing students career and college readiness in our regions high-demand jobs. Students gain knowledge and skills through both classroom and hands-on experience. The youth apprenticeship program is a collaboration between trident technical college, apprenticeship carolina, all the schools in our tri-county region and funding partners. The chamber, through the accelerate fund, is a founding funder and continues to support scholarships for tuition and supplies to help students enroll and complete their apprenticeships debt-free. Build a shed this past may, in the early morning hours, the exchange park filled with students and career-ready youth geared up to take home the trophy and the bragging rights at the 2nd annual build a shed competition. Participants had the opportunity to be a construction worker for a day and learn from experienced professionals coaching them on site. Teams were paired with contractors and instructed to build an 8' x 11' shed in seven hours with the same blueprint all while remaining safe, using materials efficiently and relying only on the contractors for guidance as the teams worked. Industry professionals judged, scoring the teams on technical, completeness and safety categories. Towards the end of the competition, something magical happened. These participants werent just becoming friends and true team players, they were excited and proud of the work they had done and were making strong relationships with the contractors and subcontractors that were mentoring them along the way. As young adults in their late teens and early twenties, its sometimes hard to see where life may take them. The experiences and the visibility that these participants were given through the build a shed competition helped almost the entire eckerd connects team earn full-time jobs with one of the contractors or roofers on site that day. These students also gained an osha 10 certification which teaches recognition, avoidance, abatement and prevention of safety and health hazards in the workplace.”