For sixteen years the Institute for Child Success (ICS) has operated out of downtown Greenville, partnering with local schools, health providers and businesses to improve outcomes for children from the prenatal stage through age eight. Founded in 2010 through a collaboration between Prisma Health Children’s Hospital and United Way of Greenville County, the nonprofit was created on the belief that children thrive when the systems that surround them do.
Local impact and statewide reach
ICS does not run a single program; instead it works with policymakers, educators, health professionals and community leaders to shape research‑driven, equity‑focused policies. Since its inception the organization has helped catalyze at least $1.5 billion in funding for early‑childhood initiatives throughout South Carolina. The institute also supports innovative financing strategies projected to generate an additional $25 million for local governments and nonprofit partners by 2030.
Through its policy research, ICS reports that its work has reached roughly 185,000 children, and more than 640 child advocates have moved forward policies that benefit families across the state.
Programs and tools for the early‑childhood workforce
Beyond advocacy, the institute offers program‑development and evaluation assistance for early‑learning projects, creates financial solutions for state and local agencies, and builds data‑measurement tools to strengthen the early‑childhood workforce. These efforts aim to provide families with consistent, high‑quality services from birth through the early elementary years.
Sweet 16 celebration
This September the institute will mark its anniversary with a “Sweet 16” campaign. The centerpiece is a gala on Sept. 16, 6–9 p.m., at the Poinsett Club in downtown Greenville. The event will honor the organization’s achievements and raise funds for its Innovation Fund, which is designed to address emerging challenges facing children and families and to develop new solutions for the coming decade.
Community members are invited to attend; registration is available online through the Institute for Child Success website. Proceeds will support continued research, policy development and program‑support services that align with the institute’s mission of strengthening families and neighborhoods.
As the institute looks ahead, its leaders emphasize the importance of ongoing collaboration among parents, faith communities, schools and local businesses. By keeping the focus on children’s well‑being, they say, Greenville and the broader South Carolina region can continue to build stronger, more resilient communities.
Original reporting: Greenville Journal — read the source article.
