Newsworthy

Something to Celebrate...

Carolina Canners, Inc. Hosts Employee Appreciation and Incentive Event

The “Drive for Perfect Attendance” program culminates in new truck giveaway. Carolina Canners, Inc. (CCI) an independent Pepsi bottler and production cooperative, gave away a brand new 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor valued at over $43,000 to one of their full-time employees. The Drive for Perfect Attendance initiative was implemented in August 2021 to promote attendance among hourly employees. Each week that an employee achieved perfect attendance, his/her name was entered into a drawing for a chance to win the brand-new Ford truck. Employees also earned an additional entry be referring a candidate who was hired to work full-time. Employees who achieved perfect attendance for the full 18 weeks of the program earned an additional 18 entries into the drawing! Twenty employees achieved this milestone and were awarded a smaller level prize in addition to the extra entries. Temporary employees were not eligible to win the truck but earned an entry for a $250 cash prize for each week they achieved perfect attendance. The program culminated in the giveaway event on December 9th, which was hosted at the plant located in Cheraw, SC. All employees were invited to attend amid an atmosphere of celebration which included lunch and multiple door prizes ranging from Yeti coolers to Walmart gift cards. Over 75 people attended including State Senators Gerald Malloy and Penry Gustafson and Mayor Andy Ingram. The grand prize winner of the truck was 3rd Shift Injection Molder Corey Robinson who had worked his way up from temporary to full-time employee. Robert Johnson was the part-time employee winner of the $250 cash prize. The excitement in the crowd was at an all-time high when CCI President, Mark Avent, announced that all employees would receive a one-time bonus of $750! Jeff Stevens, CEO at Carolina Canners, Inc. (CCI) commented. “With all the challenges that the Pandemic has presented, our leadership team wanted to develop an incentive to promote and reward attendance among our hourly work force. We all benefit when everyone comes to work, and we work together as a team. Our most valuable asset at CCI is our people. They are the hardest working and most dedicated workforce that I have been associated with in my 36 years working in this industry. I am so proud of what they have been able to accomplish this year and thrilled we were able to offer this incentive and celebration as a testimony of their efforts”. Carolina Canners operates in Cheraw, SC and specializes in bottle injection molding and features two bottle-filling production lines, two can-filling production lines and a fountain syrup production line, producing and distributing Pepsi-Cola and other affiliated brands. The company purchases PET resin locally from Nanya Plastics in Lake City, SC and injects preforms to be used in state of the art, high speed bottling lines that blow and fill bottles at a rate of 1000 bottles per minute. Additional companies that fall under the CCI umbrella include Carolina Packaging Inc., Southeast Hot Fill, Pepsi of Florence, Pee Dee Foodservice and Pepsi of Greenville, SC.

MPD Electric Cooperative Sharing Success

MPD Electric Cooperative delivered checks totaling $20,000 to four deserving organizations across the Pee Dee. The Community Kitchen of Bennettsville, Sandy Grove Baptist Church - Food Pantry of Bennettsville, Kids Closet of Darlington, and Help 4 Kids of Florence were all pleasantly surprised to learn they were recipients of these helpful donations. The contributions were part of the Cooperative’s bank, CoBank and their “Sharing Success” program. CoBank matched contributions of MPD Electric Cooperative to four local charities of its choice. Roger Griggs at the Community Kitchen stated, “You just don’t know what this means to us. We operate solely on donations, no government funding, and these funds go a long way”. The Community Kitchen serves lunch Monday through Friday to about 180 individuals and is staffed only by volunteers. MPD Electric Cooperative employees also provide food, cook, and serve meals several times each year at the kitchen. Sandy Grove’s Food Pantry packs food bags to put in cars that drive through the church parking lot every fourth Saturday feeding about 400 families. Food pantry services are available to anyone who qualifies and registers. Pastor Gilbert Wilson of Sandy Grove Baptist Church said, “The Lord blesses us so we may bless others. That’s what He calls us to do”. Deacon of the church, Thomas Johnson along with Pastor Wilson started the food pantry almost 20 years ago. Kids Closet in downtown Darlington provides clothes for needy children of all ages and sizes throughout the community. Their space is made to feel like a real retail store to give kids a sense of normalcy and “go shopping”. Beth Hubbard was thrilled to receive the donation and said, “Somehow, some way, the funds always show up just when they are needed." The organization can also use additional gently used clothing, jackets, shoes, and coat hangers. Diane Welch with Help 4 Kids stated, “The number of food insecure children in our area is surprising. You can’t expect children to learn and behave well in school if they’re going on an empty stomach. Our goal is that children get to school each morning rested, fed and ready to learn”. The organization packs food bags that are discretely sent home before the weekend with children who meet a certain criteria. “MPD’s cooperative spirit focuses on the needs of the people in our communities. These contributions aim to improve the quality of life in all the areas we serve and we’re grateful for the blessings we have to share with others,” said MPD Electric Cooperative President and CEO, William Fleming, Jr.

If you are celebrating a positive achievement or have been awarded for a newsworthy accomplishment, email Heather Page at heather@vipmagsc.com.

McLeod Health Foundation Receives $25,000 Grant from Truist Foundation

Funds to Support Purchase of New Mobile Mammography Unit. The McLeod Health Foundation today announced it received a $25,000 grant from Truist Foundation to support the purchase of a new Mobile Mammography Unit. “We are pleased to receive this funding from Truist Foundation,” said Jill Bramblett, Executive Director of the McLeod Foundation. “This support will continue to ensure life-saving access to annual mammograms through the new McLeod Mobile Mammography Unit.” Donors to the McLeod Foundation made it possible for the purchase of the original unit in 2008. Since that time, breast cancer has been detected in 152 women and more than 33,000 women have been able to conveniently receive a screening mammogram -- many at industries throughout the region. This incredible resource needs to be replaced so it can reliably travel throughout the region to offer this special service to women, according to Bramblett. “Providing convenient access to medical care and screening supports our communities and can save lives,” said Mike Brenan, South Carolina, Regional President for Truist, speaking on behalf of the Truist Foundation. “The new Mobile Mammography Unit is an important addition that will help McLeod Health fulfill its mission and is another way Truist inspires and builds better lives and communities.”

Amazing Grace Park Awarded Grant from Maron County Healthcare Foundation

Amazing Grace Park is pleased to announce the acceptance of a 3 year grant from the Marion County Healthcare Foundation. The grant totals $56,000 annually. Amazing Grace Park (AGP) has received a grant from the MCHF to assist with maintenance, upkeep, and ongoing activities. With a focus on economic growth, education, and healthy living, these funds will be used to further the vision for the park. Said Pete Mazzaroni, Executive Director of the Foundation “the foundation board recognizes that completing park construction was one milestone, but becoming operational in the community is another. This operational grant will help the park achieve that goal.” Events will be planned to bring community members and visitors to Marion County. The events will include community celebrations, festivals, and more. AGP is working to provide group fitness opportunities to encourage healthy living. The park is partnering with local school districts to expand upon the learning experiences available to students. Park Manager, Stephanie Gamoneda, says “Amazing Grace Park is so thankful for this investment into our community. We strive to create a welcoming environment with inspiring reasons to continually visit the park. This grant will ensure we can provide those opportunities for our community and beyond.”

New Funding Paves the Way for Growth at FMU's Wildsumaco Bilogical Station

FMU’s Wildsumaco Biological Station in Ecuador is expanding its facilities to further enhance the experience for faculty and student researchers. Located in the foothills of the Andean Mountains, the station is an international hub for biological research. The facility currently consists of two buildings, a residence hall and a multipurpose room, but will soon include a new laboratory. FMU’s continued investment in the Wildsumaco Biological Station has created significantly more opportunities for scientific research and instruction since its inception ten years ago. “We have funding now that we have already committed to the next phase of expansion at the Station,” said Travis Knowles, FMU biology professor and director of Wildsumaco Biological Station. “We want to apply to the National Science Foundation and other grant agencies for funding to equip the lab, so we have a good plan in place.” FMU partnered with UNC-Wilmington, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, and the Wildsumaco Wildlife Sanctuary in 2012 to create a research and lodging facility where biologists and related faculty can study and monitor rare and diverse species unique to the region. “A decade ago, FMU and UNC-Wilmington joined with a group of Ecuadorian partners to develop an exciting new biological station in the foothills of the Andean Mountains.” said Dr. Fred Carter, president of Francis Marion University. “Much of the collaborative effort was accomplished by Travis Knowles, one of our most innovative and resourceful biologists. The Station and the quality of work that it has produced has substantially exceeded the expectations of all of the institutions involved. We’re excited about expanding the facility so that even more students and faculty can undertake meaningful research in this unique international setting.” Wildsumaco Biological Station can house up to 18 faculty or student researchers. Currently, the facility has a multipurpose building that functions as a dining hall and lecture space for visiting groups.