South Carolina First Steps

🎉 It's officially A Night to Celebrate Community week! This Thursday, we'll gather at 701 Whaley to raise critical funds that support children and families in ALL 46 counties across South Carolina. Every ticket purchased helps provide flexible resources that meet unique and urgent community needs—from family engagement initiatives to staff development. Haven't secured your ticket yet? There's still time! Join us for an unforgettable evening of celebration, silent auctions, and exclusive raffle opportunities including a Dawn Staley-autographed basketball! Visit SCFirstSteps.org/Celebrate to purchase your ticket or raffle ticket now!

COLUMBIA CALLING! 🌟 Why travel far when paradise is in your backyard? Our 'Columbia Staycation Raffle Package' is the ultimate local getaway! Indulge in culinary excellence with a $250 gift card to Hall's (Columbia's hottest dining destination!) and unwind in style at The Graduate Hotel's luxurious Junior King suite. One night of pure bliss without the travel hassle! At South Carolina First Steps’ A Night to Celebrate Community, enter for a chance to win some of the best parts of Columbia—without even needing to leave town. #ColumbiaStaycation #LocalLuxury SCFirstSteps.org/Celebrate

CHAMPIONS DNA! 🏆🏀 Though we fell short in the National Championship, our Gamecocks remain DYNASTY DEFINED with NCAA titles in 2017, 2022, and 2024! Snag your chance at hoops HISTORY with this Dawn Staley autographed basketball at A Night to Celebrate Community! With 9 SEC regular season AND tournament championships since 2013, Coach Staley's legacy only grows—Olympic gold as player AND coach, the only person EVER to win the Naismith Award both ways! Now with Ta'niya Latson joining the squad, this signature piece isn't just memorabilia—it's an INVESTMENT in greatness! #GamecockDynasty #ForeverChampions SCFirstSteps.org/Celebrate

When you donate to A Night to Celebrate Community, you help reach children and families in hard-to-reach areas across the state, ensuring every child in South Carolina can get on the road to success. Last year, Orangeburg First Steps used funds from A Night to Celebrate Community to provide gas and food gift cards to families and parents, allowing them to travel to meetings and access all resources and connections First Steps offers. Read more at bit.ly/NTCCimpact or visit the link in our bio.

The power of investing in people! 💪 Since 2018, First Steps 4K has offered tuition scholarships for the Aim4Excellence National Director Credential, creating a ripple effect of leadership growth in over 100 early childhood leaders across South Carolina. Learn more about the details of this powerful initiative in this article written by Jane Humphries, Ed.D., and our very own, Kristine Jenkins, M.Ed. https://lnkd.in/gMH_BmSm

Because of funds from A Night to Celebrate Community, local partnerships have flexible resources to meet unique community needs. From putting food on tables to enabling staff development and retention, every dollar makes a difference for families across South Carolina. Laurens County First Steps used the funds to hire interns from Lander University. “The first time we had an intern from A Night to Celebrate Community funds, we had an intern who was INSTRUMENTAL with capital letters in helping us with our strategic plan,” said Toni Able, executive director of Laurens County First Steps. “If I could hire her full-time, I probably would have.” Read more bit.ly/NTCCimpact or visit the link in our bio.

We're thrilled to announce our Presenting Sponsor for A Night to Celebrate Community! A special thank you to Contec for their exceptional generosity and leadership in supporting South Carolina's youngest children and their families. As our Presenting Sponsor, Contec's commitment helps ensure that all 46 county partnerships can continue providing vital early childhood services across our state. When businesses invest in early childhood, we all benefit. Thank you, Contec, for being a champion for South Carolina's future! #ANightToCelebrateCommunity #SCFirstSteps #EarlyChildhood #CommunityPartners

Join SC First Steps and the SC Early Childhood Advisory Council on Friday, April 25, noon - 1 p.m., for 2025 Ready for Kindergarten LIVE, a free, virtual learning opportunity for families, educators, and advocates of rising kindergartners. 🚍 Hear from Tomeka Love, Red Bank Elementary Assistant Principal and South Carolina’s Assistant Principal of the Year, and discover resources that can help support a smooth transition into school. ➡️ Learn more and register [https://lnkd.in/euQx5s9u] #RisingKindergartners #SCFirstSteps #FamilyEngagement

Thanks to funds from last year's A Night to Celebrate Community, local partnerships provided not just educational programming, but meals that brought families together around tables—where the real magic happens. Read more about how funds from A Night to Celebrate Community were used at bit.ly/NTCCimpact or visit the link in our bio.

Join SC First Steps and the SC Early Childhood Advisory Council on Friday, April 25, noon - 1 p.m., for 2025 Ready for Kindergarten LIVE, a free, virtual learning opportunity for families, educators, and advocates of rising kindergartners. 🚍 Hear from Cara Tyrell, parenting coach and early childhood expert, and discover resources that can help support a smooth transition into school. ➡️ Learn more and register [ https://lnkd.in/euQx5s9u ] .