News

Making College Possible – Your Donation Builds a Stronger Workforce

Since joining in late 2024, I’ve been inspired by the life-changing impact we’ve had on students and families in Greenwood County.

As graduation season wraps up, we celebrate students from kindergarten to college who are taking their next steps. Thanks to generous donors like you, this school year (2024-2025) we’ve supported:

• 134 students at Piedmont Technical College
• 33 students in our bachelor’s degree scholarship program, including juniors and seniors at Lander University and engineering majors at Clemson and USC.

One of those students, Daniela Corona-Moran, recently graduated from Lander University and is now a Labor & Delivery nurse at Self Regional Hospital. Her journey has inspired her brother to enroll at Piedmont Technical College this fall, and her younger sister now sees college as a real possibility—proof that The Greenwood Promise transforms families, not just individuals.

We’re proud that on average 75% of Piedmont Technical College Promise graduates stay in Greenwood County, strengthening our workforce. May 2025 graduates have secured jobs at Eaton, CPW, Self Regional, Hometown Roofing, Cardinal Health, Colgate, and Velux.

Beyond tuition support, we provide one-on-one career guidance, meeting with over 1,000 students this past school year.

Since our founding, we’ve awarded over $500,000 in scholarships.

But we need your help. College remains expensive, and we want to expand the number of students we serve. Whether you’ve donated before or are considering giving for the first time, your support opens doors to tuition-free education, career opportunities, and builds a stronger community of working people.

Thank you for believing in these students and making their success possible. Stay tuned for more updates on the impact of your generosity.

With gratitude, Carrie Hofmann President & CEO The Greenwood Promise 

Greenwood Promise Encourages Kindergartners to Aspire to College

More than 900 kindergarten students in Greenwood County received a special medallion in May as part of The Greenwood Promise’s initiative to promote higher education opportunities at an early age.

The nonprofit organization visited 15 schools across Districts 50, 51, 52, and local private schools, spreading its message of removing financial barriers to college. Each student received a medallion—a symbol of The Greenwood Promise’s commitment to providing tuition-free options for those growing up in Greenwood County.

“These students represent the class of 2037, and we want to ensure they have every opportunity to pursue higher education,” said Greenwood Promise CEO Carrie Hofmann. “Many students, just like these kindergartners, have already taken advantage of our tuition-free programs. Kindergarten is where dreams begin, and we want parents to understand that their child can attend college if they prioritize education early—by attending class, listening to teachers, working hard, and applying themselves.”

The Greenwood Promise guarantees full tuition coverage for students pursuing degrees and certifications at Piedmont Technical College, ensuring any education at PTC is completely free.

The program has also expanded to offer a limited number of scholarships covering the final two years of a bachelor’s degree at Lander University in high-demand majors. The Greenwood Promise also supports a few students at Clemson and USC, mostly in Engineering majors not offered at Lander University.

Professor Promise, the organization’s mascot, joined five of the ceremonies, adding excitement and energy to the events.

The Greenwood Promise is a nonprofit organization fueled by the generosity of local businesses and community members, whose support makes tuition-free education possible for Greenwood County students.