The Greenville Chamber Foundation has been awarded a $250,000 grant from The Leon Levine Foundation through the Carolina Career-Connected Learning Challenge to expand LaunchGVL, the partnership between the Greenville Chamber and Greenville County Schools designed to connect high school students with paid internships.

The Carolina Career-Connected Learning Challenge was created to identify and support organizations building innovative career-connected learning pathways that help students transition from education to meaningful, livable-wage careers. More than 130 organizations from North and South Carolina applied for funding. Following a highly competitive review process, just 15 organizations were selected to receive grants.

The Greenville Chamber Foundation's proposal was recognized for its commitment to expanding opportunity and economic mobility for students and young adults across Greenville County.

"Preparing students for successful careers starts with meaningful connections between education and business," said Cheryl Garrison, Executive Director of the Greenville Chamber Foundation. "This investment from The Leon Levine Foundation allows us to significantly expand LaunchGVL, giving hundreds more students access to real-world work experience while helping employers develop the future workforce they need to succeed."

Since its inception in 2018, LaunchGVL has connected hundreds of Greenville County students with paid internships that prepare them for college and careers while helping employers build a strong local talent pipeline.

The grant will support the continued growth of the program by:

• Increasing student participation from 220 to 300 students annually, expanding access by more than 30%.
• Recruiting and engaging additional business partners to create more paid internship opportunities.
• Placing dedicated LaunchGVL Champions at three priority high schools to provide enhanced student support and coaching.
• Expanding the LaunchGVL Ambassador network to every Greenville County Schools high school.
• Investing in technology and data systems to strengthen participant tracking, employer engagement, and long-term program outcomes.

"This generous investment from The Leon Levine Foundation will create life-changing opportunities for more students across Greenville County," said Garrison. "We are incredibly grateful for The Leon Levine Foundation's partnership and shared commitment to preparing young people for meaningful careers."