FLORENCE, S.C. – Twenty-eight South Carolina residents are participating in the eighth class of the Non-Profit Leadership Institute at Francis Marion University. The 28 participants are from 13 cities and represent 23 different non-profit organizations.    

              Funded initially with multi-year grants from the Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation, the institute now receives major support from FMU, along with a grant from the PSARAS Foundation.   

               The opening session of the seven-month training program is Friday, Sept. 11. Additional sessions are scheduled for Oct. 15-16, Nov. 19-20, Jan. 7-8, Feb. 12, March 19, and April 22-23.  

               Topics include leadership; program development and delivery; human resource development; engaging board members and volunteers; effective financial resource development and management; programmatic and organizational issues related to data collection and reporting; visibility, including managing external relations; and case studies.  

               Fred Sheheen, former commissioner and executive director of the S.C. Commission on Higher Education, is director of the FMU institute. A native of Camden, he is a graduate of the Kershaw County public schools, Duke University, and the Institute for Education Management at Harvard University. He began his professional career as a journalist and publisher and has served in a variety of positions in state government. He is currently a senior fellow at the Institute for Public Service and Policy Research at the University of South Carolina.   

               For more information about the Non-Profit Leadership Institute, contact Elizabeth C. Bonnoitt, Non-Profit Leadership Institute liaison at 843-661-1199 or visit the NPLI website at www.fmunonprofit.org. 

 Aiken: Carmen Landy, Helping Hands, Inc.

Bennettsville: Elisabeth McNeil, Rural Area Leadership Institute (RALI)

Columbia: Gwen Baker, Erin Johnson and Carol Singletary, S.C. Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy; Graham Cox, S.C. Tennis Association; Beth Singletary, S.C. Association of Nonprofit Organizations; Anne Walker, Alston Wilkes Society; Ginny Waller, Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands

Darlington: Jennifer King, Pee Dee Land Trust; Suzan Orrico, Trinity Collegiate School; Brenda Savage, B&L Homework and Learning Center

Dillon: Cynthia Hulon, Rural Area Leadership Institute (RALI)

Florence: Susan Bankson, Eastern Carolina Community Foundation; Hal Campbell, PEACE Power & Light; Bryan Chapman, Pee Dee Community Fellowship; Steve Cooper, Paladin Training, Inc.; Francie Dunlap, Friends of the Florence County Library; Daphine Tedder, Manna House

Greenville: Chris Doyle, American Leprosy Missions

Hemingway: Jannie Cooper, Rural Area Leadership Institute (RALI)

Kingstree: Jeanne Nisley, Springbank Retreat; Robert Welch, Vital Aging of Williamsburg County

Little River: Dale Brewer, Veterans and Women Empowerment

Marion: Gordon Harper, Habitat for Humanity of Marion County; Saundra Tindall, Rural Area Leadership Institute (RALI)

Mount Pleasant: Anna Hamilton, Operation Home

Myrtle Beach: Ty Grissett, SharedCare, Inc.

#29/9-9-09