Graduation Imperative Launch | May 8

Want to increase a region’s economic vitality, then increase the number of people in that region who hold college degrees, whether they are 2-year, 4- year, graduate or professional degrees.

Join the public launch of The Graduation Imperative, an effort to increase our region’s college degree attainment, at 10 a.m. May 8 of the steps of the S.C. Statehouse in Columbia.

The Graduation Imperative is a collaborative initiative of the Navigating from Good to Great Foundation, the Central Carolina Community Foundation, COR, and the S.C. Higher Education Foundation in partnership with the region’s colleges and universities.

In South Carolina, nearly 34% of the state’s 2.4 million working-age adults hold at least a 2-year degree. The national rate is 38%.  By 2018 more than 60% of the jobs nationwide are estimated to require at least a two year degree.

Twenty-four percent of the state’s working age population holds bachelor’s degrees against a national average of 28%.  Just by moving to the national average by 2030, South Carolina could see an annual gain of $6.9 billion in personal income, $7.8 billion in gross state product and 44,514 permanent jobs.

Join the effort to improve our region and South Carolina’s college degree attainment rate.

Experience Riverfest 2012 at @SaludaRiverClub with @MightyMcFly and @2Fat2FlyWings

Experience Life on the River

Saluda River Club is hosting Riverfest 2012.

Riverfest is an exciting and relaxing day on the river at Saluda River Club.

Take a guided tour down the river or show your competitive side in a paddle race. If you want to stay dry, try a golf cart tour of the riverfront trails instead. There will be games and much more to do.

The atmosphere will come to life as the band Mighty McFly puts on live entertainment. Get your fix of fair-inspired food catered by 2 Fat 2 Fly, and don’t forget to stop at The Village Club lounge for a cocktail!

It’s all happening on Saturday, April 21 from 4 to 7 p.m. Make sure you RSVP by April 18. RSVP by email or call 803-808-3752.

It’s going to be a rocking good time on the river!

Feel GOOD by doing GOOD – 3 Upcoming COR Volunteer Opportunities

Urban Tour | April 5

The Urban Tour brings downtown Main Street to life from 5:30-8 p.m. Columbians can take a free self-guided tour of local businesses while enjoying live entertainment, discounted food and drinks and special offers from retailers.

COR’s volunteers will help guide the masses by greeting, answering questions and giving directions. Enjoy a volunteer lounge stocked with pizza and beverages and a free t-shirt.

Want to get involved? Click here.

 

USMC Mud Run | April 21

Support Columbia Marines by volunteering for the USMC Mud Run. All proceeds from the USMC Mud Run support Marines, helping families of those wounded or killed in action, and funding scholarships in memory of Marines who gave their lives defending our freedom. The bi-annual USMC Mud Run is presented by the Greater Columbia Marine Foundation in partnership with Columbia Opportunity Resource.

Volunteer for a morning or afternoon shift. You’ll get a free t-shirt, a volunteer appreciation party and a little mud!

Volunteer today!

 

COR Committee Meetup | April 24

Have your say. Shape the future of Columbia. 

There are so many reasons to join COR’s Committees – and so many benefits!

• Showcase your talents to the community.
• Effect change in Columbia. 
• Make new friends with like-minded people.
• Gain new (resumeable!) skills. 
• Feel good by doing good.

COR leadership opportunities include:

• Connectivity Committee: Organizes COR’s programs, Table for Six, Talent Bank and Columbia 101.
• Conduit Committee: Leads COR’s marketing and communications efforts.
• Friends + Funds Committee: Recruits individual and corporate membership investments.
• Connectorati: Serve as COR and Columbia ambassadors and cheerleaders by providing one-on-one connections and coaching. 

To learn more and apply to serve, click here.  

To learn more about COR,”like” us on Facebook, follow up on Twitter (@impactcolumbia), and visit our Web site www.ourcor.org.  

HIRING OUR HEROS COMES TO COLUMBIA MARCH 6

COLUMBIA, SC – The Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce is pleased to help sponsor the Hiring Our Heroes event on Tuesday, Mar. 6, 2012.  The one-of-a-kind FREE hiring fair will take place from 9:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. at MG Robert. B. Solomon Center located at 6510 Strom Thurmond Blvd., Fort Jackson. The event is for veteran job seekers, active duty military members, Guard and Reserve members and eligible spouses.

Employers and job seekers must pre-register for FREE at HoH.GreatJob.net. Job seekers attending the fair are urged to upload their resume prior to the event, as it will be distributed to employers the week of the hiring fair.

Hiring Our Heroes is being conducted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment & Training Service (DOL VETS), Fort Jackson, The Army Career and Alumni Program (ACAP), South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce Veterans Services (SCDEW), South Carolina National Guard, U.S. Army Reserve, South Carolina Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), the Employer Partnership of the Armed Forces, Army Community Services, FN Manufacturing, WACH Fox and the State Media Company.

If you’d like to learn more about the Hiring Our Heroes national program click here.

If you need assistance registering, please email hiringourheroes@uschamber.com.

To volunteer at the event visit the Columbia Chamber website.

To become a member or to learn more about the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, as well as its events, programs and initiatives, visit www.ColumbiaChamber.com. You can also visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ColumbiaChamber.

About the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit, membership-driven organization comprised of 1,500 business enterprises, civic organizations, educational institutions and individuals in Calhoun, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lexington, Newberry and Richland counties. The Columbia Chamber serves as the voice of its members and the business community at large on matters of economic, educational, social, cultural and political concern, as well as supports and promotes the success of its members through networking, professional development, advocacy and leadership. The organization has represented the interests of the local business community since 1902.

To become a member or to learn more about the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, as well as its events, programs and initiatives, visit www.ColumbiaChamber.com.

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COR Unveils Official Columbia Christmas Tree at Mingle & Jingle on Main Street

COR | Columbia Opportunity Resource, City Center Partnership and the City of Columbia unveiled the official Columbia Christmas Tree Thursday, December 1 at Mingle and Jingle on Main Street. Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin, Councilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine, COR Executive Director Katherine Swartz and Frame of Mind Owner Mark Plessinger led the tree lighting celebration.

The tree, which will be on display at Columbia Museum of Art’s Boyd Plaza through December, is a live deodar cedar covered in 2,600 LED lights, jingle bells and artistic ornaments. The tree will be planted in the Earlewood neighborhood after the holiday season.

COR and Frame of Mind coordinated the tree installation, including donors and volunteers: Earlewood Community Citizens Organization (ECCO), Billy Guess with Fine Gardening, Blue Moon Landscaping and Reese’s Plants.

About COR
COR Columbia Opportunity Resource (COR) connects young, talented professionals in the greater Columbia area to diverse and meaningful networks for leadership, service and fun. Our vision is an innovative, energized and successful Columbia community that attracts, inspires, develops and retains the best talent in the world. Find your place to make a difference: www.ourcor.org or 803.733.1123.

COR Recruits Record Number of Volunteers for USMC Mud Run

COR, Columbia Opportunity Resource, recruited more than 560 volunteers to staff the Saturday, October 15 USMC Mud Run, making this fall’s event one of the largest volunteer events in the Midlands and connected Columbia to the national Make a Difference celebration. COR, a non-profit community development organization dedicated to engaging and connecting Columbians to the community, is the volunteer partner organization of the Greater Columbia Marine Foundation and is celebrating its third partnership event with the Foundation.

The large-scale volunteer effort enables increased proceeds from the USMC Mud Run to support Columbia-area Marines and their families as well as scholarship funds for Midlands’ JROTC programs. Volunteers worked in a variety of posts to support the 2,400 teams competing in the run, held in Sandy Run, just south of Columbia.

COR Volunteer Captain Evan Hobbs worked in the registration tent to welcome nearly 2,400 teams to the USMC Mud Run. Hobbs serves on the COR board of directors and is an active community volunteer.

To learn more about COR and its upcoming community involvement initiatives, please visit www.ourcor.org or contact Katherine Swartz at 803.733.1123. COR is a partner organization of the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce.

 

Call for Volunteers for USMC Mud Run October 15

Greater Columbia Marine Foundation and Columbia Opportunity Resource Call for Volunteers for USMC Mud Run October 15

Greater Columbia Marine Foundation and Columbia Opportunity Resource Partner for One of the Midlands Largest Volunteer Engagement Efforts

Columbia Opportunity Resource (COR) and the Greater Columbia Marine Foundation have again joined forces to recruit more than 500 volunteers for the USMC Ultimate Challenge Mud Run Saturday, October 15, 2011. The USMC Mud Run, a bi-annual event, raises money for the families of Marines who have been injured or killed in the line of duty. Volunteers may sign up online at the USMC Mud Run website.

The USMC Mud Run is one the largest single-day volunteer recruitment efforts in the Midlands. Volunteers are needed to support the thousands runners completing the 5.2-mile, 34-obstacle Mud Run, known as the “Leatherneck.” While Marines are stationed along the course, civilian volunteers help with a variety of activities from the course registration to the finish line.

“Columbians are remarkably generous with their support of our servicemen and women. Volunteers enjoy the opportunity to assist participants who run the course, and help to Marines and their families at the same time,” said Chakisse Newton, chair of the COR Board of Directors.

“The Greater Columbia Marine Foundation is excited to continue the partnership with COR to recruit volunteers for the USMC Mud Run. COR’s involvement will ensure that we have the volunteers needed to successfully produce this large event,” said Nancye Bailey, Carolina Event Consultants, who serves as event manager for the USMC Mud Run.

Volunteers may sign up for one of two shifts (6:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. or 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.) or volunteer all day. All volunteers will receive a free lunch or dinner depending on their shift, a free t-shirt and an invitation to the volunteer after-party. Volunteers must be at least 13 years or older (with ages 13-17 accompanied by an adult). Groups are encouraged to participate and may sign up through the website.

For more information, contact volunteer@ourcor.org.

About COR:
Columbia Opportunity Resource is an innovative volunteer-based 501 (c)3 community development organization focused on engaging and connecting a new generation of Columbians to make our region a better place to land, live, learn, work, play and prosper. www.ourcor.org.

About the Greater Columbia Marine Foundation:
The Greater Columbia Marine Foundation is organized to promote the values of the United States Marine Corps within the Greater Columbia area through its leadership and actions. The Foundation activities will provide the state with a greater awareness of the presence of Marine Corps organizations and promote the important functions these organizations serve relative to the social and economic welfare of the Greater Columbia area and when feasible South Carolina. www.columbiamarine.org

 

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Columbia Opportunity Resource Celebrates National Volunteer Week

COR Honors 2010 President’s Volunteer Services Honorees

 COLUMBIA, S.C. – Columbia Opportunity Resource (COR), a partner organization of the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, will celebrate National Volunteer Week with an awards event honoring COR’s 2010 President’s Volunteer Services Award recipients. The reception will take place on Monday, April 11 at 5 p.m. at the Columbia Chamber located at 930 Richland St. Cathy Novinger, United Way of the Midlands’ 2011 Humanitarian of the Year, will serve as the keynote speaker.

The President’s Volunteer Service Award is issued by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation on behalf of the President of the United States to recognize the best in the American spirit and to encourage all Americans to improve their communities through volunteer service, and civic participation. Award recipients being honored include:

-       Beth Baldauf | United Way of the Midlands

-       Mandi Engram |  Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports & Tourism

-       Lindsey Spires Griffin | Presbyterian College

-       Courtney Herring | Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce

-       Gregory Hilton | EngenuitySC

-       Katherine Robinson Hutton | Sagacious Partners, LLC

-       Chakisse Newton | Cardinal Consulting

-       Katie Wilmesherr Rantin | Columbia Regional Sports Council

-       Khush Tata | South Carolina Technical College System

-       Sara Tipton | Bokesch & Tipton, LLC

-       Anna Katherine Ward | The Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina

 National Volunteer Week, April 10-16, 2011, is about inspiring, recognizing and encouraging individuals to seek out imaginative ways to engage in their communities. The week focuses on honoring the ordinary people who give of themselves to accomplish extraordinary things, strengthen their country by volunteering.