The partnership between Richland School District One and Palmetto Health is one of only six across the country to be recognized with the inaugural National School and Business Partnerships Award, presented by The Council for Corporate & School Partnerships.

Richland One’s partnership with Palmetto Health was selected for the award from among 354 applicants from 42 states and the District of Columbia. Each of the six winners will receive $10,000 to further their partnership programs and activities.

"We are proud to share this national recognition with Palmetto Health and honored to be among the first six recipients of this award," said Richland One Superintendent Dr. Ronald L. Epps. "“Palmetto Health has been a longtime friend of Richland One. Each school year Palmetto Health and its employees reach out to identify even more ways they can share their time, resources and expertise with our schools. Our partnership now stands as a national model for what businesses and schools can do when they work together. The real winners are our students and the community."

Palmetto Health began partnering with Richland One schools in the 1992-93 school year. In addition to continuing its original partnership with A.C. Flora High School, Palmetto Health also has teamed up with E.E. Taylor Elementary, Carver-Lyon Elementary and Crayton Middle, along with offering programs at several other district schools. Partnership activities vary from school to school, but all focus on improving student achievement and the well-being of students, their families and district staff.

"Successful communities are created when businesses like Palmetto Health partner with schools, civic groups and non-profits to better use their resources to benefit our community," said Charles D. Beaman Jr., president of Palmetto Health. "We have been partnering with School District One for more than 10 years because we are committed to being a responsible corporate citizen. Programs we have sponsored include health education for staff and students, our employees serving as Lunch Buddies and providing Automatic External Defibrillators. In addition, we provide eye exams and glasses for school children throughout Richland, Lexington and Fairfield counties.

"For our partnership to receive a national award is gratifying, but what matters most is that we are impacting the lives of children who will be responsible for the next generation," Beaman said. "As we continue this partnership, Palmetto Health and its family join the district and its family in celebration of our community’s future."

The Coca-Cola Company founded The Council for Corporate & School Partnerships in 2001 to identify, create and support exemplary partnerships between businesses and schools. For more information on The Council for Corporate & School Partnerships and the National School and Business Partnerships Award, log on to the Council’s web site at www.corpschoolpartners.org.