Florence’s ‘United 74’ Changing Lives, Outcomes For Young People And Communities

United 74 Celebrates 10 Years of Impact in Florence with a Golf and Gala Weekend

FLORENCE, S.C. (08-15-2022) – What happens when Florence high school graduates who could be successful in college are overlooked or written off as non-college material because their C-average grades do not qualify them for academic scholarships? These young people are often left behind.

Ten years ago, alumni from the Class of 1974 at four Florence, South Carolina high schools recognized that there are far too many high school students possessing what is needed to be successful in a college classroom – intellectual curiosity, talent, and tenacity – all things needed to excel except someone to recognize their potential and believe they could have a brighter future.

An Eye-Opening High School Reunion Leads to 10 Years of Giving Back

In 2009, members of the Class of 1974 returned to Florence for a high school reunion. What they all noticed was how little had changed concerning many Black students graduating high school believing college was not an option. Some of the alumni realized it was a belief they mistakenly held 35 years earlier.

After spending two years organizing, a group of dedicated alumni formed and incorporated United 74 as a 501 (c)(3) in 2012 to reach as many teens from low-income families as possible through a social change effort designed to award scholarship. Now celebrating 10 years of filling a specific void in the community, United 74 will hold its 10th annual scholarship fundraising weekend at the Florence Darlington Technical College Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology (SiMT). Events kick off at 7 a.m. on Friday, August 26 with the Invitational Golf Tournament at the Country Club of South Carolina, and a pre-gala affair at 6 p.m. at the SiMT. The 10th annual gala will be held at SiMT on Saturday, August 27 with a 6 p.m. reception followed by the gala at 7 p.m. Monies raised from the weekend’s events will be used to award needed scholarships to Florence students attending colleges and universities in South Carolina.

A Unique Florence Organization Changing Lives and Outcomes

United 74 is the only organization of its kind in Florence providing scholarships to students who are often overlooked or do not meet the criteria for merit-based scholarships. Recipients of United 74 scholarships are young people deemed not qualified for merit-based scholarships or are often passed over for recommendations to pursue college due to having a GPA of C or below.
Each year, 12 high school students are identified by teachers as candidates for United 74’s Scholarship Assistance Program. Six are selected by the organization who meet the criteria of a C average or below, consistent school attendance, a history of no serious disciplinary issues at school, or no criminal record.

“United 74 is closing the college divide for many young people in Florence by helping to open the door for students who may not have a plan for what comes next after they graduate high school,” said Lamar Brown, president of United 74 and a founding member of the organization. “Our goal is to put post-secondary students ‘seats in seats,’ serve as a conduit for community members to pool resources, and model what is needed to prepare more of our children to compete in a global society. We are focused on helping us to help ourselves, and thereby, improve human conditions.”

To ensure the organization reaches even more young people, United 74 also offers the Attorney Althea DeBarr-Johnson Scholarship Fund, established by the fund’s namesake. Scholarship recipients must meet the same qualifications as recipients of the Scholarship Assistance Program, including attending a South Carolina college or university.

“I had humble beginnings, was not a straight-A student, and needed scholarships to attend college,” said DeBarr-Johnson, a founding member of United 74 and a Benedict College alumna. “I wanted to reach back and help promising young people who may have been overlooked because they are not on the honor roll. United 74 enables supporters to lead social change and also offers donors and the philanthropic community in greater South Carolina to join us in this critically important effort.”

Addressing Needs Beyond Scholarships

Beyond the more than 50 college students the organization has supported, United 74’s outreach and impact have expanded since its inception 10 years ago. In October 2016, Hurricane Matthew brought torrential rains to South Carolina, leaving swollen rivers that flooded communities. The disaster marked a turning point for United 74’s mission, as the organization provided food and other support to affected and dislocated families.

Since 2016, the work of the organization has included addressing the needs of underserved families and communities that need help with money for food and rent coverage. In 2018, United 74 launched, “Room for One More,” an annual program aimed at providing Christmas gifts and gift cards for groceries to more than 100 school-age students living in nontraditional housing such as motels and homeless shelters, and those sharing temporary space with family and friends. The needs of Florence residents, particularly those who are displaced, grew dramatically at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Through United 74 scholarships, food drives, and programs, more high school graduates are opting to go to college and fewer school-age children are being impacted by food insecurity and other conditions due to lack of financial resources.