Amber and Brandi Sowell are students at the University of South Carolina, which may not have become a reality after a startling incident that occurred 8 years ago.
/ Janet Parker
COLUMBIA (WACH) - A South Carolina organization is giving kids who thought they would not be able to achieve their goals of higher education a chance.
Kids' Chance of SC provides scholarships to the children of South Carolina workers who are disabled or killed by on-the-job injuries.
The organization is able to provide these scholarships by raising money through fundraisers like the upcoming Dennis Brewer Golf Tournament, which will be held on Friday, March 30 at 9 a.m. at The Members Club at Woodcreek.
"It's going to be a great, great event. We have about 18 to 20 teams right now. We're hoping to get some more," said Jerry Reardon, Kids' Chance board member.
Reardon says over the past 20 years more than $700,000 in scholarships have been awarded to college students, and he has seen first what that means for those just looking to further their education.
"They're on the verge of tears when they get a letter from us, or an email, or a phone call saying you now qualify for $6,000," said Reardon. "I mentor a young fellow here in Columbia, who infact his grandfather takes care of him full-time and has raised him since he was a child, and he would not be able to go to USC without this money. With the $6,000 we're able to give him a year, he's now attending USC and it's a real game changer."
Amber and Brandi Sowell are students at the University of South Carolina, which may not have become a reality after a startling incident that occurred 8 years ago.
"Our dad got shot. He was a grocery store manager and it was right before a really big hurricane. They came in and then cased the store and then came back an hour later and tried to rob him. He got shot three times in the side," said Amber Sowell.
The injury put the Sowell girls' father out of work, and made the thought of paying for college a heavy burden they did not know how to lift. Then they found out about Kids' Chance.
"When I found out about Kids' Chance is when I really started looking into colleges and applying and stuff. Until then I didn't think that it was feasible," said Amber Sowell, who is now a senior at the university.
Click Here for an application to register for the 15th Annual Dennis Brewer Memorial Golf Tournament.
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