The original six foundation believes a student's educational opportunities should not be limited by the zip code in which he or she lives. Our mission is to break down barriers through after-school programming and early literacy initiatives in rural and underserved communities.
The original six (o6) foundation's flagship program, o6 afterschool, provides students in grades two through eight with a safe and supportive place to learn while closing academic gaps. What began as a small pilot program has grown significantly over the last decade. Currently in its 10th year, o6 afterschool is a model of impact and consistency. During the 2024-25 school year, o6 afterschool: -served nearly 1,000 students in 12 public schools located in eight counties (allendale, bamberg, clarendon, colleton, florence, greenville, marion, and union). -delivered 16,998 hour of individualized homework assistance provided by more than 120 certified teachers. -97% of parents reported the program positively impacted their child, and 92% of students said they understood schoolwork better after attending. In the fall of 2025, o6 afterschool expanded to a 13th school, sims middle school and extended programming for eighth-grade students at jonesville elementary school, both in union county.students receive not only academic support but also opportunities to explore career pathways. In recent years, o6 has: -supplied virtual reality headsets for career exploration in rural schools. -partnered with companies like honda, boeing, bca bicycle, and haynesworth, sinkler, boyd to offer elementary and middle school students career exploration excursions. We also have onsite career experts who speak to students at school. -we are making it a priority to get the students we serve on university, college, and technical school campuses. Interactive steam (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) learning, team activities, and social enrichment remain a prominent piece of the program, helping students build confidence, develop strong study habits, and cultivate a lasting love of learning. All o6 programs operate. At no cost for students and families.
Second major program service accomplishment: the original six foundation believes the greatest gift you can give a child is the ability to read. Reading proficiency is one of the most important predictors of long-term academic success, yet many children in under-resourced communities lack access to age-appropriate books. That's why o6 created my first library, a program that places books directly in the hands of kindergarten students.through my first library, each student chooses ten high-quality summer reading books at a year-end book fair, building their own at-home library. This program is unique because it: -starts early: unlike most reading programs that begin in first grade, my first library starts in kindergarten to prevent "summer slide," which accounts for up to 85% of the reading gap between lower-income and higher income peers. -prioritizes choice: research shows that children are more likely to read books they choose themselves 92% of kids agree. -targets the greatest need: as a statewide foundation, o6 identifies and invests in south carolina's most underserved schools. Since its launch, my first library has distributed over 109,000 books to more than 10,000 kindergarteners in 44 public schools statewide. In 2025, the program expanded into chester, dillon, and spartanburg counties, broadening its reach and impact.