Grant Request Real Champions, Inc.
Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form
Organization Name: Real Champions, Inc.
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 7596 W Main St
City: Ridgeland
State: South Carolina
Postal Code: 29936
Main Phone: 843-726-6000
Main Fax:
Organization Website: realchampionsinc.org
Employer ID Number: 81-3956956
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)3
Proposal Information
Today’s Date: 3/24/25
Requested Amount: 6250
Project Title: Advocate Mentorship
Project Description:
Real Champions, Inc. exists to eliminate the cycle of generational poverty by providing trusted Advocate Mentors for children, starting in kindergarten and remaining through high school graduation. We work with the most vulnerable and underserved students – those whose families have been in poverty for at least two generations and have experienced at least one of the following: 1) single-parent household; 2) incarcerated/previously incarcerated parent; 3) Section 8/low-income housing for more than two years. Using a series of enrollment questions, including ACEs scores, school performance, behavior, and family history, we work closely with schools and families to identify students who need our help. Youth referred to our program typically test behind their current academic standing and do not have the advantage of high parental involvement due to barriers like transportation or scheduling conflicts.
Advocate Mentors step into these situations to equip and empower vulnerable students for success. They meet weekly with their mentees in school and after school, all year long, preparing and designing academic and experiential learning opportunities and targeted social-emotional learning (SEL) and “soft skill” activities. Advocate Mentors not only work closely with the child, but they also collaborate with the child’s family and other natural support systems. Advocate Mentors create “success teams” around each child by identifying natural mentors in the child’s life (such as family members, teachers, coaches, etc). And facilitating a cooperative process of planning, assessment, and advocacy to ensure that the child is well protected and equipped. They are also trained to partner with existing community organizations to secure tangible needs, such as clothing, food, and housing. They simultaneously act as mentors for children and advocates for the family, by assisting and connecting parents to resources in our community while directly working with each child.
Total Project Budget: 871,406
Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Financial support for our program comes from individuals, organizations, and businesses (locally and nationally), and from grants from private, public, and corporate foundations. We have approximately 200 individual donors and 20 business partners. For privacy, we do not release names but are willing to share more information about our funding sources upon request and with the consent of the donors. Additionally, we have received numerous grants from the state of South Carolina’s Department of Social Services and from foundations, including the following: Dabo Swinney’s All In Foundation, Palmetto Electric, The Rogers/ Slater Foundation, The Baptist Foundation of South Carolina, Church Mouse of Hilton Head Island, Truist Bank, The Aflac Foundation, Heritage Classic Foundation, Truist Foundation, and Coastal States Bank.
Project Duration: Year round
Geographical Area Served: Lowcountry, South Carolina
Age Group To Be Served: Kindergarten-12th grade
Contact Information
Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Mrs.
Contact First Name: Brenna
Contact Last Name: Bennett
Contact Title: Grant Writer
Contact Phone: 843-726-6000
Contact Email: development@realchampionsinc.org