In The Know - Week of 8-14
Bon Secours Named Best In Greenville Area
Bon Secours St. Francis has been recognized as a “Best Hospital” for 2022 by the U.S. News & World Report. The health system’s two hospital campuses – St. Francis Eastside and St. Francis Downtown – were ranked first overall in the Greenville area.
“This distinction confirms our commitment to improving the health and well-being of our communities by bringing good help to those in need,” said Matt Caldwell, president of Bon Secours’ Greenville market.
The annual Best Hospitals rankings and ratings, in their 34th year, are designed to assist patients and their doctors in making informed decisions about where to receive care for challenging health conditions or elective procedures.
U.S. News evaluated more than 4,500 hospitals across 15 specialties and 21 procedures and conditions. Only 12% of evaluated hospitals earned a Best Hospitals ranking, a designation that means they excelled at clinical outcomes, nursing care and patient experience.
Bon Secours St. Francis Health System earned high ratings in nine categories: colon cancer surgery, diabetes, heart attack, heart failure, hip replacement, knee replacement, stroke, leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. The ratings signify that care is significantly better than the national average, as measured by factors such as patient outcomes.
Pride Link Hosts LGBTQ Youth, Parent Summit
Pride Link will host an LGBTQ Youth Summit from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 26 at First Baptist Church of Greenville, 847 Cleveland Street.
The summit is an opportunity for middle school, high school, and college-age young people to come together to learn new skills, make new friends, and discover who they are.
Meanwhile, families can learn strategies to keep their children safe and happy in school.
More than 15 workshops, plus lunch and breakfast, will be offered to youths and guardians. The summit is free for youths and $25 for parents. If there is a financial hardship, contact Nick Wolff, at nick@pridelink.org. Registration closes at midnight Aug. 25. For tickets, go to www.eventbrite.com/e/2023-lgbtq-youth-summit-be-proud-live-out-loud-registration.
Pride Link is seeking volunteers to work multiple shifts. For information, contact Nick Wolff, at nick@pridelink.org.
Pride Link has moved to a new location, but the location is not yet open to the public.
50 More Tickets Available For Women Executives Lunch
A few tickets are still available for the South Carolina Women’s Executive Luncheon, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 28 at the Greenville Convention Center, 1 Exposition Drive.
Tickets are $75. Information is available at www.womenconfidencebuilders.com. As an incentive, all ticket buyers will receive a box of Girl Scout Cookies.
The event is presented by the Women Confidence Builders, a nonprofit organization founded in 2021 that offers events, mentoring, speaking, and consulting services with the goal of uplifting women in business across the region, said Christi Powell, President of Women Confidence Builders and the Women Business Enterprise Lead for 84 Lumber.
The event includes networking and shopping from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; the speakers and luncheon will follow.
A discussion with Susann Tedrick and Bertina Ceccarelli will be moderated by Powell. Tedrick and Ceccarelli wrote, “Innovating for Diversity: Lessons from Top Companies Achieving Business Success.”
Tedrick is committed to increasing diversity, equity and inclusion in the tech industry. She serves as chair of the Advancing Tech Talent and Diversity Executive Council for CompTIA and is a coalition member for NPower’s Command Shift initiative, a nonprofit that helps young adults and military-connected individuals launch tech careers.
Tedrick also wrote, “Women of Color in Tech.”
Ceccarelli is CEO of NPower, which tries to break down barriers to social and economic mobility. Under her leadership, NPower has increased its budget fivefold; it serves more than 2,000 individuals annually.
BMW is the title sponsor for the event; Carolina Power is the presenting sponsor; Hugs & Hustle is the woman-business-owned presenting sponsor; Hill Electric is the Student and Inclusion Sponsor; the Greenville Chamber of Commerce is the Community Sponsor; Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. is the Book Sponsor; Assured Partners is Inclusion Sponsor; and Aline Capital, OP Source, Brasfield & Gorrie, and AFF are Supporting Sponsors. This event is held in conjunction with the BMW Supplier Diversity Conference.
In addition, Women Confidence Builders will present scholarships to students from Anderson Career Technology Center, the Spartanburg Academic Movement, and the Skilled Trades Alliance.
Flat Rock Playhouse Presents Classes, Auditions, New Musical
Flat Rock Playhouse is offering classes at Playhouse Jr. this fall. Classes are available to kindergarten through 12th grades. The classes are designed to prepare the next generation of artists for success on and off the stage.
The semester will also offer an adult scene study course.
For the first time, each enrollee will receive a free ticket to Flat Rock Playhouse's family musical, and the world premiere of “Slowpoke! The True Story Of A Tortoise & Hare.” The musical will be performed on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Nov. 3 to 12 at the playhouse, 2661 Greenville Hwy., Flat Rock, North Carolina.
For details and a list of courses, go to www.flatrockplayhouse.org/classes-camps. The number of slots is limited; early registrations are encouraged.
For questions or to register by phone, contact Lauren Hopkins at lrogershopkins@flatrockplayhouse.org or (828) 693-0403, ext. 246.
In addition, a workshop will be held before “Slowpoke” auditions from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 19 at the Playhouse Jr. Education Center. The session is a resource for those who want to understand more about the audition process. Participants can meet the writer, director and choreographer. For information about the audition workshop, go to www.flatrockplayhouse.org/playhousejr-auditions. The cost is $20.
Auditions will be held Sept. 8 and 9. From 20 to 30 actors in third grade and older are needed for the production. For details, times, and to sign up for singing, dancing and acting auditions, go to www.flatrockplayhouse.org/playhousejr-auditions.
Flat Rock Playhouse was founded in 1937 by a group of struggling, traveling performers who organized as the Vagabond Players. The local and tourist community welcomed them when they presented their first summer season of plays in a 150-year-old grist mill they converted into The Old Mill Playhouse at Highland Lake.
In 1952, the troupe and a board of directors bought eight acres in the Village of Flat Rock. A rented “big top” gave birth to Flat Rock Playhouse. The playhouse now has a nine-month season of Broadway musicals, comedy, drama, and theatre for young audiences. It hosts more than 98,000 patrons annually.
Tickets Available For Simpsonville Wine Tasting Tour
Simpsonville Area Chamber of Commerce will host Sippin’ in Simpsonville, a walking wine-tasting tour downtown, on Sept. 15.
In addition to tastings, the event will include retail vendors, art displays, live music, and a chance to visit and tour downtown shops and businesses.
The tour is presented by Weichert, Realtors - Shaun & Shari Group. More than 25 businesses will pour 1oz. samples of local, regional and unique wines.
Regular tickets, which include tastings and a commemorative glass, are $30.
VIP tickets are $50 and include tastings, a commemorative glass, early check-in, a bottle of wine to take home, and a VIP gift.
The chamber is seeking volunteers to help with setup and other activities. Many shifts are only two hours. Volunteers receive a T-shirt and a regular guest ticket (for those who are 21 or older) to use before or after shifts.
Local businesses are invited to participate as tasting location hosts, or retail and food vendors. Call the chamber office or go to the chamber website for information.
For tickets, go to members.simpsonvillechamber.com/events/details/sippin-in-simpsonville-fall-wine-tasting.
Lunch & Learn Hosts SC Chamber
The Simpsonville Area Chamber of Commerce Lunch & Learn Series, presented by Pelham Medical Center, will take place at 11:45 Aug. 15.
The guest will be the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce. The visit is part of the chamber’s annual grassroots tour, which is used to develop the business community's competitiveness agenda released each year before the legislative session.
In 2022, the S.C. Chamber visited nearly 50 local chambers and talked to over 925 business leaders. The key to a robust agenda is receiving input from diverse business leaders.
Register at simpsonvilleareachamber.chambermaster.com/eventregistration/register.
Attendees will have the opportunity to introduce themselves and their businesses to the group and network before and after the presentation. The events are in the Prisma Health Conference Room at the Simpsonville Area Chamber of Commerce, 105-A W. Curtis Street. Registration includes lunch.
The fee for chamber members is $10, and $20 for nonmembers.
Foothills Community Health Care Celebrates 10th Anniversary
Foothills Community Health Care celebrated its 10th anniversary recently with community events at its Anderson, Easley, and Clemson locations. The events were held in conjunction with National Health Center Week and highlighted medical services available to Upstate residents.
Foothills Community Health Care is a nonprofit, comprehensive medical facility that offers family medicine and pediatric services, with a special focus on helping patients manage chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.
To learn more about Foothills Community Health Care, go to www.myfchc.org.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: In The Know - Week of 8-14
