FOUNDATION In The News

The Greenwood Genetic Center (GGC) Foundation announces the appointment of four new members to its Board of Trustees.

GGC Foundation trustees serve as mission ambassadors by cultivating, securing, and stewarding philanthropic funds that advance the Center’s mission for the benefit of the patients and families served by GGC. They also manage all fiduciary responsibilities and activities of the Foundation.

Helen Campbell of Florence, SC owns Organization Solutions. She is an avid volunteer for her church and other organizations throughout the Florence community, including Junior League of Florence and Miracle League. Helen is the mother of a son who has benefited from a genetic diagnosis through the Greenwood Genetic Center.

Ted Pitts of Lexington, SC is the President and CEO of Wilson Kibler Commercial Real Estate. He has also served in the US military, the SC House of Representatives, as Deputy Chief of Staff and Chief of Staff for former Governor Nikki Haley, and as President and CEO of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce.

Arthur Radcliffe of Greenwood, SC is a Business Development Manager for ADM. A Navy veteran, he has served on various boards, including the Lander University Alumni Board, Natural Products Association Foundation, and Main Street United Methodist Church Foundation.

Kay Self of Greenwood, SC has been involved in the community by volunteering with dozens of organizations, including United Way, Self Regional Healthcare Foundation, Bowers-Rodgers Children’s Home, Burton Center, and the Greenwood Humane Society. She is also a board member for SCBIO and Executive Director of Vision Greenwood.

The GGC Foundation Board of Trustees have also elected new officers for 2023: Ray Wilson, PhD, Chair; Megha Lal, Chair-elect; Tara Smith, Secretary; and Wells Dunlap, Treasurer.

“We are excited to begin a new year of work to support the Greenwood Genetic Center, and we welcome these four new members,” said Wilson. “Each of these new trustees brings enthusiasm and unique expertise to the Center’s mission which will allow us to support the GGC and all of the patients, families, and students they serve.”

To learn more about the GGC Foundation, visit www.ggc.org/foundation

Greenwood, S.C. — Countybank and Greenwood
Capital recently demonstrated their continued support for the Greenwood community through a Countybank Foundation contribution to the Greenwood Genetic
Center (GGC) Foundation for $20,000. This donation is part of a five-year plan to donate a total of $100,000.

“The Greenwood Genetic Center is doing incredible work right here in Greenwood,” said David Tompkins, Senior Vice President, Greenwood Market Executive
of Countybank. “We are humbled to support their mission of serving families impacted by genetic disorders, which has a positive local and global impact.”

“We are honored to be a partner with the GGC Foundation,” said Walter Todd, III, President and CIO of Greenwood Capital, “working alongside them to grow
the Foundation as they continue to deliver on their mission.”

The donation is intended to acknowledge the commitment of GGC employees and their support to the GGC Foundation through their giving to match this support.
These donations will aid the GGC Foundation in providing compassionate clinical care, unparalleled diagnostic lab services, globally-renowned research
discoveries, and innovative educational programs.

“GGC and the GGC Foundation are so grateful for the generosity and vision of Countybank and Greenwood Capital to financially support the critical work
of the Center and those served through its mission,” said Victoria Hann, Director of Development for the Center. “This gift not only supports our work
with families across South Carolina and beyond, but also encourages and bolsters our employees who drive this mission every day.”

The GGC Foundation is a nonprofit 501©3 established to serve as the philanthropic arm supporting the Greenwood Genetic Center in its work of serving
families in the fight against genetic diseases, birth defects, and autism.

“Countybank is pleased to support the Greenwood Genetic Center with our time, talent, and financial resources,” said R. Thornwell Dunlap, III, Countybank’s
President and CEO. “We believe the GGC has a meaningful impact on the Greenwood community and that their growth and expansion will continue to diversify
our local economy.”

Photo: Representatives from Countybank and Greenwood Capital presented a check to GGC Director Dr. Steve Skinner (center). Left to right:John Cooper, Private Client Advisor with Greenwood Capital; Tompkins; Skinner; April Prince, VP and Trust Officer; Dayle Mumford, VP and Financial Center Manager

ABOUT COUNTYBANK: Founded in 1933, Countybank is a community-oriented financial services provider with locations across Upstate South Carolina in the Greenwood, Greenville, Greer, and Anderson communities. The combination of trusted, professional financial management experience with a community-first approach has made Countybank the premier community bank in Upstate South Carolina. In addition to a full array of traditional deposit and loan products, which include worldwide access via mobile and online banking, Countybank also provides products and services through Countybanc Insurance Services, Inc., Countybanc Investment Services, Inc., Countybank Mortgage, Countybank Trust Services, and its affiliate, Greenwood Capital. Connect with Countybank on Facebook and LinkedIn @CountybankSC.

Greenwood, S.C. — Countybank and Greenwood Capital recently demonstrated their continued support for the Greenwood community through a Countybank
Foundation contribution to the Greenwood Genetic Center (GGC) Foundation for $20,000. This donation is part of a five-year plan to donate a total of
$100,000.

“We are honored to be a partner with the GGC Foundation,” said Walter Todd, III, President and CIO of Greenwood Capital, “working alongside them to
grow the Foundation as they continue to deliver on their mission.”

“GGC and the GGC Foundation are so grateful for the generosity and vision of Countybank and Greenwood Capital to financially support the critical work
of the Center and those served through its mission,” said Victoria Hann, Director of Development for the Center. “This gift not only supports our
work with families across South Carolina and beyond, but also encourages and bolsters our employees who drive this mission every day.”

“Countybank is pleased to support the Greenwood Genetic Center with our time, talent, and financial resources,” said R. Thornwell Dunlap, III, Countybank’s
President and CEO. “We believe the GGC has a meaningful impact on the Greenwood community and that their growth and expansion will continue to
diversify our local economy.”

Missy Codington’s 10th grade biology students
at Laurens Academy presented a check for $154 to the Greenwood Genetic Center Foundation.

The students raised money through a bake sale at the school in March in recognition of Down Syndrome Awareness Day. This awareness day falls on March 21,
or 3/21, each year because individuals with Down syndrome have three copies of chromosome 21. Students planned the event, baked desserts, and managed
the sale in honor of Codington’s nephew who has Down syndrome.

“This class took care of everything; they are a very responsible group and have such big hearts,” said Codington. “The students wanted to make a gift that
could directly benefit a family impacted by Down syndrome.”

“We are so grateful to see the spirit of giving in these students, and on behalf of the families that this gift will support, we say thank you,” Victoria Hann,
Director of the GGC Foundation shared with the students at the check presentation at the school. “The GGC Foundation has a ‘Families in Need’ fund
and this gift will help provide needed testing or services for a child with Down syndrome.”

Codington’s students have also benefitted from the Center’s educational outreach programs through visits to the Center and experiences on the Gene Machine mobile science lab.
“Our former students have come back from college classes so grateful for their hands-on experience through the Greenwood Genetic Center,” said Codington.
“It provided the background that they needed to excel in science at that next level.”

GGC is proud to present a new video sharing the wonderful story of the Shenal family. The video explains how the Greenwood Genetic Center’s compassionate care
for their family led Stephen and Jodi to start Race the Helix, an event that is gaining attention through 5K events across South Carolina as well as ‘Treadmill
Challenge’ events happening at national and international levels through GGC’s partnership with Front Line Genomics in London. All funds raised through Race the Helix
events benefit the GGC Foundation, supporting families like the Shenals everyday.

Take a few minutes to learn about this family’s story, how GGC helped them, and how you can support their efforts through Race the Helix. Click the image below to start the video, you’ll be so glad you did!

Jose Guevara of San Jose, Costa Rica has been awarded the 2017 Susan R. Patterson Professional Development Award in Bioinformatics and Computational Genomics by the Greenwood Genetic Center (GGC).

Guevara, who became visually impaired in 2014 while enrolled in Clemson’s graduate program, will earn his PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Clemson
University in December. He has completed much of his graduate work at GGC under Dr. Charles Schwartz and has been funded by the Center. Upon graduation, he will return to his homeland to teach bioinformatics at the University of Costa Rica.

The award supports ongoing professional education and development for faculty and staff at GGC who are involved in bioinformatics work. Guevara used
funds from the award to travel to Las Vegas and present his research at BIOCOMP17, the 18th International Conference on Bioinformatics and Computational Biology sponsored by the American Council on Science and Education. He presented work done under Schwartz and Clemson’s LJ Wang, PhD on protein modeling. His research takes a computational approach to predict the impact of a genetic mutation on protein stability.

Guevara was the only visually-impaired presenter at the meeting.

“We often find genetic changes in our patients, but are sometimes limited in our understanding of what those changes actually mean – if they are disease causing or simple benign variations,” said Schwartz. “Jose’s work is helping provide a method for us to better interpret the functional impact of these changes, providing families with more information and scientists with better targets to treat.”

Dr. Walt Patterson, Professor Emeritus of Mathematics, Lander University, established the Susan R. Patterson Professional Development
Award in Bioinformatics & Computational Genomics through a gift to the Greenwood Genetic Center Foundation in memory of his wife, Susan.
The award serves to honor and perpetuate her lifelong devotion to the field mathematics education. Susan was also passionate about supporting families and children faced with genetic disorders who are served by GGC.

Bioinformatics and computational genomics is a growing field that merges biology, mathematics and computer science to interpret genetic data. These specialized professionals support researchers and clinicians at GGC by studying the impact of genetic changes and developing algorithms to sift through the large amounts of genetic data to identify which DNA changes are related to the patient’s condition. These skills are valuable in both diagnostic and research work at GGC.

First Citizens Bank Foundation has pledged $30,000 to the Greenwood Genetic Center (GGC) Foundation to support the Center’s telegenetics initiative. Jerry Stevens, Senior VP and Market Executive at First Citizens Bank in Greenwood,
recently presented a check for $10,000 to the Foundation as the second gift of their three-year pledge.

Telehealth is a way for patients to receive services including physical exams, counseling and consultations virtually, from a provider in another location. GGC is began its telehealth program in last fall between its offices in Florence and Charleston, with continued expansion to all GGC offices.

“Patient access to care is a challenge that we have addressed in many ways over the years at GGC,” said Mike Lyons, MD, Co-Director of Clinical Services and head of the telegenetics initiative at GCG. “With the advanced communication technologies now available, a provider in one location can see a patient in another location and provide clinical evaluations, consults and genetic counseling. This will make it so much easier for patient in rural areas of our state, or those with transportation issues or other barriers, to access the care they need.”

The telegenetics program includes high resolution video equipment and specialized medical tools that can be used in the exam.

“First Citizens Bank is excited to be a partner and continue our support of the GGC in their continued efforts to provide quality genetic services to patients, no matter where they are,” said Stevens. “We are so fortunate to have a world class organization like the GGC right here in our own backyard of Greenwood, SC, but for those in other areas, this telegenetics program will ensure that they can receive these critical services as well.”

“GGC is grateful for First Citizens’ commitment to enhancing the lives of patients across SC and beyond through their support of telegenetics and many other GGC
programs over the years,” said Center Director, Steve Skinner, MD. “We are often caring for families in very difficult and fragile medical situations. Telegenetics is removing the inconvenience, burden and expense of travel, and reducing wait times, so these families can focus on what’s most important – getting the care their loved ones need.”

To learn how you can support this initiative, or other programs of GGC, visit the GGC Foundation website or call 864-388-1813.

The Gene Machine Mobile Science Laboratory of the Greenwood Genetic Center (GGC) brings hands-on genetics educational experiences and career exploration to over 6,000 SC middle and high school students each year. But the Gene Machine is popular, and the schedule is often filled by the beginning of the school year leaving many students without the opportunity.

To help make this valuable program more accessible to all students, the SC Department of Education has allocated proviso funding of $278,000 to GGC to expand its outreach educational STEM programs for the 2016-17 and 2017-18 school years with priority to traditionally underserved districts across SC.

The money will be used to expand the services of the Gene Machine, offer additional field trips for students to the GGC campus in Greenwood, and provide more teacher development opportunities, especially in the more rural school districts across SC.

“This additional funding will ensure that GGC can add the personnel and equipment necessary to broaden our
activities and reach schools we haven’t been able to serve in the past,” said Leta Tribble, PhD, GGC’s Director of Education.

Tribble said that GGC will begin accepting Gene Machine requests from teachers for the 2017-18 school year on May 1, and they have already reached out to the target districts. She expects the number of school visits to grow by 50% next year.

“The funding provided by the State Department of Education will provide opportunities for more students and teachers than have been reached before,” said Ray Wilson, PhD, formed director of Western Piedmont Education Consortium. “It is a step forward for SC in meeting its obligations of providing high quality educational services to all of its students and teachers.”

“The Gene Machine is so very beneficial to rural schools like ours,” said Jerry Brigman who teaches Health Sciences Technology at Chesterfield High School. “This lab brings state of the art equipment and up to date research to the students, allowing them to experience practical and relevant information.”

“We will be able to access more students with our fun, engaging activities that are designed to improve students’ genetic knowledge and encourage them to consider furthering their education in the sciences,” said Tribble. “Ultimately our outreach programs will help to equalize some of the educational disparities among school districts across our state and in the long term, help to strengthen the SC workforce.”

For more information regarding GGC’s educational outreach, visit www.GGC.org/education.

In late 2015, to honor the dedication of the Greenwood Genetic Center’s (GGC) 170 employees, Countybank pledged to match employee giving to the GGC Foundation, which supports the mission of the Center, up to $20,000 each year, for the next five years.

This week, representatives from Countybank in Greenwood were on hand at the Center’s monthly employee seminar to present the second installment of their gift. David Tompkins Senior Vice President and Greenwood Market Executive for Countybank presented the GGC Foundation with a check for $20,000 and thanked the employees for their dedication and commitment to families noting their importance in the Greenwood community.

“We look to support organizations that are vitally important to the Greenwood community,” said David Tompkins. “Without a doubt, GGC is a lifeline for the families they serve. They bring recognition to Greenwood and valuable services to families around the world.” Countybank also supports the Center’s Race the Helix 5K events each year.

“We are grateful to Countybank for their support of our mission and for recognizing the dedication and generosity of our talented employees,” said Steve Skinner, GGC Director.

Following the announcement, Countybank and the GGC Foundation treated employees to a dessert reception.

Photo: Photo L-R: Dr. Steve Skinner accepts the gift from Countybank’s Tompkins; Lynn Turner, VP and Commercial Relationship Manager; and Danielle Fields, Assistant VP and Financial Center Manager.

About Countybank

Countybank began its service to the Upstate community in 1933, when it was founded by a group of Greenwood businessmen. Today, Countybank is a fully integrated financial services provider with locations in Greenville and Greenwood. In addition to a complete array of traditional banking products, Countybank is composed of separate divisions that are positioned to meet specialized financial needs, including Countybank Trust Services, Countybank Mortgage Services, Countybanc Investments Services, Inc., Countybanc Insurance Services, Inc., and Greenwood Capital Associates, LLC. Each division is staffed by the area’s most sought-after professionals in their respective fields to provide customers with the tools to achieve their financial goals.

First Citizens Bank Foundation has provided $30,000 to the Greenwood Genetic Center (GGC) Foundation to support their telehealth initiative.

Telehealth is a way for patients to receive services including physical exams, counseling and consultations virtually, from a provider in another location. GGC is began its telehealth program in November between its offices in Florence and Charleston, with plans to expand it statewide next year.

“Patient access to care is a challenge that we have addressed in many ways over the years at GGC,” said Mike Lyons, MD, Co-Director of Clinical Services and head of the telehealth initiative at GCG. “With the advanced communication technologies now available, a provider in one location can see a patient in another location and provide clinical evaluations, consults and genetic counseling. This will make it so much easier for patient in rural areas of our state, or those with transportation issues or other barriers, to access the care they need.”

The telehealth system includes high resolution video equipment and specialized telehealth medical tools that can be used in the exam.

“First Citizens Bank is excited to be a partner and continue our support of the GGC in their continued efforts to provide quality genetic services to patients, no matter where they are,” said Jerry Stevens, Senior VP and Market Executive at First Citizens Bank in Greenwood. “We are so fortunate to have a world class organization like the GGC right here in our own backyard of Greenwood, SC, but for those in other areas, this telehealth program will ensure that they can receive these critical services as well.”

“GGC is grateful for First Citizens’ commitment to enhancing the lives of patients across SC and beyond through their support of telehealth and many other
GGC programs over the years,” said Center Director, Steve Skinner, MD. “We are often caring for families in very difficult and fragile medical situations. Telehealth will removes the inconvenience, burden and expense of travel, so these families can focus on what’s most important – getting the care their loved ones need.”

To learn how you can support this initiative, or other programs of GGC, visit www.GGC.org or contact the GGC Foundation at 864-388-1813.