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Bethesda Academy received a $100,000 donation Friday from South State Bank, which operates nine locations in Savannah and Richmond Hill, for the establishment of the South State Bank Center for Young Entrepreneurship.
Officials with the bank and Bethesda said the center, in conjunction with Bethesda’s work-study curriculum, will offer studies in principles of sound business development, financial management and integrity in the workplace.
“This generous donation is a testament to the faith that South State Bank has placed in our students’ ability to succeed,” said David Tribble, president of Bethesda. “Bethesda graduates will possess a sound understanding of their potential role in the business community, which will support their decisions for life after Bethesda.”
The new center, Tribble said, will open new horizons for Bethesda students.
The program, developed by the leadership of Bethesda Academy and South State Bank, consists of a curriculum that will teach students financial literacy, introduce the work enterprises of Bethesda from a business perspective, discuss the free enterprise system and support students to work through a business planning process.
The work-study portion of the program will grade students on their actual labor in the workplace, and students will build a portfolio of their work while in the program.
The goal, officials said, is for students to graduate knowing what it takes to run a business as well as understanding how to write and implement a business plan.
“Entrepreneurship, which can only flourish from a sound financial literacy base, is at the heart of our bank, and this partnership with Bethesda is a natural fit,” said John C. Helmken II, South State Bank Savannah regional executive and vice chairman of Bethesda’s board of governors. “Small business is what helps keep our communities strong, and learning these principles early will be a great asset to Bethesda graduates.”
ABOUT BETHESDA ACADEMY
Originally founded in 1740, Bethesda Academy is the oldest child caring institute in America. A successful school for boys, Bethesda Academy, which serves students in grades six through 12, emphasizes a love of God, a love of learning and a strong work ethic. Bethesda Academy offers a supportive environment with a curriculum designed specifically around the ways boys learn most effectively. For more information, go to www.bethesdaacademy.org or call 912-351-2061.
ABOUT SOUTH STATE BANK
South State Corp. is the largest publicly traded bank holding company headquartered in South Carolina. Founded in 1933, the company’s primary subsidiary, South State Bank, has been serving the financial needs of its local communities in 19 South Carolina counties, 12 Georgia counties and four North Carolina counties for more than 80 years. South State Corp. has assets of approximately $8.0 billion and its stock is traded under the symbol SSB on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. More information can be found at www.SouthStateBank.com.
