Celebrating Mary Black Foundation’s History: 2003
Mary Black Foundation Becomes a Private Foundation
2021 marks the 25th anniversary of the Mary Black Foundation’s role as a private foundation in Spartanburg. However, the Mary Black Foundation has a legacy that extends beyond the last 25 years. In fact, the Foundation was originally formed in 1986 – 35 years ago – to support the Mary Black Memorial Hospital and related community programs.
The sale of the nonprofit hospital to a for profit company, in 1996, led to the reconfiguration of the Mary Black Foundation and its significant growth in assets. In the 25 years since the Mary Black Foundation separated from the hospital, it has provided over $62 million in grants to support health and wellness initiatives throughout Spartanburg County. During this same time, the assets have grown to over $75 million.
Mobile Meals of Spartanburg
In 1977, Mobile Meals of Spartanburg began with the vision from founding executive director, Jayne McQueen, and the influence of First Presbyterian Church and the Spartanburg County Planning Commission. Mobile Meals serves meals daily to Spartanburg’s frail and homebound residents. Each weekday approximately 150 volunteers help deliver meals to roughly 1,500 people.
The Partnership between Mobile Meals and Mary Black Foundation
2003 was the beginning of a 3-year, $286,000 grant Mary Black Foundation provided to Mobile Meals to support “Health and Wellness for Seniors and the Homebound”. The goals of this project were to improve access to medical services through nurse home visits, health assessments, referral services, coordination of health services, and transportation. Additionally, MBF’s grant supported a medical coordinator and two home visiting nurses. Throughout the three years, over 3,000 home nursing visits were made and as a result, over 150 people, who prior to this grant did not receive medical care, were connected to physicians.
Other Awards
Since 1996, Mary Black Foundation has awarded Mobile Meals of Spartanburg $377,600 in grants to support their work. Other awards include:
- $500 in 1998 in memory of Earle Hormell
- $2,500 in 2002 as a part of the Dr. Black Trustee Memorial
- $2,500 in 2005 in recognition of MBF Trustee Harold Risher
- $30,000 in 2005 for Mobile Meals Medical Ministry
- $1,600 in 2006 to support participation in the Meals on Wheels Annual Conference
- $2,500 in 2007 in recognition of MBF Trustee Bernie Brooks
- $5,500 in 2012 as a part of the “Live Here, Give Here, grant collaboration
- $1,000 in 2013 for the AFP National Philanthropy Day Celebration
- $5,500 in 2012 for their Meals-to-Go program
- $40,000 in 2013 for a new Combi Oven.
The Work of Mobile Meals
Executive director, Jayne McQueen says
We are totally dependent upon private funds raised locally so our partnership with the Mary Black Foundation has been very important.
The Board of Directors, staff, volunteers and recipients of Mobile Meal Service of Spartanburg County wish to thank and congratulate the Mary Black Foundation on 25 years of making a huge difference in the Spartanburg area.
Your individual gifts along with your partnership in the Major Four Funders have helped create and support a city and county of which we can be very proud.
Mobile Meals of Spartanburg will begin our 44th year this July and your grants and support since 2002 have supported programs and purchased equipment that have helped us constantly seek to be “the best we can be.” Examples such as supporting our nursing program; helping us redesign and upgrade our website; a training scholarship; a new freezer and recently a Combi oven.
The Mary Black Foundation has been a faithful partner and we are very grateful.
