Growth Under Pressure Launches in Charleston to Help Coronavirus-Impacted Charities and Affected Businesses

Press Release

A campaign to thrive by helping others – in spite of the coronavirus pandemic – launched in the Lowcountry on Giving Day, May 5th. Called “Growth Under Pressure,” with a website at GrowthUnderPressure.org, the movement is already gaining support.

Growth Under Pressure has a message many of us may need now: the best way to thrive in a crisis is to rally to creatively help those who were impacted even more.

The program started with a community of Lowcountry youth sports team who decided to take back their lost Spring 2020 Season. Instead of feeling they missed out, they are instead making a positive difference for those with even greater needs: nonprofits who are helping those impacted by coronavirus or which have been severely impacted by coronavirus themselves.

These teams were already united under the cause of giving back: they had partnered with charities through mPower6 in their own fundraising campaigns in more normal seasons. mPower6, a youth sports fundraising company led by former Citadel baseball coach David Beckley, organizes charity partnerships for youth sports teams to make the campaigns growth experiences for the youth athletes.

These athletes and their coaches are re-purposing the fundraising platform and donor network to raise money for these charities with Growth Under Pressure. Beckley is waiving his usual percentage for this campaign, but since his business has also been affected greatly, is accepting tips from donors to offset costs and help his own business’ recovery, along with those of campaign partners like Thaut, a Charleston-based thought leadership marketing company, whose founder Chris McNeil conceived Growth Under Pressure and also helped formulate the original charity partner model for mPower6.

“The campaign will also share tips with businesses who partner with us by promoting the donation page and campaign message,” McNeil said.

He said businesses in need who want to thrive by similarly spreading hope and giving back can learn more at growthunderpressure.org/partner. Beckley points out that mPower6’s success with fundraising campaigns partnered with charities shows  how helping those in greater need can come back.

Both mPower6 and Thaut are in the startup program at the Charleston Harbor Entrepreneur Center. Inspired by the enthusiasm of the young athletes and the power of the mission, the Center has joined the cause and brought with it other businesses involved in their programs, like Social Circle.

Harbor Executive Director Daniel Stern, who is taking a leadership role in Growth Under Pressure, sees it as a way for the nonprofit organizations involved to show a united front while facing an economy that makes fundraising and day to day operations more difficult.

“Nonprofits in the Lowcountry face a difficult challenge,” Stern said. “They are all clearly affected by the coronavirus themselves yet are needed now more than ever. So, they have to continue to operate under the duress of the current pressure.”

Stern adds how challenging this year has also been for the Harbor Entrepreneur Center and the businesses it supports. He added that Growth Under Pressure offers  an opportunity to make a difference in the resurgence of the economy by  supporting the center and the 8  businesses in their current Cohort who are vying for needed investment at the Harbor’s upcoming virtual pitch event on May 19th.

The campaign supports organizations including: Be A Mentor (supporting youth in schools), Vantage Point Foundation (support for veterans), Lowcountry Youth Development Center (home for abused and neglected kids), R3 Inc. (youth empowerment), Sara’s Cure (clear cell sarcoma), The Harbor Entrepreneur Center (economic development) and Meals On Wheels (senior meals) with promotional campaigns, including email, texts, and partnerships with businesses.

Funds raised by Growth Under Pressure will be equally split among the participating non-profit organizations. For a full list of supporting businesses and sports teams and to learn more about each organization go to GrowthUnderPressure.org.

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