ABOUT US

Orangeburg County Community of Character is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our purpose is to strengthen the citizens, their families, and the community by promoting excellence in character, and thereby to become known as Orangeburg County Community of Character. 

Orangeburg County Community of Character was born from an idea sparked during attendance at a South Carolina Downtown Development  Conference in Charleston, South Carolina in 1999. Bernice Tribble and Laura Hibbits (representing DORA as Board Chair and Director respectively) attended a breakout session led by, then, Aiken Mayor Fred Cavanaugh.  The session was based on a program started in the elementary schools of Aiken to build strong character in students.  The name selected for the initiative in Aiken was Community of Character.  After hearing about the program in Aiken, SC schools, they came back with the idea to implement a character initiative in Orangeburg. It was determined that Orangeburg would benefit from implementation of a character program to reach and engage our entire community (taking it to a level beyond just schools).

In May 2000, Orangeburg County business and civic organizations embarked on an endeavor to strengthen citizens, families and the community through the promotion of character excellence.  Identifying compelling reasons for character building, character education and a vision for a better  community the decision was made to go county-wide.  All 17 municipalities*, and the County itself, signed resolutions of support proclaiming each to be “Communities of Character”.   With the participation of all municipalities, Orangeburg County became the third in the State and the 15th in the nation to have achieved this accomplishment. Hundreds of volunteers from across the County became involved. One dedicated and devoted community member, Nancy Ayers, served as the “spark plug” in getting the program started locally and in sustaining the momentum to move the initiative forward, along with other integral, dedicated community members.  

Orangeburg County Community of Character By-Laws were adopted on February 12, 2004; and the Organization subsequently filed and obtained 501(c)(3) status. Orangeburg County Community of Character is a registered charitable organization with the State of South Carolina and a member of Together SC (formerly known as the South Carolina Association of Nonprofit Organizations, SCANPO).​