Camp iRock has been named a finalist for the 2024 Dick and Tunky Riley WhatWorksSC Award, awarded annually by The Riley Institute at Furman University. The award, named after former U.S. Secretary of Education and two-term S.C. governor Richard Riley and his late wife Tunky, recognizes exceptional programs making a positive impact on South Carolina public education.
Camp iRock will be honored alongside the Student DREAMERs Alliance of the Hispanic Alliance SC (Greenville County) and 2024 award winner Spark! Inspiring Tomorrow’s Readers Through Drama (Greenville County) at the 14th annual WhatWorksSC Award Celebration in Columbia, S.C.
“Nothing is more important than reading proficiently by the end of 3rd grade. That is why we are committed to early intervention at the lower grades so that by the time a child reaches 3rd grade, they will be reading at grade level,” shared Julie Capaldi, president of United Way of Pickens County. “On behalf of the Camp iRock partners, we are so honored to be recognized as a finalist for the 2024 Dick and Tunky Riley WhatWorksSC Award. Every program that applied for this prestigious award should be acknowledged for the amazing work they are doing to change education."
A partnership between United Way of Pickens County, the School District of Pickens County, the YMCA of Easley, Pickens and Powdersville, and Call Me MiSTER, Camp iRock is an innovative award-winning program that helps children improve their reading abilities in an enriching summer camp environment.
Since Camp iRock began as a pilot program in 2015, over 2,700 Pickens County students in grades K4 through 3rd have improved their reading abilities, strengthened their character, and developed academic confidence. In 2024, 92% of the first class of Camp iRock 3rd graders graduated from high school with plans for higher education.
“When we first started Camp iRock, we knew that the most important outcome would be high school graduation rates,” said Capaldi. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think that ten years later, we would see such incredible success. I can’t count the times parents have told me that their child went to Camp iRock and now they are A/B honor roll students in middle and high school."
“It is unbelievably rewarding to be recognized for our work in early literacy and we cannot begin to express our gratitude for this prestigious honor. We want to share this honor with the dozens of teachers, YMCA counselors, Call Me MiSTER interns, the Pickens County Rotary Clubs, our Reading Buddy volunteers, and especially our donors whose support makes Camp iRock possible,” continued Capaldi.
The award celebration will be held at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center on October 15 from 12 to 2 p.m. The luncheon event is open to public, and tickets and table sponsorships can be purchased here. A panel discussion with representatives from the winning program will headline the event.