On October 19, Dr. Herbert Berg, Interim Superintendent of BCSD, met with Dr. Narendra Sharma, NOC Founder & Chair, Corbin Stripling Director of Field Operations, and Daniel McKeown, Director of Development & Marketing, to discuss NOC’s education program and the significant achievement gap facing the BCSD. NOC presently serves more than 500 students through its 6 learning centers in Beaufort County. Its development approach and business model, using the public schools’ teachers and curriculum, as well as technology, is highly successful.

Dr. Berg also visited NOC’s learning centers at Parkview and Marsh Pointe in downtown Beaufort and met children engaged in enrichment activities. NOC is making significant progress in improving children’s learning skills in math, reading, and language arts. Dr Berg and NOC staff agreed to convene a meeting involving senior staff to define a joint action plan. Dr. Sharma noted that a strong public/private partnership and strong support by parents, businesses, and the community are needed to overcome this achievement gap.

NOC has been very vocal in its support of the Cordillo tennis project, but it considers a community building an important component of the project. NOC believes that the building should be at least 1400 sq. ft. so that it can be used for youth tennis classes. NOC and the Van Der Meer Tennis Group plan to conduct youth tennis classes at the Cordillo Tennis Courts, with a focus on underserved children in Hilton Head Island. These classes will be an important component of NOC’s after school and summer enrichment learning programs.

Read more at: Run-down Cordillo tennis courts get facelift

NOC’s annual Fore the Teachers Golf Tournament is just around the corner — Monday, September 24 at Port Royal Plantation Golf Club on Hilton Head . [Click on poster to enlarge.]

For Player sign-up form, click here: Players registration

For Sponsor sign-up form, click here: Sponsor registration

American writer and management consultant, Margaret J. Wheatley says, “There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.”

On Sunday, August 19, 2018 at Jarvis Creek Park on Hilton Head Island, the incredible Flor Mora, Neighborhood Liaison for the Neighborhood Outreach Connection’s (NOC) Oaks Learning Center, harnessed the great power of a community.

Flor coordinated a fundraiser for NOC that will support the students in learning centers in Beaufort County. She encouraged members of the communities served by NOC to come out and provide fresh Hispanic food, games, and entertainment. Additionally, prizes were organized by Consuelo Saldivar. The event started at 10:00 a.m. and lasted until 6:00 p.m. During this time, families of students and community members volunteered and donated their time to cooking food, providing music for Zumba lessons, and community outreach.

The aroma of authentic cuisine and the sound of fun filled the air at Jarvis Creek Park. Everywhere you looked, community members were gathered around eating, chatting, playing games, or dancing to the music. In a lot of ways, the event was reminiscent of a family reunion with all sorts of people showing up to show their love for one another and the community.

The children were wrapped up in the music, provided by Tony Campos, dancing and singing for the audience. When not providing their own form of entertainment, the children could be seen having their faces painted, getting temporary tattoos, and just enjoying an event that was focused on their family and friends.

The event was a huge success. Flor coordinated everything by reaching out through social media, her personal connections, and connections with NOC. In all, the event raised over $4,000, which will go towards programs for the children and families served by NOC. It was also great that native islanders, NOC staff and board members, even tourists from Ohio and Utah, were in attendance at Jarvis Creek Park for the event.

At a leadership meeting, hosted at NOC headquarters, Flor was recognized by NOC Founder and Chair, Dr. Narendra Sharma, for her outstanding work and continued service to NOC. Flor is appreciative of the success of the Jarvis Creek Park event; however, she is even more excited about future events in the coming year.