The McLeod Health Foundation has received two grants from The Duke Endowment totaling $1,370,000 over the next five years.
The first grant for $620,000 will support a health-care workforce development partnership between McLeod Health and Florence 1 Schools, which operates the new Poynor School of Innovation in Healthcare.
This facility, which opened in January 2026 in the completely renovated historic Poynor site on Dargan Street in Florence, will provide training and certification for a variety of health-care professions for local high school students.
Officials said that by the time these students graduate high school, they will be workforce-ready and immediately employable as EKG technicians, certified nurse/medical assistants, phlebotomists, pharmacy technicians, and more.
The grant from The Duke Endowment will help cover the costs of staffing the school with clinical instructors and development of simulation capabilities.
The second grant for $750,000 will expand Healthy People, Healthy Carolinas (HPHC), a coalition-based initiative to tackle chronic health issues, to Clarendon County.
Officials said the Clarendon Community Coalition (with leading partners McLeod Health and United Way of Sumter, Clarendon, and Lee counties) will use the funding opportunity to bring together area stakeholders, ranging from law enforcement to schools, churches, and nonprofits to combat problems driving poor health, such as food insecurity and physical inactivity.
This grant will fund the salary of a dedicated HPHC coordinator, as well as supplies for outreach and implementation of evidence-based interventions to address healthy behaviors and other factors that influence health and health outcomes in local communities.
“Once again, The Duke Endowment has demonstrated how much they value and trust the continued partnership with McLeod Health,” says Elizabeth Jones, executive director of the McLeod Health Foundation. “We are thankful and excited to get to work. These awards show how invested we are in the Pee Dee and the depth of our commitment to finding innovative ways to serve the heath care needs of our community.”
“The Duke Endowment is honored to partner with the McLeod Health Foundation on these important initiatives,” said Lin Howell, director of Health Care at The Duke Endowment. “Addressing critical needs such as increasing the health-care workforce and supporting communities with resources that enable healthy lifestyles are essential steps to contributing to improved health outcomes for the people served by McLeod Health.”
Officials said these grants support the mission of McLeod Health, which is to improve the overall health and well-being of people living within South Carolina and eastern North Carolina.
Based in Charlotte and established in 1924 by industrialist and philanthropist James B. Duke, The Duke Endowment is a private foundation that strengthens communities in North Carolina and South Carolina by nurturing children, promoting health, educating minds and enriching spirits.
Since its founding, it has distributed more than $5 billion in grants.
The Endowment shares a name with Duke University and Duke Energy, but all are separate organizations.
The McLeod Foundation was established in 1986 as an independent not-for-profit tax exempt charitable organization whose mission is to generate philanthropic and community support to perpetuate medical excellence at McLeod Health.
The Foundation has raised more than $100 million and has provided support for numerous programs at McLeod Health.
These programs include support for the McLeod Children’s Hospital, The Guest House at McLeod, McLeod Hospice, the McLeod Center for Cancer Treatment and Research, McLeod Heart and Vascular Institute and McLeod Diabetes Services.
The Foundation funds better health for thousands of families throughout Northeastern South Carolina and Southeastern North Carolina.
Separately chartered, the McLeod Health Foundation is governed by a voluntary Board of Trustees.
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