The Village Group

09/05/2026

The Village Group has been grateful for the wonderul support of our community partners. We invite you to consider a sponsorship of our signature event, the Andy Quattlebaum Tour de Plantersville! Please consider the opportunities still available at multiple levels. Thank you!

Put your brand in the spotlight! The Andy Quattlebaum Tour de Plantersville is just around the corner, and sponsorship opportunities are still available.

Partner with The Village Group and get your business in front of riders, families, and community members while supporting a celebration of culture, history, health, and community connection.

As a sponsor, your business can:
- Increase visibility with local event attendees
- Connect with the Georgetown community
- Receive recognition through event promotions
- Show your support for a meaningful community tradition

Sponsorship opportunities won't last forever. Secure your spot and put your brand alongside this one-of-a-kind community event!

Visit https://tourdeplantersville.com/ to learn more about sponsorship opportunities.

09/03/2026

Recently we have shared posts from classrooms we visited this week expressing their thanks for our deliveries of school supplies. We want to acknowledge that this would not have been possible without Walmart Georgetown - N Fraser St Store 625. They stocked our Back to School Rally this year with so many supplies we were able to provide for even more of our young people, visiting seven schools in Georgetown Georgetown County School District and Williamsburg Counties.

Thank you Walmart for being a great partner to The Village Group and for being there for the teachers and students of our community!

Pictures from Plantersville Elementary Digital Immersion School and Brown's Ferry Elementary School for the Creative & Performing Arts

09/01/2026

08/28/2026

Executive Director Ray Funnye and Program Director Queen Funnye recently celebrated the retirement of Frank Hatten, Education Specialist at Boeing (We Are Boeing SC). He received the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina's highest civilian honor.

Frank has been a great resource in the classrooms of The Village Group's educational programs, generously sharing his time and talent with our students. Eileen Fleming-Patonay of the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce also joined in the celebration.

Both Frank and Eileen have been instrumental in the success of Plantersville Summer Academy. We are grateful for their support and the example they have shown our young people!

08/27/2026

The Village Group has been awarded a $45,000 grant to boost summer learning and enrichment from Power:Ed, the philanthropy of the SC Student Loan Corporation. This is the fourth grant Power:Ed has awarded in support of the Plantersville Summer Academy.

The funds will be used to support the cost of evidence-based curricula, teacher salaries, and student field trips. The grant from Power:Ed “provides crucial support needed to improve math effectiveness, literacy development, STEM, drones, and AI while expanding exposure to diverse career and college options,” said Ray C. Funnye, Founder and Executive Director of The Village Group.

Check out our blog for more information: https://thevillagegroup.org/category/psa/

08/26/2026

We had a great summer 2026 at Plantersville Summer Academy! More than 240 students took part in a rigorous curriculum, career training and outside-the-classroom adventure.

Thank you to all of you help make this experience happen each summer for our young people. Take a look back with this video produced by Marsh Deane of MLNL Media, the teacher of our multimedia class at PSA.

A look back at Summer 2026 at PSA!Video by Marsh Deane, https://w...

08/21/2026

Explore Plantersville from the seat of a bicycle! Join us for the Andy Quattlebaum Tour de Plantersville on Oct. 31!

The Tour de Plantersville is a discovery bike ride through historic Georgetown County along its only Scenic Byway - beginning and ending at a fun-filled cultural festival. The event offers metric century 62-, 25-, and 12-miles of fresh air riding along the natural country roads of Plantersville, Sou...

08/12/2026

Don't miss out on The Village Group's signature event, a celebration of Plantersville!

Early registration closes in one week! Don't miss your chance to experience the Andy Quattlebaum Tour de Plantersville at a discounted early registration rate.

Why should you ride with us?
🧭 Choose from 62-, 25-, or 12-mile routes
🌳 Ride South Carolina's only Scenic Byway
🏅Receive a commemorative t-shirt and finisher medal
🥁 Celebrate at the finish line with free admission to the Abie & Dorethia Ladson Cultural Festival.

Register today at bit.ly/4wWGkA6 before early bird pricing ends!

Thank you to our presenting sponsor! Andy Quattlebaum and Blackwell Family Foundation