County-Wide Projects Underway for Class of 2026
From Online Safety to Environmental Education
This year's class is taking on a wide range of needs in York County by working in smaller teams and focusing less on fundraising, more on hands-on support. See below for a summary of each team's chosen areas of focus as of Jan 2026. We'll share details and final outcomes this Spring!
- Small Business Therapy Workshop - Team Triple E
In partnership with Main Street York, and with support from the Regional Chamber, Winthrop's Small Business Development Center, and the Rock Hill Economic Development's Small Business Committee, this team is looking to support small business in York County. Their Small Business Therapy workshop will focus on the challenges and opportunities that small business owners face, offering opportunities for networking and collaboration. Find details here.
- Digital Safety Awareness Walk-A-Thon - Team LYCOSHA
With support from the Less Than 3 SC organization, this team is connecting with various agencies that work to keep our children safe online. They have developed an awareness campaign targeting kids and families in an effort to help prevent issues related to online activity, and offer assistance to those who may be seeking help. Their "Step Into Tomorrow" walk-a-thon event will target middle/high school students and will feature live music, food vendors, and a Resource Village where participants can find education and support. Find event details here.
- Trail Blazers - Team Silent Six
In partnership with the Anne Springs Close Greenway this team aims to get kids (and families) off their screens and into nature. In support of the Greenway's Earth Day Celebration, the group will provide hands-on activities throughout the event to promote the importance of environmental care and education.
- Support Redevelopment of York Place property - Team DCS
In partnership with Yorkville Agricultural and Education Society, the team will host a launch event for a fundraising campaign that will support redevelopment of the historic York Place property. The area includes a 10-acre central campus, 20 acres of open fields, 90 acres of woodlands, and two ponds. The goal of redevelopment is to preserve the historic elements of York Place while creating a vibrant space for youth, families, and the community to learn, grow, and connect.
- LYCO Alumni Network - Team LAMBDA
Team LAMBDA is already looking ahead to their LYCO graduation day and creating ways to maintain the relationships they've built through the program. They are working to build a structured and sustainable LYCO Alumni Network, including opportunities for professional education and networking, and a standing advisory board. For any LYCO alums out there, please reconnect with us and your classmates through Facebook Group or LinkedIn Group, and update your contact information at this link.
Want to Support These Efforts?
If you, your company, school, or volunteer organization would like to support any of these projects, please reach out! Here are some ways you can help:
- Sponsorship - to provide financial support to one or more projects, please visit this link
- In-kind Donations - to provide supplies (food, drink, promotional items, printing services, etc) or educational resources (speakers, meeting facilitation, printed or online materials) please email Dylan Bolton at the chamber office.
- Volunteer - Whether you want to help preserve walking trails or beautification efforts across York County, organize a group of students on weekly nature hikes, present how-to workshops for small businesses, or help get the word out about online safety, please let us know and we'll connect you to the right people! Simply email Dylan Bolton to get started.
Addressing Food Insecurity and Other Needs
Little Free Pantries Across York County
According to the Feeding the Carolinas 2025 Map the Meal Gap study, in 2024, 11.1% of York County residents experienced food insecurity, a rate that is higher than the state's overall 2024 average of 9.9%. This equates to approximately 18,750 people in the county lacking consistent access to enough food. The cost of the annual food budget shortfall for these individuals was estimated to be around $12,258,000, with the average cost per meal at $3.70.
For the Class of 2025, finding a unique way to support the needs of children and families was priority #1 and addressing the issue of food insecurity had potential to create the biggest short-term impact. In partnership with Pilgrim's Inn, the group:
- hosted a food collection drive
- worked with a local contractor to build, install, and stock Little Free Pantries in under-served areas of York County.
- hosted a fundraiser to provide much-needed support to local food pantries, and
- created a mapping system to mark Little Free Pantries and Blessings Boxes across York County.
This class closed out their year with a donation of $11,000 to support the Pilgrim's Inn food pantry and continuing needs.
Supporting York County's First Responders
Code Three 5K - Running for First Responders
The Class of 2024 work throughout the year to create a list of contacts for first responder stations across York County, documenting their biggest needs and challenges. With the help of Carowinds, the class hosted a themed 5K Run where they invited runners to participate in support of police, fire, and EMS personnel in our community. Funds raised during the event allowed the class to purchase needed supplies ranging from cases of water to medical and safety equipment. They were also able to donate towards training programs and future needs.
Want to help future Leadership classes make a difference in our community?
Visit this link to view levels of support or to offer your time and talents to an upcoming project!
To learn more about Leadership York County, including past service projects and details about how to apply for future classes, visit www.yorkcountychamber.com/lyco.
To learn more about Leadership York County, including details about how to apply for future classes, visit www.yorkcountychamber.com/lyco.