NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – Moving ahead in its second payout of social responsibility grants, the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation has named a small agency for South Carolina orphans as the recipient of a $10,000 gift. At a March 21 chapter dinner meeting of the South Carolina Credit Union League, foundation officials awarded their latest "micro community grant" to Lowcountry Orphan Relief of Charleston marking the first such donation made in this state. Micro grants were debuted last December and are aimed at bolstering the well-being of deserving charity and community groups in the Carolinas. The first $10,000 grant directed to a Southport, N.C. teen shelter brought praise from North Carolina civic leaders, underscoring the CU people helping people message. Local press were invited to the chapter meeting here for the awarding of the grant to Lowcountry, a start-up agency which helps abused and abandoned youngsters in the area. Beth Jaskiewicz, senior vice president of marketing at South Carolina FCU, who helped field and review the Lowcountry application through her church ties, said the chapter leadership agreed with her findings that Lowcountry was deserving of the grant. Under micro grants, local chapters in the two leagues have a greater say in selecting charities, a departure from past policies within the foundation and aimed to create a more grassroots touch to CU donations. On hand for ceremonies awarding the grant to Lowcountry were: Steve Elam, executive director of the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation in Greensboro, N.C. as well as foundation board members Joe Grech, CFO for South Carolina FCU and Jim McDaniel, president/CEO of Heritage Trust FCU.