Inside: Learn about Thornwell, a Christian ministry serving children and families, and how you can celebrate with them at their 150-year celebration concert featuring Christian recording artists Caleb & Kelsey!
Have you heard about the array of child and family programs offered by Thornwell? Maybe you’re not even sure what Thornwell is? Fear not, we have all the details. In short, Thornwell is a Christian ministry serving SC, FL, and GA whose mission is to provide safe and nurturing environments that educate, equip, and support children and families to thrive. Read on. We’ll tell you all about what they offer families, plus how you can celebrate their 150th anniversary with them!
Scroll down for details on the giveaway. Thank you to Thornwell for sponsoring this article.
About Thornwell
Nearly 150 years ago, Thornwell began as a dream in the heart of Dr. William Plumer Jacobs, a young Presbyterian Minister in Clinton, South Carolina. Dr. Jacobs and his wife, Mary, opened a home for children orphaned by the Civil War in 1875. Over time, as systems and society have changed, Thornwell has innovated and adapted to serve the current needs of children and families while holding fast to their values.
“We provide a continuum of care, as we call it, at Thornwell, which is where we meet families where they are at, with what they need, at the time they come to us,” shared Kaley Lindquist, the Program Marketing and Recruitment Specialist at Thornwell.
How Thornwell Helps
Did you know that Thornwell is the longest-serving children’s and family ministry in South Carolina? Not only are they the longest-serving ministry, but they are also one of the oldest in the Southeast as well. Thornwell’s unique Continuum of Care allows them to come alongside children and families as an empowering partner on their journey through Residential and Care Services, Educational Services, and Family Services. Many of Thornwell’s programs are available (and growing!) right here in Greenville, SC, and they are inviting you to join them in helping the community! A few other things you should know about Thornwell:
- 1600 children and families were served by Thornwell in 2024.
- In 2024, 79% of every dollar went to programs that serve children and families.
- This year, 2025, Thornwell has earned a “Platinum” award for financial transparency by Candid, the world’s highest honor of its kind.
- Thornwell ranks as a 4-star charity by Charity Navigator with a rating of 100%.
- Thornwell is fully accredited by the Council on Accreditation
Educational Services
Thornwell believes education is a powerful key to the future for kids! One of Thornwell’s programs growing throughout the state and available virtually in Greenville is the Read Right Program. This unique reading intervention program helps create excellent readers through a new way to learn by “rewiring” the neural network in children’s brains that are used for reading. Meeting weekly with Read Right tutors has helped many students read at or above their targeted grade level, fostering confidence and newfound comfort they’ve never experienced before.
One student named Quinn was struggling to read, and nothing was helping until her family found Read Right. After working with her Read Right tutor several times a week, she experienced a 99% growth rate. Her mom, Blakely, said, “Quinn has so much more confidence, and her teachers are noticing a difference.”
Family Services
Parenting is hard and children don’t come with instructions. Thornwell comes alongside families to support them as they work towards thriving together. The Building Families Program offers in-home and telehealth therapy for individuals (ages 3+) and families. The goal is to make therapeutic support more accessible and affordable for all families – which is why they come directly to you! The Master’s level therapists use a trauma-informed and attachment-based framework to engage the whole family.
“As a mom, I feel so much more confident because I’ve had someone in the trenches with me… alongside me,” shared one Greenville Building Families participant.
Residential & Care Services
Thornwell’s Foster Care Program focuses on recruiting, licensing, and equipping new licensed foster homes across SC, including Greenville, SC. “In South Carolina, we currently need around 1800 more foster families to say “yes” to foster care.
When a child enters foster care, they are often placed hours from their school, community, loved ones, and all they have known. This is a huge loss for the child, and we want to make the community aware of this crisis happening in our very own backyard,” Lindquist shared. You can be part of Thornwell’s growing community of foster care advocates who are committed to loving children and families who have experienced trauma – even if you cannot foster in your home right now. Learn more on the Thornwell website.
“You just want to help, and you don’t think you can do it, but it turns out you can,” said Greenville area foster mom Andrea. “Foster parents represent a lot of diversity…They’re from a lot of different phases of life, and they bring along kids and are loving on them.”
How You Can Celebrate 150 Years With Thornwell!
“Even if you are unable to be a foster family, we do believe that everyone can do something to help meet the needs of these families. You can volunteer with us, donate money monthly or with a one-time gift, and attend our special events,” Lindquist said.
This year, they are celebrating a huge milestone and have invited the community to attend. The celebration concert will be held on October 3rd, 2025, at 8 pm. The concert will include Christian recording duo Caleb & Kelsey and will be held at the Presbyterian College’s Belk Auditorium. You can learn more and purchase tickets here.
Use the Thornwell links below to get involved and learn more about how you can help!
- Volunteer at Thornwell.
- Donate to help fund Thornwell’s Programs.
- Attend special events that benefit Thornwell, like supply drives or family events at Lush Acres.
For more information on how to help, contact Thornwell at 864.938.2100 or info@thornwell.org.
Thornwell’s LushAcres Farm
Thornwell is also home to LushAcres Farms, 340 acres dedicated to providing healthy, farm-fresh goods, family and classroom-friendly events and activities and access to health-focused resources, including a free walking trail and playground.
LushAcres Farm at Thornwell includes a barnyard full of animals, a jump pad, gem mining, and more. When you visit and shop at LushAcres Farm, you directly support Thornwell programs serving children and families.
Win A LushAcres Farm Gift Box & Tickets To The Farm Fall Festival
You can enter to win a gift basket from the LushAcres Farm Market worth $35-40 and four tickets to our LushAcres Farm Fall Festival worth $60 (See here: https://www.lushacresfarm.com/fall-festival) open every Saturday in October.
Terms & Conditions
- You must be 18 or older and live in the USA to enter this giveaway.
- You must use a valid email address to enter this giveaway.
- One entry per person per day.
- We will contact the winner via the email address provided within two [2] days of the giveaway ending. The winner will have two [2] days (48 hours) to respond via email. If the winner does not respond within the two [2] days (48 hours), the prize will be forfeited and another winner chosen. Directions for claiming the prize will be given via email. A valid photo ID and/or mailing address may be required.
- For a complete list of Kidding Around Greenville SC’s giveaway policies and terms and conditions, see the Kidding Around Greenville SC policy page. By entering this giveaway, you agree to comply with Kidding Around Greenville SC’s terms and conditions.
- If you have any issues with the giveaway not appearing, please contact bethany@kiddingaroundgreenville.com.
Check out our Kidding Around Review of Lush Acres Farm.
