Greetings Friends and Well-Wishers:

Briggs – De Laine – Pearson Foundation (BDP Foundation or BDPF) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization located in Clarendon County, South Carolina. Clarendon County is the home of Briggs et al. v. Elliott et al. which was the first civil rights case to reach the Supreme Court since the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson case. Briggs began in 1948 as Levi Pearson vs. Clarendon County and School District No. 26. A group of brave, determined black parents decided to file a lawsuit against Clarendon County for school bus transportation for their children. The case continued to evolve, and by mid-1949, the issue was no longer about school bus transportation. Now, as Briggs v. Elliott, it was about equal educational opportunities and facilities for black children. In 1949, the Briggs case was the first to challenge the long-held “separate but equal” doctrine. Briggs v. Elliott became a spearhead for wide-reaching change. The case was later combined with four other cases, which became Brown et al. v. Board of Topeka, KS. Those five combined cases resulted in the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark school desegregation decision of 1954.

BDP Foundation is working to carry on the legacy of those parents. The Foundation was organized in 1993 and part of its mission is to provide educational support to the children of Clarendon County. To that end, the Board of Directors organized an after-school tutorial program. The next summer the Board added a Summer Enrichment Program. Both of these programs were very successful. However, the building we were using was built circa 1928 and was woefully inadequate both in structure and capacity.

Moreover, the family that owned our educational facility decided that they wanted to use the building for a different purpose. So, the Foundation had to find a new home. We purchased and moved into a building that was smaller than the previous one. However, we quickly realized that this prevented us from continuing our programs. Knowing that some of our students did not have reliable transportation, we decided to build a facility on property that the Foundation owned which is located within a few hundred yards of the Scott’s Branch High School, Scott’s Branch Middle School and St. Paul Elementary School. We knew this would make it easier for the students to get to us after school. We raised enough funds to begin construction on a new educational facility. Unfortunately, we have been unable to complete this building because of financial constraints.

HOW YOU CAN HELP!    

BDP Foundation is totally dependent upon monetary support from private individuals, agencies, and organizations involved in philanthropic activities. Donations will be used in a variety of ways beginning with the completion of the educational facility. The new building, when completed, will contain spacious well-lit classrooms, a computer room, a library, adequate toilet facilities, offices, storage, and a kitchen because we believe that hungry children cannot learn. Completing the construction of this building is essential in order for us to carry on with our after school programs.

As we move closer to the completion of the facility, the Foundation will also use donations to purchase items such as books and supplies for student activities as well as use donated funds to provide educational tours for students.

We are constantly looking for ways to broaden the horizons of rural students who have limited access to museums and other activities that are designed to expand their knowledge and understanding.

As we approach the 70th anniversary of the legal journey that became Briggs v. Elliott and ended with segregation being declared illegal by the U.S. Supreme Court, well-wishers and supporters can help support BDP Foundation’s work, especially finishing the construction of the building, by sending a tax-deductible contribution to:        

BDP FOUNDATION
P.O. Box 155
Summerton, SC 29148

All checks, money orders, etc. are to be made payable to BDP Foundation.

If any of you are so inclined, you may form a group (i.e., Friends of BDP Foundation) and sponsor programs and fundraisers for us and/or become a grassroots supporter. You will be recognized in a newsletter at the end of each year. Additional information is available upon request.

Sincerely,

Marguirite De Laine, Chairman of the Board                                                           
Briggs – De Laine – Pearson Foundation