Original Six Foundation Celebrates Surprise $10,000 Gift from Amazon During Student Career Visit

MANNING, S.C. (March 31, 2026) — What began as a career exploration visit for students quickly turned into an unexpected moment of generosity for the Original Six Foundation.

When leaders from Amazon visited Manning Junior High School to share their career expertise with O6 Afterschool Achievers, the Original Six team had no idea a special surprise was in store. Alongside an engaging session with students, Amazon presented the foundation with a $10,000 grant to support its literacy programs.

The visit, held during Women’s History Month, featured three female logistics leaders—Key Nelson and Kristian Ford, area managers at Amazon’s Columbia fulfillment center, and Charlone Williams, a process assistant—who introduced students to careers in operations and logistics. They shared their personal journeys, offered advice on leadership and goal setting, and encouraged students to begin thinking about success in their everyday lives and education.

Students also participated in stretching and warm-up exercises used by Amazon associates to promote workplace safety and wellness, bringing a hands-on element to the experience.

“Opportunities like this help our students see what’s possible,” said Kara Gormley Meador, executive director of the Original Six Foundation. “At O6 Afterschool, we believe students need to see it to be it—and we’re grateful for partners like Amazon who not only invest their time to inspire students in rural communities but also believe in our mission in such a meaningful way.”

The O6 Afterschool program launched in 2016 and is now celebrating 10-years of impact. To date, the program has served more than 1,900 students in grades two through eight. The Foundation’s My O6 Library program gives kindergarten students the opportunity to choose 10 books to read over the summer and keep as they build their own home libraries.