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The Greater Easley Chamber of Commerce hosted its 78th Annual Meeting & Awards Celebration on March 19, 2026, at The Loom Event & Wedding Venue. Sponsored by Truliant Federal Credit Union, the event honored several businesses and individuals for their leadership and community service. Among those awards, The Open Book Project was honored as the 2026 Non-Profit of the Year, which recognizes an organization that has demonstrated a strong effort in successfully using its organizational mission and resources to improve the quality of life in Pickens County, along with working in close partnership with the business community to achieve the desired results. The Open Book Project celebrated its ribbon-cutting and grand opening in February of 2024 and has since grown exponentially in its service to the community. They are a non-profit organization that was founded through a monthly book club. The Open Book Project is a nonprofit organization with a literacy-based initiative that was created as an effort to continue the important work of the Pickens County Literacy Association (PCLA). Samantha Jones discovered the Pickens Literacy Association (PCLA) had announced they were ceasing their work. She relayed this to her monthly book club, where their love of reading and a love of giving made them form a group which came to be known as The Open Book Project, which is now located at 213 E 1st. Avenue in downtown Easley. This location incorporates fundraising initiatives for literacy needs in the Upstate communities surrounding Piedmont, Powdersville, Easley, Clemson, Anderson, Pickens, & Greenville with all types of literacy initiatives. The Upstate Literacy Learning & Tutoring Center also has an office inside the building to allow students to come in for help. They do used book sale events, house a used bookstore, sponsor book clubs, and host book donation sites throughout Anderson, Oconee, Greenville, and Pickens counties. In addition, they just recently sponsored their 8th annual St. Patrick’s Day Race to support literacy in the local area. Please join the Greater Easley Chamber of Commerce in honoring The Open Book Project as the 2026 Non-Profit of the Year.
The Greater Easley Chamber of Commerce hosted its 78th Annual Meeting & Awards Celebration on March 19, 2026, at The Loom Event & Wedding Venue. Sponsored by Truliant Federal Credit Union, the event honored several businesses and individuals for their leadership and community service.
Among those awards, The Open Book Project was honored as the 2026 Non-Profit of the Year, which recognizes an organization that has demonstrated a strong effort in successfully using its organizational mission and resources to improve the quality of life in Pickens County, along with working in close partnership with the business community to achieve the desired results.
The Open Book Project celebrated its ribbon-cutting and grand opening in February of 2024 and has since grown exponentially in its service to the community. They are a non-profit organization that was founded through a monthly book club. The Open Book Project is a nonprofit organization with a literacy-based initiative that was created as an effort to continue the important work of the Pickens County Literacy Association (PCLA). Samantha Jones discovered the Pickens Literacy Association (PCLA) had announced they were ceasing their work. She relayed this to her monthly book club, where their love of reading and a love of giving made them form a group which came to be known as The Open Book Project, which is now located at 213 E 1st. Avenue in downtown Easley.
This location incorporates fundraising initiatives for literacy needs in the Upstate communities surrounding Piedmont, Powdersville, Easley, Clemson, Anderson, Pickens, & Greenville with all types of literacy initiatives. The Upstate Literacy Learning & Tutoring Center also has an office inside the building to allow students to come in for help. They do used book sale events, house a used bookstore, sponsor book clubs, and host book donation sites throughout Anderson, Oconee, Greenville, and Pickens counties. In addition, they just recently sponsored their 8th annual St. Patrick’s Day Race to support literacy in the local area.
Please join the Greater Easley Chamber of Commerce in honoring The Open Book Project as the 2026 Non-Profit of the Year.