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Wateree Community Actions, Inc. was officially formed in July 1970 when the community actions agencies of Sumter County and Kershaw County merged. Subsequently the newly formed agency grew with the merging of three other existing community actions agencies: the one of Lee County (Williamsburg-Lee), Clarendon County (Clarendon County Commission) and Richland County (Midlands Human Resource Commission). The merging process spanned from July 1970 until April 1988. The largest and lead corporation among the five was the Sumter County Economic Opportunity Corporation which was formed in 1967.
Upon establishment the corporation was chartered by the State non-profit with an eleemosynary status and its board structure was formed in accordance with guidelines and directives stipulated in the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, as amended. “Maximum feasible participation of the poor” or their representatives whom they elected was a fundamental requirement of the corporation throughout its organizational structure.
Involvement of the poor in significant capacities was consistent with the concept of “community action”, originally conceived as part of the War on Poverty Program which was launched by the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, as amended. The objectives of Community Actions focus on helping poor and disadvantaged people to achieve self-sufficiency and providing them with the tools and resources necessary to achieve that goal. |
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