Charities & Beneficiaries

ECM: Engaging Creative Minds

The PNC Bank Charleston Half Marathon® is proud to continue its longstanding support of Engaging Creative Minds!

Engaging Creative Minds (ECM) mission is to spark creativity and curiosity in all learners through innovative learning experiences.

ECM is an Arts Integration educational nonprofit based in Charleston, South Carolina. ECM works with school districts, principals, teachers and the local workforce to identify specific knowledge and skill sets all students should master before graduating high school. ECM hires and trains local artists, STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) professionals and cultural organizations, called ECM Instructors, to work with grade level teams of teachers to support learning through the Arts.

ECM’s Goals:

Students achieve academically, stay engaged in school and succeed in life
Teachers develop Arts Integration teaching strategies

To accomplish its mission, ECM facilitates Engaged Learning Experiences (ELEs) throughout the school year, a six-week summer camp, Summer STEAM Institute®, designed to prevent summer learning loss, and professional development for teachers.

Both teachers and students report that ECM is a powerful model of success.