Project Hope Foundation has opened a new campus in the Clemson area to serve children and teens with autism.
The nonprofit organization purchased the property at 915 W. Main St., Central, in fall 2022. The site will replace Project Hope’s Pendleton Campus at First Baptist Church of Pendleton.
A ribbon cutting was held Sept. 20 to celebrate the center’s opening. Project Hope co-founders Susan Sachs and Lisa Lane said they are excited to open the new campus and serve individuals with autism in the Clemson area.
Before opening the campus, extensive renovations were completed to turn the building from an office into a therapy center. The nonprofit received $672,781 in nonrecurring funds from South Carolina to complete the project.
One-on-one therapy rooms, larger group-activity rooms and other types of therapy spaces were added to the building. Lane said a playground and additional outdoor play space were added as well.
“To have our own space that is designed specifically to meet the needs of our clients and our staff and our families, it’s special,” Lane said.
Read more about additional Project Hope Foundation’s campus projects
Project Hope’s campuses provide applied behavior analysis therapy to children and teens. According to the nonprofit, this type of therapy teaches clients skills and replaces problem behaviors using strategies such as reinforcement.
Sachs said the new building will also allow the foundation to more than double the number of children it serves. At the Clemson campus, between 35-40 clients will be treated by registered behavior technicians and board-certified behavior analysts.
“We are excited to be part of this community and look forward to building relationships with community members that will help them better understand our autism population and help our clients get to know the community at large,” Lane said.
Project Hope’s Clemson campus will officially open to clients Sept. 24. For more information, visit www.projecthopesc.org/.
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