About Us

History of Circles Upstate SC

In 2014, Buncombe Street United Methodist Church (BSUMC) learned about CirclesUSA and the powerful results its model was achieving in helping families in poverty to exit poverty.  BSUMC has a long history of supporting life-changing programs in the Greenville, SC community.  CirclesUSA has a network of more than 75 chapters across the U.S. and Canada.  Our Circles site was the first in South Carolina. 

BSUMC needed a partner to help oversee Circles Greenville and be the fiscal agent with CirclesUSA.  Sunbelt Human Advancement Resources, Inc. (SHARE) became that partner and currently houses three staff members to operate Circles in the Upstate.  SHARE is a nonprofit Community Action Agency serving low-income residents in Greenville, Anderson, Pickens, and Oconee Counties.  Bringing Circles on board was a great fit for SHARE. 

In September 2015, Circles Greenville began our first group with 20 Circle Leaders, 40 Allies, and 47 children. 

In 2022, Circles Greenville officially changed its name to Circles Upstate SC as we are expanding into Anderson County with another host site.  Also, in 2022, Circles Upstate SC began our fourth group at BSUMC.