EVERYTOWN COMMUNITY SAFETY FUND AWARDS $100,000 SUPPORT GRANT TO MUSC TURNING THE TIDE TO STRENGTHEN HOSPITAL-BASED INTERVENTION IN CHARLESTON

Everytown Reinvests In Charleston’s Community-Led Intervention Program Amid DOJ Cuts And As Homicides Decline In Cities Sustaining CVI, Including Charleston

CHARLESTON, SC — Today, the Everytown Community Safety Fund, a program of Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, announced that the Turning the Tide Violence Intervention Program at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) will receive a $100,000 support grant over two years to sustain its hospital-based violence intervention work.

Turning the Tide uses a hospital-based violence intervention model, engaging patients injured by violence at MUSC Health with bedside support, referrals, wraparound services, and long-term follow-up for individuals and families at risk.

“We’re proud to re-invest in MUSC’s Turning the Tide program, whose hospital-based approach has proven effective at preventing re-injury and breaking cycles of violence,” said Michael-Sean Spence, managing director of Community Safety Initiatives at Everytown and creator of the Community Safety Fund. “It’s critical that  hospital-based programs like Turning the Tide can continue their essential, life-saving work.”

“Our team meets survivors at their most vulnerable moments and walks alongside them through recovery,” said Christa Green, Program Director, MUSC’s Turning the Tide Violence Intervention Program. “This grant ensures that Charleston families will continue to receive the care and support they need.”

The announcement comes as the Department of Justice has slashed funding for public safety grants, challenging community organizations to sustain their lifesaving efforts with declining support. At the same time, many cities that have invested in community violence intervention (CVI) are seeing gun homicides decline, a powerful testament to the effectiveness of programs like Turning the Tide. Research shows that community-level violence prevention programs can contribute to drops in crime.

Since its launch in 2019, the Everytown Community Safety Fund has invested more than $15.7 million in grants to 142 CVI organizations across 72 U.S. cities, in addition to technical support and capacity building resources. This year, Everytown is awarding $2.67 million in grants nationwide, including renewed support for long-standing partners like the Turning the Tide program. More about the Everytown Community Safety fund and their grantees can be found here.

About MUSC Turning the Tide

Turning the Tide is South Carolina’s first hospital-based violence intervention program, housed at the Medical University of South Carolina. The program provides crisis response, case management, and wraparound support to survivors and their families, with long-term follow-up to reduce re-injury and promote healing. Learn more at https://muschealth.org/medical-services/emergency/trauma/turning-the-tide.