Created: 2/25/2010 5:43:45 PM 
Columbia, SC (WLTX) - Jubilee Academy is a private school that uses faith-based education to assist kids who may need a little extra help.
They do that through donations and grants and a recent one gave them a big boost financially.
"Jubilee, for Leviticus 25 when God said, 'It's time to start all over, for a jubilee, like the Israelites,'" explains Headmistress Sandee Hensley. A new beginning is what the Jubilee Academy is all about. Every day at the school is a chance for its students to reach further than they have before. Says Hensley, giving an example, "Two of them that came at five not knowing colors or numbers or letters are reading now at seven."
Hensley began the school through Heartworks Ministries, a faith-based non-profit group. The school's students come from families in need and Jubilee runs on donations and grants.
"We operate like a large family for one thing. We're year-round. We are extended day. They're here with us from 8 to 5 p.m. every day," she explains, "We have a lot of volunteers, a lot of wonderful groups that help us."
One of the most recent donors is Taco Bell. Several stores in the Midlands got together to give $12,500 to the school.
"It makes me feel good inside that I was able to do that. It was something that was done through my hard work. It was a privilege, it really was," says Tac Bell store manager Lizzie Murphy. She supervises three of the stores that donated. Her own childhood helps fuel her generosity to the kids.
"It's kinda brought back memories and I felt real privileged because I was able to relate to some of the kids at Jubilee Academy," she says. Murphy's success is the bright future that Hensley sees for her kids, just a fresh start away.
"You have to reach them where they are and get 'em inspired and get 'em excited and they'll do beautifully," says Hensley.
The owner of the Taco Bells, Fred Kotoske, originally came up with the idea of donating to Jubilee. He's also hosting an oyster roast in March to raise money. For more information on that, call Jubilee at 803-343-5439.
