Today, Self Regional Healthcare (opened in 1951) operates as one of the state’s finest hospitals, an ongoing tribute to James C. Self.

 On his death in 1955, James C. Self was succeeded as Chairman of the Foundation by his only child Jim Self. Under Jim Self’s leadership, the Foundation remained true to the principles established by his father. He also sought to meet the new challenges brought by rapid social and economic change in South Carolina, a desperately poor state. The Foundation focused on building much-needed infrastructure in health care and education and improving the quality of life in Greenwood County. Realizing the huge potential in genetics research to cure birth defects and mental retardation in children, Jim Self was the driving force in establishing the Greenwood Genetics Center, now a world class research facility dedicated to the very same.

 In 1996, Jim Self (1919-1998) passed control of the Foundation to his children with the election of his daughter, Virginia Preston Self, as chair. Under the leadership of the third generation, the Foundation focused its efforts on school readiness, community wellness, intellectual and social development of youth, and cultural opportunities.

 The work of the third generation is characterized by the support of programs that mobilize local resources, work collaboratively, encourage public involvement and produce measurable results.

Since 1942, the Self Family Foundation has distributed over $40 million in grants to improve the quality of life for the citizens of Greenwood and South Carolina.