On a chilly morning in March, children and adults gathered in Camp Cole’s gymnasium.

They were at Original Design’s non-profit in Eastover to begin the annual Kick-Off Camp.

Original Design, founded by Jay Urich in 2020, is focused on the development of young children through mentorship.

The Kick-Off Camp is one of many monthly events the organization holds to support children and families in the Midlands.

Urich, a native of Greenville, was a back-up quarterback for the University of South Carolina Gamecocks from 2017 to 2020.

His founding of the organization aligned deeply with his Christian faith and his desire to help the younger generation find their purpose.

“I had a vision and a dream in my heart that came from a lot of my alone time with the Lord that was centered around my original design,” Urich said.

That original design became Original Design.

Urich played football at Wren High School in Piedmont, South Carolina, graduating in 2017. ESPN ranked him as the 10th-best recruit in the state before he committed to USC.

The quarterback remained with the Gamecocks for four years, including during the infamous 2020 season, which was marred by the presence of COVID-19.

Urich said that year was when he first had the idea for establishing the non-profit.

“During that time, you couldn’t really hang out with your friends that much, we didn’t have football practice, and (we had) the whole social distancing deal,” Urich said. “A lot of those moments were spent alone with the Lord, and from there it spread after a couple of years.”

Urich said he has measured the growth of Original Design by the scale of the impact it has made.

“In the beginning couple of years, we’d have three overnight camps a year,” Urich said. “In 2026, six years later, we’re doing a camp or an event every month of the year. So there’s a lot more opportunities for the campers and mentors to get together and build those relationships.”

The Kick-Off Camp

Original Design works with families with children from the ages of 8 through 12, developing them through a 1-on-1 mentorship program.

Along with events such as the Kick-Off Camp, Original Design holds a number of events and activities, including attending USC football games.

At the Kick-Off Camp, the children and their mentors spend the day together doing a number of group activities, mostly having to do with athletics.

The children and their mentors were greeted when they got off a bus by a number of volunteers and board members who spent the hours before the camp preparing for their arrival.

The day was characterized by wide smiles and hearty laughter from everyone as they played pick-up basketball, football, table tennis and a number of group-oriented competitions and games throughout the day.

Urich said these moments and relationships shared between the campers and their mentors are the most important facet of what Original Design is.

Program Coordinator for Original Design Emily Jermstad said the events are important in the quest to guide the children and show them love.

“I never thought that I would find a place that combines my love for athletics, helping people, and my passion for sharing Christ with children,” Jermstad said.

The organization has had more than 120 children come through its year-long program.

“Finding great mentors for Original Design is one of the most important things that we do, because it all starts there,” Urich said. “The type of mentors that are part of Original Design set the culture for all of Original Design.”

Sponsors and partnerships

Original Design works alongside other non-profit organizations in Columbia, such as Ezekiel Ministries.

Ezekiel Ministries is a Christian non-profit organization that mostly serves Columbia and Lexington, partnering with churches. 

Similarly to Original Design, it operates by a mentorship program to form a direct relationship with young children going through its programs.

Original Design also receives donations and sponsorships from organizations and companies in the Midlands.

Each December, Original Design teams up with the Academy Sports + Outdoors location near Harbison Boulevard to hold its Give-Back Event.

Original Design gives families $100 gift cards for shopping sprees at the retailer. The families include those with children in Original Design and also other area families.

Wade McGuinn, founder of McGuinn Homes, a home builder based in Lexington County, sponsored Original Design’s Kick-Off Camp in March.

“We like to come alongside ministries that operate very efficiently, and we also want to make sure the ministries we’re supporting are being effective in what they’re doing,” McGuinn said. “The No. 1 item on our scorecard is lives impacted. And we love the way Jay and Original Design impacts lives.”

The executive director of the McGuinn Homes Foundation, Jennifer Baldwin, said the company values organizations that are there to develop and help children.

“We just love the impact that (Original Design) is making with their mentorship program,” Baldwin said.

“I think the importance of what we’re doing at Original Design starts with the need for guidance for the next generation,” Urich said. “I want to see the next generation know how loved they are by the Lord.”