Meet Our Nonprofits

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Class of 2023 Participant

Vision to Learn Queen Smalls Vision to Learn provides free vision services and glasses to children in low-income communities. By partnering with local community organizations, such as Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Mecklenburg County Health, The Boys and Girls Club, and Freedom School Partners, Vision to Learn helps to eliminate barriers to vision care. Vision to Learn has provided…

She Built This City Demi Knight Clark She Built This City empowers women and girls in the construction and manufacturing trades. The mission is to make startups, careers and exploration in these areas as interesting as the tech sector and to take on the challenge of #20Percentby2020. Through after-school programs, camps, workshops, career fairs and conferences,…

Safe Families for Children Charlotte Emily Kemmann Safe Families for Children is a movement fueled by compassion to keep children safe and vulnerable families intact. Volunteer host families, family friends, and family coaches temporarily host children and provide a network of support to families in crisis while they get back on their feet. Safe Families deflects…

Mooresville Soup Kitchen Brittany Holbert In an effort to reduce medical costs and increase the mental health and overall well-being of its guests, Mooresville Soup Kitchen will be offering Fresh Start. This is a free 12-week program that will provide weight loss and nutrition education, exercise training, and group support to individuals who are clinically overweight or…

Mind Body Baby Cynthia Wood Mind Body Baby educates and supports caregivers through the postpartum experience because when caregivers are nurtured and knowledgeable, children have the ability to reach their fullest potential. Today, caregivers may be isolated and less likely to raise children around family and a village where it is safe to struggle. Mind Body…

Metrolina Association for the Blind Tracy Libertino-Fegarsky Metrolina Association for the Blind provides independent living skills directly to clients and delivers transformative accessibility solutions in Charlotte. Metrolina Association for the Blind has a new program to provide B2B consulting services designed to support any organization’s ability to hire and employ people with disabilities due to visual…

The Lotus Campaign Beth Silverman The Lotus Campaign was launched because the founders of the organization believe the challenge of homelessness is too pervasive for the government and nonprofit housing providers to solve on their own. The Lotus Campaign is an innovative organization dedicated to increasing the availability of housing for people experiencing homelessness by engaging…

iSpeak Now Yolanda Trotman iSpeak Now instills passion, pride and confidence in young adults so that they recognize their future is limitless. iSpeak Now does that by deploying models–including mock trials, Nzuri, and iWrite–in Title 1 schools or schools with high minority populations. Listening and speaking make up as much as 75% of adult communication but…

Hope to Home Janice Hinton The Hope to Home program provides lasting solutions to housing instability through a network of collaborative partners who believe that all people possess the capability to make transformative life choices. Hope to Home is committed to the power of “client voice, client choice” and believes all relationships should be guided by compassion,…

Galilee Ministries of East Charlotte Toni Hagerman Galilee Ministries builds community among the diverse population of East Charlotte and fosters cooperation among nonprofits that work together to provide vital wrap-around services. The goal of The Galilee Center is to provide a welcoming place of learning, service and fellowship. The result is a true reduction in social…

Friends of the Children – Charlotte (A program of Thompson Child & Family Focus) Erica Reid Thompson Child & Family Focus has collaborated with the national nonprofit Friends of the Children to launch this program locally. The program provides Charlotte’s most vulnerable children with a long-term, salaried professional mentor, called a friend. This professional mentor is…

Emerge – The Art of Leadership Ryan McGill The mission of Emerge is to develop Charlotte’s youth into confident, powerful, and compassionate leaders. The focus of Emerge is to teach students “leadership in life” skills through the practice of martial arts. Through martial arts, meditation, and project-based leadership training, Emerge teaches the tools needed to prepare and…

El Puente Hispano Natalie Marles El Puente Hispano’s mission is to connect and integrate the Hispanic community in Cabarrus by providing information, education, resources and guidance to foster self-sufficiency and productivity. All El Puente Hispano programs are free and include a diverse range of classes for adults and children and programs focusing on connecting the Latino…

City Startup Labs Henry Rock City Startup Labs aims to create a skilled class of entrepreneurs among the formerly incarcerated while exploring how entrepreneurship can be a tool of restorative justice for communities in need of reconciliation and returnees needing to have trust restored. Entrepreneurship can be twenty-first century workforce development for returning citizens who build…

Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation John Searby The Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation educates and advocates to protect the Catawba-Wateree River Basin for all who depend on and enjoy it. An experienced network of diverse community members, engaged volunteers and professional staff provides dedicated, talent and resources to protect and enhance our river today and for future generations. The Catawba Riverkeeper…

Attach Families Inc. Katherine Noto Developmental trauma may negatively impact a child’s emotional, psychological, and physical health throughout childhood and adulthood. Attach Families provides foster and adoptive families with the specialized knowledge and training to understand developmental trauma and how to recognize signs and symptoms, and also helps children heal from it by providing access to neurofeedback…

Family Impact Fund Ann Barnes Robertson Family Impact Fund interrupts the cycle of poverty, empowering two generations at a time. By providing tuition assistance to young children from low-income families for high-quality early education, Family Impact Fund allows their parents to maximize their employment or continue their education. The impact: young children learn, working parents succeed…

Renaissance West Community Initiative William McDonald, Jr. Renaissance West Community Initiative (RWCI) tackles intergenerational poverty with a holistic approach that includes mixed-income housing, a cradle-to-career education pipeline, and community wellness programming. RWCI seeks to diversify its revenue by attracting social entrepreneurs whose focus is to develop new income streams from nontraditional sources and employ residents.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Food Policy Council Erin Brighton The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Food Policy Council exists to advocate for policies that build a sustainable, equitable and healthy local food system. The goals of our council are to enhance the health of our citizens, strengthen local economies and market opportunities, and reduce hunger and food insecurity.

Families Forward Charlotte Carrie Christian Families Forward Charlotte provides mentors who leverage social capital to guide low-income families in goal setting, accessing existing resources, and education to reach goals for self-sufficiency. By doing this, volunteers help families chart a course toward economic stability that has previously not been available.

The Investment Pathway Georgia Krueger A program of Ada Jenkins Center The Investment Pathway program pairs clients and staff to reveal root causes of economic challenges and develop goals for reaching economic stability. Wrap-around support like education, workforce development, and medical and dental services help families in making progress toward these goals.

Digital Angels Allen Hackman Digital Angels helps those in the community with limited financial resources to obtain the digital literacy skills needed to obtain employment in today’s digital economy. Digital Angels serves as the “Digital Angel” along the journey to digital literacy by providing a computer, internet access, digital literacy training, and career mentorship.

Queen City Unity Jorge Millares Queen City Unity is a nonprofit organization focused on driving equity and equality in Charlotte. Two studies ranked Charlotte 50th out of 50 major cities for upward mobility and as the most segregated school system in North Carolina. Queen City Unity’s community programs directly address these staggering statistics through cultural integration…

A Better World Kamilah North A Better World‘s mission is to rescue at-risk kids in West Charlotte from lives of despair by enriching their physical, mental and spiritual development. This after-school program does more than just help kids raise their grades. The goal is to elevate the trajectory of kids’ lives by providing a range…

Rebuilding Together of Greater Charlotte Beth Morrison Rebuilding Together of Greater Charlotte works to preserve affordable homeownership by partnering with communities in need, mobilizing community volunteers and skilled trade professionals to provide critical home repairs for low-income homeowners. These repairs restore the safety and health of homes for vulnerable residents, allowing them to stay in their…

Workers Collaborative Center Jose Hernandez Paris A program of Latin American Coalition The Workers Collaborative Center serves day laborers, often ignored members of our community, who wait for work on street corners through hot summer days and snow in the winter, demonstrating an incredible commitment to providing for their families. The Center offers not just the…

JA Company Program Amanda Griffin A program of Junior Achievement of Central Carolinas Junior Achievement (JA) offers K-12 programs that inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. The JA Company Program helps students fill a need or solve a problem by creating, launching and operating their own start-up business while developing the…

Toolbag for Success Frances Hall A program of Beatties Ford Road Vocational Trade Center Beatties Ford Road Vocational Trade Center provides construction craft training and professional mental health and substance abuse counseling to young men ages 16 and up who are unemployed, underemployed or re-entering the community from incarceration. We prepare our students for construction trade…

The Bulb Alisha Pruett The Bulb Mobile Markets aim to reduce food waste and increase food security in Charlotte by providing local and rescued food, as well as education on health and wellness. Through partnerships with local farmers, chefs, and other non-profits, a “resource” market is formed where vulnerable individuals are given access to services to…

QC Scores Katie Phillips QC Scores – now known as The Soccer Foundation of Charlotte – is a free after school program that is proven to help kids establish healthy habits and develop critical life skills. The mission is to give children an opportunity to be part of a team, to wear their very own…

Hope Vibes Emmanuel Threatt Hope Vibes brings awareness, hope and real solutions to the homeless epidemic by providing dignity through personal hygiene products and building social relationships. Hope Vibes has initiated the Hope Tank Project, a mobile laundry and shower vehicle to further meet the healthy hygiene needs of the homeless and provide them dignity, motivation…

Joe’s Camp Neil Cottrell The Joe Martin ALS Foundation empowers families to overcome the challenges of living actively with ALS. Children, often forgotten as caregivers, need help as well. Joe’s Camp provides an opportunity for these kids to have fun and connect with others who understand ALS and how it affects their life.

Xcel 2 Fitness Stephen Vaughn Xcel 2 Fitness is an after-school fitness and character development program empowering boys to chase their dreams. Participants build confidence through fun fitness challenges while engaging in discussions around the importance of finding their passion, getting the right people around them, and developing grit to overcome obstacles in life.

Wise Guys Jeff Rothberg Wise Guys® is an evidence-based program for adolescent males which stresses positive conceptions of masculinity, responsible behavior in relationships, and healthy decision-making. It is a program of Children’s Home Society of NC, the leading private foster care and adoption agency in NC that provides a broad range of prevention, family education, foster…

Ultreia Society Bethany Darnley The Ultreia Society creates cyclical systems of support for students through mentorship and community engagement. The program builds a foundation of support through wrap-around mentorship for freshmen students from upperclassmen. It not only propels students further and higher, but teaches them how to inspire others to reach higher for themselves.

Think Broader Foundation Paula Kranz Broadwell Think Broader provides education, training, and content development to advocate for individuals or groups who face systematic social (and media) discrimination. Our mission is to use innovative and engaging approaches, such as virtual reality simulations, to facilitate empowered lives free from social stigmas and stereotypes brought about by both conscious…

The Be More Foundation James E. Ford The Be More Foundation is a media literacy organization, addressing issues of economic mobility in Charlotte through social innovation. Be More educates students on how to use media platforms to defy negative stereotypes, while creating social messaging regarding fiscal responsibility, productive citizenship, education, and family planning.

Shakespeare in a Chair Mark Williams Shakespeare in a Chair is a youth literacy program focused on enhancing reading comprehension, self confidence, and critical thinking skills. The program uses the stories in Shakespeare’s plays, as an opportunity to learn great literature, but also discuss the importance of adopting family values, personal decision making, and goal setting…

RunningWorks Meredith Dolhare RunningWorks is a value-based, mentorship driven sport for change organization using running to empower individuals and families to break cycles of abuse, abandonment, neglect, poverty, and homelessness within a demographic of five to 70-years-old. Assisting with employment, housing, healthcare, legal issues, and transportation, RunningWorks meets each individual where they are.

Respect Ability Foundation Dr. Temeka Brantley The Respect Ability Foundation creates awareness about bullying through music, creative arts and character education in greater Charlotte elementary schools. Year-long anti-bullying programs, workshops and summer camps are offered to empower, equip and encourage bystanders to become “upstanders,” who stand up to bullying. Respect Ability Foundation, will launch Upstanders United,…

Reading Partners Charlotte Sharon Carr Harrington Reading Partners empowers elementary students to reach their full potential by ensuring they have the foundational reading skills necessary for academic, professional, and life success. To support this effort, Reading Partners mobilizes community volunteers to provide one-on-one literacy tutoring to struggling readers at high-poverty schools.

Project Safe Child Andrew Oliver Pat’s Place Child Advocacy Center coordinates the investigation and treatment of the most serious cases of child abuse throughout Mecklenburg County. Project Safe Child strategically targets child abuse prevention and intervention efforts to improve the protective capacities of adults and transform how the community understands and confronts child abuse.

Project Harmony Johammee Romero Project Harmony, a program of Charlotte Symphony and Community School of the Arts, is social change through music. This powerful after-school intensive provides free instruments, ensemble training, academic support, leadership, and life skills to children in our community with the fewest resources and greatest need. Project Harmony changes lives one child,…

Pop Up Produce Amanda Zullo Pop Up Produce‘s mission is to empower families and individuals to grow their own food. This organization is all about Grow Food | Grow Community by nurturing relationships to cultivate community planting hubs through the education of food systems.

Lorien Academy of the Arts Michael Khoe Lorien Academy of the Arts provides high quality art education and experiences for West Charlotte youth. Engagement with the arts develops confidence, creativity, and critical thinking – crucial life skills that are notably underdeveloped in low socio-economic youth. For these youth, the arts may be their key to upward…

Human Capital Investment Dr. Vanessa Y. Stuart Human Capital Investment (HCI) increases reentry success of minority male youth offenders by creating viable employment options. HCI provides a unique vocational development experience that empowers them to leverage their strengths to address the critical needs of Charlotte, specifically lack of locally grown food, health disparities, and affordable housing.

WINGS for kids Annie Burton WINGS for kids mission is to offer high-quality and effective social and emotional learning. The organization works towards this aim because research shows that strong social and emotional skills are key to helping kids succeed in school, be prepared for the workforce, and become positive and healthy contributors to society.

UMAR Amy Vaughn UMAR promotes community inclusion, independence, and growth for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through residential, vocational, and cultural enrichment opportunities. At arts centers, UMAR staff teach vocational art skills to participants, providing opportunities to pursue their passion and their interests while developing the capacity to be more self sufficient.

The Red Boot Coalition Molly Barker Whether it’s race, politics, religion, or gender, there seems to be no escaping “us vs. them” rhetoric. By creating intentional conversations for people to practice honest sharing and compassionate listening, the Red Boot Coalition program equips participants with tools to more deeply engage and build trust within their communities.

The Pollution Detectives Francis Koster ED. D. The Pollution Detectives are creating a locally-based, nationally-replicable program to enable citizen scientists to uncover invisible threats to fetal development and human health using emerging electronic devices, social media, and crowd-sourced geomaps. The Pollution Detectives educate potential “detectives,” arrange loaner detection equipment, and coach how to publicly present findings…

Queen City Robotics Alliance Lia L Schwinghammer Queen City Robotics Alliance (QCRA) provides opportunities and space for students to participate in STEM programs. QCRA aims to reach more students, focusing on engaging underrepresented and underserved populations in STEM. By operating a robotics zone, community outreach, and hosting/supporting robotics competitions in the region, QCRA reaches over 5000…

MusicalMinds NC Mary Lynn Baldwin MusicalMinds is a free music program that teaches music literacy to underserved children starting with pre-K. This after-school program is designed to create social change by promoting self-esteem, teamwork, leadership, and social responsibility through playing the violin and performing in various venues throughout the greater Charlotte area.

LilySarahGrace Emily Lopez LilySarahGrace (LSG) seeks to transform public elementary schools into child-centered learning environments that meet the needs of all learners while preparing creative, 21st century, global citizens. LSG focuses on Arts-Infused, Inquiry-Based Learning as the primary vehicle for educational impact and offers both professional development and grants to educators.

KNOW Charlotte (Levine Museum of the New South) Brenda Tindal As we continue to use history to build community and influence Charlotte’s future, Levine Museum of the New South will launch KNOW Charlotte— historian-led enrichment and interactive experiences for executives, educators, civic leaders, and community members that place Charlotte into historical context while inspiring cross-cultural and civic…

Hip Hop Orchestrated Kia Octavia Moore Hip Hop Orchestrated is transforming people’s love for music into social capital to tackle the issue of upward mobility. This program blends Hip Hop and Orchestral music to connect people from various classes, races, ages and genders. A common love for music can transform into a genuine friendship.

Great Outdoors University (NCWF) Mary Bures North Carolina Wildlife Federation’s Great Outdoors University (GoU) is a conservation-based, experiential education program. GoU brings outdoor adventures to underserved kids of all ages who have limited opportunities to explore and discover the natural world. GoU ignites curiosity, excitement and awe in ways that encourage continued learning and stewardship.

Families First in Cabarrus County Aurora Swain Families First in Cabarrus County provides early childhood education and intervention for families and their children who are linguistically isolated and at risk. The in-home visiting programs and Cabarrus Bilingual Preschool finds these young children, gives them a voice, and ensures success at home, school, and life.

Body & Soul Senior Fitness Center Kathy Joy Body & Soul Senior Fitness Center works within churches to create a fun place for any senior adults in the area to become physically stronger, widen their social circle and serve in the community. The lives of seniors become richer as they find a sense of family, love…

BELL Sasha Trosch Building Educated Leaders for Life (BELL) transforms the academic achievements, self-confidence, and life trajectories of lower performing students. BELL’s summer program allows certified teachers to deliver small-group academic instruction and enrichment activities and to support community engagement by children. BELL scholars gain self-confidence and become more prepared for classroom success.

ArtPop Wendy Hickey Art + Public Outdoor Project = ArtPop! ArtPop promotes local artists’ works and brings art to communities through available media space. ArtPop connects communities to their local artists and beautifies the streets at the same time. #enjoyyourcommute

ANSWER Scholarship Danielle Peoples ANSWER Scholarship helps mothers in the Charlotte region earn college degrees and become strong and self-sufficient. Through mentorship and workshops, these women find success. Their children are inspired to follow mom’s example and work harder in school. ANSWER has funded 83 college scholarships for 44 women since 2006.

Transformation Educational Services Happy Akuwa Gbodzo Transformation Educational Services (TES) facilitates multi-generational support by providing after-school programming and social services for families of Charlotte’s immigrants. TES bridges academic and cultural gaps to foster greater confidence and understanding. The vision of TES is to create an African Community Center for Africans of the Diaspora to meet.

Male Leadership Academy of Charlotte Todd Pipkin The Male Leadership Academy of Charlotte  (MLA) prepares boys for scholastic aptitude and life success. The MLA approach educates minds, builds healthy bodies, and nourishes the spirit. MLA promotes Christian values, foster the distinctiveness of boys’ education, and value diversity and individuality. MLA specializes in launching tomorrow’s leaders.

NewGen Peacebuilders Elizabeth Peacock NewGen Peacebuilders emphasizes the role of youth in achieving a peaceful world. Through workshops and team action peace projects participants understand drivers of conflict and peace, imagine innovative change, and take action. The result is young people equipped to resolve conflict and build bridges for the rest of their lives.

LAWA Violeta Moser LAWA is a Latino organization committed to advancing the education and quality of life of Latinos in the Charlotte Region. Seeking to narrow the academic gap and make the dream of a college education a reality for students, LAWA delivers mentoring and tutoring programs and offers higher education scholarships.

I AM not the MEdia Jimmeka Anderson Through media literacy and media creation, I AM not the MEdia empowers teens and young adults to become conscious viewers of the media and critical decision makers while embracing their individuality and uniqueness. The vision is to create new generations of confident, conscious, and healthy media consumers and media makers.

Girls Pursuing Science Jacquelyn Thomas Girls Pursuing Science (GPS) is the all-girls version of STEM enrichment education, blending science, beauty, and entrepreneurship. The GSP out-of-school time programs includes summer camps, afterschool, and competitive teams. Each program is designed to elevate a girl’s natural ability to think, create, discover, and lead!

Fashion & Compassion Michele Dudley Fashion & Compassion – now known as BraveWorks – empowers women overcoming poverty and injustice in Charlotte and several other countries through holistic employment opportunities. F&C sells jewelry and accessories made by the women and donates the net proceeds to our non-profit partners serving the needs of the vulnerable and oppressed…

Croquet Records James Willamor Croquet Records promotes and develops local songwriters and musicians by serving as an emerging artist incubator and independent, nonprofit record label.

1sTouch Derrick Gates 1sTouch is a youth development program that provides a safe structured environment for youth from different cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds to come together through soccer and lacrosse in order to gain the social and academic skills necessary for success. Character development, mentoring, and education are the foundations of the program.

The Key Resale Shop Michelle Estrada Abels The Key Resale Shop thrift store transforms people’s donated items into proceeds for Mecklenburg County public schools. Our store proceeds will promote a financial balance between all schools and help provide access to critical educational resources for children in public schools affected by statewide education under funding.

Redeeming Joy Lanie George Redeeming Joy offers holistic and trauma-informed services to women who have been sexually exploited and/or enslaved. In collaboration with the community, Redeeming Joy provides awareness, education, housing, support services, and sustainable freedom to women and children devastated by sex trafficking.

Digi-Bridge David Jessup, Jr Digi-Bridge provides skills and support to optimize technology utilization in learning environments, ensuring that all students have opportunities to succeed in the digital age. Digi-Bridge engages in advocacy work, offers digital classroom design consultancy, and provides courses to school-aged learners, all in an effort to bridge the digital divide.

Code for Charlotte Jill Bjers Code for Charlotte is a volunteer-led organization that collaborates with our local government and community partners to build open source technology that helps Charlotte residents with civic solutions. In doing so, Code for Charlotte increases civic engagement and helps create a 21st century government working for the people, by the people.

Campus Pride Shane Windmeyer Campus Pride is proud to call Charlotte home and is the only national LGBTQ youth organization based in the South. Founded in 2001, Campus Pride believes strongly in investing in its local community — building the next generation of leaders and shaping LGBTQ youth advocacy efforts with a social justice lens.

Arts For Life Rachel Zink Arts For Life is dedicated to supporting people facing serious illnesses and disabilities. By providing educational art programs, Arts For Life enriches patients’ lives, nurtures their minds and spirits, and encourages positive healthcare experiences for children and their families.

Teaching Fellows Institute Barbara Caldwell Teaching Fellows Institute recognizes and honors the Charlotte area’s outstanding teachers and provides opportunities that further develop their leadership and professional expertise in order to promote retention of these effective educators.

Right Moves for Youth Tayuanee Dewberry Right Moves for Youth is a school-based initiative providing supportive programming for adolescent students throughout Mecklenburg County. We utilize peer and adult mentoring, life skills facilitation, and leadership development to unlock potential and help young people navigate the challenges that threaten their ability to learn and thrive.

Institute for Philanthropic Leadership Chris McLeod The Institute for Philanthropic Leadership provides educational programs for nonprofit leaders and board members to learn more about how to inspire and cultivate leadership gifts from individual donors

Green Teacher Network Charlotte Beth Mack Green Teacher Network Charlotte advances health, sustainability, and academic achievement through school gardens. We connect our network of over 1200 educators with our 25 resource partners to provide training and resources that empower educators to get today’s youth outside and engaged in their future!

Girl Talk Foundation Janine Davis Girl Talk Foundation empowers girls (ages 13-16) to find their voices and become the successes they are destined to be by creating safe spaces for socio-emotional dialogue and development.

Brave Step Crystal Emerick Inspiring courage one step at a time, Brave Step supports individuals affected by sexual abuse including survivors, family members, and spouses.

Applause for the Cause Chantina Hall Applause for the Cause presents free, live entertainment to raise awareness and funds for charitable organizations and individuals in the fights against diseases, debilitating afflictions, oppressive epidemics, and community disparities.

Adoption Support Alliance Charlie Marquardt Adoption Support Alliance supports adoptive and foster families through education, community building, and counseling.

Youth Meditation Angela Gala Youth Meditation responds to today’s educational challenges by empowering youth, teachers, and parents with practical knowledge and effective tools for managing stress, anxiety, and emotions as they navigate through adolescence.

Joedance Film Festival Diane Restaino Joedance Film Festival raises funds to support research and clinical trials for rare pediatric cancers at Levine Children’s Hospital while also providing a platform for local filmmakers to share their work with the community at large.

Girls Rock Charlotte Kelly Finley Girls Rock Charlotte offers a rockin’ summer camp designed to increase the self-esteem for girls and gender non-conforming youth ages 10-16.

EmpowHERment Carrie Cook EmpowHERment works with girls and women of all backgrounds to be leaders in our community though mentorship, talent development, and advocacy.

The Charlotte Food Innovation District Lynn Shanklin Caldwell The Charlotte Food Innovation District seeks to be a geographic concentration of food-related businesses and programs that will share resources, work business-to-business, and create an agro- tourism destination.

Charlotte Ballet Reach Bianca Morgan Charlotte Ballet Reach scholarship program is a 29-week program offering free dance training to girls and boys ages 7-13 in four locations across Mecklenburg County.

A Widow’s Path Susan Jassan A Widow’s Path supports young widows in our community through an online database of resources, quarterly social events, and a mentorship program that matches seasoned widows with newly widowed woman.

The Sandbox Mara Campolumgo The Sandbox serves families of children with cancer and other life-altering illnesses by filling in the gaps of care financially and emotionally so the family can focus on healing.

The Arts Empowerment Project Natalie Frazier Allen The Arts Empowerment Project is a bridge connecting court-involved and at-risk youth with existing arts and enrichment programs in the Charlotte area.

R.I.C.’s Market Angela Gray Roots in the Community Market, a.k.a. R.I.C.’s Market, will be a nonprofit full-service grocer that will offer affordable, healthy, fresh foods where there is little or no access to it.

Queen City Mobile Market Barry Francois Queen City Mobile Market is a mobile farmers market building food equity by bringing fresh foods, convenience, and nutritional education to the Charlotte area.

Renewable Energy Transition Initiative (RETI) DeAndrea Newman Renewable Energy Transition Initiative (RETI) helps low income families sustainably eliminate more than 40% of their energy expenses, all while creating jobs in the community.

F3 Foundation Brendan Pierce The mission of F3 Foundation is to leverage the men of F3 to develop and strengthen male leadership in our community.

Charlotte Speech and Hearing Shannon Tucker Charlotte Speech and Hearing, the only nonprofit speech and hearing center in NC, provides a full-range of speech, language, and hearing services to everyone in need to maximize their quality of life.

Bottles N Bottoms Jolanda Washington Through collection drives and referral partnerships, Bottles N Bottoms helps families in need by providing the basic essentials of diapers and formula.

Behailu Academy Lori Krzeszewski Behailu Academy is an arts-based youth development program that implements a holistic approach to empower underserved teens to find their voices.

UrbanPromise Charlotte Jimmy McQuilkin UrbanPromise Charlotte develops Charlotte’s children and youth into Christian leaders determined to restore their communities.

Refugee Support Services Rachel Humphries Refugee Support Services helps refugee families in Charlotte achieve self-sufficiency and empowers these families to thrive in their new lives through food distribution, medical clinics, ESL classes, help centers, and mentoring.

Project Scientist Sandy Marshall Project Scientist educates, coaches, and advocates for girls with a passion for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

Pearls for Creative Healing Sandra Guynes Pearls for Creative Healing helps survivors of domestic violence heal through the creative and expressive use of art and art workshops.

Patriots Path Noel Humphreys Patriots Path works with veterans in Charlotte who are wrestling with the transition from the military into the civilian workforce.

ourBRIDGE Sil Ganzo ourBRIDGE offers free out-of-school programming for refugee and immigrant children and their families to help them succeed as they build their new lives in America.

YES! Katie Spears YES! empowers youth to create community change. They equip high school-aged youth and their adult allies with the tools necessary to take a stand in their communities and create change that will positively impact adolescent health.

Project One Scholarship Fund Neal Emmons Project One Scholarship Fund is dedicated to expanding college education to students from low-income, single-parent families in Charlotte.

New Leaders April Agyapong New Leaders is pioneering an intensive program to recruit, train, and support transformational school leaders and drive dramatic academic gains at scale.

Kids Heart Felt Health Claudine Lovitt Kids Heart Felt Health empowers kids to live a healthy life, and to have a good heart.

Feed The Mind Carmen Johnson Feed The Mind teaches cell health to elementary students in a way that answers every child’s burning question: why is sugar bad for me?

Eagle Rock Camp Lynn Miller Eagle Rock Camp is the Carolinas’ first holistic sports camp that reconnects wounded warriors with their families.

Doing My Part Mike Spencer Doing My Part is a unique charitable fundraising initiative transforming the way the world gives back. Through a simple, fun, interactive and real time giving experience, anyone can experience the impact by donating just $3/month, in 60 seconds or less.

BELLAS Margaret Davis BELLAS (Breastfeeding Encouragement Learning Liaison And Support) provides free services for low income, minority, and teen mothers who want to breastfeed, need help, and lack resources.

Autumn Rain Initiative Tammie Holt Autumn Rain Initiative helps put families back together by providing mentoring and education to underprivileged parents and by connecting experienced volunteers with parents involved in DSS cases.

Augustine Project for Literacy Candace Armstrong, Former Executive Director Augustine Project for Literacy increases the reading, writing, and spelling skills of low-income students, helping them to graduate high school.

The Learning Collaborative Judy Carter The Learning Collaborative provides 64 children access to 5-star, nationally accredited, preschool education and their parents access to programs on education advocacy.

Swaraj Yoga Laura McCarthy Ghandi’s belief that lasting social change begins with the transformation of the individual forms the core of Swaraj Yoga, whose mission is to work with homeless and incarcerated men in treatment for substance abuse and mental illness.

Promising Pages Kristina Cruise Promising Pages is a revolutionary early literacy and self esteem program, collecting books that kids have outgrown and providing them to children in the area growing up with few, if any, books.

Power 2 Give Laura Belcher, Former Executive Director power2give.org is a “crowd funding” website that allows arts and cultural organizations to promote specific projects in need of funding and empowers donors to give directly to those projects.

Playing for Others Jen Band Through leadership development, working with children with disabilities, and exploring the arts, Playing for Others empowers teens to make a significant difference with their lives … for the rest of their lives.

Beds for Kids Daniel Fogarty Beds for Kids is a furniture bank with a mission to provide beds and other essential furniture to every child in need in Charlotte through the referrals from strategic partner agencies.

The Center for Community Transitions Myra Clark For the past 40 years, The Center for Community Transitions has focused on building people, not prisons. They help those exiting prison find work, rejoin their families, and identify who they want to be.

Sustain Charlotte Shannon Binns Sustain Charlotte‘s mission is to educate, engage, and unite Charlotte’s citizens and organizations to overcome Charlotte’s sustainability challenges.

Mothers Raising Sons Michelle Houts The mission of Mothers Raising Sons is to establish, educate, and empower proper guidance for positive family structure, targeting low-to-moderate income single females raising boys who are at-risk in kindergarten through high school graduation.

McClintock Partners in Education Amy Daniels McClintock Partners in Education (McPie) is a community outreach program of Christ Lutheran Church. They seek to build bridges by instilling in volunteers and supporters an understanding of the challenges facing those living in poverty.

Let Me Run Ashley Armistead Let Me Run is a nonprofit program aimed at strengthening boys in body and spirit. Their mission is to encourage boys to stay on track to reach their full potential by inspiring healthy friend, family, and community relationships.

Exodus Foundation Madeline McClennney Exodus Foundation is helping Charlotte improve public health and safety using highly trained mentors matched with highly motivated persons with criminal records.

Easter Seals UCP North Carolina & Virginia Amanda Hogan Easter Seals UCP North Carolina & Virginia is a lifelong partner to families managing disabilities and mental health challenges. They seek to build and equip a Multi-Sensory Environment room at the Charlotte Children’s Center for children with developmental disabilities.

CARS Inspiring Youth Jackie Taylor CARS Inspiring Youth is an urban education group that brings reentry educational opportunities into struggling communities, developing high school non-graduates into highly skilled trade workers through months of inspiring GED curriculum built around a new style of teaching.

The Relatives Brennon D. Graham The Relatives has a long history as the only shelter for youth in Mecklenburg County who have run away from home, are homeless, or whose safety is at risk. The On Ramp program serves those who age out of foster homes to prevent these youth from aging into homelessness, prison, or…

Sow Much Good Robin Emmons Sow Much Good is committed to growing healthy communities in underserved neighborhoods by providing direct access to fresh, affordable food; educating and engaging residents to adopt healthy eating habits; and advocating for the right of every person to have real food security.

Silent Images David Johnson Since 2007, Silent Images has provided powerful, visual, storytelling tools to hundreds of global humanitarian organizations. From homeless shelters in Charlotte to Sudanese refugee camps, the Silent Images team tells stories of help amidst genocide, malnutrition, human trafficking, and poverty.

Second Helping Melissa Mummert Second Helping is a program of Changed Choices, a local non-profit agency that serves incarcerated women and women who are returning home from prison. The struggle to find jobs that pay a living wage was the motivation to start Second Helping, a new business that is employing formerly incarcerated women to work in…

Inspire the Fire Dennis Reed, Jr. Inspire the Fire reaches out to youth by way of the arts. We help kids succeed on stage and in life! Our mission is to inspire positive change in adolescents through faith, fun, and the arts. We provide creative outlets for young people to express themselves, find themselves, and inspire their community.

Circle de Luz Mary Kathryn Elkins Circle de Luz radically empowers young Latinas through extensive mentoring, holistic programming, and scholarship funds for further education. From seventh grade through high school graduation, they partner with participants, their families, and supporters to illuminate what is possible and empower participants to dream beyond their current imaginings.

Charlotte Teachers Institute Scott R. Gartlan Charlotte Teachers Institute (CTI) is an educational partnership among Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Davidson College, and UNC Charlotte. CTI cultivates content knowledge, creativity, leadership skills, and collaboration among Charlotte’s public school teachers by offering professional development seminars and a variety of community programs.

Charlotte Community Tool Bank Angela Parks, Former Executive Director Charlotte Community ToolBank is a tool-lending program that serves nonprofits in the community. By putting tools in the hands of the volunteers that are painting schools, repairing seniors’ roofs, or landscaping public spaces, they guarantee that every volunteer is equipped to get the job done.