8 minute read
nonprofits
Guide to giving
by Michelle Boudin
Local nonprofits are busier than ever, thanks to the one-two punch of the pandemic and rising inflation. Lucky for us, the Charlotte community has always been a generous one, filled with hundreds of organizations helping with everything from youth programs to food insecurity to supporting local artists. So as the giving season kicks into high gear, we’re highlighting just a few of the incredible nonprofits giving back in the Queen City.
ARTS +
Arts + provides workshops, camps and private lessons to guarantee students of all ages and skill levels have access to an arts education. Offering instruction on everything from comic-book writing to choir, there is something for everyone, and scholarships ensure money is not a barrier. artsplus.org
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS
The local chapter just celebrated 50 years of one-on-one mentoring in the Charlotte region. Big Brothers Big Sisters pairs “bigs” with “littles” to help build meaningful, long-term relationships with kids ages 7-14. bbbscentralcarolinas.org BRAVEWORKS
Recently rebranded from Fashion & Compassion, this organization is celebrating a decade of training women who have faced difficult circumstances to become artisans. The women are paid for their work, and the handcrafted products they make are sold at BraveWorks’ Dilworth boutique. braveworks.org
THE BULB
The Bulb collects leftover fresh produce from area farms and restaurants and gives it away at strategically placed farmers markets across Charlotte. thebulbgallery.org
CHARLOTTE IS CREATIVE
Charlotte is Creative is all about elevating creatives by connecting them to one another and to business opportunities. Known for its monthly Creative Mornings gatherings, Charlotte is Creative offers unique programs designed to infuse more creativity into the business community and the city at large. charlotteiscreative.com
CLAIRE’S ARMY
Claire’s Army helps families fighting childhood cancer with daily responsibilities and stresses so parents can focus on their child’s well-being. That includes a meal-delivery service, help paying bills and providing hospital “Claire Packages” with essentials such as a bath mat, dishwashing soap, a journal and more. clairesarmy.org
Dickens Mitchener: Committed to combating homelessness
Residential real estate firm Dickens Mitchener has been a part of the Charlotte community for 31 years. Its experienced, full-time agents are dedicated to serving clients with strategic expertise, responsive communication and innovative ideas. Doing what’s right and best for clients in the long term is what the company has always been about. Founded by North Carolina native Vicky Mitchener, Dickens Mitchener agents bring diverse, unique skill sets to the company, embracing the latest trends in the market and relying on a foundation of extensive, intimate knowledge of Charlotte’s neighborhoods and properties. The result: satisfied, successful, longtime clients. Recognizing the feelings of hope and promise inherent in the home-buying process, Mitchener created the Homeowners Impact Fund in 2020, a nonprofit that works with other Charlotte organizations fighting homelessness. The goal: Every real estate agent, vendor and homeowner donates at least $10 at every real estate closing. But it doesn’t stop there. Friends and neighbors in the community are also encouraged to become a partner of the fund. “We feel that everyone should have the dignity of a roof over their head,” Mitchener says. “It’s a way to harness the power of collective giving.” In addition to the Homeowners Impact Fund, the Dickens Mitchener team supports more than 100 nonprofit organizations throughout the Charlotte region. “We are high performers, givers, Charlotte ambassadors and positive visionaries,” Mitchener says. “We love our home of Charlotte.” Every day, more than 3,500 people in the Charlotte area experience homelessness. During this season of giving, consider a gift to the Homeowners Impact Fund. Visit homeownersimpactfund.org.
Dickens Mitchener 2330 Randolph Rd., Charlotte, NC 28207 7810 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Suite 103, Charlotte, NC 28277 704.342.1000 dickensmitchener.com
Welcome Home founder Amarra Ghani
Braveworks
Digi-Bridge
DIGI-BRIDGE
Digi-Bridge provides students access to opportunities and technology in the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) learning fields with both school and community programs. digi-bridge.org
FEEDING CHARLOTTE
Feeding Charlotte connects restaurants and chefs with surplus nutritious food to neighbors who don’t have enough to eat, simultaneously reducing food waste and feeding the hungry. feedingcharlotte.org
FOSTER VILLAGE
Foster Village Charlotte builds a support system for children and families in the foster-care system by providing educational and emotional support, connecting caregivers to resources while continually advocating for children. fostervillagecharlotte.org FREEDOM COMMUNITIES
Based on Charlotte’s west side along the Freedom Drive corridor, Freedom Communities works with families with the goal of transforming the larger community. Programs focus on improving housing, education, health and wellness. freedomcommunities.com
FURNISH FOR GOOD
A small group of south Charlotte moms founded Furnish For Good in 2019 to help people who were formerly homeless furnish their new homes. The need and the donations have grown so much, Furnish For Good just moved into a larger office and warehouse space to accommodate more volunteers and allow for easy donation drop off. furnishforgood.org
ISABELLA SANTOS FOUNDATION Celebrating 15 years and more than $6 million raised to fight rare pediatric cancers, the Isabella Santos Foundation has helped put Levine Children’s Hospital on the map as a destination for treating childhood cancers through cutting-edge and experimental treatments. isabellasantosfoundation.org
LOAVES & FISHES/ FRIENDSHIP TRAYS
Friendship Trays is the Meals on Wheels of Mecklenburg County. The group recently merged with Loaves & Fishes (they provide groceries) to deliver nutritious meals to people who are homebound. friendshiptrays.org
LOTUS CAMPAIGN
The Lotus Campaign connects nonprofits that work with people experiencing homelessness, connecting them with landlords with available housing. The Lotus Campaign works to make participation more appealing to landlords by paying them and mitigating any potential financial risk. lotuscampaign.org
Perry’s Diamonds & Estate Jewelry: Helping change the lives of children with disabilities
Ernest Perry, president and owner of Perry’s Diamonds & Estate Jewelry, is known as a “jeweler’s jeweler.” Other jewelers often come to him to authenticate or appraise an item, trusting his experience of more than 45 years in fine, antique and estate jewelry. It’s that expertise, along with Perry’s qualified staff and expansive selection, that has made the store a jewelry destination in SouthPark.
In addition to wedding and engagement rings and vintage and estate jewelry, Perry’s provides on-site custom jewelry design and repair. Its experienced staff includes 10 graduate gemologists, ensuring the highest quality pieces, skilled repair and a wealth of knowledge to assist clients. “They love what they’re doing, and it shows in our jewelry,” Perry says. Perry, his family and the entire Perry’s staff are passionate supporters of the Allegro Foundation. The nonprofit organization combines movement instruction with educational and medical expertise, creating new techniques to teach children with disabilities and enhance their quality of life. Wife Priscilla and daughter Hadley Perry Pacheco serve on the board of directors. The Perry’s staff participates in Allegro’s fundraising events, with Ernest acting as auctioneer for the annual Ambassador’s Ball. “From our humble beginnings, Perry’s has always had a heart for the community,” he says. “To witness children living with disabilities interact in creative ways and see the joy on their faces is gratifying.” Funded by private donations and grants, the Allegro Foundation teaches free movement education classes to over 800 children a week. There are more than 18,000 Charlotte-area children that could benefit from its programming. To give, visit allegrofoundation.net.
Perry’s Diamonds & Estate Jewelry 6525 Carnegie Blvd., #100, Charlotte, NC 28211 704.364.1391 perrysjewelry.com
MOVE FOR JENN
When Jenn Andrews lost her foot to cancer, she learned insurance companies don’t pay for activewear prosthetics for amputees. The south Charlotte mom founded Move For Jenn to fill the gap, giving away 33 in the four years since she started the nonprofit. moveforjenn.org
PROJECT 2 HEAL
Project 2 Heal breeds and trains Labrador retriever puppies to donate as service dogs to people in need. The dogs become companions for everyone from combat veterans to kids with diabetes. project2heal.org
THE RELATIVES
The Relatives is the only shelter in Mecklenburg County that serves young people, starting at age 7 through young adulthood. The group offers more than just housing for homeless and youth runaways: The Relatives also help young adults find stable housing, jobs and more. therelatives.org ROOF ABOVE
The Urban Ministry Center and the Men’s Shelter of Charlotte merged to become Roof Above. The organization now serves 1,200 people a day by providing emergency shelter, as well as transitional housing, job-skills training, substance-abuse programs and more. roofabove.org
TREESCHARLOTTE
Charlotte is known as the “City of Trees,” and TreesCharlotte works to preserve that reputation by educating residents on the importance of the tree canopy and how to care for it. The group also provides free or low-cost trees to plant at your home or in your neighborhood. treescharlotte.org
WELCOME HOME
Welcome Home Charlotte does just what the name says: The group welcomes refugees as they arrive in the Queen City, helping them to get resettled through its three key programs. Services include English language instruction, a food bank and drivers to help get families to important appointments. welcomehomeclt.org
BONUS: TUTOR CHARLOTTE
Have time to give and want to work with students in need of a little help? Tutor Charlotte is a community initiative that helps connect volunteers with tutoring organizations. The effort encompasses a number of different nonprofits all working together to help pair volunteer tutors with students. tutorcharlotte.org
Scan the QR code to learn about other nonprofit organizations featured in SouthPark.
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