The Cliff

Another deer hunt, another opportunity to help

2009-11-19T11:13:00.002-05:00

We told you earlier this month about a Charlotte woman, Rachel Humphries, who helped bring Charlotte's Montagnard refugee community a taste of home by providing them deer killed by hunters at a Mecklenburg County sponsored deer hunt. Humphries supplied five deer from the hunt to Montagnards, who were persecuted in Vietnam before being placed in the U.S. by the United Nations.

The county is holding another hunt at three Mecklenburg parks on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 to help thin a troublesome deer overpopulation. For more information on the hunt, contact Mecklenburg's Ronny Roberts at 704-583-1176. To help Humphries and the Montagnards, call her at 704-458-3245 or visit www.refugeesupportservices.org.

- Peter St. Onge

Auto show opening with generous pledge

2009-11-12T11:30:00.004-05:00

In a city so dependant on the automobile, here's a chance to look at a few hundred new cars and do some good.

The people behind next week's 17th annual Charlotte International Auto Show are holding its first ever Charity Preview Night on Wednesday, on the eve of the show's opening day at the Charlotte Convention Center.

Buy a $75 ticket ($30 is tax deductible) and you'll get to see all the show's 2010 models -- 400 of them -- and hear about a significant financial contribution Charlotte area auto dealers are making to the Charlotte Rescue Mission.

The first 500 people to buy tickets will get a tour of the nearby NASCAR Hall of Fame, not scheduled to open until May. The event also includes music from The Embers, a variety of heavy hors d'oeuvres and all the new cars you care to eyeball.

But the night's main event: A $100,000 commitment by the show's producer, the Greater Charlotte Automobile Dealers Association, to the rescue mission's Dove's Nest program that will go to building its planned shelter for homeless women struggling with substance abuse in west Charlotte.

On top of that pledge, proceeds from tickets sales -- above expenses for the preview party -- and a live and silent auction will go to the rescue mission.

The 35,000-square-foot women's shelter planned at West Boulevard and Old Steele Creek Road will allow Dove's Nest to expand from 12 beds at its current Dilworth location to 90 beds.

Construction could begin in 2010, with move-ins possible in 2011.

"The dealers association supports many charities, but this is a favorite of ours," said Dick Lewis, director of the auto show. "We know what great work the Charlotte Rescue Mission does and they don't take any government or United Way money."

Many auto shows across the country include a charitable event. This is the first for Charlotte, designed to cut the ribbon on the show -- and the 2010 model year. Winston Kelly, executive director of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, will deliver opening remarks.

"The auto industry needs support and some excitement again," Lewis said. "The auto show felt this was the best way to do it -- have an energetic preview night benefiting a charity."

The auto show will take up 240,000 square feet of the convention center, nearly five football fields. The 400 vehicles will come from 30 manufacturers, domestic and foreign.

There will also be an exhibit of classic Mustangs and Corvettes, and the Hornets Nest chapter of the Antique Auto Club of America is bringing in two dozen vintage cars including: A 1928 Auburn, 1928 LaSalle, a 1951 Hudson convertible and 1966 Shelby Mustang.

There will also be a "green room," with 25 new hybrids and low carbon-emission vehicles.

Lewis said the show hopes to sell 1,000 tickets to the preview event, though sales have been slow.

"We understand money is tight these days," Lewis said. "But this is going to be a fun evening to open what we believe will be our most exciting auto show. And it's for a very good cause."

Want to go? Wednesday's inaugural preview night starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Charlotte Convention Center, 501 S. College St., and ends at 9 p.m. Tickets are available at www.charlotteautoshow.com, or call 704-364-1078.

A scholarship to honor an only child

2009-11-11T15:45:00.000-05:00

If all had gone as planned, Alex Ervin would be awaiting a decision on his application to Appalachian State University and preparing to graduate from Myer Park High School in June.

But late on June 10, 2007, Alex was a front-seat passenger in a car with three friends that police estimated was traveling 92 mph on Colony Road, a stretch near SouthPark where the speed limit is 35 mph. The driver hit a curb, and the car lost control and flew into a tree.

Alex was two months shy of his 16th birthday when he died.

He'd talked longingly of enrolling at Appalachian State University in Boone. He found peace there, said his mother, Tricia Hodge of Charlotte.

"There wasn't the hustle-bustle up there; it was calm," she said. "He and I used to go up there as often as we could."

So now Hodge is trying to raise $40,000 for the "Alex Ervin Memorial Scholarship" to send a student from his Myers Park class of 2010 to Boone for four years. It's a way to honor her son and keep his memory alive. It also dulls the pain of her loss.

The scholarship would pay tuition and lodging for four years. She'd like to turn the scholarship fund into an endowment, so more students could go in her son's name.

"It gives me great comfort to talk about Alex and to do things for him or in his honor," Hodge said. "It's about the only thing that keeps me going. And it's a win-win situation. It's good for my heart, but it also helps another child."

After their son was killed, she and Alex's father, Paul Ervin, started a campaign to get teenagers to slow down. They took remnants of the car to high schools to show students what speed can do. They talked to students and printed up bumper stickers with the urgent message: "Slow Down for Alex."

They implore students to wear seatbelts. On that terrible night, all four teenagers were wearing belts. Alex was the only one killed. Belts, his parents say, saved the other three.

By his sophomore year at Myers Park, Alex had grown to 6 feet 2, an outgoing, fun-loving teenager. His father said he "lived life out loud." Yet his parents were particularly proud that he'd worked hard to get his grades up.

He loved the outdoors, especially the mountains -- thus the draw of Boone and App State.

Hodge has sent fliers about the scholarship to 1,500 corporations and individuals. Donations are slow in coming. The deadline to donate: Jan. 10.

She wants the scholarship to go to one of Alex's classmates who otherwise couldn't afford to go. She'll have no say in the matter. The scholarship will be administered by the ASU admissions office, with consultation from Myers Park guidance counselors, she said.

"My main mission and focus is to do it this year, Alex's graduating year," she said. "If I had the money, I'd just pay for the whole thing. I don't. But just doing this does me a world of good.

"It keeps me connected to Alex."

Want to help? Send donations to: Appalachian State University Foundation, Inc.
ASU BOX 32064, attn: Alex Ervin Memorial Scholarship, Boone, NC 28608. Any questions, call Laura Crandall at the ASU foundation at 828-262-2341, or e-mail her at crandlllb@appstate.edu.

On opera, bull riding and Coyote Joe's

2009-11-09T14:25:00.005-05:00

James Meena calls it a collision of two different worlds -- opera and show tunes performed at Coyote Joe's, the cavernous country-western music, bull-riding nightclub on Wilkinson Boulevard.

The Cliff agrees.

Meena is general director and principal conductor of Opera Carolina. Thursday, the company's fundraising arm, Opera Guild of Charlotte, is throwing a fundraiser at Coyote Joe's. There'll be a little opera, some Broadway tunes, a few pop numbers, mixed in with line dancing to Coyote Joe's country-western band.

They are calling the event: "Opera Cabaret: From Bizet to Broadway, With a Little Bit of Country."

Chances are you'll see opera fans used to wearing tuxedos and gowns to events, in denim and cowboy hats, doing a little Slappin' Leather to Travis Tritt's "T-R-O-U-B-L-E."

"In my wildest imagination I could not have anticipated this eclectic mix of music, at a very special place like Coyote Joe's," Meena said. "It's going to be a hoot and holler."

The fundraiser's proceeds will go to Opera Carolina's education programs. The company goes into schools and community centers in the Carolinas and northern Georgia to perform and teach students about opera. It also provides yearly scholarships for five to six emerging singers for private lessons, continuing education and career development.

The company's operating funds, like those of most nonprofits, have taken a hit in the recession. So the fundraiser is important for Opera Carolina's financial health. The event will serve as the kick-off to National Opera Week that will celebrate opera companies across America starting Friday.

Never has Opera Carolina, founded in 1948 as Charlotte Music Club, had a fundraiser like Thursday's.

The three-segment event will open with a few selections of classic opera and light opera, Broadway and pop songs all performed by singers of Opera Carolina. The second segment will be line dancing and country-western music -- followed another segment of opera and Broadway tunes.

If enough money is raised, Meena has promised to ride the mechanical bull.

The event's chair, Gigi Lefler, admits it's an odd mix.

But maybe not: "We all have the same stories, just different kinds of music," Lefler said. "We wanted to use this concept to think outside the box and show people that opera is not as intimidating as a great many think.

"Everybody sings opera, even the garbage collectors in Italy."

She acknowledged that the opera crowd, too, may learn a little something at Coyote Joe's. Most opera events are pricey. Lefler and the guild committee wanted an affordable event to spread the mission of the guild and the appeal of opera.

"This is the kind of thing we wanted to do to see if we could appeal to a wider audience," Lefler said. "... No matter what you listen to -- 50s hits, opera or country-western -- it's all the same stories.

"Hopefully people will see opera in a different light. The more we listen, the more we understand each other and why we do the things we do, the better off human relationships become and the more tolerant we become."

Want to go? The "Opera Cabaret" begins at 8 p.m. at Coyote Joe's, 4621 Wilkinson Blvd. Tickets are $30 a person, or $240 for a table of eight ($300 for VIP tables). There will be a cash bar and wine sold by the bottle. To buy tickets go to www.operacabaretcharlotte.org, or call 704-332-7177, ext. 210.

On warm winter coats and 400 turkeys

2009-11-05T14:20:00.001-05:00

A couple of Cliff reach outs:

Crisis Assistance Ministry needs you to dig into your closet and pull out that "gently worn" coat or two -- or even sweaters and blankets on the bottom of the stack -- that you haven't used in years and donate them.

Like everything else, demand is up, but donations of warm clothes and blankets are down at the ministry's Free Store, which provides free clothing and household items to the needy.

The store only stocks donated clothes.

"It's not a cry that the house if falling in," said Dave Miller, operations director. "We just want to get ahead of the curve. I just noticed that in the month of October, we gave out more clothing (68,000 pieces) than we did in October last year (60,000).

"And because of the economy, people are understandably holding back a little. We just want people to know that we're still here and ask them to dig in the closet."

Most years, the Free Store runs short on men's winter coats and sweaters.

"Guys aren't good at cleaning out closets," Miller said. "We are always needing more men's clothes than we get.

"This is the time when donations get heavier. We're just not seeing that now."

Bring donations to the ministry's donation drop-off at 500-A Spratt St. west of uptown, Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For decades, the Bethlehem Center of Charlotte has provided a turkey and food to 400 families and 50 seniors at Thanksgiving.

A large church in recent years picked up the tab for the 400 families. This year, because the recession is forcing it to cut back, the church decided it couldn't pay for those meals this year.

Another church has stepped up to provide the nonperishables. But the center, which for nearly 70 years has provided educational opportunites for low-income children, needs to buy 400 10-to-14-pound turkeys.

Bi-Lo has reduced the prices of turkeys to the agency. But the center needs your financial help to pay for them.

"We don't have a place to store turkeys; we have to ship them in all at once," said Amy Hutchison, the center's development specialist. "That's why we're asking for money instead of turkeys."

The turkeys will be ordered on Nov. 23 -- so send your donation before then.

Send money donations -- remember no turkeys -- to Bethlehem Center, Attn: Amy Hutchison, 2705 Baltimore Ave., Charlotte NC 28203. Note "Thanksgiving 2009" on checks. Or you can make donations on the center's Web site at www.bethlehemcenter.org.

Sleeping on the street for free tutoring

2009-11-05T07:40:00.005-05:00

Julius Bishop grew up in a low-income family and understands how education can open a world of possibility.

That is why on Saturday, he is setting up a tent at the outdoor atrium at uptown's EpiCentre, where he will sleep at least through November to raise money for free tutoring for all Charlotte-Mecklenburg students.

Bishop works for TADA (Talents Are Discovered Awareness), an initiative of a 7-year-old registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit called JETTI (Jobs Exposure Talent and Training Institute) created to help students tap into natural talents and find solutions to problems in education . TADA will work with children K-12 by pairing them with "talent discovery coaches" to unlock their undiscovered potential.

While Bishop is living on the street, he and JETTI's founder, Christopher Harper, will call on companies and businesses to commit money to the tutoring effort. Their goal is to get 3,000 companies, churches, civic clubs or teams to sponsor 10 to 15 children a year for a tutoring program.

The tutoring's free, but the tutors are paid. Many will be current and former teachers; all have to be trained on techniques of unlocking talents and certified by TADA. Harper wants to raise at least $3 million to make TADA self-sustainable.

Sound a touch bold in this recession?

Not to Bishop and Harper.

"I am trying to bring people together to support free tutoring," Bishop said. "A lot of kids can't afford the $35 an hour for a tutor. This would get them the help they need. I am sleeping on the streets now, so none of them have to sleep on the streets in the future."

Harper, a Charlotte native and long-time corporate trainer, said CMS estimates there are between 15,000 and 30,000 students who need tutoring to succeed in school.

"We believe that every child wants to win in school and we work from there," he said. "If that premise is true, then the only thing holding them back from winning is finding their hidden talents.

"On their own, they don't know how."

Bishop's sleeping arrangements are designed to bring awareness to TADA, as well as the need for tutoring. During the day, Bishop will pass out flowers and ask for donations for TADA. He and Harper will call on companies.

"We want to be a sustainable program," Harper said. "We're not just going to be a sound bite."

If you want more information, or if you'd like to donate to the free tutoring project, go look up Bishop at the EpiCentre atrium, or call Harper at JETTI 704-540-3029. You can donate and find more information at www.talentsarediscovered.com.

Cowboy Christmas to help rescued horses

2009-11-04T14:00:00.002-05:00

Ziggy the Quarter Horse was a sorrowful sight when Tracy Kloc first saw him in June.

He was sunburned with severe skin lacerations and an eye that had suffered some sort of trauma and should have been surgically removed. A healthy Quarter Horse weighs 1,100 pounds. Ziggy was down to 600 -- "a walking bag of bones."

Kloc is an investigator for horse abuse cases and, as a member of the U.S. Equine Rescue League, keeps abused and neglected horses on her farm near Marshville until they are adopted.

She kept Ziggy and tried to nurse him back to health. "He was by far the worst case we've ever seen locally," Kloc said. "He was extremely thin and had so many medical problems. He was with us for two weeks, but we weren't able to save him despite our hardest efforts."

Ziggy's owner was charged with animal abuse, cruelty and neglect. His case is pending.

The league's local chapter has seen its share of abused and abandoned horses. They place the animals in foster homes in Union, Cabarrus and York, S.C., counties, get them rehabilitated and try to find them a permanent home.

On Nov. 15, the league is hosting "Cowboy Christmas" at Southern Breezes Ranch outside Monroe to raise badly needed operating funds -- and its exposure.

The ranch's owner, Richard Medlin, has built a mini Old West town with a bunk house (which he loans out to scout troops), a general store, a petting zoo and a gem-mining set-up and other western-like buildings.

He is donating the space for the event.

"Our donations are down (by 50 percent) like everyone else," said league volunteer Deb Carl, in charge of publicity for the event. "All the donations we make at Cowboy Christmas will go directly to the horses."

The league's local chapter covers 11 counties. The cases they see are often tragic -- some not so, rescuing horses from people who have no business owning them.

They rescued a mule and horse in Union County the past month. The mule was in decent shape, but kept breaking free and roaming a neighborhood.

The horse was owned by a Union County man who thought he could keep him in his back yard. The horse kept getting out, and after sheriff's deputies made four trips out to corral the horse, they started seizure proceedings.

Before the case went to court, the man surrendered the horse to the league.

"It makes you sick when you see these horses," Carl said. "It's unbelieveable that anyone could treat any creature like these horses are treated. People don't have to have horses."

Want to go? The Nov. 15 Cowboy Christmas event goes from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Wild West Town at Southern Breezes Ranch near Monroe, 4126 Medlin Rd. There will be horse-drawn rides, opportunities to meet rescued horses, a petting zoo and shopping for cowboys and cowgirls. Donations are appreciated. If you're interested in participating call Deb Carl at 704-531-4877, or email at dbcarl@carolina.rr.com. To make a donation go to the league's website at www.userl.org, or send a check to "US Equine Rescue League," P.O. Box 157, Wingate, NC 28174.

Catching problem speaking, hearing early

2009-11-03T18:25:00.005-05:00

Katie Sullivan's parents thought those loud noises coming from her mouth a year ago were just plain, annoying shrieks.

They started about the time Katie turned 2 (pictured above) and grew progressively worse.

Turns out she was talking, but couldn't pronounce her consonants – her Bs, Ps and Ts.

"If she was frustrated or wanted something, she just shrieked," said July Sullivan, Katie's mother. "We thought it was just the age and let it slide."

Until Christmas last year, when they took her to the Charlotte Speech & Hearing Center for a screening.

Katie's therapist discovered the girl wasn't moving her mouth when she tried to talk.

Now, after months of work to get Katie to form words with her lips, those shrieks have turned to normal conversation, and the Sullivan house is dramatically more peaceful.

Charlotte Speech & Hearing sees thousands of cases like Katie's – discovering impairments in people of all ages.

Saturday, the center is holding its first Fall Fun Fest as a draw to get people young and old screened for hearing and speech problems.

For children, there will be free speech, occupational therapy and physical therapy screenings.

For people of all ages, there'll be free hearing screenings. The center will also be handing out hearing aid discount coupons to seniors.

It's all a part of the center's effort to seek out people who need help – instead of waiting for clients to come to them.

"It is so important to find any speech-language or hearing disorders early in children before they start school," said Shannon Tucker, the center's development director. "We can work with them so they are on the right track when they start kindergarten.

"There's a big myth that the schools take care of everything. They don't."

The center is the only nonprofit in the Charlotte region that provides speech-language and hearing services to people of all ages, regardless of income. Last year, it helped more than 7,000 low-income people, including providing free hearing aids for seniors and free speech screenings for preschoolers in Charlotte's high-poverty neighborhoods.

Studies show that up to 12 percent of 5- and 6-year-old children have some kind of language disorder that hampers them in school. And 1 in 10 Americans of all ages has some degree of hearing loss, 1 in 3 for those over 65.

The center gets 34 percent of its funding from United Way, which was cut by a third. Its hearing services bank took a 45 percent cut, forcing the center to cut by half the number of hearing aids it normally gives out to low-income children, Tucker said.

The center has a $200,000 hole in its fundraising budget, she said.

Katie Sullivan's mother says the center has made an enormous difference in her daughter's ability to communicate and her family's peace.

She encouraged parents to bring their children to Saturday's Fall Fun Fest for the free screenings.

"If we had waited to address Katie's problem when she was 5 or 6, it would have been difficult," Sullivan said. "She'd have been way behind. If a parent suspects there's a problem with a child, there's a problem. Our hunches are not often wrong."

Want to go? The Charlotte Speech & Hearing Center's Fall Fun Fest is noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at Park Road Park, 6215 Park Road. In addition to the free screenings, there will be games, clowns, a bouncy castle, pumpkin roll, face painting and snacks and beverages. The center will gladly take donations at the festival. If you want to donate online or want more information about the festival, click here.

TKEs buzzing scalps for a cure

2009-11-02T13:46:00.004-05:00

If you rode by UNC Charlotte's new student union today, you might have seen the brothers of Tau Kappa Epsilon out front -- shaving their heads.

Don't get the wrong idea. This was no college prank. Since Oct. 1, the brothers have been raising money for pediatric cancer research at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn, the national fraternity's primary philanthropy. Their goal is to raise $5,000 by Dec. 1.

Today was the halfway point. The brothers decided to make their cause really public by setting up a makeshift barber's chair outside the Union and letting their president, Yll Mullaademi, a senior and 4th generation hair stylist from the Republic of Kosovo, shave their heads.

The gesture was more symbolic, than philanthropic. They called it: "TKEs Getting Buzzed."

"We're shaving our heads for the kids," said Sheldon Kazmarski, a senior from Charlotte. "They go through a lot, including losing their hair during treatment. We wanted to show our support."

They were able to arm-twist a dozen other students to show their support, too, by letting Mullaademi shave their heads. Several dropped a buck or two in the donation can.

One 11-year-old boy saw the brothers on early-morning TV this morning -- the head shaving started at 6 a.m. -- and had his parents drive him to campus before school to have his head shaved, too. His parents left a nice donation.

TKE is in its first semester on the UNCC campus; so they're a colony, not a chapter yet. Philanthropic work is part of their charge from the national headquarters.

"I'm personally excited about the feedback we're getting from many of the people making donations," Kazmarski said. "Many people look at us in the Greek connotations -- that we're always drinking and partying. But TKEs across the country are very serious about giving back to their communities."

By 2 p.m., Mullaademi had shaved the heads of 15 TKEs, several to the scalp -- including Kazmarski and Mullaademi himself.

"A lot of these kids lose all their hair, so I just to decided to take it all the way down," Mullaademi said. "But we're having a blast, and we are doing some good at the same time. We really believe in this cause."

The fraternity has held a raffle and the brothers have taken turns manning a table at the student union asking students passing by for donations.

"We're going to go real hard to meet our goal by Dec. 1," said Mullaademi, obviously the TKEs' official barber. "This is a pretty committed bunch of guys. If you don't believe me, just look at our shaved heads."

Celebrating 100 years of commendable service

2009-10-29T11:42:00.007-04:00

In the prehistoric year of 1909, 100 Charlotte business and religious leaders each pledged to chip in $25 a year and established Associated Charities to help what was then called "the floating needy."

They delivered food baskets by horse-and-buggy. They took people coal and wood to stay warm and cook by, and made sure they were adequately clothed.

Their work is a reminder of how Charlotteans have long reached out.

Over the next century, Associated Charities evolved its services depending on the needs -- for years it was an adoption agency and once home to Big Brothers Big Sisters -- and underwent four name changes to become United Family Services.

Now United Family Services is one of the city's longest-running nonprofits and it is on the brink of evolving again -- dramatically expanding its primary service.

The agency runs a 24-hour domestic violence hotline and provides counselors to work with people about to lose their homes. But it is chiefly known for its 29-bed shelter for women and children who are victims of domestic violence.

The facility is 30 years old, and in disrepair. The past year, it served 617 women and children, but had to turn away 2,000.

"There simply were't enough beds," said Libby McLaughlin, the nonprofit's development director.

So on Nov. 7, the agency is hosting a centennial celebration and kicking off a capital campaign for $10 million to build a new shelter with 80 beds.

The event at the uptown Westin hotel is called the "Aperture Gala." The campaign is being co-chaired by retired Springs Industries CEO Crandall Bowles, and Mecklenburg County Commission Chair Jennifer Roberts.

United Family Services will share land with the Charlotte Rescue Mission, and collaborate on services such as security and parking.

Eighty beds would allow clients to stay at the shelter longer. At present, 30 days is the limit.

"That's a band-aid that we're able to offer women," McLaughlin said. "We'd like to be able to keep them for three months to a year, to allow them access to safety and to become self-sufficient before they return to the community.

"It's a lot easier to get a new beginning if you have time on your side."

Want to go? The Nov. 7 "Aperture Gala" begins at 7 p.m. at the uptown Westin. There will be a photo exhibit by Charlotte photographer Lisa Holder, and photos and journals by shelter clients. Tickets are $200 a person; sponsorships are also available. To buy tickets or for more information, contact Elizabeth Connor at 704-367-2799. If you can't go, but would like to donate to the new battered women's shelter, click here, or send a check to United Family Services, 601 E. Fifth St., Suite 400, Charlotte NC 28202.

McIntyre back on the campaign trail

2009-10-28T14:20:00.001-04:00

Jane McIntyre feels like she's back on the campaign trail.

In many ways the former school board member is.

It's a different kind of campaign, one she believes is critically important if the least among us are to receive the help they need.

In August, McIntyre (pictured above speaking yet another crowd) took over the embattled United Way of Central Carolinas and immediately hit the trail to repair the agency's image -- crippled for more than a year by what many saw as exorbitant pay and benefits paid to former United Way head Gloria Pace King.

In the furor, donations to last year's United Way campaign fell by almost a third and many agencies saw their funding cut by 40 percent.

So McIntyre is running, every day, her focus on the current campaign.

"There's a lot at risk here," she told The Cliff. "People are hurting. Agencies are trying hard to serve many more people than they've ever served with less dollars. United Way has to be an effective conduit to drive more dollars to these community agencies."

That's the message she'll take next Wednesday to a joint lunch meeting of the Charlotte chapters of the International Association of Business Communicators and the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

The topic: Sharing her operational and communication strategies for turning around a very troubled and very public organization.

Since McIntyre took United Way's reins, the only times she's said no to an invite is when she had to be some place else. So far, she's spoken to 70 groups about the efforts to overhaul the agency. She makes herself available to media. Often, she runs to three to five appearances or interviews a day.

"I read a survey that said, 'We need to hear directly from the person now in charge,'" she said. "That was very clear. Well, here she is."

Her message is consistent -- she uses no notes -- but tweaked to "keep it from becoming boring."

"I'm not bored with myself yet," she said. "But I worry that people will get bored with the message -- I don't want them to say 'I've have read that 10 times.' So I seem to always have something new to tell them.

"The demands of this campaign are very similar to a political campaign. You want to answer questions consistently. It's easy if you talk to people straight."

Her focus on the United Way campaign is singular. She's cancelled vacations, or cut out-of-town visits short to stay in the region to get the message out. "There's too much to be done here," she said.

Wednesday, the professional business communicators and funders will hear her message and the importance of transperancy and straight talk.

"The cuts to agencies were substantial, and I strongly believe that many agencies cannot sustain another round of cuts," McIntyre said. "... So it's truly a chance of a lifetime to change the business model of United Way and to have a positive impact on a great many people."

Want to go? The lunchtime program runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at the Academic Center at Johnson & Wales University, 801 W. Trade St. Cost: $20 for IABC and AFP members; $35 for nonmembers. RSVP by Monday at 5 p.m. by clicking here.

Shucking for the blind

2009-10-28T10:00:00.001-04:00

Michelle Woodward, Penelope Powell, Bob Scheffel, Nasser Razmyer shucked oysters for teh Oyster Roast at Mez at the EpiCentre. The roast raised $500 for the Metrolina Association for the Blind (MAB) earlier this month. Attendees feasted on steamed and raw oysters on the half-shell, a shrimp boil, gumbo, and sandwiches.

Bobcats sport tux and sneakers at gala

2009-10-28T08:00:00.000-04:00

Bobcats Sports & Entertainment president and chief operating officer Fred Whitfield, Presbyterian Hospital president Mark Billings and Carolina News14’s sports director Mike Solarte hosted more than 500 guests at Time Warner Cable Arena on Saturday for the third annual "My Hero Gala" black tie fundraiser to support the Bobcats Youth Foundation and the Presbyterian Hospital Community Care Cruiser. The gala featured Bobcats players, coaches and executives in tuxedos and basketball shoes, with music by the Urban Guerilla Orchestra and a live auction. Awards were given out to education advocate and school volunteer Carlenia Ivory, healthcare provider Dr. Herbert Clegg and Bobcat Raymond Felton.

Walk raises a bundle for breast cancer

2009-10-27T12:22:00.004-04:00

If you were out last weekend, you probably saw them -- more than 1,100 people in a sea of hot pink walking, running, jogging through the streets of Charlotte to raise money for the accessible treatment and cure of breast cancer.

And boy, did they ever raise money: A stunning $2.3 million during the two-day event.

The Charlotte race was the last of nine races throughout the country for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer series.

Each participant spent months raising $1,800 for the honor of walking or running a marathon or 1 1/2 marathon over two days. Corporate and individual donations drove the total to $2.3 million. The money goes to organizations supporting five areas of the breast cancer movement: Awareness and education; screening and diagnosis; access to treatment; support services and scientific research -- all with a focus on the medically underserved.

The Charlotte event drew people from four countries, 39 states and Washington, D.C. There were 114 breast cancer survivors and 138 men.

Lisa Middleton, a 3 1/2-year survivor, came from Houston, Tex.

At the closing ceremony at Frazier Park uptown, she told the participants: "We walked this weekend for those who were too sick to walk for themselves, for those who will one day be diagnosed and for those we lost ... Some things in the world are universal -- like love, the power of healing and the will to survive."

Mark Hurlbert, director of the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, also presented grants totaling $750,000 for research at four Carolinas universities. They include:

UNC Chapel Hill: Awarded $300,000 for a research project that will help doctors understand who is at the highest risk for breast cancer recurrence.

Clemson University: Awarded $195,000 for research that seeks to develop new ways to improve reconstructive surgery following a lumpectomy. It involves a novel application of drugs to reduce tumor recurrence or metastases.

Duke University: Awarded $130,000 to support outreach to underserved and low-income women in Raleigh, Greensboro and Charlotte and to provide patient navigation services to women diagnosed with breast cancer.

Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston: Awarded $125,000 to support a patient navigation program that improves access to screening, diagnostics and treatment for underserved people in the Columbia area.

Beyond Charlotte, there were Avon walks/runs in Houston, Washington, D.C., Boston, Chicago, the Rocky Mountains, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York.

The nine races drew 20,000 participants and raised $52 million. In the scheme of things our total was a small chunk -- but not bad for little ole Charlotte.

Pooling forces to keep people afloat

2009-10-26T14:30:00.004-04:00

The Biblical figure Noah is known for keeping his people afloat. That's what the creators of the Project Noah task force hope to do in Charlotte's Jewish community.

As the economy soured, the city's rabbis began hearing from congregants who'd lost jobs and who have gone through savings – and didn't know how they'd pay the next month's mortgage. Some needed home repairs that they couldn't afford, or counseling, or food.

Jewish organizations came to the rescue, but with varying results. So the organizations inside and outside of Shalom Park, the campus of Jewish organizations and synagogues off Providence Road, formed a task force to present a united response to needs created by the deepening recession.

"We wanted to build something together to have a greater force … and keep everyone afloat," said Stephanie Starr, executive director of Jewish Family Services, which is leading the effort. "It is so hard to get people to reach out for help. There is something ingrained in us, as Jews, that we have to take care of ourselves."

Project Noah is reaching out.

In a letter to Charlotte Jews, task force chair Karen Knoble asked Jews to practice "gemilut hasadim" (the giving of loving kindness like feeding the hungry) and extend a hand to someone "in need or feeling anxious."

"No one is immune," Knoble wrote. "In fact, many of those hit hardest are middle-class, white-collar employees who have traditionally supported others in need."

She's right. No one's immune. So the task force is rounding up carpenters, plumbers and electricians to volunteer a few hours to repair homes; accountants to help with finances; lawyers to explore legal matters and counselors to provide stress therapy.

The task force has joined arms with churches – such as St. Gabriel Catholic Church and Myers Park Baptist Church – to create workshops on managing money, or learning to use public networking like Facebook to enhance a business or job searches. Its BYOB (Be Your Own Boss) will discuss opening a new business. Its Back2Work program places the unemployed in unpaid internships to learn new skills and network and give a reason for getting out of bed. The No Fuss Meals program plans meals on a budget.

The project has a Web site with a job board for employers to post open positions and the unemployed to find jobs.

"We are not only offering spiritual guidance, we are offering hands-on, roll-up-your-sleeves, practical solutions," said Sara-Lynne Levine, the task force's volunteer communications manager. "It's a comprehensive effort to get people help."

The services are limited to people in the Jewish community. The programs with churches are open to everyone.

"We only have a limited number of volunteers, at this point, so we're trying to help our clients first," Starr said. "As that list of volunteers grows, then hopefully we can help more and more people throughout the community."

For more information?
Go to www.jfscharlotte.org/project-noah for a comprehensive list of programs, services and activities. Or call Project Noah at Jewish Family Services at 704-364-6594.

Helping students go the distance

2009-10-22T18:56:00.003-04:00

David Dunn calls it a "perfect storm" in academia, a converging crisis that could prevent many students at UNC Charlotte from returning to school in the spring.

As UNCC's vice chancellor for university relations and community affairs, Dunn is the go-to guy when it comes to lobbying state legislators on the university's behalf. He also heads up the school's outreach.

In September, after fall classes had already begun, the legislature did a number on the UNC System's 16 campuses, significantly slashing state funding for need-based financial aid – taking effect in the spring semester.

That means $1.5 million less in need-based assistance for UNCC. At the same time, 40percent more students applied for financial aid because many families are cash-strapped in the recession. That's on top of about 15,000 UNCC students already getting some level of aid.

"Even with the increase, we were able to provide the level of need-based funding for the fall semester," Dunn said. "But come spring, we're going to need to find ways to replenish $1.5 million, or a lot of kids are either going to be leaving school, or borrowing will go up significantly, or they'll take second and third jobs – or fewer courses."

One way is Saturday's first 4.NinerK run/walk, organized specifically to raise money for need-based scholarships.

Dunn's community affairs department came up with the idea and reached out to 40,000 alumni, 3,000 faculty and staff members and 24,500 students. As of last Wednesday, more than 530 people had signed up to run.

Organizers set a goal of raising at least $25,000, every dime going to scholarships.

"There is virtually no way we're going to make up a huge deficit of $1.5 million," Dunn said. "But this is real money that will help a lot of kids stay in school."

The event sends a statement.

"It tells students that the administration understands this crisis and we want to be proactive to alleviate the financial problems around that," Dunn said. "We want to help."

Devlin Horton plans to partake. He's a senior at UNCC, and couldn't have made it this far without need-based assistance.

His needs were substantial when he left his native Greenville, N.C., to enroll at UNCC as a freshman four years ago. When he was 15, his father had suffered a heart attack and doctors told him that continuing to work would kill him. Devlin had to work and go to school to keep the family going.

He couldn't play baseball, and had to forgo his prom because he couldn't afford to rent a tux. Just before he started college, his parents filed for bankruptcy.

"I always took it for granted that I was going to go to college and that it would be paid for," Horton said. "I arrived in Charlotte not knowing how I was going to pay for school."

Initially, an aunt co-signed a student loan, and then he started applying for financial aid. "I wouldn't have made it through college if financial aid hadn't been available to me," he said.

Since his freshman year, he has worked a paid internship in the legal profession, and held a leadership position on student government's judicial board. Now he's in the midst of applying to law schools.

He's also president of his fraternity.

Horton's set for next semester and will graduate in May. But there are plenty of Devlin Hortons still on campus who need financial help. You can help 'em out Saturday at the 4.NinerK.

But, in full disclosure, the course is a whole 5K.

Want to go? You can still take part in UNC Charlotte's first annual 4.NinerK run/walk and help raise money for need-based financial aid scholarships. Register at www.uncc.edu, clicking on the race logo, or just show up Saturday and register at UNCC's newly opened student union. Check-in and on-site registration begins at 7:30 a.m. Registration fees: $26 for individuals and $49 for a family of four. The Web site has directions, a map of the course and times.

Keeping it real for mayoral forum

2009-10-21T14:50:00.007-04:00

Inside Providence United Methodist Church, Alice Bennett lays out the mission of Thursday's "We Are the Candidate" mayoral forum.

The forum is an opportunity for councilmen John Lassiter (Republican) and Democrat Anthony Foxx to hear from real people who are dealing with joblessness, homelessness and hopelessness. The goal is to get the candidates to commit to an agenda for workforce development, home foreclosure prevention and critical home repair in neighborhoods.

The people the candidates will hear from completed various job training programs, but still can't find employment. Or they live in crumbling homes and deteriorating neighborhoods, and can't afford better living conditions. They are barely getting by in a city still reeling from the recession.

The challenge at a recent prep session for the forum, expected to draw 600 people, was finding individuals willing to share their stories. Bennett works with Helping Empower Local People, a grassroots group, which organized the forum with area churches. She wants Lassiter and Foxx to hear from people who are suffering and need more than campaign slogans to feel reassured. The need for authenticity from the candidates and the participants is why Bennett begged volunteers to help her find speakers.

Finding those voices has been tough. People don’t want to share their stories of how they've lost their job and are living with relatives or in a shelter, she said. They don't want to talk about how they can’t afford to make home repairs. People are prideful, but she hopes a courageous few will step up. No one can tell their story of pain like the person living it, she said.

Volunteers at the prep session know the pain all too well. They see it in the eyes of some church members and people in their communities. They hope the candidates will be moved by the stories to offer real solutions.

"It's really important for the candidates to be genuine, be real and talk on a personal level," said Katie Sloan of First United Presbyterian. "Real people need real answers."

Want to go?
What: "We are the Candidate" forum.
When: 7-8:30 p.m. today.10/22 .
Where: Providence United Methodist Church, 2810 Providence Road.

Corporate funders get up-close look of homeless

2009-10-20T13:25:00.000-04:00

They were nine corporate funders, executives who help decide where their company's philanthropy goes, walking the same route hundreds of Charlotte's working poor and homeless take every day.

It was cold and wet last Thursday, a perfect day to learn about the homeless. The walk was part of a "homeless walking tour" that Maria Hamlin, executive director of Mecklenburg Ministries, leads for various groups several times a year.

This was the first time she'd led "corporate professionals," all members of CCAP (Charlotte Community Affairs Professionals).

All nine started their Thursday catching a bus at 6 a.m. for uptown's transportation center, then had to figure out a transfer to Crisis Assistance Ministry on Spratt Street, west of uptown, where each day hundreds of the working poor line up for help with rent and utilities.

They listened to the stories of homeless, handed out muffins to those in line at Crisis Assistance. Then they walked the three miles from Spratt Street to the St. Peter's Soup Kitchen at the Urban Ministry Center on College Street -- a walk hundreds of homeless make each day.

Along the way, they stopped at camps and under bridges where the homeless sleep. At the soup kitchen, they sat with homeless eating a bowl of soup and a cheese sandwich.

And they learned at least two important lessons: What it means to be poor and/or homeless in Charlotte, and how the donations from companies and thousands of Charlotte area residents are going to a noble cause of keeping people housed and fed.

"We all hear the numbers -- thousands of people in Charlotte are homeless," said Kelly Chopus, director of community relations at Goodrich Corp. and CCAP's chair. "But when you walk on the train tracks and you see those camps and you see how people are actually living -- probably through no choice of their own -- it's really upsetting that we in this community allow that to happen.

"We need to make different choices to make that go away."

Chopus, like the others, was wet after the walk without umbrellas. She held out her hand, cold to the touch: "I've just had to deal with this for five hours. These people deal with this every day, all day."

George Baldwin, managing director of legislative and community affairs at Piedmont Natural Gas, messed up his bus connection and arrived late to Crisis Assistance. As he approached, he was startled to see so many people in line for help.

He listened to the stories of the homeless, and thought: "These are people a step away from being very successful. But for making a bad choice, they would be."

"We saw our donatinos at work -- it was a reward morning seeing these people benefit from the contributions we all make," said Baldwin, next year's CCAP chair. "There was a lot of humanity on those faces. They were saying 'good morning' to me, when I should have been reaching out to them. People need to understand that these are just normal people.

"These are our neighbors. They deserve being treated with dignity."

Chopus and Baldwin said they'll go back to their companies and blog or email about their experience and what they learned.

"We will encourage our employees to get engaged," Chopus said. "We are bless, but we have the potential to do something about this in this community."

Cancer ministry holding survival benefit

2009-10-19T13:52:00.004-04:00

The press release starts out:

"A newly married man needs someone to talk to about his fears and struggles as he cares for his wife who is battling cancer."

"A single mom with three children is torn between her desires to be by the bedside of her daughter, hospitalized with cancer, and also provide the emotional support and the basic needs for her other children. She cannot do both alone."

"A man with three children lost his job and the very next day his wife succumbed to her battle with cancer. His bills are immense and he faces the loss of his home at the very time he knows his children need the stability of their home."

They are true stories, and there are many more -- all served by Hope Cancer Ministries of Charlotte. The nonprofit provides spiritual and emotional support, as well as helping with the practical needs of cancer patients, caregivers and those who have lost someone they love to cancer.

Like most nonprofits these days, the ministry's roster of clients is growing far faster than its resources. So on Nov. 6, Hope ministry is hosting a concert and dessert benefit night featuring The Envoys, a gospel quartet.

"We are growing rapidly at a time when funds are dwindling," said Bob Little, the ministry's executive director. "We desperately need volunteers who will join our passion for serving cancer patients."

The ministry was started in 2001 by the late Frank Murray, a Charlotte Realtor. Murray was a cancer patient, and during treatments would sit and listen to the concerns of other patients. "He'd hear their fears, their trials and concerns," Little said. "He thought, 'here I sit with hope, since I have the resources.' He told his friends, 'we need to reach out to these folks.'"

Murray wrote up his blueprint for the ministry and gave it to friends at his church to implement. He didn't live to see his ministry come to life. He knew it was under way -- and he was grateful.

The ministry pairs clients with a primary partner, a prayer partner and card partner, Little said. It has assembled a team of volunteers who help with transportation, meals, house cleaning, minor house repairs and financial assistance. It also maintains a benevolence fund to help clients financially wrecked by hospital and medical costs and a food pantry to feed those who have given up eating to pay for other obligations.

HCM has four part-time care professionals who have trained volunteers and work to meet needs of clients.

As for the young groom, the ministry provides him with counseling and support groups.

It helps the single mother by sending volunteers to sit with her sick child and her other children -- while she gets a break.

And the recent widower? The ministry is helping pay his medical bills and house payments. Food is provided and when he's ready he'll join a support group.

The ministry, a nonprofit, relies on donations from individuals and churches. Little said the staff has written grants, but so far unsuccessfully. "We meet our obligations, but have little left over after that," Little said. "With the recession, our reserves have dried up."

Their work is noble and necessary. They need your help.

Want to go? The Nov. 6 concert/dessert benefit will be at Calvary Church of the Nazarene, 4000 N. Sharon Amity Rd. It starts at 7 p.m. If can't go, send a check to Hope Cancer Ministry, 4824 Sharon View Rd., Charlotte NC 28226, or go on the Web site here. If you'd like to volunteer, call 704-364-1440.

Skirt-wearing Ironman with a mohawk

2009-10-15T19:42:00.002-04:00

Charlotte banker Kevin Collins knows about incentives.

Early next month, he’s competing in the Ironman Florida in Panama City to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. It’s a way to honor the son of a co-worker, 4-year-old leukemia patient Matt Gray.

His goal is to raise $10,000, through the Janus Charity Challenge, where triathletes choose their charity. To get people to donate, he promised he’d have his hair cut into a mohawk at the half-way point. At $7,500, he’d run two local 5K races and the marathon portion of the Ironman dressed in a sport skirt.

At $10,000, the mohawk would go purple.

“I needed to come up with a plan to entice people to donate to my chosen cause,” he told my colleague, Theoden Janes, last month. “Plus, it’s a tough economy; so you have to give folks a little something for their effort.”

Last week, Collins (pictured above) emailed The Cliff photos of him in a mohawk, and running a race in an cheetah-print sport skirt – which means he passed the $7,500 mark.

In the email, he said he’s close to the $10,000, and has the green dye ready. But the race is only a few weeks away and he needs help raising the rest.

On his Ironman Web site, Collins said he has several goals: To finish (“upright. I hate to crawl”), which means swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 miles and then running a marathon (26.2 miles) – a total of 140.6 miles on the same day.

He’d love to go the distance faster than those in his age group, qualifying him for the world championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. That’s remote, he said, “but there is always that chance.”

He also wants to beat his previous times, and his friends. But the main goal is raising the $10,000 for Matt.

Matt, he writes, was 3 when he was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia, a fast-growing cancer of the blood and bone marrow. The cancer progresses quickly, so Matt began Chemo treatments the day after diagnosis. Still his prognosis was poor, and he needed a bone marrow transplant. His younger brother was a perfect match, and the transplant was a success, Collins writes.

“He is still at risk for relapse and other complications,” he said. “He has a long road to recovery ahead of him, but his spirit is strong and he will win this fight.

“A big goal like that requires a big commitment, and I am willing to make that commitment.”
He’s taken care of expenses for the Ironman race, so every dime he raises will go to the LLS, Collins said.

He’d love to surpass his $10,000 goal to $14,060 – $100 for every mile he covers during the race.

“As you can see, I am committed and maybe I should be committed,” choosing to suffer on race day and risk humiliation with a bad haircut and wearing a skirt, he writes.

“What’s a little temporary discomfort that I’m going to experience compared to Matt’s battle with AML?” he said. “…There is no medal waiting for a blood cancer patient. Matt’s only choice is to wake up, face another day and hope to get well. That is not acceptable.”

Want to help?
You can make a donation on Kevin Collins’ Ironman Web site here. Or make out a check to Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and send it to Collins at 7423 Claiborne Woods Rd., Charlotte NC 28216.

Walking in their shoes a good lesson

2009-10-15T15:25:00.000-04:00

Roxie Sprinkle is 7 and recently triggered a family celebration when she said one simple word: "No."

At 6 months, doctors said she was profoundly hypotonic ("floppy infant syndrome") -- a disorder that that causes low muscle tone. At 7 months, she started experiencing seizures, often dozens a day, until a special diet limited those to ultimately two or three a month. Then at 5 years old, Roxie was diagnosed with mitochondrial disease that has caused her severe physical and mental disabilities.

Her parents, Phelps and Kate, placed Roxie (pictured above) in a preschool funded by Easter Seals/United Cerebral Palsy. Roxie has since graduated from that school, and is now in Metro School, a CMS school that serves about 200 students with significant cognitive disabilities.

Yet an Easter Seals UCP worker still comes to Roxie's house after school and on weekends to help the child achieve her goals of one day standing, walking, using her voice and her hands.

Phelps and Kate Sprinkle are so appreciative of the agency's help that they've co-chaired the "Walk With Me: StRoll in the Park!" fundraising event in Freedom Park for the past five years.

The next walk is Saturday. You're invited to take part in the 1 to 5Ker around the park's lake. Along the way, you'll meet people who have benefitted from Easter Seals UCP and might learn what it's like to live with disabilities like Roxie's.

"Easter Seals UCP believes that everybody in this world has a place and that no one should be ignored," Phelps Sprinkle said. "Everyone has the ability to contribute to society. It used to be that people who had disabilities were hidden away. Kids would grow up not knowing they had a sibling. It's not that way now.

"Easter Seals is a big player in that effort."

If not for Easter Seals UCP, Roxie probably wouldn't have made the strides she's shown to date. In her own way, she communicates -- she claps for "yes" and rips paper when she hears the shrill sound of a leaf blower or hair dryer.

Her family gets support, too. Her parents meet with parents who have children with disabilities. And because Phelps and Kate can't work with Roxie all the time, the Easter Seals UCP worker comforts them that their daughter is getting the attention she needs.

"We've met an amazing group of people through Easter Seals that we never would have known otherwise," Phelps said. "We swap notes and offer support to each other ... In general, our daughter is really a happy little girl. She's not able to verbalize her thoughts. But through her eyes and verbal sounds, I do think a lot more goes on up there than she's able to let us know.

"I'd hate to think where she'd be without the help from Easter Seals UCP."

Want to go? Registration for the "Walk With Me: StRoll in the Park!" event begins 9 a.m. Saturday, and the walk, stroll or roll begins at 10 a.m. You'll be able to make a donation and meet a walk ambassador.

Big companies not forgetting philanthropy

2009-10-14T12:07:00.005-04:00

Folks worried that Banktown's weakening grip on its two largest banks may force a slide in philanthropic responsibility, might want to find something else to worry about -- at least for now.

Last month, Wachovia, now owned by Wells Fargo, used one of Wells' famed red stagecoaches to deliver a donation to Communities In Schools and Junior Achievement. Yes, the scene bordered on photo op, but it did drive home a statement that Wells Fargo intends to help keep Charlotte a strong city in the region.

Today, Champions for Education, the non-profit host that runs Charlotte's Quail Hollow Championship, announced that $1.6 million earned at its 2009 tournament is going to an assortment of Charlotte charities. The gifts include $800,000 for Teach For America in Charlotte, which places recent college graduates into the classrooms of high-poverty schools.

And this evening, Communities In Schools and another nonprofit, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Housing Partnership, are each receiving $200,000 in unrestricted grants over two years from Bank of America through its Neighborhood Excellence Initiative.

The initiative, helping to sustain the long-term viability of nonprofits, is distributing $20 million around the world this year. During its first five years, it doled out $90 million.

The program aligns "with our corporate social responsibility efforts," said Charles Bowman, North Carolina and Charlotte Market president. "We're still giving. Despite the turmoil … we're continuing to execute the things we believe are important to the community. Investing in nonprofits and community leadership is important to the health of the bank and the community."

In addition to the money, the program sends charity leaders to get leadership training.

Beyond the money, Bill Anderson, Communities In Schools executive director, felt the grants recognize what his organization has done to help students on a drop-out path to stay in school and graduate.

"We are honored that the committee for these grants looked upon us as being a worthy nonprofit," Anderson said.

The money will be used to expand the program into two elementary schools, and for branding to provide a better understanding of what CIS does.

"Regardless of where you live, or if you have children in the school system, it is in the best interest of everyone that all children graduate from high school," Anderson said. "In terms of being financially independent, the future is bleak without the minimum of a high school diploma."

The housing partnership works to provide affordable and well-maintained housing for low and moderate-income people. Its president, Pat Garrett, also sees the grants as recognition of the work the group is doing in neighborhooods.

"We're pretty pumped," she said. "We learned about it last Monday at our 20th birthday party. Like most charities, we're always looking for money."

Anderson and Garrett say the gift is another sign that the banks aren't abandoning Charlotte's nonprofits.

"The evidence is clearly there," Anderson said. "The banks understand the importance of long-term viability of the communities they serve and that public schools are essential to that strength."

Said Garrett: "The banks are still very committed to the city and to affordable and low-income housing. I don't know what the future is going to hold, but you can't sit around worrying about it. You've got to keep going."

Connecting children to nature

2009-10-13T11:36:00.005-04:00

A reminder: Richard Louv, the best-selling author who coined the term "nature-deficit disorder" will be at Freedom Park on Wednesday to talk about the importance of connecting children with nature.

While there, Louv will help launch a new nonprofit called the N.C. Children and Nature Coalition, an organization designed to get children outdoors. The group will act as a clearinghouse for nature ideas and opportunities for children, assist with research on the topic and advocate for child/nature policy.

The coaltion couldn't come at a better time. Concerns over childhood obesity continue to grow, as children are snared indoors by technology. Money's tight for many families -- and nature's a free ticket to enjoyment, exercise and stress reduction.

"There's no barrier to entry; all you need is a pair of tennis shoes to experience nature," said Josh Thomas of Charlotte, a coalition executive committee member and chair of the N.C. Sierra Club Central Piedmont Group's executive committee. "Everyone's got a pair of shoes, and it's not like you need a $300 backpack.

"Simpler is better these days. And we've got such great parks here in Mecklenburg County."

Louv has been at the forefront of the movement to expose kids to nature. His appearance is being sponsored by the Sierra Club's Building Bridges to the Outdoors program. Last week, my colleague, Observer environmental writer Bruce Henderson, interviewed Louv by email.

In part, here's what he said about the importance of that connection:

"Social and technological changes in the past three decades have accelerated a dramatic shift to indoor activities, even as research suggests that children and young people who regularly experience nature are healthier, happier and test better in school.

"Recent research also suggests that exposure to nature can improve all children's cognitive abilities and resistance to negative stresses and depression."

Louv, author of "Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder," chairs the national Children and Nature Network. The N.C. coalition, still recruiting organizations, will be a part of that network.

Louv will open Wednesday's event at noon at Freedom Park's band shell. He'll speak and take questions until 1 p.m., when the coalition will be officially unveiled. At 1:30 p.m., as part of the kick-off, the Carolina Raptor Center will unleash a bird recently nursed back to health. And from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., anyone interested is invited to brain-storm ideas for the coalition.

"This is an important movement and we're thrilled to have Richard Louv kick it off in North Carolina," Thomas said. "We haven't been on the bleeding edge of the movement -- but we're also not the last one to show up.

"Taking the family outside not only creates a time to spend with the children, but it gives everyone the ability to exhale."

Scholarship fund still launching dreams

2009-10-12T11:24:00.004-04:00

On the Web site of the Charlotte Housing Authority Scholarship Fund there is a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt. It reads: "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

Her words are appropriate on several levels:

Primarily for the hundreds of students who grew up in public housing and, wanting to find a better life, have used the scholarship fund to start them on their journeys.

And for the fund's founder, John Crawford, who believed that any child -- no matter where he or she grew up -- ought to have the chance to go to college. In 1983, Crawford, at the time head of the housing authority's youth services, began his fund that has doled out more than $2.5 million to send 450 students to college.

Last week, the fund held its annual breakfast -- its largest fundraiser of the year.

As usual, more than 325 people who care as much for Crawford as for the dreams his fund launch, filled a banquet room at the uptown Westin Hotel. They rented 45 tables and left behind $64,500 in donations, with 94 percent going to the fund.

At the breakfast, longtime board Chairman John Richards also announced that The Leon Levine Foundation had donated $500,000 to the scholarship fund over the five years. That money will be earmarked for "Levine Scholars" who have an interest in public service.

There were speeches from CHASF graduates, including Jerry Bowman, an emergency room physician. The keynote came from Richard "Stick" Williams (pictured above with Richards on the left and Crawford on the right), who grew up in public housing and is now president of the Duke Energy Foundation.

All in all, a good day for Crawford and his fund.

Yet Crawford in recent years has had the audacity to dream for more: He's wanted to build a $5 million endowment that annually would send 100 students to college.

Yes it was a good day for the fund last week, but the endowment is still shy about $1 million, largely because it has lost value in the recession.

"These students have a dream to graduate from public housing to become professionals in their community," Richards told the breakfast crowd. "The dream is more about seeing where they can go, than where they are now. We have the easier part of the equation, but nonetheless an important obligation to help fuel that dream with scholarships and support."

Richards is optimistic the endowment will be reached in two to three years.

"We're close, and we'll get there," he said. "We feel extremely fortunate in the midst of an economic downturn. We're enjoying a very good year thanks to the generosity of the many supporters of the scholarship fund."

Want to help? Send donations to the Charlotte Housing Authority Scholarship Fund, c/o Foundation for the Carolinas, 217 S. Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 28202. For more information, to donate, or to apply for a scholarship click here.

Charities need marketing help

2009-10-08T13:51:00.002-04:00

In the last year, we've seen Charlotte's volunteer spirit manifest in a variety of ways from large cash donations to runners logging miles for charity to truckloads of food delivered to the needy.

This week, we spotlight the work of Luquire George Andrews, the marketing firm.
Next week, LGA will participate in Goodstock, a 25-hour marketing marathon at the firm. Staff members will provide free creative, public relations and related services to nine selected charities.

This year's winners include the Carolina Raptor Center, Charlotte Community Health Clinic, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Council on Aging, the International House, Jacob's Ladder and Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center.

Knupp & Watson, a firm in Madison, Wis., created the original Goodstock five years ago to support nonprofit groups in its area. LGA and Knupp & Watson hope Goodstock will become an annual event here and that other Charlotte area marketing companies will participate.

I hope so, too.

When we think of helping nonprofits, we often think about volunteering hours to deliver services to those in need or donating money to pay for items that directly help people. Charities need those things and more. Many charities need help with marketing so they can better inform the public about what they do. Some charities haven't had their brochures updated in several years. Others need help creating or updating their Web sites.

For example, Charlotte Emergency Housing, which helps homeless families, is a member of the Homeless Services Network. It is a network of 39 agencies that serve homeless individuals in different ways. The network has existed for several years, but doesn't have a media kit or Web site that details the services each agency provides.

Something like this would be invaluable to people in need, volunteers and the media. But creating a Web site costs money, and that's something charities mostly spend on direct client services.

I'm excited they plan to make Goodstock an annual event, but let's not wait until next year to help other area nonprofits spread their message.

Many charities need marketing help now

Tour homes, help charities

2009-10-07T12:14:00.002-04:00

Today marks the start of one of two home tours to benefit local charities.
The Good Samaritan House Charity Home Tour for the Clover Area Assistance Center starts today and ends Oct. 25. Hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays. The home is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

The Lake Wylie house is in the Catawba Crest subdivision, 5904 Morning Star Road off Lake Wylie Road. Proceeds from tour ticket sales, and the sale of the furniture and art inside the house, will go to the Clover Area Assistance Center. Organizers hope to raise $50,000.

Tickets are $10 at the door and can be purchased at 15 Bi-Lo stores in York, Gaston and Mecklenburg counties where Good Samaritan House posters are displayed. Details: www.goodsamaritanhouse.com.

In the Charlotte area, the Home Builders Association of Charlotte is hosting its first Luxury Lifestyle Home Tour, which will showcase nine designer furnished homes and townhomes. Homes range cost $1 million and above.

Custom builders showcased are: Goodwin Classic Homes, Harrington and Associates, The Dowd Company, MacNeil Homes, New Tradition Homes, Simonini Builders and Andrew Roby.
The tour will be Oct. 24-25, Oct. 31 to Nov. 1 and Nov. 7-8. Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and 1-6 p.m. Sundays. Discount tickets available at area Harris Teeter stores. Tickets are $10 and free for children ages 12 and younger. Tickets will not be sold in the homes. Online tickets are $15. www.hbacharlotte.com

The opening weekend gala "Puttin' on the Glitz" will be Oct. 24 at the Wachovia Atrium. The event includes music by Hipshack and food. There will be a live and silent auction. Tickets are $80 and $100.

A portion of the proceeds from the auction as well as home tour ticket sales will benefit The Levine Children's Hospital.

Where are the new faces to help charities?

2009-10-06T08:00:00.001-04:00

Nearly 75 people attended the WFAE Public Conversation Series – Charlotte Mission Possible forum on Monday.

Clutching umbrellas and raincoats, participants filled the front section of Spirit Square's McGlohon Theater. They listened as panelists talked about the challenges facing the Charlotte community. We heard from heads of agencies as well as community volunteers. Panelists talked about the incredible need in Charlotte, from housing to food, and they debated whether there was duplication of services.

The turnout was commendable, especially for a rainy Monday night, but it was only people from local charities and non-profits. There were no new faces. I saw everyone from executive directors to volunteers. Many of the Charlotte Observer big dogs and other Mission Possible media partners attended as well.

It's encouraging to see the same people working to help Charlotte's most vulnerable also spending the evening talking about how to better serve the community. Their dedication is an inspiration to all of us.

But I'm tired of hearing from and seeing the same folks, often saying the same thing.

One of the goals of Mission Possible was to engage everyday people to help charities and non-profits survive this double whammy – a bad economy and more people in need.
This conversation is about food pantries and homelessness, but it's also bigger than these types of problems. The conversation must ensure that the community's desire to help doesn’t end when the media spotlight fades. To do that we need new voices and ideas.

(Photo by Observer photographer David T. Foster)

Bella ate the candy

2009-10-05T15:30:00.003-04:00

The math problem is solved!

In this morning's Cliff, I wrote about a math problem that stumped participants of a trivia contest last week. Reader Mark Steinman explained how organizers of Are You Smarter Than A Middle Schooler? got their answer.

"After assessing the problem for awhile, here’s MY explanation on why ‘48’ is the right answer.

If Bella gave 1/6 of her 48 candies to Jacob, that would mean 8 were provided leaving her with 40.

Then if Bella gave ¼ of the remaining 40 to Alice, that would mean 10 were provided leaving her with 30.

Then if Bella gave ½ of the remaining 30 to Edward, that would mean 15 were provided leaving her with 15.

And then I suspect, given it was candy, Bella ate one. That would leave 14!

48 is the ‘right’ answer!"

What do you think?

High schoolers beat Observer - sort of

2009-10-05T08:00:00.000-04:00

I sit next to Observer county government reporter April Bethea. She's a quiet soul, but on Thursday she was quieter than usual. After my harassing prodding, April confessed: she was nervous.

She was one of more than a dozen Observer employees participating in Are You Smarter Than A Middle Schooler?. It was a fundraiser for Partners in Out-of-School Time (POST) at CenterStage in NoDa on Thursday. The event raised $15,000 for the after-school program serving students at Coulwood, Albemarle Road, Quail Hollow and James Martin middle schools.

Before the contest, April worried she'd embarrass herself in front of the big dogs – publisher Ann Caulkins, editor Rick Thames and managing editor Cheryl Carpenter. Plus, April wanted the Observer team to win. How would we look losing to teams comprised of high school students? Well, they were really smart high school students.

But still. We have our Big O pride.

I'm happy to report April didn't embarrass herself. Unfortunately, the two official Observer teams didn't win. Editorial page associate editor Mary Newsom, however, was on The Breakfast of Champions. That team, which included high schoolers, shared first place with the Lee Institute’s The Leeders.

During three rounds, teams answered questions on math, science, social studies and language from across the middle school curriculum. Among them:

Jumbo shrimp is an example of what grammatical term?
Answer: Oxymoron

Where in North Carolina did Babe Ruth hit his first home run?
Answer: Fayetteville

Everyone played nicely, but things got rowdy over a math question.

Bella gave 1/6 of her candy to Jacob, 1/4 of her candy to Alice and 1/2 of her candy to Edward. If she had 14 pieces of candy left how many did she have at the beginning?

A lot of people answered 168. Organizers said 48.

Chaos ensued, chicken wings were thrown and contestants stormed out angrily. (Not really.) Observer editorial page editor Taylor Batten, who knows politics and math, explained the 168.

1/2 + 1/4 + 1/6 = 11/12
She had 1/12 left.
So 14 pieces was 1/12 of what she had originally.
14 x 12 = 168.

Got it? Me either, which is why I wasn't on the team, but you can be. The event exceeded POST's goal by $5,000. POST President Claire Tate said the organization plans to make the trivia contest an annual event.
So, start studying.
Get involved

To learn more about POST, including volunteer opportunities: 704-376-1845 or www.postcarolinas.org.

DeAngelo Williams goes pink

2009-10-02T14:57:00.004-04:00

The annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure often draws Charlotte’s who’s who. This year, Carolina Panther DeAngelo Williams created a team in honor of his mother, Sandra Hill, a breast cancer survivor.

"My mom is... my mom... she’s been through a lot," Williams told WBTV. "She’s definitely a rock in my life. Well, actually a boulder in my life."

Williams’ goal was to raise $25,000. As of Friday, his team exceeded the goal my nearly $1,000. He named the team the Williams Warriors because he told WBTV his mom has "been through so much and has dealt with so much and to be delivered from this is something special. She’s a warrior. Hence the Williams Warriors."

The team had several hundred people registered and the first 500 team members to register received a free team jersey emblazoned with Williams Warrior. The race isn't Williams only contribution to the fight against breast cancer. He also has the DeAngelo Williams Foundation, which emphasizes preventative care and research.

Is consolidation the solution for charities?

2009-10-01T14:04:00.002-04:00

Observer reporter Eric Frazier appeared on Mike Collins this morning to talk about consolidating non-profits. The question is does consolidation really save money? And are the communities served gipped when agencies merge?

From WFAE's: These days, there's a lot of talk about whether non-profits should consolidate all or at least a portion of their operations. As part of a media collaboration called Charlotte Mission Possible, we asked for public input on how to improve charitable non-profits. Consolidation emerged as a strong theme.

Both WFAE and the Charlotte Observer have taken a closer look at this issue with stories in the past week. In this segment, Morning Edition host Scott Graf talks to WFAE's Julie Rose and Eric Frazier of the Charlotte Observer about what they learned.

Read the transcript.

Oktoberfest raises $160,000 for charities

2009-10-01T08:08:00.004-04:00

Charlotte Oktoberfest fans may know the beer festival is one of the best events in the city with its extensive sampling selection, good music and fun crowd. But, fans may not know that in its 10-year history the festival has raised $160,000 for local charities.

"Our goal has always been to support local charities," said Oktoberfest president Rick Benfield.

Benfield said the organizers have done such a good job of promoting the beer portion of the festival that many people don't realize it has a charitable component.

Last year's festival was at Memorial Stadium, but this year's festival will be at Metrolina Expo on Oct. 10. At least 5,000 people attended last year, and organizers are expecting the same turnout this month. Unlike previous years when it's been at the Expo, the festival will be completely outdoors, Benfield said. The festival features samplings of more than 300 craft brews from dozens of brewers. There will be live music as well.

This year's donations will go to Victory Junction, a year-round camping environment for children ages six to 16. Money will help children from Mecklenburg County attend the free camp, which is in Randleman. The camp has a sports center, fishing, arts and theater, a water park, water sports and more. www.victoryjunction.org.

Oktoberfest will also donate money to the National Kidney Foundation. Benfield said the National Kidney Foundation experienced a decrease in funding for local camps. The local chapter will also supply volunteers for the festival. www.kidney.org

Charlotte Oktoberfest Oct. 10, 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. Metrolina Expo, 7100 Statesville Road. Tickets are $35. As of this week, only 400 tickets remained. www.charlotteoktoberfest.com

Drink responsibly; the festival has roundtrip shuttle service from the expo to uptown.

Chicken for Charlotte's needy

2009-09-30T12:00:00.002-04:00

People receiving assistance from Loaves & Fishes will benefit from a huge donation courtesy of Tyson Foods and Compass Group.

Today, Loaves & Fishes, which distributes food to pantries throughout the city, will receive a tractor-trailer full of food. The Tyson delivery will be more than 38,000 pounds – 1,892 cases of Tyson chicken products – valued at $70,000. Tyson is Compass' primary chicken supplier.

The donation comes at time when the charity has seen a 34 percent increase in the number of people seeking groceries. On top of that, the organization is preparing for the holiday season, said Beverly Howard, executive director of Loaves & Fishes in a news statement.

In 2008, Loaves & Fishes fed 84,045 people in Mecklenburg County. The organization expects to provide a week's worth of groceries to 100,000 people by year's end.

Want to help?
Loaves & Fishes will hold its third annual Feed the Need event 7-10 p.m., Saturday at the Loaves & Fishes' warehouse. Enjoy a Low Country boil and pastalaya (jambalaya with pasta) by Carolina Cajun Connection. Carolina Gator Gumbo Band will provide the music and dance lessons. WCNC-TV's Larry Sprinkle will emcee a live auction. $50 per person. Reservations: www.loavesandfishes.org, 704-523-4333.

Kids get hugs for donations

2009-09-30T08:00:00.000-04:00

Carrying bags as large as their little bodies, Patty Jenkins' second grade class hauled old clothes and more to the Goodwill trailer in front of Cotswold Elementary School on Tuesday. The students grinned brightly as they received a bookmark in return.

They saved the biggest smiles for the high fives and hugs they gave the Goodwill mascot. Tuesday was the first day of Goodwill Industries Southern Piedmont's donation drive at Cotswold. The drive is part of Goodwill's effort to partner with schools. The program shows students how they can help the community by recycling their personal items, said Armando Barragan of Goodwill.

The drive meshed well with Cotswold's effort to teach students to do more than recycle cans, bottles and paper, said Mary Hooks, IB coordinator. The drive taught them to recycle personal items.

Goodwill is ramping up the school partnerships that started at Charlotte Country Day last year. Goodwill is doing two drives a month. The drives last two days.

At Cotswold, at least 15 parents volunteered to help collect donations. Lee Ham helped load bags in the trailer on Tuesday. Her son Cutler, 6, is a kindergartener at Cotswold. She said the donation drive reinforced what she teaches him: She makes him donate items to agencies before he can receive new stuff.

"He has too much," she said. "We're trying to explain there are children who don't get surprises unless it's Christmas."

Get involved
The Goodwill trailer will be staffed from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days at Cotswold. The community is encouraged to donate.

If you would like your school to hold a Goodwill donation drive, call 704-372-3434

Sampras loses, but Charlotte families win

2009-09-29T15:00:00.001-04:00

Jim Courier defeated Pete Sampras to win the Breezeplay Championships in south Charlotte. It was a match for the ages. Courier lost the first set 3-6, won the second 6-4 and the tiebreaker 10-8.

The tournament was a fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House, which is scheduled to open next year. The tournament was Sept. 24-27 at The Palisades Country Club.

The championship also included a silent auction which raised more than $5,000. Auction items included Sprint Cup Winner Champagne autographed by Jimmie Johnson, a collection of Richard Petty Die-Cast Cars autographed by Richard Petty, tennis rackets autographed by players and a pair of autographed Ronald McDonald shoes.

This is the first year the tennis tournament partnered with the Ronald McDonald house. Read more about the new partnership here.

Photo credit: InsideOut Sports & Entertainment

Teen helps South African children

2009-09-29T12:20:00.000-04:00

Lara Schewitz, 16, was born in South Africa, but left when she was two-year-old. Now, she's giving back to her birth country. The Myers Park High student is holding 16 years old who goes to Myer's Park High School, is trying to raise $1,000 to help the children at Chesire Homes Khaya for severely disabled children in South Africa.

Last weekend Lara raised nearly half the money. She and her mother set up a table and collected donations in front of a Harris Teeter in south Charlotte. The money we will buy blankets and shoes for the children.

Lara will return to South Africa on Dec 23. It will be her first time there since her family left the country.

Keith Larson's charity ride is Saturday

2009-09-29T08:00:00.000-04:00

I rarely agree with WBT talk show host Keith Larson, but I do support his love for kids. Twice a year, he hosts a charity ride that helps area children and their families. Typically, these kids suffer from life-threatening illness, sometimes they're crime victims and sometimes they're heroes who need help.
Their stories are often told on Larson's show and these children become part of the Larson family.

One such child is Cassidy Hooper, a 13-year-old born without eyes and a nose. She's going through a two-year series of surgeries to craft a nose. She recently experienced her first smell - chicken nuggets, Larson said. Read about her story on WBTV's website.

Hooper will be one of the beneficiaries of Ride for the Kids 7 on Saturday.
Larson said listeners inspired the ride and insisted money help local children and their families.

"A lot of money is raised for large charities that are certainly worthwhile, but they can sometimes seem very distant," Larson said. "We just like helping real kids and families right here in the Carolinas."

Larson hosts a spring and fall ride. He expects the usual 200 to 300 bikers to participate. It starts at Matthews Fun Machines in Matthews and goes to Lake Norman State Park in Troutman. On the way, riders will parade through downtown Mooresville between 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. The group will finish at Team Charlotte Motorsports on Freedom Drive about 1:30 p.m. for barbecue by Clover-based Courtney's BBQ, and live music by Unknown Hinson.

Larson's ride is so popular, regional bands often play for free or at a reduced price. Past performers include Jimmy Ibbotson of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Gigi Dover and Robin Rogers.

The ride in April drew 350 motorcycles. The group rode from Matthews to Lowe's Motor Speedway and did a couple of laps around the track, Larson said. That ride raised enough money to send Stephen McMickens to Central Piedmont Community College on a full scholarship.

In 2007, McMickens, then 18, tried to help mortally wounded Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officers Sean Clark and Jeff Shelton when they were gunned down in a Charlotte neighborhood.

The rides also benefit the Zach Ramsey Children's Cancer Fund and the March Forth with Hope (Hope Stout) Foundation. Both charities provide financial assistance to local families with children battling life-threatening illnesses.

Little change making a big difference

2009-09-24T11:00:00.003-04:00

In this difficult economy, charities and individuals are coming up with fun and compelling ways to raise money.

Last week, The Cliff told you about a fundraiser Saturday for a Golden Retriever rescue club, where hundreds of raffle tickets were sold and their numbers Sharpied on tennis balls. The hundreds of balls were hurled on a lawn and a Golden set loose to retrieve three to pick the three winners of cash prizes.

We also told you about Adrienne “Daisy” Zonneville, twice a blood cancer survivor, who’s running a marathon to raise money for blood cancer research. On Halloween morning, she’s putting together a poker run, where drivers of motorcycles, hot rods and anything with a motor and wheels pay to ride from Statesville to Huntersville, and along the way make stops to get five playing cards. The ones with the best poker hands win cash prizes.

Now comes a fundraiser that might out-clever them all.

It’s for the Council for Children’s Rights, celebrating its 30th birthday. The council, which advocates for the rights of at-risk children, is a 2006 merger between the Council for Children, founded in 1979, and The Children’s Law Center, founded in 1985.

They’re calling the campaign: “A Little Change for Kids.”

It involves change jars, in this case cardboard jars with plastic lids with a coin slit. The council had 7,000 made up. They’ve mailed out 4,000 and at its annual Lunch for Children’s Rights, handed out almost another 1,000 – each with a piece of candy and birthday candle rattling inside.

They’ve asked that the jars be returned in May full of change. Or if you fill them before then, call and they’ll come get it and give you another one to fill.

“In this economy, we wanted people to feel like they could give something – and that it doesn’t take a lot to make a big difference for a child,” said Amy Tribble, in charge of development for the council. “Any size gift helps us toward our mission. A lot of people accumulate change. Well, we have a place for it to go now.”

They’ve suggested supporters place these jars on their desk at work, in break rooms, in a drawer where the loose change goes when you empty your pockets, or a car cupholder – anywhere change piles up.

It’s causing a stir.

The council got one call from a man complaining they sent his neighbor a jar, but not him.
It’s already received six full jars, one from a woman who in a clandestine moment raided her husband’s Ziploc plastic bag of change.

Vaneta Smiley filled a jar in 24 hours and called the council to send her 20 more. Last year, she and husband Wayne rolled coins that he’d been collecting for 20 years in a big water jug – to the tune of thousands of dollars.

“It’s money you don’t even miss,” Vaneta said. “This is such a great idea. We’ve got until May to fill those 20 jars and my husband probably has enough back in that doggone water jug to fill them.

“And it’s for such a good cause.”

Listen up: CROP hunger walk Oct. 4!

2009-09-24T09:18:00.006-04:00

The numbers are startling, and would motivate anyone to help.

Around the globe, 1.02 billion people are hungry. Every day, nearly 16,000 children die from hunger-related causes -- that's one child every five seconds. Hunger kills more people than AIDS, malaria and TB combined.

In Mecklenburg County, 105,000 people live in poverty. That includes 34,000 chidren and 8,000 seniors.

Got your attention? Here's how you can help the hunger problem. Join thousands of others at Charlotte's 31st CROP Hunger Walk. The walk, 3.7 miles through uptown and several inner-city neighborhoods, starts at 2:30 p.m. at the Grady Cole Center, 310 N. Kings Dr., and ends about 4 p.m. along Elizabeth Avenue.

It is one of 2,000 CROP walks in the country. Our's is the largest (the 2006 walk is pictured above), expecting to attract at least 6,000 people on Oct. 4 -- some years have seen 10,000 take the streets.

Anne Shoaf, heading this year's walk, has been involved with the event for most of its existence and walked in five of them.

"I was raised in the church, and to me -- as a Christian and human being sharing this planet -- my responsiblity is to care for my neighbor," Shoaf said. "The question many of us have is: 'What am I going to serve tonight?' ... For too many others it's: 'How am I going to feed me and another person tonight?' That's a heavy burden, especially in this difficult economy.

"For many people, it means that whatever they can eat is what's going to get them by. They're not even worrying about nutrition -- just getting the calories and that's a challenge."

The walks are an outgrowth of Church World Service, founded by 17 denominations in 1946 to fight hunger. CROP (Christian Rural Overseas Program) started a year later to send seed, grain and livestock to war-torn Europe.

The first Charlotte CROP walk in 1978 raised $19,000. In the 30 years since, Charlotte's walkers have raised more than $6 million -- $1.5 million staying in the community to fight hunger.

This year's goal is $250,000, with a fourth going to Loaves & Fishes, Crisis Assistance Ministry and Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. Each walker is asked to raise at least $100, through pledges or an individual donation.

"They might get a lot of $1 and $2 pledges, or some might write a check for $100 and be done with it," Shoaf said.

The walks are amazing spectacles of people caring for other people. All ages; all walks of the community. You'll make new friends and will get a little exercise in the process.

Want to walk? Register online here. Or you can register at the event starting at 1:30 p.m. at the Grady Cole Center.

Cancer survivor running for a cause

2009-09-23T12:03:00.005-04:00

Adrienne "Daisy" Zonneville grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma when she was 11.

The doctors gave her an 85 percent chance to survive. Yet by 15, the cancer had returned, and her survival chances fell to 65 percent.

Mid-way through the first treatment, her parents' insurance company dropped Adrienne, who got her nickname in high school after she finger-painted daisies all over her first car, a gray 1985 Chevrolet Cavalier.

Her father and step-mother had to turn to many nonprofits for financial help to pay Daisy's gargantuan medical bills (about $175,000 the first time; $250,000 the second).

Their daughter did survive. She's 31 now and is celebrating 15 years of being cancer-free by running a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The marathon is at Kiawah Island, S.C., on Dec. 12 -- 15 years to the day after her last treatment.

"After everything I've been through, I wanted to celebrate that anniversary in a big way," said Zonneville, who lives in Troutman and works in Mooresville as a machinist and welder for a company in the racing industry.

"I thought about taking a trip, or buying something nice. But then I got a pamphlet in the mail about the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and I thought, 'well, those organizations sure helped me a lot. Why not raise money to help other people?'"
She decided to train for a marathon. Within a day, her fiance, Jeff Roy, and friend/maid-of-honor-to-be, Lauren Hayward, signed on to train and run the marathon with her (they're all pictured above; l-r: Hayward, Roy and Daisy).

Saturday, O'Charley's restaurant in Mooresville is serving up a pancake breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. to help Zonneville raise money. For $10, you'll get pancakes, bacon and coffee -- every dime of the proceeds going to LLS. O'Charley's is donating the food, space and workers.

Next month on Halloween morning, the trio is putting together a Halloween Poker Run, with motorcycles, hot rods -- anything with a motor -- leaving from Tilley Harley-Davidson/Buell in Statesville to Easy Eddie's, a motorcycle shop and lounge in Huntersville. The run will make several stops along the way, and riders will be given a playing card. The best five-card poker hands will get cash prizes. It'll cost $15 for each rider/driver and $5 for a passenger -- again all the money going to LLS.

Never a runner, Zonneville's been running with a training team Saturday mornings. During the week she runs on her own, or with Roy and Hayward, and spends one day a week riding a bicycle.

"I'm not athletic; I tried sports in high school and failed," she said. "I figured this would be a great challenge; and we're going to do it come hell or high water."

She's doing it because she understands what nonprofits do for people stricken with catastrophic illnesses like her's. Since 1949, LLS has invested more than $680 million in research, education and patient services.

She knows also the benefits of extending life.

"The treatment the second time was a 180-degree turnaround from the first," she said. "I went from throwing up 20 times a day, to eating a cheeseburger while I was getting the second treatment."

And she knows first-hand: Hope's a powerful motivator.

To donate to Daisy Zonneville's cause click here. And Saturday, take a ride up to O'Charley's in Mooresville on Saturday, 8 to 10 a.m., for a plate of pancakes and a good cause. Go north on I-77 and take exit 36. Turn left. It's about five lights down.

Should churches do more, preach less?

2009-09-22T21:15:00.000-04:00

Throughout tonight's meeting, participants mentioned bringing in the churches to help more. Many churches already help people in need from hosting food pantries and soup kitchens to providing buses passes and financial aid.

I spent the day interviewing people at various agencies who were seeking help from area non-profits. During my interviews, several people mentioned they could go to churches for help, but they don't like the hassle. Many complained that when they sought help at churches who offer services, they have to listen to a sermon or attend a worship service.

One woman mentioned she was seeking help at a church and watched the staff refuse to provide aid for an unmarried couple. The clients I interviewed complained it's against scripture not to help everyone in need. But other clients said beggars can't be choosers -- if someone needs help, they should be willing to listen to a sermon.

What do you think?

Most popular ideas and what's next

2009-09-22T21:00:00.001-04:00

Most popular ideas: angel investors (find a way to get good ideas to rich people), banking the service hours (volunteer now, get help later) and tickets for charities (unused tickets sold at discount prices and money donated to charities.

The Observer and its Mission Possible media partners will do stories about the most popular ideas. If you want to hear more about the ideas and Mission Possible, WFAE will hold a forum Oct. 5 at Spirit Square, 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Panelists will be Carol Hardison, executive director of Crisis Assistance Ministry, Richard "Stick" Williams, president of Duke Energy Foundation, and Todd Cohen, editor and publisher of Philanthropy Journal.

Sticker time - voting on best ideas

2009-09-22T20:45:00.001-04:00

Ooh it's sticker time. Participants are putting stickers next to their fave ideas.

Hold funders accountable

2009-09-22T20:30:00.001-04:00

Bob Bellairs aimed some tough words at organizations that fund non-profits. He said they should do a better job of policing the organizations they fund to make sure money is being spent properly and not wasted.

"If they're giving money away and it's not being used responsibly then they're wasting money and they should be held accountable."

Will merging hurt small non-profits

2009-09-22T20:15:00.002-04:00

The conversation turned a little rowdy when participants suggested consolidating administrative operations for charities.

Some said charities won't have a choice. It's merge or die.

Ricky Woods, pastor of First Baptist Woods, said he was concerned that when charities merge administrative operation, smaller charities tend to be eliminated.

One woman said she works at a charity that has combined administrative functions and it works well, and client confidentiality is protected.

What do you think? Would merging be good or bad for smaller non-profits? And is more consolidation inevitable.

Using Twitter and checking accounts to help

2009-09-22T19:45:00.003-04:00

The groups are sharing their top three ideas to help charities administratively and to gather more donors.

The most popular suggestion for helping with administrative issues was more collaboration between smaller non-profits to share back-office resources and duties.

The discussion on how to raise more money for charities was lively. Participants suggested launching a round-up program, like banks use for checking accounts. Piedmont Natural Gas currently does that. Registered participants can have their bills rounded up to the nearest dollar. The money goes into the Share the Warmth fund which is distributed to local agencies that assist people who can't pay their utility bills.

Other suggests were donating to charities as well as using Twitter and Meetup to solicit donations.

Getting it done

2009-09-22T19:30:00.001-04:00

Michelle Houck's group was one of the first to get their ideas on the board. They weren't playing.

Finding the best ideas

2009-09-22T19:15:00.001-04:00

The participants are sitting at tables discussing the best three ideas. One table is distracted. One guy wants to marshall the churches. One lady is griping about the United Way board. The moderator is trying to keep the focused.

Another table is on task. They liked the idea of linking people through a talent pool and creating a clearing board of needs.

Bob hopes Michigan experience helps here

2009-09-22T19:00:00.001-04:00

Bob Bellairs moved to Charlotte from Michigan in January. He worked with non-profits in Michigan and hopes his experiences there can help charities in Charlotte.

"I thought maybe I could bring some ideas and meet people," he said.

He hopes tonight's meeting will yield solid recommendations.

Lisa hopes to find a solution

2009-09-22T18:45:00.000-04:00

Lisa Brantmeyer doesn't work for a charitable organization. She's just a concerned citizen who hopes to spend the next two hours helping figure out how to address the critical needs of area charities.

"I'm hoping we walk out with a firm plan tonight of putting Charlotte in the right place and starting a new trend for this type of project," she said.

Observer editors prep for the panel

2009-09-22T18:30:00.000-04:00

Metro editor Cindy Montgomery talks with Bob Bellairs, one of the panel participants.
Business editor Patrick Scott peruses the list of submission.

Citizens seek to solutions

2009-09-22T17:45:00.002-04:00

About three dozen people are expected to attend tonight's Mission Possible citizens panel at the Charlotte Observer. They will examine the more than 300 ideas submitted by other citizens to help charities.

By the end of tonight's session they hope to identify 18 to 20 promising ideas, which could be realistically implemented in the next two years.

On Golden Retrievers and tennis balls

2009-09-22T13:19:00.009-04:00

Could there be a more perfect match for a raffle: Golden Retrievers and tennis balls? Like peanut butter and jelly.

That's what the Golden Retriever Rescue Club of Charlotte thinks.

Each year, they sell raffle tickets to raise money for their efforts -- hundreds so far this year. Saturday, they'll Sharpie those numbers on a tennis ball, and let all the balls loose in a fenced-in area. A Golden Retriever will be unleashed to retrieve three balls among the hundreds, one at a time.

The first wins $250 for the ticket holder, the second $500 and the third $1,000.

Jill Santuccio, a fundraiser/marketer and Golden Retriever owner, attended her first raffle last year and was so taken by the event she signed on to help the organization.

They put her in charge of Saturday's raffle, which runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Continental Boarding, 2235 Township Rd.

"What a genius fundraiser," Santuccio said. "I wish I'd come up with the idea myself."

The recession hasn't just hurt human nonprofits. Charities that look after animals are struggling too, and because of the economy their services are in greater need, Santuccio said.

This year, the Golden Retriever club will find homes for at least 100 dogs and puppies, a huge jump from previous years.

The stories are often heart-breaking -- with happy endings.

One's about Sydney, a puppy who was severely bitten by her father. Sydney's breeder couldn't sell her, so he didn't want her. He told the club it could have her, or he was going to get rid of her.
The club found Sydney (pictured above with a rain boot over her cast) a home. She's doing great.
Recently, a family had to surrender their diabetic dog. "The father was laid off from his job, and the medications for their dog was running $400 to $500 a month," she said. "It's tough when that happens. This family had to choose between taking care of the dog or paying the mortgage and putting food on the table.

"So, unfortunately, the economy is having an impact on pets."

The family appealed to the club, operating since 1990, which found a foster home for their dog.

On the average, the club spends $500 on each dog for vet bills, medications and spaying or neutering. Adoptions fees are $250. "So you can see, we take a hit on the front end," Santuccio said. "This fundraising is very important to us."

Rescue club volunteers scouted tennis clubs and country clubs for used balls. One member went on eBay and bought a box of 200 used balls.

The club hopes to raise at least $5,000 at Saturday's raffle. You can buy a raffle ticket for $5, or six for $25. A barbecue lunch will be served for $10. Golden Retriever owners are invited to bring their dogs on leashes.

To buy tickets, get directions, or for more information on the club and event click here , or call Santuccio at 704-361-8896. Tickets will be sold at the event.

That's the highlight of the fundraiser for the Charlotte group that rescues the lovable furry dogs. For every raffle ticket sold, a corresponding number is Sharpied onto a tennis ball. All the balls are thrown into a fen

Seniors volunteer to give their lives meaning

2009-09-21T15:46:00.005-04:00

They call it RSVP: for Retired and Senior Volunteer Program.

As the name suggests, it is a national program that links seniors (55 and older) to charities needing volunteers.

On Oct. 1, that group will get a chance to drop in and learn about those charities at Senior Volunteer Fair 2009, sort of a college fair for the near-retired and retired. The fair, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., will be at the Tyvola Senior Center, 2225 Tyvola Rd.

The charities aren't the only ones that get all the benefits when seniors volunteer.

"There are a lot of health benefits for seniors, especially if you can find a volunteer role that matches up with your interests," said Sarah Jackson, RSVP Charlotte's project director.

Studies show that people live longer, happier lives when they volunteer.

Many people don't like idle time after retirement.

"They get that human connection giving back to the community," said Jackson, who's been with RSVP Charlotte since last December. "It feels good to be actively a part of something -- and feel like you're needed. It gives people a sense of purpose."

Often, retired people tell Jackson that retirement wasn't what they thought it would be. "They say, 'When I was working fulltime, I thought it'd be fine when I retired. But I can't stand being home,'' she said. "They say, 'I want to get out and do things. And feel like I'm helping people.'"

She also hears from people freshly out of work, who add meaning to their lives and idle time by volunteering.

RSVP Charlotte is part of a national program, with funding from the Corporation for National and Community Services, Mecklenburg County and United Way. In Charlotte, it is sponsored by the Charlotte Mecklenburg Senior Centers.

It partners with more than 50 Charlotte area nonprofits to place seniors in volunteer functions. The agencies include food banks, senior nutrition programs, museums, public safety departments, hospitals and schools.

On Oct. 1, there'll be about 25 nonprofits manning booths at the fair. Seniors are invited to drop in and hear from as many nonprofits as they want.

"The fair is for them, but if anyone wants to learn about these 25 charities they're free to drop by," Jackson said. "The idea is to get people volunteering."

Pete Sampras, Jim Courier coming to play

2009-09-18T10:54:00.005-04:00

Tennis fans can see some of the sport's greatest players and help local families when the Breezeplay Championships returns to Charlotte.

The tennis tournament will be Sept. 24-27 at The Palisades Country Club in south Charlotte. Tennis champions Pete Sampras, Todd Martin, Jim Courier and Pat Cash will play. Breezeplay is part of the Outback Championship Series, which partners with a local charity at each event. This year's local charity will be the Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte.

This is a new partnership for the tournament, which in previous years teamed with the now disbanded Athletes United for Youth. The Ronald McDonald House is scheduled to open next year. It will serve families of children being treated at local hospitals. Charlotte is the only major city without one.

Mona Johnson-Gibson, executive director of the Charlotte Ronald McDonald House, hopes the partnership will help raise awareness regarding the house, which will be on East Morehead Street. Gibson said she’s excited about the partnership because the event won’t be a gala or party, which are common charity fundraisers here. A tennis tournament will give people a different way to donate and learn about the house.

"I don’t see how it can be anything but a premier event for us," Gibson said. "It’s going to help get us off the ground."

Courier plays in the tournament and is the co-founder of the series, which features tennis champions ages 30 and over. The $150,000 Breezeplay Championships is the sixth of eight events on the 2009 Outback Champions Series. Courier said they looked at several Charlotte charities before choosing the Ronald McDonald House. Courier said the partnership is a good fit because the charity is new here.

"Some other organizations have big events and are limited at how they can work with the tournament," Courier said. "We really wanted to be effective."

First Baptist kids helping other kids

2009-09-17T11:23:00.007-04:00

This is not exactly a reach-out for support by First Baptist Church in uptown Charlotte -- but a lesson of how one group is teaching children to help other less-fortunate children.

Since 2003, the children in the First Baptist's Royal Ambassador (boys) and Girls in Action programs have pedaled in a bike-a-thon around a track at Northside Baptist Church to raise money for boys and girls who live in the 14 Baptist Children's Homes across North Carolina.

The homes take in children from broken families. Most have been abused -- or hurt in some way.

This year's rally, which they call "Bike for Change," will be Oct. 17. But the event works differently from the ones you're probably familiar with. The church's children don't actively seek sponsors, who then pony up money for every mile they ride.

Instead on Sunday, during the morning service, the congregation will hear a guest speaker tell how she was abused as a child and came to the live in the Baptist Children's Home in Thomasville, near Greensboro. She's remained on the staff ever since.

Speech over, the kids at First Baptist will ask for and collect offerings from congregants.

They have given generously in the past -- handing over a total of $71,064 in six years. All the money goes to Baptist Children's Homes, which relies on Baptist churches across the state to keep its facilities operating.

"It's a really good way to give our kids a hands-on experience, to reaching out to help other kids," said Jay Westmoreland, a Baptist Children's Home trustee and director of the Royal Ambassador program. "It's a wonderful learning experience for them. For starters, they learn how truly blessed they are to have the families they are raised by.

"It teaches them about important ministry work."

They resist asking the children to recruit sponsors because they don't want to turn the event into a competition, said Westmoreland, senior vice president for wealth management at Charlotte's MorganStanley SmithBarney.

"This is basically to raise awareness for our children -- about mission work, about Baptist Children's Homes and about how fortunate they are," he said.

This year, First Bapist is being joined by children from Elizabeth Baptist Church in Shelby.

That'll mean more than 50 children from two churches lapping Northside's track next month. Yet the money -- and call to help -- will already have been raised.

Want to help? First Baptist's children aren't actively pursuing contributions, but if you'd like to send one, they'll certainly send it on to Baptist Children's Homes. Write a check to First Baptist Church, with "Bike for Change" in the memo, and mail it to: First Baptist Church, 301 S. Davidson St., Charlotte NC 28202. Or click here and then click on "Bike for Change."

Kicking off 25 years of hospitality

2009-09-15T15:40:00.007-04:00

It is a house where guests come out of sad, painful and often tragic necessity.

They are visitors to this city, here because a loved one is in one of our hospitals. And for nearly 25 years, what is now the Hospitality House of Charlotte has given tens of thousands a free place to lay their head -- and buck up their spirits.

The house has no major corporate sponsor, or help from United Way. It's staffed primarily by volunteers, food is donated by individuals and organizations. They count on support from the Mecklenburg Medical Auxiliary, foundations, church congregations and individuals.

Yet corporate donations are down 80 percent. So Sept. 29, Hospitality House is kicking off its 25th anniversary with its first fundraising "Rise and Shine" breakfast. The celebration will climax in the spring.

"We hear constantly that Hospitality House has been a blessing and a godsend to most of the people who've stayed with us," said Susan Ross, development director. "They are brought to the Charlotte area in often emergency situations, not knowing a soul and not knowing what to do.

"They can't afford to stay in a hotel. We offer them a comfortable place to stay at no cost ... while they're supporting a loved one in the hospital."

The facility has served more than 35,000 people from 49 states and 30 countries. Its need emerged from a 1982 survey of healthcare issues by the Mecklenburg Medical Auxiliary. The city had no shelter for out-of-town families with loved ones in local hospitals. Families were sleeping in hospital waiting rooms or cars, eating food from snack machines and showering in hospital bathrooms so they could stay close.

So the auxiliary set up an endowment and in April 1985, opened a 14-bed facility on Scott Avenue across from Carolinas Medical Center. They called it MMAE's Inn, after the auxiliary endowment, and in 1996 they added 15 beds in a wing of St. John's Baptist Church.

Then last year, Hospitality House opened its new three-story, 22-bedroom home near the old Scott Avenue facility. Most nights, it sleeps the maximum 50.

Still, it eludes notice. This week, Ross and executive director Kimberly Melton are attending a conference of the National Association of Hospital Hospitality Houses in Minnesota.

"Not many people know we exist across the country, or even in the Charlotte area," Ross said. "We're working to change that."

Andre (pronounced: An-DRAY-a) Dill of the rural Bostic community in Rutherford County knows all about Hospitality House.

In June 2008, her late husband Tom was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and suddenly experienced pain in his leg and hip. He was ambulanced to Carolinas Medical Center. His wife knew no one in Charlotte and came with only the clothes she wore that day.

"I wasn't expecting to stay long," she said. "He had an infection -- I thought they'd lance and give him antibiotics."

Tom ended up staying several months. His leg was amputated on July 25, and he remained in the hospital until the following October. Andre was told about Hospitality House the night they arrived, but slept in a waiting room for about five nights. She called a couple nearby hotels, but they were too expensive. So she moved to Hospitality House.

There, she found smiles and welcoming arms -- and a "lovely room with a private bath. It was much more than I ever expected," she said. To earn her keep she swept and mopped floors, vacuumed hallways, as all guests are required to do.

Tom Dill went home in October that year, but had to return to CMC a month later. Ever dutiful, his wife checked back into Hospitality House until Tom died Nov. 29.

"That is such a wonderful place," she said. "I didn't know such kindness existed in this world. The guests hung together as family. I'd never have been able to stay with my husband if it weren't for Hospitality House."

Want to go? The "Rise and Shine of Hospitality House" breakfast starts at 8 a.m. Sept. 29 at Myers Park Country Club. Tickets are $45 and $360 for tables of eight and can be bought until Sept. 23. Michael Tarwater, CEO of Carolinas HealthCare System, will deliver the keynote. To buy tickets contact Susan Ross at 704-376-0060, ext. 2, or email her at sross@hospitalityhouseofcharlotte.org. For more information on the breakfast or the facility click here.

Convention center's double dose of do-gooding

2009-09-15T11:28:00.005-04:00

How's this for recyling a double shot of do-gooding? Each year, hundreds of groups come to the Charlotte Convention Center for meetings, conventions and trade shows.

When they're gone, they leave behind a surplus of notepads, pens, pencils and registration bags. Now they can donate them to Classrom Central , a partnership forged by Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority and the nonprofit "store" that provides free supplies to 132 schools in the Charlotte region.

Last month, the COAL-GEN conference, which drew thousands in the coal-fired power industry, left town with 1,200 unused satchels and tons of pens, pencils and pads -- all perfectly fine for school use. This week, Classroom Central got all of it.

Score one for the green movement -- the stuff didn't end up in landfills -- and one for teachers and students who need school supplies in a difficult economy.

"We should have a very positive impact on Classroom Central's goal of providing students with the supplies they need to be successful," said Tim Newman, the authority's CEO. "Our meeting planners are increasingly environmentally concious, as well as interested in doing the right thing for the community."

Classroom Central supplies students at high-poverty schools with donated school supplies and classroom products through the free store for teachers. In its first seven years, the nonprofit has served more than 80,000 students and distributed more than $17 million in school supplies.

The idea for the partnership came from the convention center's Susan Schwint. "She said, 'we have conventions that want to give back to the host community. What they leave behid is perfect for students,'" said authority spokeswoman Molly Hedrick. "It's just another example of what can happen when someone connects the dots."

The supplies from the convention center couldn't come at a better time for Classroom Central. Already in the new school year, the nonprofit has seen a 25 percent rise in teachers using the store.

"We know these items will be put to great use," said Michelle Daley, Classroom Central's head of operations. "We're extremely excited about partnering with the Charlotte Convention Center to divert items from landfills and provide the teachers and students we serve with ... materials that can be used in the classroom to enhance the learning process."

So the next time you see a teacher or student carrying a satchel with COAL-GEN printed on it, you'll know where it came from -- and where it didn't end up.

Crisis over for charities? Far from it!

2009-09-14T12:14:00.006-04:00

A friend made a comment over the weekend that caused The Cliff to pause and take stock. She said: It feels the crisis is over for nonprofits. Not the problems, but the severity of the crisis that has plagued the region for most of a year.

The Cliff decided to pose that question to a few warriors on the frontline:

Beverly Howard at Loaves & Fishes just laughed.

Last month, Howard said, her food bank saw an increase in people who'd run out on unemployment benefits and still unable to find a job.

"The need here is at an all-time high," she said. "We don't anticipate the need going down for some months. The reality for our clients is that once the economy turns around, it will still take six months to a year for them to experience any relief."

That means that people will continue to get behind on rents or the mortgage -- and utilities. And they'll continue to need places like Loaves & Fishes for basic sustenance, or Crisis Assistance Ministry for help to keep from getting thrown in the street.

Carol Hardison, head of Crisis Assistance, groaned at the question.

"That shocks and scares me," she said.

Yes, the budget sheets are in better shape, but only because most charities have shed employees and services.

But has the severity of the problem diminished?

"No way," Hardison said. "We did make adjustments and did layoffs and we're right-sizing. But there's thousands of people who are no longer receiving services."

In July and August, she saw record numbers standing at the door of Crisis Assistance each morning.

The city was vastly helped by the $3 million raised for the Critical Need Response Fund last winter, she said. "It gave us a cushion, so we didn't have to pull out all the stops to help the people we were seeing. It got us through the summer."

But now they're seeing a double-digit increase in needs.

"We're just like the for-profits that are looking more productive," Hardison said. "They do more with less. But who picks up the people who are left out? As far as what we're seeing, a whole lot more people are closer to the cliff than ever.

"To me, the cliff is just starting for many vulnerable families."

At Jacob's Ladder Job Center, the job-preparing nonprofit, executive director Steffi Travis chuckles at the question.

"No. Not true. Charities are struggling in every dimension," Travis said. "I do think we've all adjusted ... but we are all having to vie for the same strapped dollars in a more personal way."

Her agency's clients are more anxious and burned out than she's seen in 30 years of working for nonprofits.

"Everything they do requires them to get services from other folks," she said. "If it's medical, they're often told appointments are long and waiting. Or services have been cut. I haven't seen any uplifting moments."

Jacob's Ladder has a group of highly qualified volunteers who committed for a limited time after they were laid off because they expected to be back working shortly. A year later, many are still jobless and volunteering, Travis said.

Donors are still tight with their money, uncertain about what the future holds. Charities are having to spend more time with donors relaying personal stories.

"They understand they need to give back -- and we are all truly grateful," she said. "But a lot of affluent donors just don't get how badly people are suffering. So they're holding back more than they'd normally give."

Festival to celebrate film, a landmark and ending hunger

2009-09-10T15:46:00.006-04:00

It's a celebration of movies and food (and not Goobers or popcorn) and a building that has been a gathering spot for 45 years, old by Charlotte standards.

Organizers of the week-long Charlotte Film Festival, which opens Sept. 21, wanted to make the event more meaningful. So they're opening at the Park Terrace Cinema, which turns 45 this year, with the 45-year-old Cold War satire "Dr. Strangelove."

The opening night, which will also include Charlotte filmmaker John Schwert's "In/Significant Others," is free -- with a donation of nonperishable food to the Second Harvest Food Bank to fight hunger.

The non-profit festival is designed to bring undiscovered talent and great cinema to Charlotte. Organizers are also committed to educate the public about film, and build partnerships. So they're using the upcoming festival to raise awareness of the need for more food as a growing number of the unemployed rely increasingly on food banks.

The festival hopes to raise 500 pounds of nonperishables to donate to the cause.

"We wanted to focus on how the festival impacts a community and not just in the choice of films," said Jennifer Bratyanski, the festival program director. "It's great to celebrate film, but what does it matter if you can't help the community.

"In this economy, Second Harvest is a very important nonprofit that needs help. Film nourishes the heart and soul. Food nourishes the body."

Bratyanski, who teaches U.S. history at Central Piedmont Community College and Queens University, grew up in Charlotte and spent a lot of her childhood at Park Terrace, in the Park Road Shopping Center. It's where she saw "ET," where she took her slumber parties. "The space has a lot of memories for me," she said. "We all laughed and cried there -- it's the perfect place to open the festival and celebrate a landmark.

"There aren't many left in Charlotte."

Only one of the theaters at Park Terrace is being used to show Stanley Kubrick's classic and the film by Schwert, who will be at the showing. It has 95 seats. Bratyanski is asking patrons to arrive early with cans of food to drop in collection boxes by 6:15 p.m. The movie will start at 6:30 p.m.

"We're expecting a great crowd for this classic movie at a classic venue," she said. "We want patrons to give back to the community that allows this festival to be here. And we want to help Second Harvest, one of the most important charities we have in the area. It handles basic needs of every human."

For information about the festival's offerings and ticket sales click here.

Eat a hot dog, help find a cure

2009-09-10T10:34:00.005-04:00

Got lunch plans Friday, or Saturday and Sunday for that matter? Stop by any Fresh Market store -- there are three in the Charlotte area -- and have a hot dog, root beer float and cookie. It'll cost you a donation to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

This is no new philanthropic venture for Fresh Market. It'll be the 15th year the Greensboro-born-and-based gourmet supermarket company, now with 90 stores in 17 states, has held its three-day fundraiser to benefit the foundation. The company's supplying all the food and will donate every dime.

Its stores are also selling those green paper sneakers at the check-out counter for a buck, another fundraiser for the foundation.

The foundation has been Fresh Market's charity of choice for many years, after Beverly Berry, wife of Fresh Market founder Ray Berry, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 31. Before she died in November 2007, she and her husband were stalwarts in raising money for research to find a cure, particularly in the Triad.

In addition to the weekend cookout, Fresh Market was the first presenting sponsor for the Walk to Cure Diabetes in Greensboro, and it has consistently been a sponsor of the JDRF Piedmont Triad Chapter's annual gala, where it was honored in 2001.

The company continues to raise money and awareness to honor Beverly Berry.

Over the 15 years, the sidewalk sale has raised more than $1 million, said Sally Langan, spokeswoman for the local chapter of the research foundation. "As an entire organization, this is Fresh Market's big push to raise money for research," Langan said. "We'll have our volunteers out at all the Fresh Markets serving up the treats all weekend."

So this weekend have a hot dog and root beer float on the Fresh Market and leave a nice donation to help find a cure for a terrible disease.

Bank kicks off campaign by helping

2009-09-09T13:46:00.004-04:00

There are 106 students at the Performance Learning Center high school on North Graham Street. All had dropped out of school, or were on their way out the door.

The center is a partnership between Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and the nonprofit Communities In Schools (CIS) to provide alternative schools for students who have lost their way in traditional settings.

The classes are small. So teachers nurture relationships and make sure their students don't fall through cracks. As CIS Executive Director Bill Anderson said, "kids can't be wallflowers here."

That is why shortly before lunch today, the famed horse-drawn Well Fargo bank stagecoach (actually there are 26 around the country) pulled up to the learning center to the cheers of many of the center's students wearing straw cowboy hats.

The stagecoach had been parked at Wachovia Plaza on South Tryon uptown, where Wachovia, now owned by Wells Fargo, kicked off its United Way campaign with another vote of confidence for Jane McIntyre, the new president of United Way of Central Carolinas.

After McIntyre spoke to a crowd of bank employees, the dog (a Boxer named Jack sat on top of the coach) and pony (four horses pulled it) show rolled out on Tryon and pushed north, then west to Graham Street. Forty-five minutes later, it rolled past cheering students at the Performance Learning Center.

It was not carrying a steamer chest of gold, but it did have a large -- literally -- check for $25,000 that the merged bank turned over to Communities In Schools (see photo above). An hour later, the bank gave Junior Achievement another check for $25,000.

Their giving was symbolic on many levels. For months, many in Banktown have worried about the impact the recession would have on banks and their long history of philanthropy in Charlotte.

But Laura Schulte, a Wells Fargo executive who recently moved to Charlotte as president of East Coast banking for the merged bank, made it clear that keeping the Charlotte region strong is good for business.

"We can't be successful as a company unless the community that we do business in -- and that our employees and customers live in -- is successful," Schulte said. "So it's in our very best interest to have a strong community."

She said the bank supports United Way, but this year is instituting an "open giving" plan which would allow employees to give to the charity of their choice, with some matching fund opportunities and grants to spend time helping charities.

"People today want more choices ... and support what they feel is important," Schulte said. "But we do believe that the United Way concept is important to this community. And Jane (McIntyre) is the right person at the right time to lead its effort. We're not giving up on the United Way."

Communities In Schools, the drop-out prevention program, lost 23.5 percent of its United Way funding, so the $25,000 comes in handy with the nonprofit doubling in size in two years from fulltime site coordinators in 25 CMS schools to 47.

"The fact that Wells Fargo, Wachovia, First Union have long been supporters of CIS, we're extremely appreciative of them recognizing the work we do," Anderson said.

He came loaded with statistics: In North Carolina, 30 out of 100 9th graders won't graduate from high school in four years.

"Society cannot sustain 30 percent not graduating from high school," he said. "The minimum to get a decent job these days and to be financially independent is a high school diploma. So we're really honored that Wells Fargo chose us. They could have chosen any nonprofit.

"It reiterates the importance of proving that outcomes of nonprofits make a difference."

Goodstock 25 hours of helping nonprofits

2009-09-08T10:32:00.003-04:00

Over the summer the country observed the 40th anniversary of Woodstock and its three days of “peace, love and music.”

Now comes Goodstock, or better yet, d0-Goodstock. Don't mistake the two. This one will be 25 hours of hard work and a sleepless night by the 40 creative staffers at Luquire George Andrews, the Charlotte advertising and public relations agency, to help six needy nonprofits – for free.

All to celebrate the firm's 25th anniversary.

The idea is borrowed from a similar sized firm in Madison, Wisc., where Judi Wax, LGA's senior vice president and public relations director, once worked.

Wax's friend, Andy Wallman, president and executive creative director at Knupp and Watson in Madison, created Goodstock five years ago.

“I loved the idea, and wished we'd have come up with it,” Wax said. “We were trying to figure out how to celebrate LGA's 25 years, and I told everyone about Goodstock. They loved it. I called Andy to see if he'd be willing to let us at least borrow some of his idea.

“He said, ‘You can have everything we've used. Just do it.'”

So from 11 a.m. Oct. 15 to noon Oct. 16, LGA staffers will produce the three marketing pieces the six nonprofits need the most, whether they are print ads, brochures, feature articles, media kits, radio scripts, logos or social media strategies. The Madison firm will perform the same services for 24 hours those two days.

Any nonprofit with a 501(c)3 status can apply, except for religious and political organizations.
Over the years, LGA has worked with numerous Mecklenburg nonprofits – through paid or pro-bono jobs.

“This year especially, we know that budgets are tighter and resources more limited, which makes it even more difficult for nonprofits to market themselves,” said Steve Luquire, LGA's founder and CEO. “We want to help.”

From the applications, LGA will pick six of the county's neediest charities, and assign staffers according to their passions.

LGA plans to continue Goodstock every year, and hopes it will spread to other agencies throughout the country. They plan to market it to national media and trade magazines.

“We hope that as other agencies hear about this ... Goodstock will be happening all over the country so we can spread the love and say thanks to all of them for their good work,” Wax said. “All agencies do this on their own, but we'd like to see this become 24 hours of concerted effort. Everybody wants to give back to the community.”

Want to participate?

Go to www.lgaadv.com, and fill out an application. They must be e-mailed to LGA by 5 p.m. Sept. 18. Judging will be based on services charities provide; their needs and inability to fund marketing pieces; their 501(c)3 status; and their availability during the 25 hours.

The Ivey reaching out to fading memories

2009-09-03T13:14:00.003-04:00

Lynn Ivey had built a substantial career after 25 years of banking, when her mother, Nancy, suffered a series of mini strokes in 2004 and was ultimately diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

Ivey could hear her father's tired voice as he tried to care for her mother. So she took a six-month leave from Bank of America, where she was a senior vice president, and went back to her native Wilmington to look after her parents.

She knew nothing about caring for someone whose memory was fading, and set out to educate herself about the array of facilities that care for not only the patient, but the caregiver.

Through officials at the local Alzheimer's Association, she learned about assisted living programs, home care and day care for adults. Assisted living was out. Ben and Nancy Ivey were adamant they'd remain in their home of 46 years.

So Ivey convinced her father that a combination of home care and day care was the way to go.

For both of them, she said. The home care nurses arrived mornings and helped get her mother up. They fed her and helped her take her (medications). Then they took her to adult day care.

"That gave Dad the whole day off to refresh," Ivey said. "He napped, he saw friends. And when he picked up Mom in the afternoon, he was refreshed and eager to keep life as normal as possible."

A month before her leave was up, she decided not to return to the bank. Instead, she used what she'd learned to design a for-profit, upscale daycare center for cognitively and functionally impaired adults and their caregivers.

There are nearly a dozen certified adult day-cares in Mecklenburg, most of them nonprofits, but none in south Charlotte, Ivey said.

Using money from investors and loans, The Ivey (a tribute to her parents) broke ground on Park South Drive in the SouthPark area in October 2006 -- the same week her mother died. It was designed to look like a mountain retreat, a one-stop resource offering daytime social and therapeutic services from exercise classes to managing medications. It served up gourmet meals, had a patio with putting green, whirlpool tubs, woodworking shop, a rocking chair porch with gas-burning fireplace, and crafts and relaxation rooms.

The 11,000-square-foot center opened for business in January 2008, and Ivey waited for clients to flock to her facility.

They didn't.

"I was a naive entrepreneur who expected people to line up, waiting to come in," Ivey said. "It was a perfect storm. The people didn't come as we had expected. And then the economy tanked."

So, this year, Ivey rearranged her business model and turned the center into a nonprofit facility to reach a broader market. "Our goal is to serve as many people as we can possibly reach out to," she said. "By forming a nonprofit, the community could feel a sense of ownership and help support it."

Bill Hogue was a client before he died recently. He'd spend 35 years at Lance Inc., when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. His wife, Mary Anne, wanted to keep him living at home, but as his disease progressed that became challenging. Her job required travel, and she worried about his safety.

They found The Ivey. "Though Alzheimer's disease was chipping away at his life, I felt great joy at being able to keep him at home," Mary Anne Hogue said. "Bill considered The Ivey 'his club,' and I could continue my career with peace of mind."

Ivey, now partnering with the Western Carolinas chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, says the center is "on a cliff" again, as it continues to apply for grants and seek other forms of funding so it can serve people regardless of their ability to pay.

She's trying to raise $440,000 this fall to triple her clients and help reach out to the 10,000 Mecklenburg families affected by Alzheimer's alone.

"These people are real people," she said. "They deserve dignity and a quality life. How you deal with them requires a special touch. Alzheimer's knows no socio-economic status, and neither does this facility.

"Aging challenges affect everyone."

To donate or get more information, call Lynn Ivey at The Ivey at 704-909-2070; or email info@theivey.com.

Picnic has everything but prizes

2009-09-03T11:44:00.002-04:00

Last year, when organizers of the annual Picnic for the Disabled needed money, you responded by donating $13,000.

This week, the Observer reported that organizers had enough money to throw the 30th annual picnic on Sept. 12, but needed people to help with the event. Two hundred volunteers stepped up in two days.

“The phone started ringing at 7:30 in the morning Tuesday and didn't stop,” said Randy Cornell, treasurer of Physically Disabled Adults, the picnic's organizer. “We had high school students call, older folks – you name it, we were just bombarded.”

A high school football coach even called to say he planned to bring his players to volunteer, he said.

The Sept. 12 picnic, noon to 4 p.m. at the Marion Diehl Center, 2219 Tyvola Road, is open to anyone with disabilities. Up to 500 disabled people are expected at the event that was founded in 1979 by a police officer and his wife.

The volunteers will run bingo games, hand out door prizes, cook and park cars.

Speaking of door prizes: The organizers need more.

They're looking for stereos and TVs that can be used in group homes. Or telephones, clock radios, CD players that the disabled people can use in their rooms. “The hardest thing is to get prizes donated,” Cornell said.

If you can donate a door prize call Cornell at 704-573-2914, or Barry Dodd at 704-536-9497.

Photo sessions to help KinderMourn

2009-09-02T10:22:00.005-04:00

Scott Clinton sure knows how to make an entrance.

Clinton has run a photography studio and business in New York. Yet, after 11 years, being a Nebraska boy with small-town inclinations, he decided he wanted to pull up stakes and find a saner life in Charlotte.

This week, he was still in the process of moving (he probably won't be fully moved until year's end), but he wanted to start becoming a part of the city where he hopes to build a new life.

Using the concept of cause marketing, Clinton has linked up with KinderMourn, the uniquely Charlotte nonprofit that helps family navigate through the grief of losing a loved one, and he's holding portrait sessions this Saturday to raise money for the organization.

"Anyone can come down: families, or individuals -- if you want your dog photographed, I don't care," said Clinton, from his studio in New York, where he's still packing his life into boxes. "After 11 years in New York, I decided that enough was enough. I have friends in Charlotte and had spent time here.

"I liked the city, and the way people take the time to develop relationships."

Clinton has rented space at Blackbox Studios, 3120 Latrobe Dr., suite 250 (that's in the Arnold Palmer Center off North Wendover Road). For a minimum donation of $40 -- he's suggesting you donate $100 -- you'll get a 5 to 10-minute portrait session and after a couple weeks, an 8-by-10 glossy print.

All the money raised from the sessions will go to KinderMourn. More prints will be available to buy.

The shoot will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., first come, first serve -- no reservations. He's getting help from Little Ones Magazine and Preslar Studio.

He chose KinderMourn because of its mission: Helping people wade through a mire of grief and rebuild their lives after they've lost someone they love.

"They do good work," Clinton said. "I'm proud to be connected with them through this effort."

In New York, Clinton has run Scott Clinton Photography, photographing mainly corporations. He recently spun off a business, Simulacra Photography, which focuses on portraits of babies, children, teenagers, adults and families.

He's moving both businesses to Charlotte.

"Moving to a new community, I felt it was important to do some good for the community, but also reach as many people as possible and establish what I do," he said. "I'm a bit of a small-town guy. Charlotte's not a small town, but it has similar values. It feels like a good fit."

For Clinton and Kindermourn.

Social media "webinar" set for Wednesday

2009-09-01T10:31:00.006-04:00

Listen up, Charlotte-region nonprofits: If you missed last month's social networking seminar hosted by NPower, the national organization that helps you guys bone up on the latest technology, despair no longer.

NPower's Charlotte affiliate is putting on a "webinar" Wednesday for any nonprofits interested in learning more or asking questions they weren't able to ask in August.

The webinar starts at 11:30 a.m. and runs an hour. Besides whatever questions you may have, the discussion will center on: Practical user information for Facebook; how to generate a "buzz" to keep people coming back; suggestions for making your Facebook page as user-friendly as possible; and cause versus page, and how to navigate and choose between the two.

Leading the discussion will be three of the seminar presenters: Adam Morgan of Microsoft; Brandon Uttley, a social media strategist at Wray Ward in Charlotte; and Winn Maddrey, executive vice president of Topics Education.

More than 140 people, representing 80 charities, attended the August seminar.

"We had to turn people away just because of the amount of interest," said NPower Charlotte spokeswoman Lindsay Jones. "So for those folks who couldn't participate or who did, but still have questions about setting up Facebook pages, or Twitter accounts, we decided the webinar was a good way to reach a lot of people."

NPower is in the business of helping charities and nonprofits use technology to more effectively achieve goals, raise awareness and generate donations.

The seminar and Wednesday's webinar is part of NPower's Project Ignite campaign, a three-year program designed to provide information technology services to nonprofits. The project consists of forums, community group collaborations and financial help for charities to enhance their IT.

The Charlotte affiliate was founded in 2002 and has established itself as a key facilitator of technology strategy and solutions development for nonprofits. It has served more than 60 charities and delivered more than 120 technology projects.

All nonprofits are invited to sign up for the webinar here. For details of what was discussed at the August seminar and Wednesday's webinar click here.

Foundation keeps boy's memory alive

2009-08-31T11:18:00.007-04:00

Tyler Scott was only 5 1/2, a charmer with bright eyes, but in his SouthPark area neighborhood he was known as "the workerman."

If his father, Howard, was mowing grass, Tyler was right behind him. Fall afternoons were his favorites -- he could spend hours blowing leaves into a pile.

Yet his mother, Dana, said Ty was never happier than when he put on a hard hat and double-wrapped a tool belt around his tiny waist -- loaded down with a hammer, screwdrivers and drills -- and he was running through the neighborhood near the Harris YMCA looking to drive screws into boards, or nail them together.

But suddenly in late January 2006, the workerman fell playing basketball. That night, he couldn't use his arm. His trademark smile began to droop. His parents took Tyler to his pediatrician, but got no answers.

Suddenly the Scotts were on a strange whirlwind of tests and specialists until an MRI showed the boy suffered from brainstem glioma, a horrifically aggressive brain tumor -- inoperable and untreatable, all words no parent ever wants to hear.

He died Feb. 8, 2006, nine days later.

To deal with his grief, Howard Scott started Tyler's Treehouse, a foundation named for the treehouse Tyler saw in a design book and asked for when he got out of the hospital.

Since then, the foundation has raised $165,000 for research on Tyler's form of cancer at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., where the boy spent a couple of days before he was airlifted back to Charlotte so his three brothers could say goodbye.

On Sept. 12, the foundation is hosting its annual Tyler's Treehouse 5K and 1-mile fun run and walk. As with the previous runs, the course is through Tyler's neighborhood, starting at Olde Georgetowne Swim Club on Whistlestop Rd., where Tyler learned to swim, down his old street (St. John Lane) and past his old preschool.

They'll have a golf tournament in October to raise more money.

"The fundraising events help," Dana Scott said. "It feels like we're making a difference in Tyler's name. What we went through is the most horrific thing any family could go through. You feel the pain every day. But by doing this, we hope another family doesn't have to suffer.

"And it does help keep Tyler's memory alive. We will never forget him, but it hurts when other people start forgetting."

By the way, that treehouse was built in the Scotts' backyard (pictured above with Tyler's family). It is 230 square feet, with bunks, lights, a TV and video games. All the labor and supplies were donated.

The boy never got to use it. But brothers Chase, 13, Bryce, 11, and Aiden, 6, and friends from the neighborhood do all the time.

Fitting for a workerman, who when he was taken off life support breathed for another 8 hours -- a full work day.

Fundraiser runs on Sept. 12

The Tyler's Treehouse 5K and fun runs is Sept. 12 at the Olde Georgetowne Swim Club, 7930 Whistlestop Rd. near the Harris Y. The 5K starts at 8 a.m., and fun run/walk at 9 a.m., with a party at the club afterwards.

To make a donation and for information on the foundation press here.

Jazz fan fights cancer with show for mom

2009-08-28T08:00:00.000-04:00

Last August was the first time in several years that jazz promoter Tammy Greene didn't have a blow out birthday party featuring some of the country's top jazz musicians.

For three years, Greene helped book jazz acts at the Jazz Café when it was open in the Arysley Town Center. So, her birthday party that was a must-attend event.

"We always just have a good time," she said.

Last year, she spent her birthday in a hospital room with her dying mother. Greene's mother, Bernice, battled problems related to heart disease throughout the year. Then she was diagnosed with breast cancer in July. Doctors removed the cancer, but her mother's condition never improved.

A few days before her birthday last year, Greene received a call from her brothers telling her to come home immediately. She drove to Philadelphia immediately. Her mother, Bernice, was glad to see her. Greene said her mother worried her daughter wouldn't make it home in time. On Aug. 31, Greene celebrated her birthday in the hospital with her family. The next day, Bernice Greene passed away at age 74.

To honor her mother, Greene will resume her birthday tradition with a new mission to raise money to fight breast cancer and heart disease. On Saturday, she will host Jazzin' For a Cure concert at Utopia Soundstage. It will benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Greene has always donated to the foundation and participated in the annual walk/run, but after losing her mother Greene is committed to doing more.

"I'm going to tie my passion together for jazz with Susan G. Komen," she said. "When it's somebody in your family it's a whole different vibe."

Jazz for a cure, Saturday
Jazzin' For The Cure features band Innertwyned and saxophonist Paul Taylor. Proceeds from the concert will benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Two shows: 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Saturday. Utopia Soundstage, 10210 Berkeley Place Drive. www.ez-tixx.com or 877-993-8499

United Way and the Levines' challenge

2009-08-27T13:11:00.009-04:00

Good thing Leon Levine bought four new suits recently. He's been in the news lately and needed them as he and wife Sandra make one high-profile announcement after another about gifts from their Leon Levine Foundation.

The latest came today, a week after announcing a $9.3 million scholarship program at UNC Charlotte. Now their foundation is giving a $1 million challenge grant to the "Community Care Fund" of the United Way of Central Carolinas to create a rallying point for the fall fundraising campaign that was launched today, two weeks early.

As new United Way President Jane McIntyre explained at a new conference, the Levines' foundation will match any amount raised over last year's $21.7 million, up to $1 million. The agency's new goal is $22.7 million, so if the campaign gets there, that'd be at least $2 million over last year to deal with the huge needs that continue to spiral in the uncertain economy.

Yet the Levines surprised even McIntyre and United Way board chair Carlos Evans when they announced that their family also had decided to give a personal gift of $100,000 to the campaign.

McIntyre and Evans said they hope the "Levine Challenge" will rejuvenate giving again and help repair the agency's damaged image, crippled for more than a year by what many saw as exorbitant pay and benefits paid to former United Way head Gloria Pace King.

In the furor, donations to the last campaign fell by almost a third and many members saw their funding cut by 40 percent.

The Levines say their grant is a powerful vote of confidence for McIntyre and the work Evans has already done to overhaul the agency. McIntyre said the Levines' name will draw more people to the campaign.

Both Levines applauded the agency's recent changes: cutting expenses, slashing the board from about 60 people to 18 to 24, and making the board's business more transparent.

And they liked the notion of placing the focus on the Community Care Fund, which supports more than 90 nonprofits across the Charlotte region.

Leon Levine called the United Way "the pillar of Charotte charity."

"It was stuck in a nonstop story of scandal and failed expectations," he said. "Millions raised but far less than half of that going to help the needy in Charlotte. We became concerned about the welfare of our neighbors and the validity of the best vehicle to help."

McIntyre said that all money that goes into the community fund is used to help those in need.

"The fund is the essence of what United Way has always been about -- neighbors helping neighbors," Leon Levine said.

In recent months, the Levines have given to many cash-strapped charities, making front-page headlines.

They say they don't give to anyone unless they check them out. Sandra Levine said she's concerned that an awful lot of people are "being punished" for the mistakes of a few at United Way.

They feel they've checked out the new order at United Way and like what they see.

"The time has come to move on and try to make this campaign as successful as possible," Sandra Levine said. "The Community Care Fund is going to do a lot of good and help a lot of people."

Realtors help shelter the needy

2009-08-27T09:44:00.006-04:00

Realtors make their living selling houses. But this week they demonstrated their belief in the notion that everyone -- even the neediest among us -- deserve a roof over our heads.

Through a new grants program, the housing foundation for the Charlotte Regional Realtor Association awarded a total of $10,000 to five organizations that are trying to make a difference, each addressing unmet needs in their communities.

The association, with 7,000 Realtor members in Mecklenburg and Iredell counties, says it is dedicated to creating housing opportunities, promoting homeownership and educating its members to be leaders.

The grants provided anecdotal evidence to those claims.

The five are:

Wesley Community Development Corporation: Was awarded $2,500 to help with pre-development costs for a three-bedroom home to be built in Cornelius to house three mentally disabled adults.

Latin American Coalition: Will get $2,500 for its foreclosure prevention workshops and training for immigrant families. The funds will also support staff in assist Latinos who are at risk of losing their homes.

Urban Ministry: Awarded $2,000 for the agency's Substance Abuse Education and Recovery drug-treatment program. The money specifically will be used for phone lines that clients can use to secure stabilized housing and employment.

Salvation Army: Is getting $2,000 for its Center of Hope to buy bus passes for female residents seeking permanent employment and housing.

Hope House: Will get $1,000 to help build a children's recreation room at Hope House, a transitional facility for single women and women with children in Huntersville.

It's an impressive first effort. In the current economic strife, every dollar helps fill a critical need.

Running program seeks to transform boys

2009-08-26T16:45:00.001-04:00

Ashley Armistead was alarmed. She'd taken sons Grant, then 3, and Connor, 2, to play at a friend's. And while she and other mothers talked, the boys were colliding toy trucks into the furniture and poking holes in the Sheetrock -- without remorse.

The mother who owned the house, just shrugged and said: "You know: Boys will be boys."

Not Armistead's boys. "It rocked my soul," she said. "There seemed to be no reigning in of the behavior, or belief that it could be reigned in.

"The behavior is so engrained it's stifling."

Back then, she was a cardiac rehabilitation nurse and in her free time volunteered as a coach for "Girls on the Run," the running program started in Charlotte and based in schools that's designed to boost the self-esteem of girls.

Armistead looked around for a similar program for her boys. There weren't any. So she and a cast of volunteers started their own, loosely modeling it after Girls on the Run, designed to comprehensively nurture the whole boy: body, heart and spirit.

They call it "Let Me Run," which last month achieved 501(c) status, which makes it a nonprofit looking for funding like most other nonprofits.

"When I was a nurse in cardiac rehab we had this comprehensive approach to health ... and I thought how crazy it was that we didn't bring prevention down to boys," she said.

The program, designed by runners, psychologists, physical therapists and exercise physiologists, tries to get boys to embrace the notion that it's OK to have emotions and to feel vulnerable. They teach that anger isn't the only acceptable emotion for boys and men.

Let Me Run has a running component to build endurance and strength. But it also works on relationships and redefines competition, "to encourage others, not just beat the other guy," Armistead said.

Last spring, the program was in six Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools with 15 volunteer coaches. She hopes to have it 10 schools this fall and 20 by next spring. Eventually, she and Let Me Run's board hope to franchise it into other cities.

"Boys are too competitive; I see that everywhere in the traditional box," said Armistead, whose son Grant is 11 now, Connor 10. "If they don't win the race, they feel they were a failure and that the race was a failure.

"We've got to change that."

To get the program's point across, Charlie Engle is speaking 7 p.m. Saturday at the U.S. National Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy. Engle is the Greensboro native and ultramarathoner who with two other runners ran 4,500 miles for 111 straight days across the Sahara Desert to raise awareness for the need for fresh water.

Their story is told in the powerful documentary, "Running the Sahara." He's replaced alcohol and drug addiction with running. Engle will talk about how running and physical suffering saved his life. He's donating his time to raise money for Let Me Run.

The event, in the center's raft barn, is free, except for parking. Donations will be appreciated.

On Sept. 15, the group is hosting a talk by Harvard psychiatrist William Pollack, an internationally respected authority on boys and men. Pollack is the group's board chair. He will speak at 7 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal School, 750 E. 9th St. near uptown.

If you want to help Let Me Run, make checks out to Let Me Run and mail them to 9240 Tresanton Dr., Charlotte NC 28210.

Neighborhood blog helps near and wide

2009-08-25T11:26:00.002-04:00

Nichole, mother of three in the Steele Creek community in southwest Mecklenburg, has long been inspired by this Ghandi quote: "Be the change you want to see in the world."

To that end, she and her family have donated to a variety of charities, their main interests: Cancer, the homeless and children. Those interests stem from her father dying of brain cancer; their desire to feed the hungry and supply food and other necessities to the homeless; and their ambition to raise awareness about catastrophic illnesses in children.

Noble work, but she longed to do something bigger -- and came up with a community help blog (http://www.ourcharitywork.blogspot.com/) to raise money and supplies for the neediest of charities in Charlotte, and needs of her neighbors.

"We are not affiliated with a church; we are just a family that believes in the greater good and that it is imperative to give back and help people in need," Nichole wrote The Cliff in an email.

She doesn't want her last name used -- but names are not the point. Her blog is. It's an example of what people are doing to reach out and help, even in the smallest ways, with energy and pluck.
Her blog has become a community-wide effort in Steele Creek. A friend and neighbor, Melissa, signed on to find volunteer opportunities.

Each month, they and other neighbors search for charities in need through government Web sites, and ask around the community for anyone who needs help. Their current project is gathering household items, clothing and other supplies to donate to the Charlotte Emergency Housing, a shelter for the homeless.

Recently, the neighbors got together and packed up 40 bags of food for Stand Up for Kids, an organization that provides guidance, food and supplies for homeless children -- only to find that the Charlotte chapter had dissolved and their donations went to the Raleigh chapter.

"This is important," Nichole emailed. "Our local homeless/street kids are not getting the help that they desperately need." She's part of the program support team responsible for collecting items for the organization. Volunteers are needed as "street outreach" leaders to help find and stabilize these children. If anyone is interested they can contact Crystal here.

She laments that many people don't donate to charities because they feel their "small efforts" won't make a difference. "The wonderful thing about our projects is that every little bit counts," she said. "If we all just give a little, we can make a big impact."

She's inspired by another quote, this one from legendary basketball coach John Wooden: "Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."

Gift to Pfeiffer University helps sick children

2009-08-24T12:36:00.003-04:00

Somewhere in the news release sent today was a story of passions meeting needs.

The main theme: A retired Charlotte-Mecklenburg school teacher had given her alma mater, Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer in Stanly County, a gift of a little more than $100,000 -- a tidy sum in these uncertain times for any nonprofit, school or charity.

What's neatly bound in this story is the confluence of passions and desires that overlap and intertwine one another.

The donor, who wants to stay anonymous, is a NASCAR fan -- particularly of Richard Petty.

The famed racer and his family have had a long relationship with the school. Petty is a longtime Pfeiffer trustee, and regular donor. One of his grandsons, Austin, had attended Pfeiffer. After another grandson, Adam, was killed in 2000 practicing at New Hampshire International Speedway, Pfeiffer established a scholarship to honor him.

The donor also has a compassion for children with special needs.

Petty's son, Kyle, a NASCAR driver, and Kyle's wife, Pattie, started a camp in 2004 for terminally and chronically ill children, in Adam's memory. Their camp, Victory Junction Gang Camp, is on the family land in Randolph County, and it provides an environment for kids to temporarily forget about their illnesses.

So the donor wanted to endow an internship that will allow Pfeiffer students to work with and learn about children with special needs at Victory Junction.

That fits one of the university's missions of developing servant leaders.

"It is truly a circle of influence that will have a generational impact," Pfeiffer President Chuck Ambrose told The Cliff. "There are multiple beneficiaries."

The donor, who retired to Lake Norman after 30 years of teaching, came to Pfeiffer with her offering. Pfeiffer brokered the relationship between her and the Pettys.

Kyle Petty was overjoyed that Pfeiffer will be sending student interns: "Counselors and volunteers have a tremendous impact on the lives of the children we serve. The time, the energy, the smiles are priceless. We are thankful and look forward to a long partnership with Pfeiffer University."

The gift follows a $1 million donation from the estate of Winston-Salem banker William White, who died last December.

"Both gifts are helping us through some challenging economic times," Ambrose said. "Because of all the passions involved, what a great gift this second one is for Pfeiffer, what a great gift it is for Victory Junction -- and for the donor."

Don't-drink challenge helps charities

2009-08-20T13:30:00.007-04:00

On a Sunday early last February, Dr. James Howell, senior minister at Myers Park United Methodist Church, threw out a challenge to his 5,000-member congregation with little notion about how it would respond.

He asked members to give up drinking alcohol for the 46-day period of Lent -- when many Christians sacrifice a vice before Easter. He also asked them to take the money that they would have spent on alcohol during that time and put it in the church's "Spirit Fund."

"The way he framed it was that as a culture we probably drink too much, and that there are those of us who are guilty of using alcohol -- particularly in these financially stressed times -- as a substitute for God," said Kevin Wright, the church's mission minister. "In essense, he was saying that sometimes we turn to the wrong spirit, when we should be turning to the holy spirit."

They have no idea how many took up the challenge. But after Easter, the "Spirit Fund" was spilling over with $29,290.81 -- $5,000 from an anonymous donor.

Thursday, the church cut a check for $25,901.64 and mailed it Hope Haven, the converted motel on North Tryon Street that is an addiction recovery program for the homeless (a room is pictured above). A second check for $3,389 was made out to the Charlotte Rescue Mission, another recovery program, to repair the boiler system.

"It was money just out of the air; it was delightful and exciting when the church called me," said Judy Marshall, Hope Haven's vice president for development. The charity lost $160,000 in United Way money; $60,000 would have been used for family and children programs.

"We're all looking for ways to sustain our services and keep them going at the level that we're used to. It's a challenge that we're addressing and the money from the church sure helps in a big way," Marshall said.

Howell and Wright were surprised at the response to the challenge. In no time, Howell was fielding emails and phone calls from members moved by the gesture.

"We aren't saying at all that alcohol is evil," Howell said. "Although one lovely lesson from this exercise was that dozens of people learned they drink too much, depend on it too much to be social or to have fun, or to cope with difficulties."

A "handful" of members entered recovery programs, Wright said.

Howell told the congregation that he understood that the current economic strife is stressing people.

"But he said if you turn to alcohol in excess, it can go too far," Wright said. "It can have a harmful impact on families and children."

Leigh Ann Smith, 34, and her younger sister, Lynsley Smith, 32, are both church members with a family history of alcoholism.

They took on the challenge. Leigh Ann failed a week before Easter. She'd run a 10K in Charleston, and found herself with friends sitting on the rooftop patio of a restaurant. The temptation was too great. She ordered a glass of wine.

"I've always been very cautious about what and how I drink, so I thought it'd be no sweat to make it through the challenge," said Leigh Ann, who limits her drinking to a couple glasses of wine on weekends. "It surprised me that it was more important to have that glass of wine than to meet the challenge."

Still, she gave $100 to the fund.

Her sister, ever competitive, said Howell's challenge made her proud of the church. She had no problem going 46 days without a drink, even at parties.

Two things surprised her: She found those not drinking at parties has more substantial conversations -- "we cut through the chit-chat" -- and she discovered two friends struggling with alcohol were in Alcoholics Anonymous.

"It created a neat sense of fellowship," she said.

And it's doing some good on many levels.

Downward facing dog for a good cause

2009-08-20T11:49:00.004-04:00

Giving comes in all forms.

For Karen Williams, it comes in forms of bodies twisting and stretching into exotic-sounding postures -- for good causes.

Williams owns Yoga For Life, a studio on Morehead Street (Mary Lou Buck is teaching a class there in photo above). Since March, she's held benefits there on the first and third Fridays to raise money for a different cash-strapped charity.

She calls the events "Yoga Matters," with participants paying as much as they can afford for a 75-minute class and a talk from a member of the particular organization that is being helped. Williams donates the space. Teachers donate their time -- all the proceeds go to the charity.

The next benefit is Friday at 6 p.m. Yoga for Life has two studios, and there'll be two teachers for beginning and intermediate students.

"It's important in the yoga community that we give back," she said. "What I love about 'Yoga Matters' is that it gives back on so many different levels. It gives back to the students. It gives back to the community and to the organizations that are so financially challenged in this economy."

Friday's benefit is for Circle de Luz, the organization that helps young Latinos in Charlotte through extensive mentoring, programming and scholarship funds for education. Previous recipients include: Seigle Avenue Partners, Catawba Lands Conservancy, the humane society, Jacob's Ladder and the Girl Scouts.

Some students have written checks for $50, others have dropped a couple of bucks into the donation basket.

Didn't matter to Williams -- every little bit helps.

If you want to get in a good stretch, and help struggling charities stretch their resources, head to Yoga for Life on Friday at 6 p.m. They're at 1410 W. Morehead St.

A day to celebrate Alec and his dad

2009-08-19T15:12:00.006-04:00

Bill and Karen Ellis married in 2002. Karen had a son, Alec, who Bill instantly fell in love with. He was adamant that Alec become an Ellis -- the boy already called him "Dad" -- and the couple began the adoption process.

The next year, son Ray was born. But in 2004, when Alec was 7 and the adoption was dragging, doctors diagnosed Alec with leukemia. That began two years of difficult treatments at Blume Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Clinic at Charlotte's Presbyterian Hospital.

In 30 days, Alec (pictured above with mother Karen and brother Ray) was in remission. Treatments continued. On a day when he was to receive a huge dose of chemotherapy, a frustrated Bill called the adoption lawyer and told him to come to the clinic so he and Karen could sign papers and finally get the process in motion.

In November, 2004, Alec became an Ellis.

By early April, 2006, the worst of Alec's treatments were over. "We thought we might be able to return to a somewhat normal life," Karen said.

Two weeks later, on April 18, Bill collapsed and died.

He was the one who hung Christmas lights in the van to keep everyone's spirits raised, or thought up family outings to keep their mind off their troubles when Alec was in treatment.

"It was hard on all of us -- especially Alec," Karen said.

Alec is 12 now. Sunday was the 5th anniversary of his remission, the threshold where doctors consider him virtually free of cancer with less frequent blasts of chemo.

So Karen held a big celebration at Carrigan Farms in Mooresville, where there's a rock quarry and swimming hole. All of Alec's friends, relatives and a few of his caregivers at Blume came. Karen served a cake with a screen-printing of Alec's leukemia cells and a red circle around it with a big red slash. "Alec had asked his doctor for a photograph of his leukemia so he could throw darts at it," his mother said.

But the day wasn't just to celebrate Alec -- but Bill, too.

Karen asked all the guests not to bring gifts for Alec. "He doesn't need anything," she told them. Instead, she asked them to make donations in Bill's memory to the Blume Clinic.

"Bill thought a lot of everybody at that clinic," Karen said. "I do, too. They've been just amazing to Alec."

Monday, she'll deliver $1,500.

Anthony Adams holding grand lemonade event

2009-08-17T10:38:00.006-04:00

It's been a memorable summer for Anthony Adams.

He's the 7-year-old cancer survivor who has set up lemonade stands all over the region to raise money for research so other children will have a slimmer chance of getting the disease.

To date, Anthony (pictured above at one of his five lemonade stands) he's served up 22 gallons of lemonade, 20 dozen Rice Krispies treats, 10 dozen brownies and a like amount of cookies to raise $1,145.08 for his favorite charity, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

To boot, he's been served up a little fame, with stories in the newspaper, and on TV. People tend to know his story when they see his lemonade stand and have stopped by to buy a cup of lemonade and to thank him for his compassion.

Tuesday, Anthony's partnering with Persis-Nova Homes to put on his Grand Lemonade Stand Event at one of the company's developments, Stillwell Village on Babe Stillwell Road in the Birkdale community near Huntersville.

Persis-Nova is grilling up hamburgers and hot dogs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Anthony will be doing his thing.

Christine Plaisted of Persis sent out 1,500 invitations, among them all the real estate agents the company works with. It's the company's way of giving back, and everyone's invited -- though there's a limited supply of food and T shirts that Persis will give the first to support Anthony and his cause.

Anthony's carried on with his stand because "he doesn't think it's fair that kids get cancer," said Christie Adams, his mother and biggest cheerleader. "He also understands that he is helping make a difference by giving back."

Yet for all his giving, he's getting something back.

"He's delighted to be famous," his mother said.

So if you want to support Anthony one last time before school starts (he will be setting up a couple lemonade stands on weekends in the fall), head over to Stillwell Village. Directions to the event: Take I-77 north to exit 25 and turn left toward Birkdale. Turn left on Babe Stillwell Road (just past Blythe Landing) and Stillwell Village will be a half-mile on the right.

Now that school is days away, send The Cliff your favorite stories about life on the Lemonade Brigade circuit. What did you learn? What were your favorite moments? How much lemonade did you sell and how much money did you raise?

You may be famous, too.

Levines' generosity felt at Pat's Place

2009-08-12T16:40:00.012-04:00

A story in last Sunday's Observer told you about Pat's Place needing to urgently raise $100,000 to continue its service of providing a sanctuary for sexually abused children.

Because of funding cuts, the charity's fifth annual Barbecue and Bluejeans fundraiser next month is more crucial than ever to meet its demanding operating costs (the current budget is $425,000), executive director Anne Pfeiffer told the Observer.

Now The Leon Levine Foundation has performed another rescue mission -- donating $50,000 to Pat's Place.

"It's not a dream," Pfeiffer said today. "The $50,000 from the Levines will help ensure we exceed our goal. They're amazing."

Pat's Place still has a goal of raising $100,000 from the fundraiser.

As The Cliff reported in an earlier post, the foundation, established by Family Dollar Stores founder Leon Levine and wife Sandra (pictured above), has been on a giving spree lately.

Seems every time they hear of a nonprofit threatened by the current economic strife, they jump in with the foundation's substantial assets -- about $200 million -- to perform a rescue mission.

"The Levines have always been generous and tried to help," said Tom Lawrence, the foundation's vice president and spokesman. "But they understand that in today's unique and challenging economy, their philanthropy has become even more important.

"My sense is that they really enjoy it. The community has been very supportive of them and the business that Mr. Levine created. They recognize the importance of giving back and this is their chance -- at a time when it's really needed."

The Levines rescued Charlotte's Hope Haven -- the well-known addiction recovery program for the homeless -- with a $50,000 grant in April to help repair a leaky roof. In May, they donated $25,000 to the financially strapped Charlotte Symphony to cover its bills. In June, the foundation committed $1 million to help Teach for America put 225 college graduates in high-poverty Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools.

And last month, the foundation decided to advance Central Piedmont Community College the first $300,000 of a $2 million gift that it was supposed to begin paying in 2010. That decision came after Levine and foundation officials read that CPCC has been hit hard by rising enrollment and budget cuts.

Lawrence said that Leon Levine is intricately involved in deciding who gets his foundation's money. Levine retired as head of Family Dollar in 2003, and now at 72, is turning his foundation work into a second career.

He stays informed of the agencies that need help that the "foundation has partnered with in the past," Lawrence said. "The focus tends to be agencies that have we know have a strong impact on the community and that make a difference. In most cases, we know the folks involved, we know their impact.

"Mr. Levine really drives the process. He's involved in every level of the decision-making. He enjoys seeing the positive impact that his money brings; he does enjoy giving it away."

Now, it's Pat's Place and the children it helps feeling his generosity.

"We're not able to serve all the kids we need to serve because of financial constraints," Pfeiffer said. "Their grant gets us much closer to that goal. They are so generous and we couldn’t do what we do without them, as many other organizations couldn’t."

Sight-seeing turns into do-gooding

2009-08-12T11:21:00.005-04:00

John Nance didn't just want to show his relatives Charlotte, he wanted to pack some do-gooding into all the sight seeing.

Two weeks ago, he got a spur-of-the-moment call from his mother, Sue, in south Florida, informing him that she was bringing his two nephews, Matt Nance and Joey Raffel, and niece, Julie Nance, to Charlotte. They were coming the next day for the weekend.

Quickly, Nance transformed into tour director.

He has a counseling practice, and supervises counseling and chaplain interns at Presbyterian Hospital. One of his interns is Tayuanee Dewberry, executive director of Right Moves for Youth, the nonprofit that works to keep at-risk youth in school.

"I knew they have needs for school supplies," Nance said. "I wanted to take my guests on a trip through Charlotte that was purposeful and meaningful."

He decided they'd all (they're pictured above) ride the Lynx light rail from uptown toward Pineville, and he'd turn the trip into a charitable adventure. Knowing his nephews and niece had spending money, he asked them each to take $5 and buy as many school supplies as they could -- that ultimately they'd donate to Right Moves.

"They completely bought into it," he said.

At the rail's last stop, Nance turned them loose in an Office Max.

They bought penny folders, boxes of pencils, 10-cent paper refills and whatever else they could find on sale, going through check-out lines multiple times. All counted, the five left the store with 10 bags of more than $85 worth of school supplies that cost them $23.30.

"When we got home, they looked like trick-or-treaters rifling through their bags of candy," Nance said. "It took three of us to carry it all into Right Moves for Youth."

The outing was fitting for his family. Nance's parents were Methodist missionaries: "It was a continuation of what we usually do," he said. "I come from a family of caregivers."

Since then, his nephews and niece have called Nance to thank him for the visit. Each remarked that they found the school-supplies challenge a highlight of the trip.

"Anybody can do something like this," Nance said. "It may seem small, but the Right Moves for Youth folks were very appreciative. They told us, 'you'd be surprised, but many kids go to school with nothing.' So every little thing helps.

"Our family, like most families, has been struggling in this economy. But even in our struggles, we can still reach out."

Beer games to help fight breast cancer

2009-08-11T16:01:00.006-04:00

Angela Mirarchi's feels extraordinarily blessed by her family's good health. No one has cancer, or any other catastrophic illness.

She wants to celebrate that good fortune by walking 39 miles in two days -- to help those who aren't so lucky.

On Oct. 24, the 29-year-old Charlotte banker is going to walk a marathon (26 miles, 385 yards) and a half-marathon the next day, all to raise money for the Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade.

The crusade provides for screening, support and treatment for medically under-insured women and men. Charlotte's Avon Walk is one of several across the country.

"I feel intensely lucky that my family has incredible health," Mirarchi said. "And I thought there's got to be some way to give back for my good health -- to help others."

It will be her second Avon Walk. Her entry fee: $1,800.

That's where her friend Nicky Green comes in.

Green is a purveyor of fun. To raise Mirarchi's admission, she's organized "Save Second Base -- the Sequel" on Aug. 22, an afternoon of beer games and parties at three uptown Charlotte bars. She's calling for 20 teams of four (ponying up $65 per team) and as many supporters as the government-regulated maximum occupancy will allow to make a donation at the door for beer specials and a chance to help the cause.

Doors open at 2 p.m.; games begin at 3.

It all starts at Connolly's on Fifth, 115 E. 5th St., where teams will compete in Beer Pong (bouncing ping pong balls in cups of beer) and "corn hole" (tossing bean bags through holes) and then move up the street to Buckhead Saloon, 201 E. 5th. There the teams will play Flip Cup, a game that involves grown people trying flick a plastic cup 180 degrees. The awards and post-games party will be at 7 p.m., at Howl at the Moon, 210 E. Trade St.

"We wanted to get all of Angela's fundraising done in one night," Green said. "It's all fun, but we're making sure everyone knows it's for a good cause -- it's a win-win for everyone."

Mirarchi has always active and likes playing sports like volleyball, but was never a walker. Green told her not to worry about raising her entry fee -- just walk.

"So I've been walking, walking and walking some more," Mirarchi said. "Walking last year's Avon was completely exhausting, but one of the most exhilarating and fulfilling things I've ever done.

"Once I got done, I decided then that there's no way I'm not going to do it again. I felt very special to be a part of it."

'Lunch and Learns' help unemployed

2009-08-11T08:53:00.004-04:00

Being out of work can wear on the psyche.

The Rev. Elizabeth Hyland knows that. In April 2008, she was laid off as chaplain at Lake Norman Regional Medical Center in Mooresvile, and hasn't worked since.

So she started volunteering for the Charlotte Presbytery's community disaster relief resource team.

Hyland classifies the tens of thousands laid off in Charlotte as economic and human disasters. In an effort to help, she's been organizing "Lunch and Learn for the Unemployed," a series of free lunches for those out of work or underemployed to learn coping skills -- and to keep a grip on hope.

The next lunch is Wednesday at Kannapolis's First Presbyterian Church, 210 Vance St., from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Lunch -- with door prizes -- and the program of three speakers is free, paid by the Presbytery.

The two previous "Lunch and Learns" were well-attended. The gathered did learn about coping and holding onto hope. But perhaps the best lesson: The realization that they're not alone.

"Some people had been out of work so long they were depressed, and didn't think anything could help," Hyland said. "But many said they left with a renewed sense of hope and encouragement -- not feeling quite so alone."

Some of the other speakers, too, have experienced the "anger, shame, fear and guilt" of unemployment, Hyland said.

"We all come out of personal experiences to do this speaking," she said.

The lunch in May drew about 65 people; 90 showed up to a second on July 31. One man attended both and is registered for Wednesday's, Hyland said.

"It's sad that so many folks are having to attend," said Debbie Wilkinson, who heads registration for the lunches for the Presbytery. "Some of these people have been out of work for two years and feel like they're at the end of hope.

"But we see them leave empowered and energized."

The speakers Wednesday will be Hyland, job/life coach Jeannie Fennel, and Brant Piper of Presbyterian Samaritan Counseling.

Hyland said the lunches have been so successful they want to do more -- at least two more before year's end. They'd like to do others, but the Presbytery can't afford them. "They have budget constraints, too," she said.

So if you'd like to sponsor a lunch and door prizes to help good people get back on their feet, call Hyland at 980-622-5780.

Meanwhile, if you'd like to attend Wednesday's lunch in Kannapolis call Wilkinson at 704-535-9999, ext. 213. Or show up at the door at 10:15 a.m. and register there.

You might leave a new person.

Boys organize talent for good causes

2009-08-10T11:25:00.005-04:00

The next time you think the current generation of teenagers is lazy and self-consumed by clothes and Facebook chats, please remember the trio of Sam Markiewitz, Emory Walls and Carson Mattachini.

They are 13 and live in the same Grey Gate neighborhood in Matthews.

For four years, long before the current budget crisis facing charities, they've spent part of their summers producing a neighborhood talent show to raise money for a cause.

Their first show raised money for an organization that buys better helmets for the troops serving in war zones. The last three they've made personal, raising funds for Multiple Sclerosis (Sam's uncle has MS; Emory knows someone with the disease) and juvenile diabetes (they all know schoolmates with the disorder).

And last month's show honored neighbor Sue Falco, a 39-year-old survivor of colon cancer.

"She's a nice lady and our friend, and she's trying to raise awareness of colon cancer, so we wanted to help her," said Sam, who lives two doors up from the Falcos.

To drum up interest for their show, they put together a flier with facts about colon cancer. They lined up the talent among friends in the neighborhood and at South Charlotte Middle School, where they go to school.

Fifteen acts (the cast is pictured above) showed up for the June 27 show at the Quill Lane cul-de-sac: Rappers, dancers and musical acts of singing and guitar, violin and trombone and saxophone playing. They got items donated to raffle off and sold concessions. Admission was a minimum $5 donation. Some gave up to $100.

"It was fun, and we could give back to the community at the same time," Emory said.

In the end, they raised $1,100 -- the money will go to the local Colon Cancer Coalition and efforts to bring a "Get Your Rear in Gear" 5K race to Charlotte to raise awareness that Falco is helping organize for next spring.

To date, the boys have raised more than $5,000 from all four shows.

"These three teenagers are just exceptional young men," Falco said. "They didn't just throw together a talent show, but they worked very hard to learn about colon cancer. Their flier had facts and figures about colon cancer to educate the neighbors and everyone they invited.

"They're raising awareness as much as they raised funds."

In full disclosure, Sam and Emory said when the boys started thinking about putting on a talent show, they'd planned to keep the money for themselves.

Parents intervened, as parents often do, and suggested the money go to a cause.

"We thought it was a good idea," Sam said. "I don't think if we did it for ourselves that as many people would have come. This was a better deed, and it made our show more meaningful."

Emory agreed: "We don't need the money. Other people have real problems that are life-threatening. So they need the money, instead of us just wanting it for stuff we don't need."

Student sparking dreams with book drive

2009-08-06T12:19:00.006-04:00

It doesn't take long to realize that Brandon Smith is a upstanding teenager with a big heart and talent for math and science.

He'll be a senior at South Mecklenburg High, and though he's pondering a career in engineering, he's loved books since he was a toddler listening to his parents read stories that carried him beyond Charlotte.

He wants that for every kid, no matter their condition.

So he's spent the summer orchestrating a drive to collect as many books (K-5 grade levels) as he can to donate to two dozen Teach for America teachers who'll be presiding over classes at high poverty Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools during the approaching school year.

Last count, he's stacked and boxed about 1,500 books in his family's dining room.

In case you're wondering, this is not some community service project to satisfy a school requirement -- his school has no such requirement. Brandon's doing it because he believes every child ought to have the same opportunities no matter where they go to school.

And books, he said, can spark a dream.

"I love that you can get lost in books, and that they can take you other places," Brandon, 17, said. "They open up the imagination; they're just fun."

Teach for America teachers are recent college graduates who commit to two years in classrooms at urban or rural high-poverty schools. "I looked at the program and loved what it is doing," he said. "Since they weren't necessarily planning to teach, they have a need for books."

Brandon (pictured above) has seen the disparity in resources from school to school. He went to Huntingtowne Farms Elementary, a high-poverty school (at least three-fourths of students get lunch aid) where his mother works as a teacher's assistant, and then moved to Carmel Middle School.

"The biggest thing I noticed was that while the teachers at both schools were so great, the resources readily available were different," he said. "I want to see kids at high-poverty schools get the same education and the same resources as a school like Carmel.

"I felt I could put books in the hands of teachers who can put them in the hands of students who need them the most."

He said he gets this yearn to give back from his parents and his church, First Baptist uptown. With the church, he's gone on mission trips to New York and Chicago to help with back-yard bible schools in slums. And to New Orleans last year to aid the rebuilding effort.

He's also fully aware that he comes from a comfortable, supportive family and doesn't have to worry about his next meal, or bullets flying through his neighborhood.

Brandon started planning his drive in May, when school was still in, and collected a couple hundred from classmates. Then he made a pitch to his church and neighborhood association in south Charlotte.

Some offered up donations, and Brandon approached bookstore owners to buy books at a discount. He and his family and friends have gone through each book to make sure they're in good shape and "appropriate." They've begun to sort them by grade. He hopes to parcel out the books to teacher before school starts, but will continue collecting probably through September.

"I was taught to go out and make a difference however I can, and to give back to the community whenever I can," Brandon said. "I can't change the world, but I can do this one thing that might spark an idea in a child."

If you've been meaning to find a good spot for that box of books gathering dust in the attic, give Brandon a call at 704-608-6797. He'll put them in the proper hands -- and minds.

Story behind Marine Mud Challenge

2009-08-05T14:39:00.007-04:00

For Aaron Harper, raising money to help families of wounded Marines and sailors is near and dear.

Nineteen years ago, he was one of them, a young Marine injured when an Iraqi rocket blew up near him just as Operation Desert Storm, the first war with Iraq, was beginning to unfold.

In his haste to grab his gear and seek cover, Harper ruptured a disc in his spine that unleashed a degenerative condition requiring 12 surgeries on his back. During those surgeries, his mother and sister wanted to help, and made visits from upstate New York to the hospital at Camp LeJeune.

"It was very expensive for them to come down," he said. At 23 in 1993, the Marines granted him a medical retirement.

That is why he helped organize the Marine Corps Coordinating Council of Greater Charlotte, a group that hosts fundraising events for organizations that help families of the wounded and injured.

Last Saturday, they put on their third annual Marine Mud Challenge (see photo above, courtesy of Treasured Events of Charlotte), a 5.5-mile obstacle course with mud pits that gave participants a glimpse of what it's like to train as a Marine.

More than 500 paid $25 each to run the course, all but 10 percent civilians. You may have seen photos of the event in this space earlier this week. The runners, in teams of four, were mostly from the Charlotte region, but some came from as far away as New Jersey. The event is patterned after a similar mud challenge at Camp Pendleton in California.

It was held at Belmont Abbey College, much of it along Brother Paul's cross-country trail. The runners were told there were 30 obstacles, but there were really 36. "We wanted to show the runners a little of what it's like to train as a Marine," Harper said. "They're always throwing in more obstacles than advertised."

The course included two mud pits, including one 700 feet long. Yet because of the rains last week, Brother Paul's trail had turned to mud.

The 500 runners were down from 600 last year.

"Probably because of the obstacles we added this year," Harper said. The council brought in Marines to "yell at -- I mean motivate -- the runners. They chewed on them."

But they still took in about $30,000. After bills are paid, they'll be sending nonprofits here and in the Camp LeJeune area about $24,000 to help families of wounded warriors. Some of the money will be kept locally for former Marines struggling financially.

"When a Marine or sailor is convalescing, they can't leave to go to their families," Harper said. "The families have to go to them. Some can't afford it and can't go. So this money goes for a real good cause."

Calendar raising funds for AIDS orphans

2009-08-05T11:10:00.008-04:00

So you think your little girl is as sweet as a strawberry parfait. Or your son bears an uncanny resemblance to Elvis.

Now you can show it to everyone -- and do some good.

Child and maternity photographer Mimika Cooney wants to put them on a calendar to raise money for Mothering Across Continents, the Charlotte charity that finds local ways to help South African children orphaned by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Cooney's calling her calendar project "Tasty Treats & Movie Stars." There's a reason she's raising money for MAC. She's a mother and grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa and has seen first-hand children made motherless by the disease.

"Since I am a mother I know how important that role is in a child's life," she said. "My heart's always been with babies and children. There are so many children with huge needs in South Africa. I believe we can help one child at a time.

"I was very excited to find a local charity like Mothering Across Continents trying to do something about it."

Cooney began her calendar casting call Tuesday, and received 22 applications. The call will go through Aug. 15.

Here's how it will work: You can apply to have your baby or child photographed for the 2010 calendar, babies newborn to 15 months as "Tasty Treats" like a banana split or strawberry parfait, and children 18 months to 7 years as movie stars like Audrey Hepburn or Brando. The costumes are provided at Cooney's studio at Photo Lyrical Photography in Waxhaw.

Photo sessions will take place during the first two weeks of September. Cooney is intentionally being flexible with newborns, and will take them if they're due by Sept. 30.

If your application is accepted, the photo session will cost $100, every dime of it going to Mothering Across Continents. As a thanks, you'll get an 8-by-10 glossy of your choosing from the session. Photo Lyrical will select 30 for an online vote to be on the calendar. The top 10 vote-getters will assuredly claim a spot. Eight more will be chosen to fill out an 18-month calendar.

Cooney will print up 1,000 calendars that will sell $10 each, every dime of that also turned over to Mothering likely next January.

It's a fun way to raise money for an important global effort. And who knows: Maybe your son will be the next Brando.

To apply go here, or call Photo Lyrical Photography at 888-344-0894.

On collaborating and human services

2009-08-04T14:38:00.005-04:00

If nothing else, representatives from five elected bodies in Mecklenburg County agreed on one thing today when it comes to delivering health and human services: They're all interconnected and need to collaborate more if we're to dig out of this charity crisis.

Officials from the county commission, Charlotte City Council, Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board and the mayors of two towns, met over lunch today to begin the conversation about building a battle plan to help attack growing social needs such as homelessness and health care.

The conversation was called last month by commission Chairman Jennifer Roberts after some of Charlotte-Mecklenburg's top leaders declared a need for a coordinated plan to help fill gaps created by the city's banking crisis and funding cuts for nonprofits at a time of growing demands.

Her co-host was commissioner Dan Murrey, chair of that board's health and community services committee. In addition to the elected officials, representatives from foundations and nonprofits joined the round-table-like discussion.

Roberts and Murrey liked what they heard.

Much of the talk focused on not jumping to solutions, but taking time to collect data on what might work. That process would include hearing ideas from ordinary residents, looking at plans created by other cities, and perhaps dusting off local research already compiled but sitting on shelves somewhere.

Some elected officials suggested centralizing organizations to cut down on duplication. But mostly the message was: coordinate a plan that doesn't require more money -- even after the crisis is over.

"We all recognize that ... that elected officials in our cities and towns don't work in a vacuum," Roberts said. "We each have fewer resources. What we must figure out is how are we going to leverage what we each have and how are we going to find out the best practices that work?"

Murrey declared the group in fact-finding mode that could take months. He said today's larger group will break down into smaller conversations and share information.

"We recognize that it's critical for us to buy into an active engagement with these other elected bodies if we're going to accomplish what's best for the community," he said. " ... This is a long-term process, not a short-term negotiation.

"But we had to do something to get the conversation going. Now we've got to keep it going."

That's the hard part.

Levine foundation on a giving spree

2009-08-04T10:03:00.003-04:00

The Leon Levine Foundation has been on a giving spree this summer.

The latest recipients, announced late last week, are the Charlotte Mecklenburg Senior Centers, Inc. (a $10,000 grant), the Salvation Army's Boys and Girls Clubs (a $15,000 grant) and HealthQuest of Union County ($10,000), the non-profit that provides pharmaceutical assistance to low-income residents in that county.

In recent months, the foundation established by Family Dollar Stores founder Leon Levine and his wife Sandra has made it a habit of rescuing non-profit organizations strapped for money and swamped with growing needs.

A sampling: In April, the foundation gave $50,000 to Charlotte's Hope Haven -- the well-known addiction recovery program for the homeless -- to help repair a leaking roof. In May, it donated $25,000 to the financially strapped Charlotte Symphony to cover its bills. In June, the foundation committed $1 million to help Teach for America put 225 college graduates in high-poverty Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools.

And last month, the Levine family decided to advance Central Piedmont Community College the first $300,000 of a $2 million gift that it was supposed to begin paying in 2010. The decision came after Levine and foundation officials read that CPCC has been hit hard by rising enrollments and cut budgets.

The first installment will provide for 150 more classes and serve 3,000 more students who would have been turned away. Lately, the school has drawn more students who can't afford four-year colleges and the laid-off in need of training for new careers.

Brave souls get muddy for Marines

2009-08-03T19:38:00.002-04:00

More than 500 people participated in Saturday's Marine Mud Challenge at Belmont Abbey College. The race raised $20,000 for the families of injured Marines and sailors and the families of local Marines. (photo by Treasured Events of Charlotte)

Lemonade stand becomes the charity

2009-08-03T11:35:00.004-04:00

Here's a twist to the Lemonade Brigade: Wendy Roberts and friends (see above photo) from St. Mark's Lutheran Church turned their stand last Thursday into the charity.

Instead of selling lemonade to raise money for a charity, they gave it away -- to Charlotte's homeless.

All summer, Roberts has been coordinating "Servant Sundays," an effort to show the church's children that many other people are living lives much different from their own. They've stuffed book bags with comfort items for foster children, they've assembled toiletry kits for the rescue mission.

And in July, they helped launch "The Wall" mission that feeds the homeless Sunday afternoons at a wall where many homeless people congregate uptown. Congregants donate $1 each Sunday to pay for the food. They cook it in the church kitchen and serve it at The Wall to whomever needs a hot meal.

"We thought everyone can give up a cup of coffee a week and give a dollar," said Eric Timm, the church member who started The Wall ministry. "We felt that if you look at homelessness, you can't solve the problem, it's too great. But you can scale it down and make a difference in someone's life."

Roberts had been reading about the Lemonade Brigade in The Cliff and wanted to incorporate the idea into her mission.

She decided that rounding up children on a Sunday afternoon for an hour to sell lemonade for a charity was too difficult, so she asked a couple of friends to help her make and serve lemonade at The Wall.

In no time, three generations of volunteers -- children to grandmothers -- stepped up to help.

They went last Thursday about 11:15 a.m. In just over an hour, they served 125 people nearly 10 gallons of lemonade, 14 dozen cookies, 50 Popsicles and about 25 Klondike bars.

"We are striving hard to expose our children to the reality of life's struggles and to instill in them a caring and compassionate spirit of servanthood," Roberts said, whose 6-year-old son, Jace, helped with the lemonade stand. "Many of our children are so sheltered they don't realize what other kids are going through. We're trying to open their eyes."

There's nothing complex about her idea. Anybody can do it. Roberts would be the first to tell you.

"You just have to take the first step and do it," she said. "Certainly some of the things we've done seem like a drop in the bucket. But remember, the simplest thing -- sharing a smile, a kind word -- can change someone's day. The little things can mean the world to someone else.

"Don't go out there with the attitude that you're going to fix the problem with a glass of lemonade. But, at least for one day, that glass may have made a difference in those people's lives."

Serving it apparently made a difference for some of the young volunteers. Back at the church that afternoon, a 14-year-old girl told Roberts the lemonade stand was "one of the best experiences of my life."

They're already thinking about setting up a soup and hot chocolate stand at The Wall next winter.

Summer camp haven for HIV+ teens

2009-07-31T06:54:00.001-04:00

Overnight summer camps are a rite of passage. They give teens a chance to be away from their family for more than a one-night sleepover. They get to experience things such as canoeing, hiking and making s'mores.

Teens living with HIV disease rarely experience residential summer camp, but the Safe Haven Project is changing that for Charlotte area youth. The camp is Aug. 9-16 at Lutheridge Camp Grounds & Conference Center in Arden. In its second year, the camp has doubled with 40 teens, most of who are from here.

Teenagers have incredible challenges and ones with living with HIV have an even harder time, said Jermaine Nakia Lee, N.C. camp director.

These teens can’t say their stomach hurts because of medication. Their teachers and classmates don’t understand why they have to keep leaving to use the bathroom or why they have visible rashes.

"This camp gives them solace," he said.

Safe Haven started in Martha’s Vineyard, and opened an N.C. location last year. It’s for teens, ages 13- 18, who are infected or whose parents are infected with HIV.

At the camp, teens do the typical stuff. Lee has a background in performing arts, and he incorporates that into the activities at the N.C. location. Campers will participate in a talent show, and they will participate in a body image project. They will have a professional photo shoot with a photographer and stylist so they can see their beauty, Lee said.

Boys & Girls Clubs gets $110,000

2009-07-30T17:02:00.007-04:00

Charlotte's charitable heart shined brightly this week.

On Tuesday, I ran a story wrote about H. Keith Brunnemer Jr., who donated $75,000 to the Mental Health Association.

And I wrote about the anonymous donor who left $650 in the book drop at South County Regional library to buy children's books.

Well, the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs has big news as well. An anonymous donor quietly turned a matching $100,000 grant into a full-fledged gift this week.

Reporter Mark Price wrote about the $100,000 challenge grant to the Boys & Girls Clubs in his Saturday story about the organization's shortfall. The Boys & Girls Club lost $310,000 in United Way money. A donor gave the organization a challenge grant to encourage the community to chip in the remaining $210,000.

After reading Price's story, the donor decided to give the Boys & Girl's Clubs the money outright.

It was an incredible gift, but the organization still needs $210,000 to prevent closing two clubs and displacing hundreds of school-age kids. This week, the Boys & Girls Clubs started its official campaign to raise the remainder of the money by Sept. 10. Today, they received a $10,000 donation.

Marty Clary, executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs, has reason to feel hopeful. In three days the organization received a third of the money it needs.

"We’re going to make it," he said. "We’ve got to. We’ve got over 400 kids. They’re counting on us."

The week's examples of giving offers hope to the organizations that received the money as well as those who are still hoping someone with a fat wallet and big heart will help them.

"The real value was not the amount, but the example that you don't have to solve the whole problem," said Beverly Howard, executive director of Loaves and Fishes. "You can have many pieces to solve the problem."

Social media crash course for non-profits

2009-07-30T12:38:00.004-04:00

If you have a non-profit and you’re clueless about using social media tools then NPower’s upcoming summit is for you.

NPower is a national organization that helps charities and non-profits better use technology to achieve their goals, raise awareness and generate donations. On August 12, NPower’s Charlotte affiliate will host Strike Up an Online Conversation. The two-hour workshop will discuss how social networking can improve visibility and communication with the public.

"These are tools we believe can help organizations in a very economical way to reach out and find new volunteers, new donors and to build awareness," said Chris Meade, executive director of NPower for the Charlotte region.

The workshop is part of NPower’s Project Ignite campaign, which is a three-year program that specializes in providing information technology services to non-profit organizations. The Project consists of forums, community group collaborations and financial assistance to help groups enhance their IT structure.

NPower has already helped more than 60 organizations in the area, including private school PTAs, the Light Factory and Duke Endowment, Meade said. Project Ignite’s objective is to help non-profits use more current Web-based technology and become technological leaders.

Typically, non-profits are the last to embrace current technology, he said.
Project Ignite hopes to change that.

Strike Up an Online Conversation, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Aug. 12. Microsoft Campus, 8055 Microsoft Way, Charlotte.
To register for the workshop or get information about receiving services from NPower go to: www.npowercharlotteregion.org

Crop Hunger Walk needs $14,000

2009-07-29T14:33:00.011-04:00

With barely two months to go, organizers of the annual Crop Hunger Walk need an additional $14,000 to host the popular fundraiser.

This year's Crop Walk is Oct. 4 and begins near Memorial Stadium. Organizers expect about 6,000 participants. Last year, it drew more than 5,000 for the 90-minute walk.
In 30 years, the event has raised nearly $6 million, the most nationally. Nearly $1.5 million went to local charities.

The event's success is heartening, but it takes money to pay for the personnel, including police officers, and other logistics that make Crop Walk possible. Organizers rely on corporate donors to cover the $25,000 cost of hosting Crop Walk. So far, the organization has raised $11,000, said Anne Shoaf, interim Crop Walk chair. The suggested minimum corporate donation is $1,000.

During a sponsor appreciation luncheon on Wednesday, Shoaf, city council member Nancy Carter and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools superintendent Peter Gorman, Crop Walk co-chair, emphasized the community needs.

Locally Crop Walk benefits Loaves & Fishes, Second Harvest Food Bank and Crisis Assistance Ministry. Loaves & Fishes served 84,000 people last year. This year, it may help 100,000. It has 18 pantries, two of which opened in the last 13 months. The agency may open another one this year. Last year, the group raised $227,361, and it hopes to raise $250,000 this year.

Crisis Assistance Ministry, which helps with rent and utilities, had a record 299 people in line one morning last week.

Second Harvest Food Bank provides meals for clients of more than 200 local non-profits.

The money raised during Crop Walk will help these agencies and others around the world. Families, friends, schools and other pockets of people will form teams to unite for the walk on Oct. 4. That's great, but the walk also needs more local businesses and corporations to chip in as well.

Plus, big money donors get their company name and possibly logo on the coveted Crop Walk T-shirt.

We all love T-shirts.

Ronald McDonald House needs friends

2009-07-29T08:00:00.005-04:00

The Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte wants to be your friend – on Facebook and Twitter.

The non-profit is ramping up its social media campaign to educate volunteers and donors, and raise more money. The organization is trying to recruit 1,000 fans and followers by December 31. Signing up 1,000 people on Facebook allows the organization to get the web address www.facebook.com/rmhofcharlotte.

The Charlotte location is scheduled to open in 2010 on East Morehead Street. Groundbreaking is scheduled to begin in the next three months. The Charlotte location will serve families of children being treated at Carolinas Medical Center's Levine Children's Hospital and Presbyterian Healthcare's Hemby Children's Hospital. It will have about 30 bedrooms, a family kitchen, great room, learning center, playground and porch.

Ari Harris, community outreach director for RMH of Charlotte, said Facebook and Twitter make it easier to tell volunteers and donors about the house's progress and upcoming activities.

"This way we are able to very quickly and very effectively keep up with how the house is going," she said.

They currently have 198 Facebook friends and 16 Twitter followers. The Facebook page features photos from the organization's recent fundraiser, a tennis tournament at Blakeney Racquet Club.

Feel good about eating

2009-07-28T17:00:00.000-04:00

Jolina's, Zen and Tavern on Park are among the 11 local restaurants partnering with Center City YMCA branches during next week's Eat Well – Do Good. Starting Monday, specific restaurants will donate 25 to 50 percent of money from that day's sales to YMCA Community Outreach. The event ends August 8. Click here for schedule.

24 Hours of Booty expanding to Atlanta

2009-07-28T11:36:00.004-04:00

The popular fundraiser 24 Hours of Booty is nearing the $1 million mark this year, and it's expanding to Atlanta.

Last weekend's event at the Booty Loop in Myers Park, raised more than $875,000 to fight cancer.

"We had a fantastic event this year and are thrilled about these preliminary numbers. We are closing in at breaking the $1 million mark as donations continue to come in for both the Charlotte and Columbia [Md.] events," said Basil Lyberg, executive director of 24 Hours of Booty, in a press statement.

The Charlotte event drew 1,200 riders from 24 states July 24-25. Celebrity carpenter Brandon Russell of TLC's "Trading Spaces" and Sir Purr of the Carolina Panthers were the official event starters.

Along with holding the event in my hometown of Columbia, MD, Sept. 26-27, the organization plans to expand to Atlanta next year. Atlanta takes the popular fundraiser to a city rich with cultural and nightlife options. Plus, it's home to so many celebrities.

It's going to be crazy.

Donor gives $75,000 to Mental Health Association

2009-07-27T16:37:00.006-04:00

A retired businessman donated $75,000 to the Mental Health Association – the largest donation the group has ever received from an individual -- after reading a recent Charlotte Mission Possible article in the Observer.

H. Keith Brunnemer Jr. donated the money on Monday after meeting with MHA executive director Ellis Fields. The organization's United Way funds were cut by $115,319.

Brunnemer's donation also was the one of the largest to any organization as a result of the Mission Possible collaboration.

Before handing over the check, he talked about his own battles with anxiety disorder and his desire to do more for the community than simply serve on boards.

"I have a spot in my heart for the field," he said. "I decided at my age it was time to start giving something back. This article hit me at a time where I thought now is the time to start."

The donation enables the Mental Health Association to reevaluate its budget, and hopefully reinstate some employees to full-time hours, Fields said. The organization promotes mental wellness, and especially focuses on suicide prevention.

Library thanks anonymous donor

2009-07-27T13:58:00.006-04:00

Emptying the book drop at the library usually yields books and other materials. But the staff at the South County Regional library recently found a treat.

They discovered $650 cash with a note that read "Please use this money to buy books for children."

The library found the money in March, but the staff has been too slammed handling the ramifications from the $3.6 million budget cut to say thanks.

"It was a remarkable gift given in the true spirit of giving," said PLCMC director of development Dick Pahle.

If you are interested in donating to the library, checks can be mailed to Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County, 310 N. Tryon St., Charlotte, N.C. 28202. Contributions are also accepted on the library's Web site under the "About Us" tab.

Agency, hit by cuts, works to prevent suicides

2009-07-23T11:13:00.008-04:00

Call it a difficult sign of the times, a glimpse at how non-profits are dealing with budget cuts.

After its United Way funds were cut by $115,319, or 40 percent, the Mental Health Association of Central Carolinas was forced -- as many non-profits facing steep funding cuts have -- to scale back on services.

The 76-year-old agency has cut full-time staffers from 40 to 32 hours a week. It canceled the cleaning company, and now staffers clean the office. In recent years, it has focused on five priorities: Children's mental health, suicide and violence prevention, housing for adults with severe and persistent mental illness, and the mental health of returning military veterans and their families, and immigrants.

All noble missions, but because of cuts, the agency is focusing primarily on providing suicide prevention training after an alarming spike recently in attempts or threats -- the impact in large part of job and home loss, and frets over paying bills.

Ellis Fields, the association's executive director, and Andrea Towner, its development director, say the struggling economy is creating the level of stress and depression they and others have rarely seen before.

The numbers provide proof:

The first 18 days of last April, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police responded to 81 suicide attempts or threats, a 55 percent increase over the same period last year. Last year, a risk behavior study of CMS middle and high schoolers showed that high school students admitted to attempting suicide at nearly twice the rate of high school students nationally.

The World Health Organization is warning that suicide rates will increase as the economy stagnates or worsens.

"All that made us step up our efforts to prevent suicides," Towner said. "We got all our staff trained in suicide prevention and sent them out to train groups to recognize the warning signs. We're certainly concerned that the current economy is increasing stress and depression, and will continue to increase attempts and completions."

In June, at the request of Mecklenburg County, the agency began training county employees across all departments in suicide prevention. They got to 100 employees. They plan to do more training in August.

"It's an under-reported problem and it's not going away," Towner said. "We want to bring it to the forefront so that more people can be saved."