CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Tuesday marks a very unique date. Tuesday is 2/22/2022!
WCNC Charlotte is celebrating TwosDay by highlighting nonprofits in the Charlotte area that have recevied more than $2,000 in grant money from WCNC Charlotte and the TEGNA Foundation. We're asking you to give too. Donate $22 on TwosDay to any of the following:
The Academy of Goal Achievers
The Academy of Goal Achievers, a Charlotte-based nonprofit, has impacted the lives of over 500 local high school students by providing mentorship and programming for them to prepare them for life after high school.
The Academy of Goal Achievers helps students learn life skills they don't usually get in the classroom to help them get to that next level: college or a trade.
But they can't do it without your help. Can you volunteer as a career coach? Or do you work for a company that could offer job shadowing or an internship? You can also make a difference by donating money to help fund the program. WCNC Charlotte, the TEGNA Foundation, the Parham Family Charitable Fund and Steel Skin Realty will match up to the first $5,000.
Donations go to support programs to eliminate financial barriers, pay the tuition gap, pay for books and tutoring. A donation of $35 will support of tutoring session for a student.
SEE OUR COVERAGE: Charlotte mentorship program using well-rounded resources to help change students' mindsets
=== Our January 2022 spotlight ===
Scouting For Food
WCNC Charlotte teamed up with the Boy Scouts of America to help fight hunger in the community through the Scouting For Food drive.
Scouts collected donations in the following counties: Mecklenburg, York, Lancaster, Anson, Union, Cabarrus, Rowan and Stanly.
In the small town of Clover in York, South Carolina, donations benefited the Clover Area Assistance Center.
Karen Van Vierssen is the director of the Clover Area Assistance Center. Tax credits and extra benefits ended Dec. 31, 2021. Van Vierssen said they’re expecting more people will turn to them this month for help.
"People don’t want to ask for help, but reality is starting to hit," she said.
Scouting For Food helped fill their shelves with much-needed donations. The Clover Area Assistance Center provides food for approximately 180 households a month.
If you would like to donate money instead, make a difference by donating online to the Clover Area Assistance Center. WCNC Charlotte and the TEGNA Foundation will match up to the first $2,500 donated.
=== Our December 2021 spotlight ===
She Built This City
Nearly two million women have dropped out of the labor force amid the pandemic. How will they come back?
A nonprofit based in west Charlotte is trying to make a difference. It’s called She Built This City and was founded by Demi Knight Clark, a residential construction industry executive for over 20 years. They empower women and girls in the construction and manufacturing trades.
You can help by making a donation. $25 provides one youth experience in the explorer kids program to spark interest in construction and maker trades.
A $50 provides one youth with an opportunity to learn 3D printing, virtual reality and other 2030 technology pathways.
WCNC Charlotte and the TEGNA Foundation will match up to the first $2,000 donated.
SEE OUR COVERAGE: Nonprofit training women in construction: She Built This City
=== Our November 2021 spotlight ===
PATH, Inc.
PATH, Inc. is making a difference in York County by providing Thanksgiving meals to those in need this holiday. The non-profit needs to distribute a total of 125 boxes of food for Thanksgiving to families in western York County. But they need donations to help make that happen.
WCNC Charlotte and the TEGNA Foundation will match up to the first $2,000 donated.
SEE OUR COVERAGE: York County organization needs help feeding people in need
After Thanksgiving, the nonprofit starts working on distributing food boxes for Christmas. So no matter how much money you donate, it all goes back to the community.
=== Our October 2021 spotlight ===
Camino Health Center
Camino Health Center is a bilingual and multicultural health center located in west Charlotte that provides excellent and affordable integrated care to the underinsured and uninsured populations. Their mission is to equip people to live truly healthy lives.
At Camino, they believe nutrition is a key component to living a healthy lifestyle. Unfortunately, many people don’t have access to food, let alone meals rich in nutrients. It’s through their Food Pantry, called “The Food Farmacy”, that they help alleviate food insecurity in our community. A $25 donation will help feed one person for a week.
SEE OUR COVERAGE: How to help fight food insecurity in Charlotte
=== Our August and September 2021 spotlight ===
The month-long WCNC Charlotte Clear The Shelters event ended September 18 with a fantastic adoption day.
Making a difference in the Charlotte area, TEGNA Foundation and WCNC Charlotte donated a total of $11,000 to Clear The Shelters. Each shelter and rescue will receive $1,000. A total of $21,000 was raised and more than 240 pets were adopted.
SEE OUR COVERAGE: Animals find fur-ever homes on Clear The Shelters Day
There are a variety of shelters in our area that participated. The goal was to make a difference in the animal community to help them adopt out all of their animals and raise money to support their shelter.
=== Our June 2021 spotlight ===
Carolinas Metro Reds
Carolinas Metro Reds is a nonprofit in Charlotte that helps underserved youth play baseball. The Carolinas Metro Reds provides a diverse, family environment for underserved youth to develop their baseball, academic and life skills by way of high-level coaching, teaching and mentorship.
Baseball is a national pastime, a team sport that millions of youth have enjoyed and benefitted from for over a century. However, baseball is out of reach for many families in Charlotte as it is no longer affordable. Many families can't pay the team fees that provide access to baseball fields, equipment, and coaching. But through Carolinas Metro Reds, hundreds of youth are able to take the field.
A donation of $50 supports one player for a season with Carolinas Metro Reds.
WCNC Charlotte will match up to the first $2,000 donated to Carolinas Metro Reds.
Morris Madden, a former MLB left-handed pitcher, is the founder and President of the Carolinas Metro Reds. For years, Morris noticed a concerning lack of growth among young African-American players in baseball. Not nearly enough kids under the age of eighteen had the awareness or access to the game of baseball and he knew that he had to help. Shortly after his MLB playing career, he decided it was time to take an active role in being a part of the solution.
There are currently almost 200 players in the organization and additional funding will help additional undeserved players and families to participate in baseball, and also benefit from the life skills and education support provided.
In 2020, WCNC Charlotte and the TEGNA Foundation awarded Carolina Metro Reds a grant, which supported two entire teams for a season of baseball.
SEE OUR COVERAGE: Carolinas Metro Reds tees up west Charlotte kids for success
=== Our May 2021 spotlight ===
Esther's Heart
Help feed hungry children in the community. Esther's Heart Backpacks of Hope Program is in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Cabarrus County School Systems.
Esther's Heart receives applications ongoing throughout the school year and needs support from the community to make this happen continually. Backpacks of Hope provides meals for the entire weekend for the youth.
SEE OUR COVERAGE: Esther's Heart helps feed children across the Charlotte area
=== Our April 2021 spotlight ===
For The Struggle, Inc.
Help seniors stay in their homes by donating to For The Struggle, Inc, a nonprofit that focuses on advocating for homeowners at risk of losing their property to gentrification.
The Elder Response Initiative provides free services to seniors in historically and predominately black neighborhoods, primarily Charlotte's Beatties Ford Road corridor.
The initiative was created by For The Struggle, Inc. because Charlotte has experienced rapid gentrification that has heightened the risk of displacement, particularly on the corridor. The corridor has a large senior population at risk of displacement. As such, the initiative provides seniors with assistance obtaining critical home repairs; future planning (e.g. wills, powers of attorney); and property tax relief.
=== Our March Spotlight ===
Turning Point
One in four families we know is impacted by domestic violence. It’s a startling statistic. And because of the pandemic, victims are in isolation from their abusers.
Turning Point is a nonprofit in Monroe that is a safe shelter for women and children who have experienced domestic violence. They’re in need of financial donations.
SEE OUR COVERAGE: Monroe domestic violence shelter needs your donations
Make a difference and help those trapped in domestic violence. Donate now by texting the word MONROE to 50155 or you go online to donate.
=== Our February 2021 spotlight ===
Bountiful Blessings Food Pantry
WCNC Charlotte is teaming up with the United Way of Gaston County to make a difference for an organization in need.
Bountiful Blessings Food Pantry served about 300 people per week before COVID-19 hit. Now, volunteers are serving nearly 4,000 a week and need upgraded equipment to keep feeding the community.
SEE OUR COVERAGE: Make A Difference: Bountiful Blessings receives $10,000 donation from Junior League
Donations can be made online or you can text BOUNTIFUL to 71777.
Making a difference
With millions of people turning to charitable nonprofits since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, WCNC Charlotte is raising awareness of nonprofits in the Carolinas that are in desperate need of help. Additional funds are needed in an effort to continue to serve those who need it most.
Each month, WCNC Charlotte will share information about a nonprofit making a difference in the community. These nonprofits are all 501c3 verified through the IRS. If you are in a position to give, any donation amount can make an impact.