Want to get involved with another local charity that serves Charlotte children, too? As a community, we can make a difference and make the lives of those in need at least a little bit better this December, and beyond. We’ve rounded up a list of locally-based charities that focus on helping local children and their families in a variety of different ways. All of these organizations, and those they serve, greatly appreciate any donation of time or money. This holiday season, let’s do our parts to help build a stronger community and make Charlotte even better.
A Child’s Place
A Child’s Place is dedicated to erasing the impact of homelessness on children and the effect it has on their education. They do this by creating individualized plans designed to keep the student in school with healthy behavior, and to keep children up to date on classroom learning. They also work to provide food, school supplies, and other necessities. A Child’s Place helps homeless families by identifying and making referrals around employment, health issues, food, domestic violence, financial management, and housing to end the homeless crisis.
www.achildsplace.org
The Sandbox
This charity helps families of children with cancer to alter the lives of sick children by creating opportunities that build friendships, create lasting memories, produce joyful experiences, and restore hope. Their signature event is the Evening of Believing Prom, a prom for patients who would miss their own due to treatment or the eventual impact of their illness. You can donate money, a prom dress, or volunteer your time this holiday season.
gotsandbox.org
Right Moves for Youth
This non-profit organization works to reduce the occurrence of student dropouts in Mecklenburg County by providing resources and guidance to help students graduate high school with a plan in place for future success. Right Moves for Youth offers student support and youth development services through group mentoring and social-emotional support, which in turn contributes to an increase in graduation rates, decrease of delinquency, and promotion of civic engagement. Help out by donating money, gifts, or supplies.
rightmovesforyouth.org
Assistance League of Charlotte
The Assistance League is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and families through community-based philanthropic programs that feed, clothe, educate, and provide mentors for children. They have five philanthropic programs: Operation Check Hunger, Operation School Bell, Mecklenburg County Teen Court, Assistance League of Charlotte Scholarship Fund, and Assistance League Outreach. Support the cause by shopping at their thrift shop located at 3405 S. Tryon St., all proceeds go to their philanthropic programs.
charlotte.assistanceleague.org
OurBRIDGE for Kids
ourBRIDGE supports refugee and immigrant communities by offering an enrichment program for newly arrived and first-generation children. They strive to foster a sense of diversity, integration peace, respect, and love for all cultures and beliefs in our community. You can donate or sponsor students, field trips, literacy classes, and community activities.
www.joinourbridge.org
The Mitchell’s Fund
Meg McElwain and Frank Turner founded the Mitchell’s Fund after the loss of their two-year old son, to support the social needs of families with children suffering from pediatric illnesses. All contributions to the fund help pay for living expenses, counseling services, and travel for families of very sick children in the hopes of alleviating some of the financial stress so parents can focus on caring for and being with their child.
mitchellsfund.org
Freedom School Partners
Freedom School Partners is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting the long-term success of children by preventing summer learning loss by igniting a passion for reading and a love of learning. They serve families and children who don’t have access to quality summer enrichment opportunities, and instead, provide them with the three resources necessary to develop their potential: literacy skills, character strengths, and a strong community. They welcome money donations and volunteers.
freedomschoolpartners.org
Ada Jenkins Center
The Ada Jenkins Center helps the community by empowering citizens to break the cycle of poverty and gain economic independence through the integration of health, education, and human services. The center has become a resource hub for the Mecklenburg and Iredell counties, as well as a respected model for community centers in the region. You can help by making a monetary donation or volunteering.
adajenkins.org
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Carolinas
Big Brothers Big Sisters has served more than 1,500 children in Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, and York counties since 1972 through traditional community and school based mentoring and programs that pair adult volunteers with local children to create meaningful one-to-one relationships. Through the program, children are much more likely to gain higher aspirations, educational success, greater confidence, and build better relationships.
bbbscentralcarolinas.org
Levine Children’s Hospital
This hospital is part of the Carolinas HealthCare System and delivers complex, leading-edge treatments for children in need. They have a dedicated team of pediatricians, pediatric specialists, child life specialists, and specially trained nurses to care for every child’s health needs. You can help by volunteering, donating, or joining one of their councils.
carolinashealthcare.org
Cam Newton Foundation
The Cam Newton Foundation enhances the lives of the young by addressing their socio economic, educational, physical, and emotional needs. The foundation creates and supports programs and events that align with their three focus areas: Every1 Learns, Every1 Plays, and Every1 Gives. Through the foundation’s work, they encourage youth activity and health, youth education, and academic support, as well as foster community involvement.
cam1newton.com
Communities in Schools
Communities in School’s mission is to surround students with a community of support, which empowers them to stay in school and reach his or her greatest potential. CIS of Charlotte-Mecklenburg serves more than 6,000 students in need and their families with the resources they need to succeed in school and beyond. You can help out by donating money, clothing, toys, and school supplies, or volunteering.
www.cischarlotte.org
A Better World
A Better World offers after school care, classes, and training to assist children and families living in the Ashley Park community. They strive to holistically develop children to achieve their personal best academically and keeps them off the toughest streets, thus improving their grades, growing their confidence, and helping them gain a positive direction in their life. They welcome volunteers, mentors, student sponsors, and donations of food, toiletries, school supplies, and money.
abetterworldcharlotte.org
Angels in Need
This non-profit charity based in Davidson serves children with special needs and their families both locally and abroad, specifically at the House of Angels in Romania. They aim to provide children with opportunity and a sense of community in which to blossom by supporting already existing programs and organizations devoted to the same cause and aiding in the development, implementation, and financial support of programs that are in need of help.
angelsinneed.org
All Kinds of Minds
All Kinds of Minds supports teachers and provides opportunities to build expertise in how students learn since each student has a unique learning profile reflecting his or her particular learning strengths, weaknesses, and affinities. Through learning about how individual students learn, teachers can cater to each student’s strengths, thus closing achievement gaps, decreasing the number of disengaged students, and diminishing the underperformance of students in schools.
allkindsofminds.org
Thompson Child and Family Focus
Operating across the Carolinas, Thompson Child and Family Focus provides comprehensive education, treatment and care for children in need. Their aim is to strengthen not only the children but the families and community in which they live. There are many ways to contribute with the Thompson Child and Family Focus organization: volunteer, foster a child, and donate goods and money to help make a positive impact on a child’s life.
thompsoncff.org
Bethlehem Center of Charlotte
The Bethlehem Center of Charlotte approach is to create a nurturing environment where they empower families and center instruction on each individual. Through the power of their donors, they have been able to provide 80,000 hours of education and 300,000 meals to the children and families that they serve.
bethlehemcenter.org
Adam Faulk Tanksley Foundation
Named in honor of Adam Tanksley, who was diagnosed with cancer at three years old, this non-profit is dedicated to finding a cure for pediatric cancer while positively impacting the lives of children and families affected by the disease. They plan events, fundraisers, and speaking engagements to raise awareness and funds to fight pediatric cancer. You can donate directly or volunteer with event planning, assistance, and advocacy.
chompchildhoodcancer.org
Classroom Central
Classroom Central serves students and teachers by collecting and distributing free school supplies. Many students come from families who can’t afford school supplies and teachers spend $500 to $1000 on average out of pocket each year to provide basic supplies for their students. With proper supplies for every student, you see an increase in instructional time, quality of student work, student preparation, and an improvement in student behavior. They welcome monetary donations, supplies, and volunteers.
classroomcentral.org
Martin Truex Jr. Foundation
The Martin Truex Jr. Foundation (MTJF) was started by NASCAR driver Martin Truex Jr. in 2007. Their mission is to support underfunded cancer initiatives with a focus on ovarian and childhood cancers and to assist the individuals and families who have been affected by them. This foundation is fueled through its donors who share the same passion as the Truex Jr. foundation.
martintruexjrfoundation.org
The Spokes Group
The Spokes Group was started back in 1994 by two Charlotte businessmen who wanted to help make a difference once they recognized the struggle that a lot of families go through during the holiday season. The Spokes Group aims to raise money to purchase bicycles for disadvantaged children. You can help make a child’s holiday by donating to the cause today.
thespokesgroup.com
The Learning Collaborative
This comprehensive preschool program offers hands-on involvement between teachers, students, families, patrons and the community. The Learning Collaborative provides transportation, hot meals, speech language and literacy development along with intensive family support. Your support will help to make a pivotal difference in the life of a child by placing them on the right path to success.
ttlccharlotte.org
