CHARITABLE PARTNERS

Proceeds from Charlotte Wine + Food events benefit strategically selected charity partners that support children and their families in the Charlotte community. The charity beneficiaries for the 2024 - 2025 fiscal are A Child’s Place - a program of Thompson, Augustine Literacy Project - Charlotte, Digi-Bridge, and Wayfinders.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR CHARITABLE MISSION BELOW!

Augustine Literacy Project (ALP®-Charlotte) is a dynamic, full-service organization for literacy interventions. The organization provides curricula, training, and logistical support to schools and trusted community organizations. Each year, ALP-trained tutors provide free, long-term, one-on-one instruction to children in Title 1 schools. ALP addresses a persistent problem in our community: just 33 percent of CMS students are reading on grade level when they begin 4th grade (NAEP, 2022), and the percentages are even lower for economically disadvantaged youth. Children who are not reading proficiently by this time are four times more likely to leave school without a diploma. Yet, with early and intensive intervention, like the kind provided by ALP tutors, 90-95% of poor readers can be brought to an average skill level. ALP tutors complete intensive training and receive ongoing coaching and support. Students develop strong relationships with their ALP tutors which facilitate not only growth in reading ability but confidence and self-esteem that carries over to performance in all areas of the classroom.

Digi-Bridge inspires the next generation of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) leaders. STEAM jobs are projected to increase by 10.8% (4x faster than non STEAM jobs) and Digi-Bridge is leading the effort to provide access to skills-training, mentors and workplaces to ensure Charlotte youth are prepared for the future.  This unique organization offers school- and community-based out-of-school-time programs for K-8 students that foster curiosity, exploration, innovation, and persistence in STEAM. Digi-Bridge works with industry professionals to develop high quality and rigorous curriculum in diverse topics such as robotics, cyber security, environmental science, and more. These experiences are taught by credentialed educators who Digi-Bridge trains and compensates to keep them returning to the classroom year after year. Digi-Bridge students boast higher confidence and skills in STEAM post involvement in the programs.

A Child’s Place (ACP), a program of Thompson, is a short-term, intensive social work model that empowers families experiencing homelessness in the Charlotte-metro area to achieve stability.  A team of eight social workers and a licensed clinician engage heads of households experiencing homelessness for 90-120 days at a time, helping them identify root causes of homelessness, connect to community resources, and grow in self-sufficiency.  Social workers use an evidence-based therapeutic model to engage families in creating comprehensive goal-oriented and family-centered plans.  The licensed clinician draws from a wide array of trauma-informed clinical best practices to help clients gain the mental health wellness they need to move forward. 

Wayfinders’ MISSION is to ignite students’ potential by expanding their confidence, connections, and horizons. Their unique model combines guidance from an adult mentor with attendance at confidence-building summer camps, participation in year-round enrichment programming, and a focus on college and career readiness for self-motivated, underserved students. Their VISION is that every child, regardless of zip code, has access to these transformative life experiences.

The Wayfinders program provides services to low-income students starting in 4th grade through high school graduation at no cost to their families. Initially, scholars spend three summers at nature camps where they try activities like kayaking, horseback riding, and rock climbing that build confidence and help them develop new skills. Once in middle and high school, scholars shift to academic camps on college campuses and are provided leadership development, career exploration, and job-shadowing opportunities that help them transition from middle school to high school to college and career. Throughout the school year, scholars participate in enrichment programs such as outdoor recreation, arts and cultural experiences, technology workshops, financial planning education, employer visits, and community service. Each scholar is supported by a dedicated adult mentor who helps prepare them for camp and guides them from 4th grade to high school graduation and beyond. The Wayfinders program helps students from low-income families expand their social networks, increasing their likelihood for economic mobility. But more than that, being a part of Wayfinders creates a sense of belonging and worth that helps scholars reach their full potential and thrive.