Our Charities

The Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend’s Executive Committee selects the charities that will benefit from their fundraising efforts. The five charities selected as the recipients of the funds for the 2010 Weekend are Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, Council for Children’s Rights, Johnson & Wales University, Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, and W.I.S.H. Program(Workforce Initiative for Supportive Housing). Each of these beneficiaries contributes a vital function in the Charlotte community. Together, they nurture the “whole child” (body, mind, and spirit) by focusing on such issues as education, child abuse and neglect, homelessness, and hunger. Thank you for helping us to create a brighter future for our children. 

CHILDREN’S THEATRE OF CHARLOTTE

PROFESSIONAL THEATRE FOR YOUTH AUDIENCES (INCLUDING AT-RISK OUTREACH YOUTH PROGRAMS) Funds will be for production expenses for 12 Children’s Theatre productions and its outreach programs. Children’s Theatre serves between 250,000 and 320,000 children annually, providing drama education and exceptional quality theatre. It provides the only theatre exposure and education for the overwhelming majority of children in our community.

Ticket sales cover only 55% of production costs. With Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System cutting funding for arts and theatre education from its budget, and the Arts & Sciences Council also facing budget constraints, private funding sources will be even more critical to the Theatre’s continuing ability to help the Children’s Theatre continue to serve lower income communities and the public schools at its current level.

COUNCIL FOR CHILDREN’S RIGHTS

THE LEADING VOICE FOR CHILDREN (ABUSE AND NEGLECT ADVOCACY PROGRAM) Funds would be used for salaries for four children’s advocates (including three attorneys) in the Abuse & Neglect Advocacy Program. The grant would cover 1/3 of a salary per advocate. Each advocate serves 75 children per year. Services include finding appropriate home placements, securing necessary medical and mental health treatment, developing individual educational plans, and securing future plans for children who turn 18. The Council for Children’s Rights anticipates a greater need for funding due to United Way budget cuts. With your help, the

Council will continue to serve as advocates for our children with no gap in care.

JOHNSON & WALES, CHARLOTTE CAMPUS

SCHOLARSHIPS AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT (FOR LOW-INCOME YOUTH) Funds would be used for 15 scholarships of $2,500 each per year for the two-year program at the culinary school for 15 Mecklenburg County low-income high school seniors. Scholarships would be based on financial need, academic achievement and volunteer participation. Over 20% of students currently enrolled in Johnson & Wales are from Mecklenburg County, and 85% of all students are on financial aid. Johnson & Wales’ most recent study shows that 60% of its graduates stay or intend to stay in the Charlotte area. With your help, Johnson & Wales Culinary School will continue to provide a brighter future to Charlotte’s low-income youth.

SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF METROLINA

Funds would be used to aid over 5,000 Charlotte-Mecklenburg School students qualifying for the “free lunch” program. The project gives these children backpacks, which would be loaded on Friday afternoons with a predetermined combination of quality foods. Then, children would bring back the empty backpacks to school on Monday. Overall demand for food at Second Harvest has increased 450% over the last 12 months. Teachers report that backpack food is often the only food in the home for the child during the weekend. Teachers also are noticing a significant positive difference in behavior and attentiveness on Monday for children in the program. With your help, Second Harvest will reduce hunger for underprivileged school children.

W. I.S.H. AFFORDABLE HOUSING

FOR FAMILIES (HOMELESS CHILDREN FOCUS) Funds would be used for one new social worker for three years to serve 18 families (approximately 36 children) through a three-year Affordable Housing & Steps-to-Empowerment-to-Independence Model developed by W.I.S.H. Collaborating with numerous public and private agencies to put homeless families into affordable housing, W.I.S.H. provides them with services and training to enable them to become self-sustaining within three years. The new social worker will enable W.I.S.H. to access other funding already secured – federal housing funds, landlord reduced rents, Goodwill cars, furnishings, and child care for each family. W.I.S.H. currently serves 50 families and seeks these funds to increase its program to 100 families. From there, W.I.S.H. will offer this program as a national pilot. With your help, W.I.S.H. will reduce homelessness for children and families in the Charlotte community.