Community Awards

Program Established:

2017

Purpose of Program

The Community Awards Program provides funding to nonprofit organizations offering creative, education-focused programs in Mecklenburg County. Through these strategic partnerships, we extend our reach and support non-traditional learning opportunities for children and adults.

Lift Up Carolinas and Community Culinary School

How We Help

Stratford Richardson YMCA
Lift Up Carolinas funds summer camp scholarships for children in the Reid Park neighborhood. These camps include swim camp, sports camp, teen camp, and traditional day camps that integrate social-emotional learning and literacy components—keeping kids active, engaged, and mentally supported all summer long.

Community Culinary School of Charlotte (CCSC)
We support CCSC’s 14-week Workforce Development program, which trains adults facing employment barriers for careers in the culinary and foodservice industries. Students receive job readiness training, emotional support, and hands-on experience in the Café and through catering opportunities.

ArtsPlus
Through ArtsPlus, Lift Up Carolinas supports before and after school art and music classes in underserved schools and community centers. Funding also provides financial aid for private lessons in the visual and performing arts, helping students access the full benefits of a creative education.

Augustine Literacy Project (ALP)
We help improve literacy for students in under-resourced communities by funding materials and books for ALP’s one-on-one tutoring program. ALP uses evidence-based instruction to build reading, writing, and spelling skills with the support of highly trained volunteers.

Program Impacts 2023-2024

  • 30 campers funded at Stratford Richardson YMCA
    ($12,720 total)

  • 2 adult students supported at Community Culinary School of Charlotte
    ($16,800 total)

  • 465 students reached through ArtsPlus’s ArtsReach and 14 students received financial aid for private lessons
    ($26,400 total)

  • Literacy materials funded for 20 ALP tutoring sites and 100 book bags distributed
    ($8,200 total)

Funding

Community Awards are funded through grants, corporate and private donations, fundraising events, and proceeds from the Lift Up Carolinas Thrift Store.

Why It Matters

Through Community Awards, Lift Up Carolinas supports programs that meet learners where they are—whether in a kitchen, a music room, a swimming pool, or a one-on-one tutoring session. Together, we’re building a stronger, more inclusive educational landscape for all.

Lift Up Carolinas