Stories

SHARE Charlotte is proud to partner with the The Merancas Foundation, Inc. to support their 105 Charlotte metro partner organizations with enhanced learning, networking, and collaboration opportunities. 💡🤝

The Foundation, founded by Anke and Casey Mermans in 1989 and led today by President Andy Mermans, invests in local nonprofits that support those in crisis, provide pathways for adults to achieve self-sufficiency, and help children reach their greatest potential.

Each month, SHARE Charlotte provides a series of highlights on local nonprofits who are doing great work for a cause that may be close to your heart.  We call this series #SpotlightOnCLT and we hope it helps you get involved in ways that matter most to you - you can attend events, donate, or volunteer! Most of all, our goal is for you to be more educated about issues in our city and region. 

The Issue

This month, we’re raising awareness about a critical issue facing Charlotte - the need for affordable housing. Charlotte has seen significant challenges related to affordable housing in recent years, including the fact that the median cost of rent rose 30% between 2015-2020, significantly outpacing income growth. 

Here are some additional facts from Charlotte's Housing & Homelessness Dashboard related to Mecklenburg County:

Corporate Volunteer Council Lunch & Learn Recap Blog

Research shows that 71% of private-sector companies are using volunteerism as a way to unite their workforce and 79% of employees who volunteer are more likely to be satisfied with their job. However, the practical applications of how to do this can be hard to implement within corporations. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) leaders have a lot on their plates trying to steward employee engagement across thousands of employees both nationally and globally. 

Like you, SHARE Charlotte is devastated by the stories and pictures emerging from #HurricaneHelene and we are looking for ways to make a difference.

Here's where we can start:

❤️‍🩹 Donating money to these organizations who have access to the area:
American Red Cross North Carolina Region
Samaritan's Purse

We know Young Professionals have so much to offer to local nonprofits with their time, talents and passions!

The #YPMixerCLT began 11 years ago by two young professionals who wanted to expand their networks and find ways to get involved with local nonprofits. The event grew and grew and five years ago SHARE Charlotte took over the production of this annual gathering. 

Each month, SHARE Charlotte provides a series of highlights on local nonprofits who are doing great work for a cause that may be close to your heart.  We call this series #SpotlightOnCLT and we hope it helps you get involved in ways that matter most to you - you can attend events, donate, or volunteer!  

Since 2016, our Goodie Awards have been an annual way to recognize outstanding accomplishments by our nonprofit partners. With more than 740 local nonprofit partners, selecting the winners each year has become increasingly challenging.

This year, we took a slightly different approach and asked our nonprofit partners to nominate their peers for awards. We were floored at the response!

For the fifth consecutive year, U.S. Bank is proud to sponsor the SHARE Charlotte #YPMixerCLT. This annual gathering brings together young professionals and Charlotte nonprofits, allowing the next generation of philanthropists to network with each other and the organizations that make Charlotte a better place to live, work, and play.