The Amy and Brian France Foundation Invests in The Queen City
The Amy and Brian France Foundation and Silver Falcon Capital, led by Brian France, are excited to begin more formally investing in Charlotte's local nonprofit community. #GivingTuesdayCLT is their first official Charlotte nonprofit investment and SHARE Charlotte is thrilled to intentionally plug them into a movement that benefits hundreds of local nonprofits as their first engagement. Check out this quick Q & A with Brian France:
1. Your foundation is new to Charlotte, what do you want our community to know about how you will be investing in Charlotte nonprofits and why?
Charlotte is a very special community for me and my family. I spent decades working and living here while at NASCAR and my current venture, Silver Falcon Capital, is headquartered in Charlotte. We look forward to working closely with the community to help those in need and to continue Charlotte’s ascension as one of the great American cities. My commitment to the Queen City has never been stronger.
2. Why did the Amy and Brian France Foundation decide to partner with SHARE Charlotte to support #GivingTuesdayCLT this year?
As my wife Amy and I do with our Luke and Meadow Foundation, we always look to partner with organizations that can help us maximize our impact on the lives of those who need a helping hand the most. Without question, SHARE Charlotte is a tremendous tool and organization for anyone looking to get involved in philanthropic endeavors. They offer a comprehensive list of organizations, causes and events to get involved with and this is the perfect partner for the Amy and Brian France Foundation. We are honored to be part of #GivingTuesdayCLT and passionate about helping local non-profits, businesses and the people of this great city.
3. Why does the Amy and Brian France Foundation think community-wide campaigns like #GivingTuesdayCLT are important to Charlotte?
For those who are struggling, the holidays can be a hard time of year. This program is so wonderful because it lets people know that the community has not forgotten about them, and we are here for them. There are so many dedicated philanthropists in Charlotte, and programs like this, that galvanize an entire community to work towards a common goal, can be a real force multiplier.
4. When giving back, does your foundation focus on a particular cause or support a specific nonprofit sector? If so, why?
Amy and I have found this to be one of the most difficult decisions when it comes to our philanthropic efforts. There are so many worthy causes and so many people in need. Currently, we try to focus the majority of our efforts around children’s health, wellness and education. However, we do not limit ourselves and get involved when we feel passionate. In addition to #GivingTuesdayCLT, SHARE Charlotte highlights a different cause each month and we look forward to rolling up our sleeves and getting involved in a variety of causes going forward.
At our core, we believe that grassroots philanthropy within local communities creates deeper and sustainable impact. Since founding NASCAR in 1948, the France family has seen the power of local communities first-hand. While NASCAR is now a global sport and powerful brand, NASCAR grew out of a local, grassroots community of race teams and tracks woven together across America. So part of our mission is to support and empower innovative organizations like SHARE Charlotte, and even entrepreneurial ventures, that are creating a positive environment for families in local communities to live, learn and grow.