Organization Mission: To improve the quality of life for youth and families in the community by providing services that promote community prosperity, physical health and by offering programs and cultural events which preserve the African American heritage. Project: To preserve an important and pivotal building in the african-american history in Statesville, the Chestnut Grove Community Center. Impact: The Leadership Statesville Class of 2020 would like to participate in the Love United Iredell campaign to help preserve the Chestnut Grove Community Center. The project will provide financial resources for renovations, preserve the African-American history in Statesville and create an upgraded user friendly community space. The Chestnut Community Center was originally a Rosenwald elementary school for the African-American children in the area. Booker T. Washington of the Tuskegee Institute and Julius Rosenwald, philanthropist and president of Sears Roebuck, built state-of-the art schools for African-American children across the South. The effort has been called the most important initiative to advance black education in the early 20th century. Attending a Rosenwald School put a student at the vanguard of education for southern African-American children. The architecture of the schools was a tangible statement of the equality of all children, and their programming made them a focal point of community identity and aspirations. The Leadership Statesville Class of 2020 would like preserve not only the building that the community now owns but also keep the history alive of the African-American families that attended the school and made memories. Client Experience: When our Leadership Statesville group visited the site in October, I was very impressed with what the folks at the Chestnut Grove community center had done in the past to preserve this very important piece of history. They went to great lengths to purchase this former school property and have done a remarkable job on a very small budget. Having grown up in Iredell County, I knew very little about the history of this property. I think it's important to assist this group with renovations and maintenance so they can continue their mission and to educate more folks about the past. Bryan Shoemaker, EnergyUnited & Leadership Statesville Class 2020 More information on organization: https://www.facebook.com/chestnutgrovecenter/

Organization Mission: Speak Life and Live's general purpose is to provide supportive social services that strengthen the family, promote well-being and inspire women to live at a higher level by encouraging them to walk in faith and God's redeeming love. Project: To help 20 students attend the GEMS program. Our goal is to make these life preparatory skills available to all students regardless of their socioeconomic status. Impact: Growing Empowering Mentoring for Success (G.E.M.S.), a program designed to empower and provide adequate tools and encouragement to help individuals become successful in their lives and society. Participants learn and have the opportunity to explore successful leadership strategies and acquire a broad understanding of the meaning of leadership and the qualities of a leader such as: A stronger and stable sense of self and others' view of themselves. Healthy habits that will help reduce health problems in the future and increase longevity Effective communication skills Bullying, self-awareness, reaction, and positive relationship Conflict resolution support and teach participants negotiating and decisions making skills that will increase responsibility and self-directed behaviors. These funds will allow Speak Life and Live to provide the Gems program which spans from 6-8 weeks with 3 different sessions and is open to girls aged 5 – 19. Client Experience: "I really enjoyed G.E.M.S. class. It was a confidence booster for myself and my daughter. It helped me get through things with her such as the importance of good hygiene. Also, it helped build my self-confidence. If gave me the opportunity to evaluate myself, and it showed me I am a gem!" ~ G.E.M.S. for Moms participant "I enjoyed the gems class. It gave me the opportunity to examine myself. With all the bullying in my school, It helped me build my self-confidence. I now know I am a beautiful, shiny stone." ~ G.E.M.S. student participant More information on organization: lesliespeaklife.com/gems.html

Organization Mission: To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Project: Purchase tables, chairs, marker-boards and other supplies to continue the growth and academic success of their afterschool attendees. Impact: The Love United Iredell Campaign will support families in Iredell County by supporting the afterschool program at the Boys & Girls Club of the Piedmont. The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Piedmont programs focuses on three priority outcomes: Academic Success, Character and Leadership Development, and Healthy Lifestyles. We provide all children with the tools to be a good citizen, have a healthy lifestyle and a plan for higher education. We not only have a variety of programs, but offer tutoring daily. Academic Success: these programs are designed to ensure that all Club members graduate from high school on time, ready for a post-secondary education and a 21st century career. Character & Leadership Development: These programs help youth become responsible, caring citizens and acquire skills to participate the democratic process. Program participants also develop leadership skills and gain opportunities for planning, decision-making, contributing to Club and community and celebrating our national heritage. Healthy Lifestyles: These programs develop young people capacity to engage in positive behaviors to nurture their well-being, set personal goals and grow into self-sufficient adults. In addition to program and activities, the Club provides access to vital resources such as safety and food for children each day. The Boys & Girls Club of the Piedmont is located in the South Statesville community. This area is home to 1,394 children under the age of 18 with many of them lacking educational resources that would allow them to reach their full potential. Unfortunately, the area is known for gang violence, significant generational poverty, crime, limited educational attainment, and high unemployment rates. In census tract 602 and census tract 603, only 34% of residents have a high school diploma (US Census) and the unemployment rate for Iredell County is 5.5% (US Department of Labor and Statistics). Due to the success of our programs, the Boys & Girls Club After-School program has become a source of pride for our members, families and our community. Our Membership has increases significantly from one year to another, which is great in itself. However now we find ourselves with a shortage of tables, chairs and marker boards that children utilize every day to do their schoolwork. The Boys & Girls Club of the Piedmont is asking Love United Iredell for a grant to purchase additional tables, chairs, marker-boards and cubby storage organizer. Therefore, children can have a workstation to learn, grow and reach their full potential thru the Boys & Girls Club of the Piedmont. Client Experience: Love - Laughter - Lessons - Life-long Friendships - These are the things that fifteen-year-old Abigail experiences everyday as she walks through the doors of the Boys & Girls Club of the Piedmont. However, it was not always like this. After moving to North Carolina at age seven, her parents got a divorce. "My brother and I moved in with my father and things got tough. Money was somewhat tight and it was difficult for my father being a single parent and raising two kids alone." She was struggling to adapt to the changes at home and at her new school. Abigail's father began looking for an affordable, but safe place, where she and her brother could go afterschool while he was working. His search led him to the Boys & Girls Club of the Piedmont. Today, Abigail's father knows that she and her brother are safe, that they are excelling in school, and they are seen as a leaders among their peers all of which he credits to the Boys & Girls Club of the Piedmont. "It truly takes a village to raise children," he says. There are many children like Abigail and her brother who need a safe place afterschool where they are given opportunities to be loved, to learn, to make new friends, and to become the best they can be. More information on organization: http://www.piedmontbgc.org/

Organization Mission: Lifting children to better beginnings by providing services that strengthen families, raise the quality of early care and education, promote health and safety, and expand literacy. Project: A Kindergarten Readiness Camp will be started so that children can learn the critical skills which have the ability to transform an individual throughout life. Impact: The academic success of children in later years depends heavily upon their kindergarten readiness. The first few years of education and preparedness are the most crucial to establishing a solid foundation from which children can adapt to school systems and learn successfully. During this period, children develop primary skills that form the foundations of reading, counting, and social interaction. One of the greatest challenges of a young child's life is the transition from home into an elementary school environment. Entering kindergarten without previously attending a formal education setting can be a daunting task for many 5-year olds. Children are expected to learn a new set of rules, adjust to a group of classmates, eat in a cafeteria and perhaps ride a school bus. The Kindergarten Transition Readiness Camp will address this challenge by providing children eligible for Kindergarten enrollment with little to no formal preschool experience with the opportunity to visit and explore a Kindergarten classroom, experience school, practice class routines and begin their learning a few weeks ahead of officially entering kindergarten. This one-week, part day camp will ease the transition by helping children feel more comfortable in a classroom setting and providing them with important skills that will help them be successful in Kindergarten. The Kindergarten Transition Readiness Camp will give children and families a glimpse into the exciting things that await them in kindergarten. The program is designed to help children develop confidence while taking the first steps toward attending to a new routine, developing social-emotional skills, being mindful of themselves and others and making new friends. Grant funds will be used to support licensed teaching staff, snacks, and classroom materials. Participating children will receive a backpack filled with basic school supplies upon completion of camp. Research has shown that a child's adjustment to school has a significant impact on later academic achievement. Let's give our kids the smart start that they need and set them on the path to success! Camp Locations:* Cloverleaf Elementary N.B. Mills Elementary Third Creek Elementary *Camp locations subject to change Client Experience: "Through the Pre-K program, I have learned that reading to my young child is one of the most important things to do. Reading encourages a child to explore, discover, and create while also helping with social development. I have also learned that showing affection and acknowledging my child's feelings is important. The program has benefited both my daughter and me. It has helped her a lot with her social and emotional development. Interacting with other children has allowed her to learn rules, how to share, how to help others, and how to take turns. I am so glad and thankful for this program. It has helped my family in many ways." -- (Iredell County NC Pre-K Program parent) "My daughter attended Kindergarten Transition Camp and it gave her exposure to early literacy and numeracy, as well as provided a structured day that really prepared her for the kindergarten transition. As a parent, it gave me peace of mind that she would be ready to take the next steps." -- (Neighboring county Kindergarten Readiness Transition Camp parent) More information on organization: https://www.iredellsmartstart.org/

Organization Mission: The MISSION of Dove House is to minimize trauma to child victims of sexual abuse and their non-offending family members by providing a centralized, safe and child-friendly facility from which a multidisciplinary team (MDT) conducts investigation and intervention activities; to advocate for and support child victims and non-offending family members by representing their interest throughout the process, promoting appropriate therapies and making referrals to community resources as needed; and to enhance the process for optimal case resolution. Project: To support and reinforce the Safety First program, presented to to all 1st and 5th grade students in Iredell and Alexander Counties in order to promote body safety, and educate children on abuse prevention strategies. The program also covers internet safety for the 5th grade students. Impact: The Safety First Program focuses on the Education and Prevention of child abuse in a classroom setting with a power point slide show presented by Dove House Community Outreach Coordinator, Allegra Hope. Prior to August of 2016, the entire focus of Dove House has been on intervention services. This program is presented to all 1st and 5th grade students in Iredell-Statesville Schools, the Mooresville Graded Schools, Pine Lake Prep and American Renaissance. This is a vital program that has been approved by each school board in effort to protect the children in our community. The $5,000 funding by Love United Iredell will help residents of Iredell County by educating these young students on the subject of child sexual abuse and its prevention, and by providing marketing resources such as posters, flyers and other materials to reinforce the program. The successful prosecution rate of child sexual abuse was less than 20% prior to Dove House opening. Since opening in September of 2002, and every year since, the successful prosecution rate has been close to 90%. Our communities in Iredell County are safer as a result, as perpetrators of these heinous crimes against children are spending time behind bars instead of re-offending. Client Experience: We recently had a 5th grade female student disclose her being sexually abused by her stepfather after the Safety First presentation in her classroom. She thanked the presenter for helping her to realize what happened to her was not normal and should be reported. *Due to the strict confidentiality of our client population, we are prevented from sharing any names or photos of the children. More information on organization: https://www.dovehousecac.org/

Organization Mission: Our mission is simple - spread the life-changing Word of Christ into our community. By reaching out to the young men in our community, we aim to provide a "gang" of Christian brothers with whom they can walk through life with. We aim to teach young men how to use the tools they have been blessed with, in hopes to build and glorify the kingdom of God. Project: To provide meals for 14 kids for the next 6 months during program sessions. Impact: Participating in Love United Iredell will help Power Cross (PC) serve households in our community by providing our nonprofit with the necessary funding needed to ensure the young men of PC receive proper nutrition. Annually, it costs $700 to provide free meals for one child. We serve 300+ kids in our community, providing them with transportation, lunch and dinner, academic support, mentorship, athletic involvement, and more, at no cost to families. By receiving campaign funding, we will be able to guarantee that 7 of our participants will receive free meals all year long. Our goal through our program is to give our youth a real chance at life, something to look forward to, something to fight for, build towards, and aspire to be and become. With 90% of our kids living at or below the poverty line, it is necessary for them to have PC in their lives, because without this program, almost all of our youth will face food insecurity. They will go to bed hungry, go to school with malnourished minds and bodies, and end up stealing to try and survive, finding themselves on the path towards jail, which statistically, our inner cities are already preparing for with the construction of a new jail. The stories you hear from the mouths of ten year olds about their home lives and not having food, makes you wonder how they still have a smile on their face, and makes you understand why they are acting out in school. Their stories of pain will be what you help us soothe and rebuild. You will be helping us keep them nourished, off the streets and away from the destructive lives they are used to. PC thrives off of bettering the community and the households that make up our town, and providing for our kids is where it all begins. Client Experience: “We like knowing that when we come through the door at Power Cross, there will be a snack waiting for us.” This is the answer twin brothers who come to Power Cross gave us when we asked them what they like most about coming to PC. These brothers do not have much food at home, and have been caught stealing food at Family Dollar, not out of meanness, but out of necessity. Without the free meals provided all year long at PC, they may have to rely on crime to provide more meals for themselves. They also have a little sister they take plates of food home to. With 90% of the youth at PC living at or below the poverty line, this story is just one of the many we are faced with every single day, but with the help of Love United Iredell, we will be able to provide year long meals for 7 PC participants. More information on organization: https://www.powercross.org/

Organization Mission: Inspiring success...together. Project: Expand the "Try It Tuesday" program for 12th graders to allow students to try out film making as a career path. Impact: When you were in Kindergarten, someone probably asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" The answers to that question probably were very simple and included titles that kids knew about through personal experience. "Teacher," "Fireman," "Movie Star," "Baseball Player" You never hear "I want to be a cardboard packaging designer working with supply chain management". Crosby Scholars works with middle and high school students to achieve their higher education goals, but first, we help students discover their interests and talents. We use summer career camps, career exploration tools, and aptitude testing and evaluation, to help students explore and understand the career opportunities available. When they get to 12th grade and are asked the question again, "What do you want to do when you grow up?" our students will have experiences that will allow them to better answer. This summer Crosby Scholars is partnering with Mitchell Community College, Iredell Statesville School System and Mooresville Soup Kitchen to offer 7 different day camps, where students can explore careers in Engineering, Healthcare, Public Safety, Information Technology, Business Agriculture and Sustainability, and Culinary Arts. We call this program "Try It Tuesday". Participating in the Love United Iredell campaign will allow us to offer additional programming. With grant funds, we will create a 2 day, Try It Tuesday that will train students and Crosby Staff in the field of filmmaking and video production. You cannot turn on a television, pick up a smartphone or log into a computer without seeing digital video content. Our goal is to help our students 1. Obtain knowledge about the Filmmaking Industry & available careers 2. Become a critical viewer 3. Learn how to create and edit film/video content. 4. Work as a team to create video content for Crosby Scholars' Website 5. Continue to create video content for school & other non-profit groups. Additional benefits of the program will include team building, leadership and the ability to create content to build their resume or portfolio. We will also encourage the students to use what they learn to apply for scholarships, be a good consumer and share their experience with other non-profit agencies in the form of community service projects. Client Experience: Since 2015 Crosby Scholars has helped students and parents in Iredell County. We don't often see the direct impact of our efforts. Success for us is seeing a student experience an "A-Ha Moment". Understanding a process, clearly seeing a path for the future, or connecting to something they did not know they could achieve. Two of these moments stand out. Nikkie, a Statesville High School student, whose parents are from Iran, had her "A-Ha Moment" while speaking on behalf of Crosby Scholars to a host for a local radio station. While typically a quiet person, she enjoyed being interviewed and telling her story. She then had the opportunity to speak to one of our corporate sponsors. She told her story of how she wanted to study computer science so she could help people connect over long distances. Nikkie won the very first ASPIRE video scholarship that Crosby Scholars awarded. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL9ymb_azNI&feature=youtu.be By the end of her senior year, through connections and opportunities with Crosby Scholars, she was accepted into her school and program of choice and also offered a paid internship by that corporate sponsor for the summer between high school and college. John, a Lake Norman High School student, in the summer of 2017 attended the career camp that was offered, based on the generosity of a community grant, the camp was a week-long career camp that year. Each day the students would learn about a different career at different locations across Iredell County. John's "A-Ha Moment" happened on Thursday while sitting in a session about IT networking and computers. John went home with a spark and an interest in computers. He learned that he could build a computer. Something that seemed so mysterious and out of reach was broken down into understandable parts. After the camp was over, John spent the rest of that summer exploring computer parts, software and hardware components. He was given a budget by his parents and after much research, he settled on the parts he needed within the budget to produce a computer. By the end of the summer, John built a computer. These are just 2 of the students that have shared the impact that Crosby Scholars in our community. It might be years before we see the impact of the experiences we are offering our students and their families. Career exploration is just one part of this program. More information on organization: https://www.crosbyscholarsiredell.org/

Organization Mission: Building hope for children and families through education, counseling, and intervention programs to Stop Child Abuse Now Project: Providing educational materials to all young parents within area hospitals and offering a new series of free community parenting workshops. Impact: SCAN of Iredell is expanding our prevention and educational services through our Best Beginnings program and community parenting workshops. Best Beginnings currently provides parenting education and information on SCAN’s services to new parents at one area hospital. Each family receives a small gift with information about SCAN’s free in home parenting services and parenting classes. Our goal is to expand our Best Beginnings program to other area hospitals and to offer a new style of parenting class for families with newborns. By targeting first time parents we can design interventions before child abuse and neglect occurs. Best Beginnings can be helpful to all new parents, including those who may not be at risk for abusive behavior, however need assistance with basic infant care, child development, discipline, and parenting skills. In spring 2020, SCAN of Iredell plans to offer a new series of five free parenting workshops to our community. The topics will include 1)Domestic Violence 2) Substance Abuse 3) Anxiety and Depression 4) Toxic Relationships 5) Trauma and Resiliency. The workshops will be available to anyone in our community and there will be no cost to participants. Each one will be interactive and will include discussions on how these issues impact children and parenting. These are problems which affect many children and families locally on a daily basis and therefore influence our entire community. Both of these programs are strengthening SCAN’s initiative to address early intervention and education. Our goal is to establish relationships with parents so they will continue to reach out to SCAN of Iredell in the future with any parenting concerns. Client Experience: My name is Rena Kirby. I am a happy mother of 3 beautiful children. I grew up in a very unstable abusive home, which carried over into my life with relationships. I thought being abused was normal and how I was supposed to be treated. My oldest daughter's father was very abusive and a severe alcoholic. He threw me and my daughter out of a rocking chair when she was a few days old and held a gun to my head. After years of abuse I left and decided to get custody of my daughter. During this process, I thought it would be a good idea to take some extra parenting classes to help me in my case and learn better parenting skills as my daughter's father had convinced me I was a bad mom. That is when I looked online and found SCAN. I voluntarily started with the basic 14 week parenting class with Laurie and Robin. I liked the first parenting class so much I decided to take another parenting class. I didn’t have the money at the time for another class but Susan from SCAN was able to come to my home and teach me “Love and Logic” at no cost. Through these classes I learned different parenting skills, how to parent with patience and help my family learn to be loving towards each other. Today I have joint custody with all of my kids. My children come to me with their concerns and we work together as a team for solutions. I love to help my children through their journey in life. All this is because of SCAN. I learned great parenting techniques and that I am a good mother. SCAN helped me build my confidence back up and allowed me to stand up for myself. I cannot thank SCAN enough for the support and the happiness I have in my life today with my children. Thank you SCAN. More information on organization: https://iredellscan.org/

Organization Mission: The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination. Project: To send at-risk youth to Camp Walter Johnson to learn new skills and self-reliance while working on any emotional needs Impact: Continuing a long-standing Salvation Army service each summer, youth from many Salvation Army units all over the Carolinas come to camp, situated on High Rock Lake, for a week that can literally change their lives. Camp Walter Johnson's summer staff, under the leadership of Divisional Youth Secretary, is well-trained and works very hard to help campers grow and develop socially and spiritually; all while having fun with new friends from all across the two states. Camps generally last one week and attendance will vary beginning mid-June and lasting through August. Love United Iredell offers the perfect opportunity to identify children in Iredell County and sponsor an amazing experience at camp during the summer of 2020. Working in collaboration with partner agencies, The Salvation Army is determined to provide a life-changing trip for children who are living in at-risk circumstances. By lifting youth out of difficult environments and offering physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual care in a safe, fun, and loving environment, lives are literally transformed at Camp Walter Johnson. Participants receive excellent meals, secure & comfortable housing, exposure to team building & character building exercises, arts & crafts, and lots of structured outdoor activities with new friends. There are also opportunities for spiritual reflection and study. Transportation will be provided for the children going to Camp Walter Johnson and returning home. Through the support of the Iredell community, camp scholarships will be provided so that there is no expense for the low-income families selected. The camp fee per child is $250 per week. There is no additional cost for their food, shelter, and materials. Children learn new skills and self-reliance while trained counselors who understand the emotional needs and problems are able to help them to mature. Often, entire families receive benefits from these camping experiences through expanded services after the children return home. The benefit to the Iredell community after exposing children to this incredible camp experience is that they return home with a renewed confidence and spirit for positive growth as a productive citizen in school and their community. The Salvation Army is currently partnering with United Way, 5th Street Ministries Shelter, Power Cross Youth Ministries, Iredell Juvenile Court, and Piedmont Remediation to identify those young people, our neighbors, in need of this opportunity. Client Experience: Summer camp was my escape, my first taste of freedom, my safe haven. Without going into too many details of my past, I will simply say my childhood wasn't all about princesses and fairy tales. My family experienced some pretty intense issues that caused some pain. But, one day, a van from The Salvation Army pulled into my neighborhood. The driver was picking up neighborhood kids for a program at the local church. I stepped off the van into a chapel decorated in burgundy ”from the red brick walls to burgundy pews to the burgundy carpeted floor. The chapel was filled with the sound of a brass band playing and smiling faces of people in weird navy blue uniforms. It wasn't long before this became my "church family." The youth leaders met with my mom after church and told her about Salvation Army after-school programs and music lessons, and that transportation and meals would be provided. Best of all, they told her about a summer camp my sister and I could attend. The topping on the cake: it would all be free. A few weeks later I was off to Camp Walter Johnson, the camp operated by The Salvation Army of North & South Carolina. When I stepped off the bus, no one knew about my family situation or judged me for any reason - I was only known as Ashley from Troutman in cabin B6. For that week, there were no worries of what I was going to eat or who I could play with. I only had one objective: be a kid. In that one week of camp I learned how to shoot a bow and arrow, perfect my swim strokes, how to make the ultimate s'more and the right way to hang my towel on a tree line so it wouldn't stink for the next day. I learned the best time to catch frogs was after a thunderstorm by the pool and if a male counselor was pushing the merry-go-around, I should hold on with TWO hands. That week, I met friends that I still talk with (or see on Facebook) years later. That one-week of camp was so instrumental in my life that I went back for several years. Finally when I was old enough, I attended Music Conservatory. I studied music for four weeks straight at Camp Walter Johnson. My major was band, my minor changed every year: drama, voice technique, piano, timbrels. I had music theory classes and choir. Simply put, it was band camp and I LOVED it. It gave me an outlet to express myself where words failed. I received more hands-on instruction then I did when I was in school. I tried to learn an instrument in public school but I had a learning disability, so it took me a little longer to read the notes. But at camp we had private lessons and my instructors would sit down with me one on one. By the end of four weeks I learned how to read bass and treble clef. I felt empowered. My journey didn't stop at Music Conservatory. When I felt like I had gotten "too old" to attend camp I applied to work there. I always wanted to be a lifeguard so I applied. They not only hired me but they provided the training. They certified me as a lifeguard and a water safety instructor (swim instructor). Later, these certifications helped put me through college. Working as a lifeguard at summer camp might look glamorous but - let me tell you - it is not. Jobs like cleaning a bathroom after a long day, or emptying the skimmer baskets that clog up with hair, bugs, frogs and fabric fibers, kept me humble. And every kid is so excited to get to the pool that a group of 50 feels like 150. But, it did let me develop unique relationships with the kids. I could relate to these girls and boys because I understood, I'd been there. In ministering to them, I became blessed beyond belief and I just wanted to be someone that I never had in my household. Because of camp, I beat the odds. The Salvation Army invested in me when I felt I had nothing. It saved me from the statistics of what could have been and gave me a chance to live a successful life. So, when I graduated college, I wanted to help others who were struggling. I now work for TSA/ More information on organization: https://www.salvationarmycarolinas.org/iredell/

Organization Mission: Purple Heart Homes is dedicated to providing housing solutions for Service-Connected Disabled Veterans that is substantial in function, design and quality fit to welcome home the fighting men and women of America. Project: In home mold remediation for two veterans living in the Mooresville area Impact: David & Cynthia Tino (Mooresville, NC) David is a Navy veteran that served in Desert Storm and was involved in the Liberation of Kuwait and was awarded the Kuwait Liberation Medal during his deployment. Cynthia also served in the Navy as a cook. Both were honorably discharged and contacted PHH due to a water leak in their kitchen causing rot and other damage. While doing a site assessment we determined they had black mold. This situation is never a good one, but it's especially bad for Cynthia. Cynthia had to have a lung transplant in 2012. We are currently having mold remediation done on the home. After the mold remediation is complete, a new scope of work will be completed to outline the costs associated with the repair and remodel of this area of the home. We owe a great thanks to many local businesses that have donated their services and we owe thanks for the temporary housing provided while their home is being repaired. Client Experience: Mr. James Schenk is an Iredell County resident and United States Navy Veteran. Here is Mr. Schenk's story and an outline of the work Purple Heart Homes performed for him. This is a great representative example of the work Purple Heart Homes does and the positive impact it makes on our Veteran's lives. James spent his military career with the U.S. Navy in submarines. He enlisted in 1966, and was sent to Great Lakes Naval Station, Illinois, for basic training, and stayed there for electronics school. He was then sent to Groton, CT, in 1968. His career on submarines started on a WWII sub, the USS Grouper. His second sub was the USS Triton, a United States Navy radar nuclear submarine, which was the first vessel to execute a submerged circumnavigation of the Earth and was at that time the largest in the world. James was later assigned to the USS Sea Devil, a fast attack nuclear submarine. Although James could not speak about his tour during his Navy career, he was able to speak about his position on board the subs. James was in charge of radar and maintenance. He stood watches on sonar during under water missions, along with watches on Electronic Countermeasures. He additionally cross-trained in Inertial Navigation and Radio. James spent time in dangerous waters under the thick ice at the North Pole. He also spent time in the North Atlantic, skirting international waters off the coast of the Russia, tracking their submarines and missile boats. When James left the Navy, he returned home to upstate New York where he worked in carpentry and masonry for 30 years. He now lives in North Carolina and enjoys working with wood and dabbles in painting. James also writes poetry and has published a book called "Covert Sailors - Submariner Sea Stories."  In spite of dealing with mobility issues, three cancers, and hearing loss due to the pressure of being under water, James serves as a Chaplain at the Submarine Veterans base in Winston-Salem, NC. In 2015, he received the Robert Link Award for his superior performance, contributions and significant voluntary work, which had a major impact on the success of the United States Submarine Veterans Organization. Purple Heart Homes will be removing and installing a new front deck and ramp, rear deck and stairs and installing a new shed for the Schenks. "Our quality of life will be improved, and we will have less stress not having to worry. We have followed Purple Heart Homes from their beginning, and we appreciate being considered for this project," says James. More information on organization: https://purplehearthomesusa.org/

Organization Mission: Lifelong literacy and learning for residents of Iredell County Project: Increase awareness for the Summer Reading Program so more residents can be influenced positively by library programming. Impact: Our goal is to increase participation in the library's Summer Reading Program. During the previous summer we had 923 registrations and sponsored 177 programs to support literacy and creative learning. Total attendance for that summer was 4,568. We believe with this grant we could increase attendance by approximately 30%. This funding would also allow us to expand advertising efforts for the Summer Reading Program, create more valuable and quality programming, and hire additional performers. Client Experience: What did your child like most about the program/service? “My older son (5) loves visiting the library and picking out books :) we liked the programs and activities too!” “They loved activities & the workers they are all so sweet” “Crafts/incentives weekly drawings” “All the new books we discovered. She is four but she is pre reading.” “The t-shirt art class and bath bomb session” What could the library do to help your child continue to learn more? “My child is not reading yet but has become more attentive when I am reading. Continue your good work!” “You guys did so great at sparking their interest & imagination” “Continue offering the Summer Reading program as well as others and other activities throughout the year. We have enjoyed all the activities that you offered. They were able to be applied to the STEM concept.” More information on organization: https://iredell.lib.nc.us/298/Friends-of-the-Library

Organization Mission: The YMCA's mission is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. Project: Construct an outdoor area for individuals of all ages, ethnicities and income levels to access fitness equipment as it suits their schedule. Impact: As we aim to improve the nation's health and well-being, the Y is also focused on community integrated health strategies that strengthen the linkage between traditional health care and community-based prevention initiatives in order to help individuals prevent, delay or live better with chronic conditions. It's already happening across our branches in the Greater Charlotte community as we work to improve quality of life for all through our suite of chronic disease prevention programs, including YMCA's Diabetes Prevention Program, Parkinson's at the YMCA, LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA and EMPOWER. Many of these life-changing programs are offered at no cost in order to provide access for all. The Y is a leading 501(C)(3) nonprofit committed to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living, social responsibility and giving back. Every day, we work side-by-side with our neighbors to make sure that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. Deeply rooted in the community for more than 140 years, we have the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change. Every day, the Y supports kids, adults and families, who need us most with programs that protect, teach, connect, heal, nourish and encourage. It's how we empower communities and the “us” who live in them to realize their incredible possibilities and full potential. With emphasis in the health and fitness industry focused on small groups to medium sized groups, an outdoor training station will not only serve as offering another variety of fitness, but bring families, friends, and new members together. Ultimately, the addition would promote healthier living while promoting unity within our community for all. Having a one-stop multi-functional station would allow for multiple groups to coincide and socialize. We can't do it alone. We count on the generosity of our donors to make a better us possible. Every dollar donated stays local and helps address our community's most critical needs. Client Experience: I was diagnosed with cancer in September of 2018, had three rounds of chemo, a major surgery, and then another three rounds of chemo. The Y was there for my journey to regain my strength and get strong again. The first few weeks I took the elevator up because I couldn't climb the stairs. I was greeted with a team of caring, compassionate and encouraging instructors. I could do much of anything the first day and that was okay. Little by little I started responding and getting stronger. I literally rejoiced the day I could climb the stairs and tackle exercise. On Fridays, we had groups time for cancer patients. The Y has a saying that says "Mind, Body, Spirit". The mind and body involve the physical exercise. I was all in for the physical part, but not so sure of the group time. I didn't want to sit around in a circle and listen to everyone moan and complain about their illness. I was definitely proved wrong about this. We quickly became a family. It has been a year since I heard the word "cancer."  I have to admit I am pretty proud of myself. I walk into every appointment with confidence, energy and spring in my step. I climb stairs, clean house, and work in the yard with a smile on my face. I am now back at my Pilates, yoga, and stretch classes as part of my weekly routine. The Y gave me strength, confidence and courage to tackle life again. More information on organization: https://www.ymcacharlotte.org/branches/lowes

Organization Mission: To make a significant contribution to the health and wellness of our Iredell County neighbors in need. As the only free medical clinic in Iredell County, HealthReach provides free medical care and medications to patients who have no health insurance and limited means to pay for care. Project: To purchase badly needed medical equipment to support patients with chronic illnesses. Impact: Funding from Love United Iredell would enable HealthReach to purchase a Hemoglobin A1 analyzer and a portable vital signs machine. The Hemoglobin A1c analyzer would enable our staff and volunteers to monitor patients with diabetes on the spot and obtain results while patients wait. Similarly, the portable vital signs machine would enable our team to quickly and accurately assess key health indicators, including blood pressure, oxygen saturation, heart rate and temperature. Client Experience: A professional painter and handyman, Sam B. has owned his own business for years but found health care insurance to be cost-prohibitive. Several years ago Sam found it increasingly difficult to work because of extreme pain in his right hip. In desperate need of care, Sam was referred to HealthReach. Our clinical team sent him for free x-rays and found significant bone degeneration due to early onset of arthritis. His condition was so bad that there was no joint space left and the head of his femur was starting to remodel itself as it was pushing into his hip socket. At HealthReach, we assessed Sam's overall health needs and began to address his immediate pain with free non-narcotic medications and physical therapy. We then devised a smoking cessation plan to help Sam stop smoking. Because of our partnership with Iredell Health System, we were able to arrange for Sam to have full hip replacement surgery. Sam is now fully recovered and working again! To express his gratitude, Sam gave us a wonderful surprise: his first job after recovery was to repaint the lines in the HealthReach parking lot! More information on organization: http://healthreachclinic.org/

Organization Mission: G4G (Grill 4 God) Ministries is a faith based, non-profit ministry committed to glorifying our awesome God by serving a hot meal and ministering to the homeless and those who face hunger every day. G4G reaches into low income communities physically and spiritually with our mobile grilling and ministry impact teams. We seek opportunities to make a difference in someone's life by loving them and providing for their critical needs of food, hope and encouragement. Project: G4G Ministries will host two "Love Your Community" projects. The “Love Our Community” outreach events will serve food, love, hope and encouragement in low-income communities across Iredell County. These events will unite community agencies, churches and more than 50 volunteers of all ages. Impact: $1,970 will fund two community outreach events that will impact 600 adults and children in Iredell County Client Testimonial: Paul's Story: At each G4G event a hot delicious meal is served, and a prayer tent is set up offering drinks, prayer, love and encouragement. In October, one of our ministry impact team volunteers shared Paul's story of how his life was eternally impacted at a G4G outreach event. Paul approached the tent expecting a drink. The volunteer handed him a coke and then asked if she could pray for him. At that moment Paul took the hand of the volunteer and pulled her aside. With tears in his eyes he shared how sick he had been for some time. He felt alone as if God had deserted him. He poured his heart out to a most compassionate volunteer. When he finished, the volunteer gently leaned in, placing her hand upon his shoulder and began to pray. After praying, Paul lifted his head, with tears flooding down his face he told the volunteer he felt God's presence again and had hope for another day. Because the mission of G4G is to feed people physically and spiritually, Paul's faith was renewed, and his life transformed that day. G4G was privileged to lead Paul to a newfound hope in Jesus and share with him a delicious meal. This is just one of the many stories of lives encouraged and impacted for good because of G4G's commitment to fulfilling its mission. More information on organization: https://g4gministries.com/

Organization Mission: Our mission is to support community members facing crisis using a holistic approach and to be their voice with community education and advocacy. Project: To purchase two new commercial refrigeration units for the Helping Center's food bank. Impact: Yokefellow Ministry would like to purchase two new reach in commercial refrigerators. Daily we are challenged to maintain our well-loved appliances to make sure they are all performing within approved safe temperature ranges. Just this past Monday we came into the Helping Center to find that one of our refrigerators had quit working over the weekend. We were grateful that the unit was empty and we did not have to throw away any food. All of our refrigerators, with the exception of one, are home model appliances. These refrigerators were not designed to be used in the capacity that we are using them. We are constantly opening and closing them causing additional wear and tear on the older appliances. Ultimately we would like to replace the older inefficient home models with commercial quality appliances designed to meet the needs of our clients. Glass front door models will allow us to offer more fresh produce to our clients as well being more cost effective to our agency. Just like our clients who have to choose between food and bills, we are having to choose between what has to be refrigerated, what will be okay to stay refrigerated, and what will we have to give to the farmers for livestock. Client Experience: Savannah and her husband are both type-two diabetics who have come to Yokefellow Ministry for several years, but only when they "really needed it." This past year their health has declined and they were told it was because they were not eating correctly. If something did not change they would both have to start using insulin. They needed to add more fresh fruits and vegetables to their diet or their health would continue to decline. They were troubled by their health and could not figure out "how do I afford the added expense of fresh produce on a fixed income?" Fortunately they have found a resource at Yokefellow Ministry's Helping Center since each month we distribute over 10,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables. Recently Savannah came into the Helping Center and announced that because of the fresh produce her health was better and she was able to reduce her diabetic medications. For many of our clients like Savannah eating healthy options is just not affordable. By offering fresh produce for free, our clients are willing to try things that they might not normally purchase at the grocery store. Savannah and her husband had never eaten brussel sprouts before because of the expense and fear wasting money on something they may not like. During her next visit she asked if we had any more brussel sprouts because her whole family loved them now. More information on organization: http://yokefellowministry.squarespace.com/

Organization Mission: To support all Iredell County first responders by providing assistance during a personal financial crisis, full debriefings, individual or group crisis management and critical incident stress management through chaplaincy and counseling services. The mission is fulfilled by trained and certified chaplains and support staff who provide specialized guidance and support. Project: Providing basic needs, such as food, for first responders as they are on-shift, ensuring their health and safety during the times when they are most likely to ignore it themselves. Impact: Feeding first responders a nutritious catered or homemade meal at their respective workplaces (stations) will ensure the first responders continue to stay properly nourished and hydrated. Also, it will allow them to enjoy a meal provided for them and they will not spend their money on food. Often, first responders are responsible for the purchase of three meals per shift. Meals will be served to groups of first responders at their respective workplaces. It gives many first responders the opportunity to get out of their vehicles, for example, and enjoy eating and communicating with their fellow officers during a meal, avoiding long periods of isolation. If they are called to an emergency during the meal, a First Responders Support Services volunteer will ensure their meals are wrapped or fresh food is prepared for them upon return. Client Experience: "What a great way to fellowship with fellow first responders than to have a meal together provided by a caring group. A hot, prepared meal allows us to get together, eat nutritiously and talk about what we all understand. We can share our challenges, stresses, and the positive aspects of our work. And...we can save our personal funds since we typically have to purchase at least two meals per shift. When we are on a call for hours, we need nutrition; we need snacks; and many times we need a meal. We appreciate First Responders Support Services showing up to help and when we need them the most." More information on organization: https://firstresponderssupportservices.org/

Organization Mission: The United Way of Iredell County improves our community and its people by uniting partners to meet local health and human service needs. Project: To fund a continually updated 24/7 resource for anyone trying to find a human reservice need. Impact: United Way of Iredell County would like to build awareness, use and support for NC 2-1-1 as a vital resource for individuals throughout the county. Funds raised will be used directly to support and pay for the 24 hour, 7 days a week NC 2-1-1 access for the county. Without this service many individuals will not be able to find and access the many nonprofits we have within the area. This could easily lead to individuals losing hope, which often is the most important resource whenever there is any hardship. All services and nonprofits within the database are updated annually and have continuous access to change anything within their agency profile at any time. This assists greatly in keeping the NC 2-1-1 database as up to date as possible throughout the year. Any printed resource guide would not have the ability to stay relevant at any time. Client Experience: Billy is a 65 year old veteran who has recently had a series of hardships, such as the diagnosis of his wife with cancer (his only living family member) and potentially losing the family home because of all the medical bills which he was trying to pay off for her cancer treatments. Billy has never before needed to worry about where he will sleep that evening or where his next meal will come from, but suddenly he finds himself asking all of these questions. He finally has to admit that he needs to find some assistance. Luckily a neighbor saw him losing hope of ever being able to recover from this one incident. The neighbor let Billy know about a phone number called 2-1-1 that has all the local human resources needs in one place. All Billy needs to do is make one phone call to find a wealth of information on the services around him to help. Through 2-1-1 he is connected to resources which can assist his wife in her treatment. He is also connected into resources which can assist in his utility bills, which is just enough so he is able to make the needed mortgage payment. He is connected to several area options for food and can connect into support services that the local hospice offers. Since Billy has never before needed to ask for help, he had no idea where to turn until one phone number granted him access to a wealth of knowledge and life-changing services. This simple phone number, available 24/7, has given him back the most important resource in any troublesome circumstance, hope. More information on organization: www.UWIredell.org

Organization Mission: Girl Scouts builds girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. Project: to secure funding to train adult volunteer leaders and make Girl Scout membership available to all girls and adults who are interested, regardless of their socio-economic background Impact: Since 1912, Girl Scouts has empowered girls to explore new fields of knowledge, learn valuable skills and develop strong core values. By participating in Girl Scouts, girls become responsible, productive, caring and engaged citizens. In order to reach more girls, we need to recruit and train additional positive adult role models who will help guide our girls. Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont offers a wide range of training courses to help prepare adults to serve as volunteers and to effectively deliver the Girl Scout program. Our goal is to provide girls with the best possible experience in a safe and fun environment, guided by supportive adults. We know our volunteers live busy lives, and fitting volunteer training into their schedules and paying for it can be a challenge. We offer many brief online adult enrichment courses that build skills in specific subjects like Girl Scout troop meeting planning, and we host all-day and weekend-long Adult Learning events that cover many subjects, including tent camping, fire building and first aid. Girls who participate in Girl Scouting: Are happier, healthier and less likely to engage in problem behaviors or be victimized. Achieve more academically and feel more engaged in school. Become strong job applicants. Become successful, well-adjusted adults. Client Testimonial: My daughter greatly benefited from Girl Scouts. She was shy and didn't have many friends until she joined. I saw a great difference in her. When I decided to help lead the troop I found my own strength and courage. It's been unbelievable to share this with her. She's now working on an award and I couldn't be more proud of the young lady she's become. And she has a lot of friends now. More information on organization: www.girlscoutsp2p.org

Organization Mission: The Drug-Alcohol Coalition of Iredell is committed to the reduction and prevention of alcohol and substance misuse, overdose, and overdose deaths in Iredell County. Project: County-wide education and prevention of drug and alcohol related issues Impact: From 2008 - 2018 there have been 317 poisoning deaths of Iredell County residents. 254 of those were the result of an opioid overdose, and countless others have experienced a non-fatal overdose. In August 2019, DACI sponsored Iredell County's first Overdose Awareness Candlelight Vigil in honor of International Overdose Awareness Day. This event served to honor individuals, families, and friends who have been impacted by overdose or overdose deaths, and was attended by over 100 community members, law enforcement, and elected officials. Funds raised for this project will be utilized to promote a county-wide overdose prevention and awareness campaign. This project will coincide with International Overdose Awareness Day, and will conclude with the 2nd annual candlelight vigil. In partnership with over 50 coalition member organizations, DACI will raise overdose awareness by sharing county and state statistics, personal testimonials, and community resources through social media, print, radio and presentations. DACI will also raise awareness that overdose does not have to be fatal, and will provide Naloxone to individuals, family members, and organizations upon request. In addition to the larger community, this campaign will target community groups, school systems, and employers to spread substance use education and overdose awareness. Participating in Love United Iredell will help expose the mission and vision of DACI to a broader community base who may not be aware of the impact substance use issues and overdose are having in Iredell County, or who may not know how to link to available resources. Client Experience: I was privileged to be able to participate in the county's first Overdose Awareness Day candlelight vigil. It was deeply moving to see people from so many cross-sectors of our community come together to acknowledge this epidemic that is impacting our families. I saw representatives from law enforcement, Mayor Kutteh, Commissioner Bowles, and other community leaders come together with children and adults who have been impacted by overdose either personally, or through a family member or friend. Attendees were able to connect with others who understand the deep traumatic pain caused by overdose. It was powerful to hear the testimony of someone who has survived an overdose, and the hope they were able to offer others who may be struggling with addiction. I don't think people realize the large percentage of our community who have been affected by overdose in one way or another. The grief of losing a loved one to overdose is no less painful than any other loss. I am so grateful to DACI for hosting this event that honored the lives lost, acknowledged the pain of those left behind, encouraged those who are struggling, and brought awareness that overdose does not have to be fatal. We must reduce the stigma of addiction to help our community move towards recovery and healing. - Janice H. More information on organization: http://daciredell.org/

Organization Mission: Our mission is to create stress-free zones in the classroom for bullied youth, by fueling purpose, and extinguishing defeat. Project: To purchase a metal frame building that will provide space for bully prevention/intervention, mediation and literacy/tutoring services. Impact: This project will be able to assist students from local elementary/middle schools to be able to provide intervention and mediation services to help students focus on academics instead of aggressive behavior. Client Experience: Our bullying prevention and intervention program were requested by a local principal that was experiencing bullying issues with a number of students at their school. While working with the students during mentoring sessions to resolve bullying problems we found that the majority of the aggressive behaviors were from students that we struggling in academics, especially reading and math. The students are in need of a place to be able to have group and one on one tutoring, to help build a strong literacy program for students that are in need of academic help. More information on organization: https://www.facebook.com/AfterShock429/

Organization Mission: The objective of the Police Athletic League is to establish and provide mentoring services for students in the Iredell County area who are at risk for violence and who face serious challenges, including poverty, crime, unemployment and low educational attainment. Project: Purchase of computers, software, sports equipment and smartboards for their summer and afterschool programming. Impact: Our program has been able to be sustainable because of the depth of its partnerships. We have been funded by the Police Athletic League for two consecutive years and have already submitted our 2020 proposal. This past year, we exceeded the enrollment for youth. We believe that collaborative relationships are the key to successfully impacting communities. Schools, parents, and the community should work together to promote the health, wellbeing, and learning of all students. These partnerships result in sharing and maximizing resources. And they help children and youth develop healthy behaviors and promote healthy families. Our partnerships include the United Optimist Club of Iredell County, Positive Direction for Youth and Families, and Christian Outreach of the Piedmont. Through these partnerships we have been able to positively impact the community since 1998 Client Experience: Mentee's Names: Curtis "Since coming to the PAL afterschool program I have witnessed Curtis taking the initiative to do his homework. Also he has given more attention to his personal hygiene. For that I and grateful!" --Dee, Guardian Mentee's Names: Amiyah and Shaniyah "Both Amiya and Shaniyah have become more positive in their thinking and more assertive in critical thinking." --Sylvia, Mother Mentee's Name: Emma and Lane "My son's attitude has improved! And both of my children love coming to PAL afterschool; the staff has great patience to helps them to get their homework done, yeah!" -- Amanda, Mom Mentee Name: Cayla "My daughter gets mad when it is time to leave. She loves the extra time with her classmates, mentors, and creative dance team! Please keep it going!" --Lashonda, Mom More information on organization: please provide link

Organization Mission: To transform the way youth engage in the community by instilling strong work ethics. Project: Teach teens customer service and communications through a two week Customer Communications Workshop. Impact: Support of YIPE, in partnership with Love United Iredell, will assist YIPE in serving youth in our community by providing customer service/communications training for those who enroll in our training workshops. This generation has the ability to multi-task unlike any other generation, however, our experiences have verified that our youth today are lacking the communication skill necessary to exceed in ordinary circumstances.YIPE skills trainers will meet young folks at their current level, and provide coaching to enhance their individual personalities while building their skills and abilities. This is executed through our YIPE@Work Program and the peer to peer interactions during our two-week Customer Service & Communications Workshops. These workshops teach important skills such as: Public Speaking, Effective Communication, and essential Office Skills.YIPE does not place emphasis on the income levels or dwelling locations because our focus is built on making our youth explore diversity and inclusion through communications within the community. YIPE focuses on making our youth aware of the importance of overcoming barriers by not becoming victims who dwell on their present status, but are accountable for themselves as individuals. As we continue to grow in the community, our mission is to continue to assist our youth in becoming better communicators who are confident and compelled to build relationships in our community, leading to opportunities in all aspects of life. Client Experience: Julius Greene is at the podium, which is customary at the end of each training session, practicing his newly learned public speaking skills. Mr. Greene is speaking of the confidence and ease he now experiences while speaking in public. This confidence is a direct result of his participation in the customer service/communications training at YIPE.Another young lady, who successfully completed the office and communication skills training at YIPE, was hired as an accounting assistant in downtown Statesville. She is currently building additional career focused skills in the accounting field and hopes to continue her education in that direction. More information on organization: https://www.facebook.com/yipeyouth/

Organization Mission: Green Camps supports the youth organizations in modeling sustainability to inspire green behavior change in the millions of youth and adults impacted by the camp experience each year. Project: Host a series of educational workshops to help community members better define, understand and take action to access the benefits of going green. Impact: "Going Green" is a vague and intimidating term. We all know we need to do more to live sustainably, but how? Green Camps is proving that regular folks can easily reduce their environmental impact, regenerate natural systems, and powerfully advocate for the natural world we all love. The outcomes of these actions will create a healthier planet, create new job opportunities and reduce consumption of the resources needed to sustain future generations. We are raising $5,000 to help launch the first ever “Go Green Statesville”, an education event focused on inspiring green behavior change in the residents and businesses of our community. A series of educational workshops will engage participants on “green” topic like green cleaning, waste reduction, energy and water conservation. At each workshop Green Camps trained volunteers will lead a presentation and include a hands-on learning activity like folding an origami pot and planting a seed or playing with worms while learning about composting. Outcomes of Go Green Statesville include improving community health by reducing exposure to toxins, saving money through reduced consumption of water and energy and reducing our community's environmental impact. More information on organization: https://www.greencamps.org/ Green Camps is a project of Community Partners. To view a video on this program: https://1drv.ms/v/s!Au8CPbHWIA4CgpMFoiGgB4HrguYLiA

Organization Mission: Operation Angel Wing is a non-profit organization 501(c)(3) that works as liaison specifically targeting the individual needs of American Veterans/First Responders and their families who are suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress. We are dedicated to aiding and assisting our service men and women either individually or as a family unit. Project: Purchase materials to provide equine therapy to Veterans and First Responders and their families Impact: Operation Angel Wing offers highly effective non- invasive alternative therapies to Veterans and First Responders along with their spouses and family members suffering from PTS including Suicide prevention. The organization offers the most abundant and highest level of alternative therapies in Iredell county. Operation Angel Wing offers these life changing therapies at no cost, including RTM Protocol, hypno-therapy, timeline therapy, and offering in 2020 with a projected kickoff date of June 1st, 2020, Operation Angel Wing's Equine Therapy. The training is highly specialized for military and first responders dealing with PTS and will be the first military equine therapy in Iredell County. Client Experience: July 6th, 2019 Dear Mary, I'm writing to you to let you know how deeply appreciative I am that the Operation Angel Wing organization traveled to assist Bob with his recent memory issues. As you know Bob was a 29-year Army Veteran and in local law enforcement for 18 years with St. Johns County. With our son, Payton completing his 4th tour as an Army Ranger and the recent passing of my father, who was also a Veteran, along with Bob's nephew committing suicide after his release from the Army, our family has been going through some pretty tough times. Bob has always been a pillar of strength for me and our family so I did not realize the impact it was having on him. With Bob's advancing age, there are some definite signs of early dementia, so you can understand my feeling that nothing was going to change his current course. I truly felt I was going to lose him to himself. In talking with you by phone during the interview process, you assured me that in spite of the organic disease process, there was hope for us. Bob symptoms were all of but not limited to; poor sleeping habits, if any at times, extreme insecurities and anxieties along with bouts of confusion coupled with anger. It was a valid concern that Bob would deny that anything was wrong and would refuse help since he was always the one helping us cope. It was truly amazing to have Operation Angel Wing immediately assist and teach us both coping techniques for anxiety along with explaining to us what was happening physically and emotionally. You gave him such a boost in confidence and validity when we formed a local event around honoring Bob for his service to our Nation. He was so enthusiastic after the event, that he was asking if he could travel locally and volunteer for your organization. LOL, you understand why I had to deter that offer. Bob is doing much better physically and emotionally considering the organic disease process, but the coping techniques that you worked with me on as far as the anxiety has positively impacted my daily routine. I am now able to help Bob with his anxiety when I see it starting to get out of hand. I would just like to let you know what you have done for my family and I pray that you will continue to help others like us. Operation Angel Wing is truly the missing link to healing Veterans and their families. And if there is anything, I can do to help you, please do not hesitate to let me know. With deepest gratitude, Tamara Holtz More information on organization: https://www.operationangelwing.com/

Organization Mission: Piedmont Mediation Center's mission is to promote and bring about the peaceful settlement and prevent the escalation of conflict through mediation, facilitation, conciliation, and training. Project: Provide educational and job training expenses to youth in the programs 15-21 years old to complete the Restoring Youth: Creative Counts and Caring Communities program. Impact: For our youth programs (Restoring Youth: Creative Courts and Caring Communities) we work with youth 8-26 that have offended a person or their community, and are willing to work toward repairing the harm done, and showing a willingness to change their behaviors and/or attitudes. In 2020 we expect thirty 16-18 year old youth in our programs to attend an introductory college level class or job training program as a part of their "repairing the harm done" and their competency development. Through the collaboration of Mitchell Community College (MCC) and our public high schools, the tuition and fees are waived for eligible high school students attending a college level class through the Career and College Promise department at MCC. However, some of the educational expenses are not covered by this collaborative effort. Because of these expenses, our youth, who are often low-income, cannot avail themselves of this wonderful opportunity to take a college level class. The job training expenses can be costly depending on what field you desire. Some examples of things would be scrubs for class, steel toe shoes, tools, books and gas card. Research tells us that most offenders outgrow their offending behaviors because they acquire skills, get a job, develop close, caring personal relationships, and form attachments and ties to pro-social groups and institutions. The most effective interventions for reducing recidivism actively engage offenders in structured and specific skill-training approaches and provide opportunities for them to practice and demonstrate new skills. Client Experience: This is a new opportunity for our youth, due to raise-the-age that went into effect 12-1-2019; therefore, there are no testimonials for this specific need. Here is wording from a restorative project that explains the value of education. Just imagine the potential if this young person had taken an Intro to Engineering course in their senior year of high school: In order to accomplish my goals, it is necessary to make a plan. Every big goal can be achieved in smaller steps as long as one can take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Making a plan makes success more possible and optimistic as you can foresee challenges and avoid potential problems that you may be unprepared for if you have not planned ahead. While things may not go exactly as planned, plans still act as a helpful guide. In the future, I would like to be an aerospace engineer for NASA. Beginning in my sophomore year, I had become increasingly curious in the universe beyond Earth. My original dream was to be an astronaut. I researched NASA astronauts and what they did for education in preparation for their careers. I found that many of the astronauts were either aerospace engineers, physicists, or various other STEM major graduates. I looked into the various majors that were prevalent and realized I was pretty interested in the aerospace engineering major.I knew that if I did not end up as an astronaut with this degree, I would still have a lot of potential both in the field of space exploration and other fields such as national defense or commercial flight. I was also very motivated by the way engineering is used to solve problems and create new and innovative solutions. More information on organization: http://www.piedmontmediation.com/

Organization Mission: To inspire and empower people to seek and maintain recovery and health Project: Fund would allow the renovations to one room which will directly support clients during times of crisis and allow clients the confidence to move forward in their recovery efforts. Impact: The indigent population in the community come to the FBC when they are in crisis. Some have no clothing, food, transportation and most of all no hope. My staff are able to support them during their crisis and give them hope for the future. In a newly renovated Day Room they would be able to sit with peers and staff for dinner, group and down time and feel comfortable. At the end of the stay they would be able to choose an outfit to wear to placement and feel proud. Mental Health and substance abuse effects numerous households in the community and if the patients stay and gets support they are not likely to return to drugs and alcohol and become upstanding citizens in the community. Client Experience: I was a client here and I chose the road to recovery and you can too! That doesn't mean it is going to be easy, but it isn't difficult to maintain either, all it takes is little grit, faith, and belief in one's self to master that mountain. A little bit about myself. I'm 28 years of age an African American male, an addict, a thief and had a deep scarring from pain and walking a path that wasn't healthy for myself mentally, physically or spiritually. For 11 years beginning at the age of 18 to 28 I thought I had it all, and that I didn't need help or support, like anyone whom allows pride to overtake their decisions. I was the shot caller in my own world. After, awhile I realized that work to an extent, was not enough to sustain positive growth. I stayed in trouble, dropped out of high school. After my first charge, I decided that I would return to school to receive my GED which I was successful. Then I went on to a Community College were I began taking computer programming courses. But later my addiction caused me to stumble. Needless to say I chose my addiction over furthering my education. Years had passed an I had gone to jail, lost my family and friends. I also, lost love for myself, I began doing things that I knew wasn't the life for me, because I had lost love for myself. I reached out to the wrong people looking for love. I had found myself with strangers doing things that wasn't of my standards of life or love. I suddenly realized I couldn't do it alone, and nor can you. It does not hurt or make you less of a man or woman to ask for HELP! I did and I couldn't be more THANKFUL and you can to. My journey has just begun and I'm excited to see what my future holds ahead. If I can open my eyes and mind to a new journey in my life and fight with loyalty to self so can you. I am an ADDICT and I hope my story HELPS you through your recovery. More information on organization: https://www.daymarkrecovery.org/locations/statesville-crisis-recovery

Organization Mission: Provide emotional support for Veterans and their families that are in hospice care or in a end of life situation. Project: Honor veterans towards the end of life during the "We Honor Veterans" ceremony with purchased pins and materials. Impact: We will be able to expand our program by providing hats/ pins and lap blankets as well as printed materials that will expand the awareness of what we do and who we are. This will also have a great impact on educating the Veteran community on benefits and who to contact for those benefits. Volunteers with The Veterans Heart Group routinely participate in a "We Honor Veterans" ceremony honoring all veterans of peace time or war who are receiving hospice care at the end of their life. Families are invited to join, and are an integral part of the recognition. The ceremonies are organized by fellow vets, and consist of a salute, a certificate, a handshake, and a pinning. The ceremonies are accompanied by singing of military hymns. Client Experience: Recently, the Veterans Heart Group was invited to two separate “We Honor Veterans“ Pinning ceremonies being conducted by Hospice and Palliative Care of Iredell County. The families, and the veterans they honored were grateful for the recognition which led to sharing stories, comradery, and laughter. Following another recent ceremony, the Veterans Heart Group received a phone call from the son of a veteran who they had honored, thanking them for their support and for making his dad smile during a very difficult family time. The ceremony had significant impact on the family. More information on organization: http://www.veteransheartgroup.org/