'Tis the season for spreading peace, hope & joy!
Looking for meaningful ways to get involved in our community? Peruse below for several organizations near and dear to us that are making significant impacts in our community.
Always Climbing Project
The Always Climbing Project works to inspire all generations to grow and become better versions of themselves through community engagement and self-determination. They offer unique, unorthodox ways of spreading positivity through various resources and platforms including the Always Climbing Podcast, Motivational Speaking, Community Service projects, and the youth-student-led Future Climbers Program.
Anne Springs
Close Greenway
This 2,100-acre nature park in Fort Mill, SC offers a scenic destination to all for hiking, biking, dog walking, horseback riding, picnics and more. The park was open to the public in 1995 by local conservationist Anne Springs Close with a mission to connect people to nature through recreational and educational activities while fostering a passion for environmental conservation, animal habitat, and protection of natural resources.
Continuing the Mission
Continuing the Mission provides fully trained assistance dogs at no cost to Veterans in need in our community. Each service dog is trained to perform tasks that help in the daily life of those with disabilities; including visual and hearing impairments, mental illnesses (such as post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD), seizure disorder, mobility impairment, and diabetes.
Mission: Improve the quality of life for Veterans living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and Military Sexual Trauma (MST) by providing them with uniquely trained canine partners.
Mark and Isaac Friday Memorial Foundation
The Mark and Isaac Friday Memorial Foundation started in 2016 in memory of Mark Friday, who died from a sudden heart attack while doing what he loved, playing tennis. Annually, a tennis tournament is held in memory of Mark with the proceeds going to fund college scholarships for local high school students.
In February 2020, tragedy struck the family again. Just 6 days after his 18th birthday, Mark's son Isaac took his own life. Everyone who knew and loved Isaac was devastated and in disbelief. The mission of the foundation grew to also raise awareness to aid in suicide prevention.
The Mark and Isaac Friday Memorial Foundation funds scholarships in memory of Mark Friday and promoting suicide awareness in memory of Isaac Friday.
Roof Above
Roof Above is a local organization that serves 1,200 people in Charlotte daily that are experiencing homelessness and extreme poverty. Offerings include everything from street outreach and basic services to emergency, short-term, permanent and traditional housing in addition to a substance-use treatment program with housing. They operate under the strong belief that home is critical to provide safety, stability, and dignity in people’s lives.
Mission: To unite the community to end homelessness, one life at a time.
The Helene Foundation
The Helene Foundation provides immediate support for mothers fighting cancer to positively impact families. The organization was established in 2009 in honor of Helene Davidian, a nurse and devoted mother who lost a courageous battle with cancer in May of that same year. Helene spent her life serving others; she found joy in giving of herself. That’s why her daughter-in-law, Dr. Tracy Davidian, established a foundation in her name - to allow Helene’s passion for serving others to continue for years to come.
The foundation is entirely volunteer driven and provides immediate support for mothers fighting cancer. These services include various support initiatives from helping with monthly gas cards for travel to treatments and appointments to childcare costs and meal deliveries.
The Relatives
The Relatives is a system of resources that has been providing safety, support and stability to local youth ages 7-24 facing crisis in our community since 1974. For young people in need, The Relatives steps in where no one else can. The Relatives is the source of hope in place of despair, acceptance in place of rejection and empowerment in place of helplessness. Services include a Youth Crisis Center, On Ramp Resource Center, and Housing programs.
Vision: We aim to be a Relative to the vulnerable youth and young adults in our community, by enabling them to achieve independence through comprehensive services tailored to their individualized needs, in a space where they feel loved, supported and accepted as their authentic selves.
Western Carolina Chapter Alzheimer’s Association
The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research. The association works on a local and national level to provide for all those affected by Alzheimer's and other dementias. Through support, research and advocacy they are making great strides toward their vision of a world without Alzheimer's tomorrow.
Mission: The Alzheimer's Association leads the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support
