In case you weren’t one of the almost 900 attendees at the March 25, 2019 SEED20 event at the Knight Theatre ~ we’ve got the scoop. And PS ~ next year, don’t miss this evening event. It will lift you up, inspire you and remind you why our city is Queen. Jen B and I went and it was AWESOME. Let’s all get tickets together next year ok?
What Is SEED20?
In an effort to empower and support nonprofits tackling some of this area’s toughest problems and to contribute to the innovative, vibrant culture in our region, Social Venture Partners (SVP) created the annual SEED20 program for social entrepreneurs. SEED stands for Social Entrepreneurs EmpowereD. The “20” represents the twenty organizations or individuals who are selected to participate. Read more on the SEED20 website here.
The mission of SEED20:
To promote the power of social innovation.
- We believe in the power of social innovation to unleash breakthrough ideas that creatively attack tough social challenges.
- We connect innovative people and organizations to funders, to one another, and to the broader Charlotte community.
- We empower nonprofits with the skills and confidence to tell their stories in ways that inspire people to act.
- We educate the community about pressing social issues and organizations that are dedicated to addressing them.
The SEED20 2019 Finalists:
Brand the Moth Sam Guzzie Co-Founder & Executive Director
Brand the Moth supports community arts and mural education in the Charlotte area by creating volunteer-based mural projects that make the arts more accessible and relevant to the surrounding residents. Brand the Moth also supports first-time muralists by giving them the knowledge and tools they need to succeed.
FB | TW @brandthemoth IG @brand_the_moth WEBSITE brandthemoth.org
The Investment Pathway a program of Ada Jenkins Center Georgia Krueger Executive Director
The Investment Pathway program pairs clients and staff to reveal root causes of economic challenges and develop goals for reaching economic stability. Wrap-around support like education, workforce development, and medical and dental services help families in making progress toward these goals.
FB | TW| IG @AdaJenkinsNC WEBSITE adajenkins.org
Cops & Barbers INC Shaun Corbett Executive Director
In the wake of the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown, barber Shaun “Lucky” Corbett and detective Garry McFadden created Cops & Barbers INC to bridge the gap between the Police and the community they serve. Since the barbershop is a trusted cornerstone of the community, Cops & Barbers establishes meaningful connections making it easier to have the much needed dialogue necessary for a sense of hope, determination, and relationship building.
FB | IG @CopsandBarbersWorldwide TW @CopsandBarbers1 WEBSITE copsandbarbersworldwide.com
Joe’s Camp a program of Joe Martin ALS Foundation Neil Cottrell President
The Joe Martin ALS Foundation empowers families to overcome the challenges of living actively with ALS. Children, often forgotten as caregivers, need help as well. Joe’s Camp provides an opportunity for these kids to have fun and connect with others who understand ALS and how it affects their life.
FB @TheJoeMartinAlsFoundation TW @JoeMartinALSFnd IG @jmalsfoundation WEBSITE joemartinalsfoundation.org
Para Guide Foundation Shannon Houlihan Executive Director
Para Guide enables para-visually impaired individuals to experience a more enriched life through guided physical activities including swimming, cycling, running, walking and group exercise. Para Guides provides funding to athletes for entry fees, camps and transportation as well as coaching and training plans for the athletes.
FB @paraguide1 TW | IG @para_guide WEBSITE paraguide.org
QC Scores Katie Phillips Executive Director
QC Scores is a free after school program that is proven to help kids establish healthy habits and develop critical life skills. The mission is to give children an opportunity to be part of a team, to wear their very own jersey, and to have a coach/mentor they can call their own. QC Scores gives every child in Charlotte a chance to play, regardless of their background or socioeconomic status.
IG @qcscores WEBSITE qcscores.org
Workers Collaborative Center a program of Latin American Coalition Jose Hernandez-Paris Executive Director
The Workers Collaborative Center serves day laborers, often ignored members of our community, who wait for work on street corners through hot summer days and snow in the winter, demonstrating an incredible commitment to providing for their families. The Center offers not just the dignity of a safe indoor space, but also is a shelter where workers are trained, wages are recovered, and the individual becomes family.
FB @LaCoalicionCLT TW | IG @la_coalicion WEBSITE latinamericancoalition.org
Hope Vibes Emmanuel Threatt President
Hope Vibes brings awareness, hope and real solutions to the homeless epidemic by providing dignity through personal hygiene products and building social relationships. Hope Vibes has initiated the Hope Tank Project, a mobile laundry and shower vehicle to further meet the healthy hygiene needs of the homeless and provide them dignity, motivation and hope to launch them into a better future.
FB | TW | IG @hopevibesclt hopevibes.org
A Better World Kamilah North Executive Director
A Better World’s mission is to rescue at-risk kids in West Charlotte from lives of despair by enriching their physical, mental and spiritual development. This after-school program does more than just help kids raise their grades. The goal is to elevate the trajectory of kids’ lives by providing a range of resources from basic necessities to mental health services with the end result of uniting communities, parents, and schools.
FB | IG @ABetterWorldCharlotte TW @abetterworldclt WEBSITE abetterworldcharlotte.org
Foster Village Charlotte Becky Santoro Co-founder
Foster Village Charlotte creates a village of support for our local children in foster care and those caring for them by meeting urgent needs, providing support to stabilize foster homes, and advocating for lasting change in the child welfare process. Foster Village Charlotte is a community beyond the system.
FB | IG @fostervillagecharlotte TW @fostervillCLT WEBSITE fostervillagecharlotte.org
How You Can Support their Work:
Consider a gift of support to one or more of the 2019 SEED20 Finalists and Semi-Finalists. TEXT TO MAKE A SECURE DONATION BY SENDING “GIVE” TO 704.343.8828 and then enter the hashtag code below for the non-profit you would like to support:
- #abetterworld ……………..A Better World
- #brandthemoth……………Brand the Moth
- #thebulb ……………………….The Bulb
- #cltfood…………………………Charlotte-Mecklenburg Food Policy Council
- #copsandbarbers………..Cops & Barbers INC
- #digitalangels………………Digital Angels
- #familiesforwardclt…….Families Forward Charlotte
- #familyimpact ……………..Family Impact Fund
- #fostervillage……………….Foster Village Charlotte
- #hopevibes …………………..Hope Vibes
- #investpath…………………..The Investment Pathway
- #jacc ………………………………JA Company Program
- #joescamp…………………….Joe’s Camp
- #paraguide …………………..Para Guide Foundation
- #soccershots………………..QC Scores
- #queencityunity ………….Queen City Unity
- #rebuildclt…………………….Rebuilding Together of Greater Charlotte
- #renwestclt…………………..Renaissance West Community Initiative
- #toolbagclt…………………..Toolbag for Success
- #workerscollab ……………Workers Collaborative Center
The Winners
Really, everyone was a winner, literally and figuratively, thanks to sponsor Wells Fargo giving $5000 to each of the 10 finalists. The three winning finalists of additional cash prizes were:
