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Our Work

Focusing on education, health and financial stability, United Way works to address our community’s economic mobility challenges, while always providing a safety net for our neighbors that face unexpected life challenges.

Whether it’s the needs of an entire neighborhood or simply the needs a family has for tomorrow, we’re always working together with our community to improve economic mobility and ensure everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

The Hard Truth

A child born in poverty in the Southeast has very little chance of climbing out if it during his or her lifetime. In fact, Charlotte-Mecklenburg ranked 50th out of 50 among the largest U.S. cities in economic mobility in a recent Harvard University/UC Berkeley study. All too often, access to economic opportunity in our region is aligned with the zip code and neighborhood where one lives. That must change.

A Trusted Leader

When we come together with one voice, our community is truly advocating for our neighbors in need. From our unique position at the center of the nonprofit, government, philanthropic and business communities, United Way drives focused collaboration among our partners to address community-specific challenges with an emphasis on education, health and financial stability, and to provide avenues for everyone to engage in creating change.

A New Approach

To create an environment of opportunity, where every child born in our community can succeed, we need to focus on three key areas: People, Places and Systems.

AN ENVIRONMENT OF OPPORTUNITY

To create an environment of opportunity for all, we focus on building stronger neighborhoods, improving the systems that serve children and families and providing basic needs support across our region. This targeted approach is fueled by broad civic engagement that brings together the people, resources and services necessary to improve economic mobility.

Impact Grants

We support our five-county region through a network of partners that work collaboratively to provide comprehensive and coordinated services that will improve economic mobility and achieve results greater than any single organization.
View Partners

United Neighborhoods

We work to change the odds for those in our most under-resourced neighborhoods by supporting community-driven holistic neighborhood transformation and revitalization efforts.
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Unite Charlotte

We support new and grassroots organizations through grants and capacity-building activities focused on improving racial equity and increasing social capital.
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Focusing on education, health, financial stability and basic needs, we work to address our community’s economic mobility challenges. Our two-generation approach supports the entire family by intentionally focusing on the needs of both parent and child.

Education

We invest in the future of our community, starting with early education and ensuring children have access to the resources needed to improve literacy and raise graduation rates.

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HEALTH

We improve health and wellness by increasing access to health care and providing people the information and resources needed to make healthy choices.

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FINANCIAL STABILITY

We help families achieve financial stability, reduce homelessness, and eliminate barriers to housing.

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Basic Needs

We equip families with the tools they need to address or prevent crises, so basic needs are never out of reach.

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Join the Fight

Behind all our work, there are people like you who get involved in big and small — but always significant — ways to ensure a better future for our families and communities.

Get Involved

Communities We Serve

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Anson County

Anson County

The local office, advisory board, agency partners, and volunteers in Anson County are dedicated to raising and allocating funds that stay local, making sure that lasting change takes place closest to home.


To learn how you can LIVE UNITED in Anson County, please call 704.694.2600.


Board Members

  • Scott Rivers (Chair), South Piedmont Community College
  • Michelle Brock, South Piedmont Community College
  • Josh Bricker, Uwharrie Bank
  • Beth Diggs, Carolinas HealthCare System Anson
  • Shelby Emrich, Anson County Chamber of Commerce
  • Michael Freeman, Anson County Public Schools
  • Tyler Fitzgerald, Waste Connections
  • Wesley Horne, Hornwood, Inc.
  • Lula E. Jackson, Anson County Department of Social Services
  • Mary Lauzon, Columbus McKinnon
  • Travis Steagall, Peachland-Polkton Elementary School
  • Jerome Williams, JJ Haines
  • Kim W. Wilson, Kiker Resource Management
  • John V. Witherspoon , Community Volunteer

Local Partners

  • American Red Cross- Western North Carolina Region
  • Anson County Domestic Violence Coalition
  • Anson County Partnership for Children
  • Boy Scouts of America, Central NC Council
  • Feed My Lambs
  • Girl Scouts, Hornets’ Nest Council
  • HOLLA! Helping Our Loved Ones Learn & Achieve
  • Union-Anson County Habitat for Humanity
  • Union County Crisis Assistance Ministry, Serving Anson County

Cabarrus County

Cabarrus County

The local office, advisory board, agency partners and volunteers in Cabarrus County are dedicated to raising and allocating funds that stay local, making sure that lasting change takes place closest to home.


To learn how you can LIVE UNITED in Cabarrus County, please call 704.786.4179.


Community Office
363 Church St N Suite #130
Concord, NC 28025


Board Members

  • Chief Ray Allen, Concord Fire Department
  • Donald Anthony, Grace Lutheran Church
  • Anita Brown, Community Volunteer
  • Dr. Pamela Cain, Community Volunteer
  • Robby Carney, Cabarrus Economic Development Corporation
  • Brian Cesca, NorthState
  • Marcus Childs, Polypore International
  • Dave Davis, Wells Fargo
  • Gayle Deal, Community Volunteer
  • Mike Downs, Cabarrus County Government
  • Bill Dusch, Community Volunteer
  • Leslie Eagle, S&D Coffee and Tea
  • Timbs Fulghum, Atrium Health
  • Barbara Ganus, Community Volunteer
  • Jeff Gates, Community Volunteer
  • Gina Goff, Community Volunteer
  • Brian Hiatt, City of Concord
  • Mayor Darrell Hinnant, City of Kannapolis
  • Diane Honeycutt, Allen Tate Realty
  • Pat Horton, Uwharrie Bank
  • Bill Hubbard, Atrium Health
  • Steve Johnson, Vanderburg Enterprises
  • Barbi Jones, Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce
  • Richard K. Lewis, RKL Aviation Consulting
  • Dr. Chris Lowder, Cabarrus County Schools
  • Amos McClorey, Community Volunteer
  • Ann Morris, Rowan Cabarrus Community College
  • Margaret (Peg) Morrison, Community Volunteer
  • William Niblock, Niblock Development Corporation
  • Jennifer Parsley, AIM Tours/City of Concord
  • Michelle Riley, Community First Bank
  • Susan Smith, Community Volunteer
  • Richard Snyder, Community Volunteer
  • Steve Steinbacher, Cabarrus Brewing Company
  • Will Swink, F&M Bank
  • Lisa Worley, Corning

Local Partners

  • Academic Learning Center
  • American Red Cross - Western North Carolina Region
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Carolinas
  • Boy Scouts of America, Central NC Council
  • Boys and Girls Club of Cabarrus County
  • Cabarrus Meals on Wheels
  • Cabarrus Victims Assistance Network
  • Cannon Memorial YMCA
  • Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy
  • Coltrane LIFE Center
  • Community Free Clinic
  • Communities In Schools of North Carolina
  • Cooperative Christian Ministry
  • Esther House of Stanly County
  • Families First in Cabarrus
  • Girl Scouts, Hornets’ Nest Council
  • Habitat for Humanity Cabarrus County
  • Hope Haven, Inc.
  • Hospice and Palliative Care of Cabarrus County
  • Legal Aid of North Carolina
  • Logan Child Development Center
  • Mental Health America of Central Carolinas
  • The Arc of Union / Cabarrus
  • The Salvation Army of Cabarrus County

Charlotte / Mecklenburg County

Charlotte / Mecklenburg County

The local office, advisory board, agency partners and volunteers in Charlotte / Mecklenburg County are dedicated to raising and allocating funds that stay local, making sure that lasting change takes place closest to home.


To learn how you can LIVE UNITED in Mecklenburg County, please call 704.372.7170.


Community Office
301 S Brevard Street
Charlotte, NC 28202


View Our Board Members


Local Partners

  • A Child’s Place
  • American Red Cross - Western North Carolina
  • Arthritis Services
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Carolinas
  • Boy Scouts of America, Mecklenburg County Council
  • Care Ring
  • Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy
  • Charlotte Community Health Clinic
  • Charlotte Family Housing
  • Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center
  • Child Care Resources Inc.
  • Communities in Schools of Charlotte-Mecklenburg
  • Community Link
  • Council for Children’s Rights
  • Crisis Assistance Ministry
  • Disability Rights & Resources
  • Florence Crittenton Services
  • Girl Scouts, Hornets’ Nest Council
  • Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont
  • Hope Haven
  • KinderMourn
  • Latin American Coalition
  • Legal Aid of North Carolina
  • Levine Jewish Community Center
  • Love INC
  • Men’s Shelter of Charlotte
  • Mental Health America of Central Carolinas
  • Metrolina Association for the Blind
  • NC MedAssist
  • RAIN (Regional AIDS Interfaith Network)
  • Right Moves for Youth
  • Safe Alliance
  • Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte
  • Teen Health Connection
  • The Arc of Mecklenburg County
  • The Center for Community Transitions
  • The Learning Collaborative
  • The Relatives
  • Urban League of Central Carolinas
  • YMCA of Greater Charlotte
  • YWCA Central Carolinas

Mooresville / Lake Norman

Mooresville / Lake Norman

The local office, advisory board, agency partners and volunteers in Mooresville / Lake Norman County are dedicated to raising and allocating funds that stay local, making sure that lasting change takes place closest to home.

To learn how you can LIVE UNITED in Mooresville / Lake Norman, please call 704.664.2284.


Community Office
228 N Main Street
Mooresville, NC 28115


Board Members

  • Gary Andaas, Robinson Home Products
  • Miles Atkins, Town of Mooresville
  • Catherine Bentz, Bentz & Associates
  • Bradley Caplan, Polymershapes
  • Brian Carlson, Huber Engineered Woods
  • Julie Cooper, Carolinas HealthCare System
  • Geoffrey Durboraw, Community Volunteer
  • Sue Falcone, Community Volunteer
  • Larry Griffin, Jr., Griffin Brothers
  • Eric Livingston, EY
  • Scott Lunsford, Coatings 2000
  • Jim Marshall, Blueharbor Bank
  • Rachel Meyers, Irvin Law
  • Andy Myers, Wells Fargo
  • Kathryn Nusbaum, Baird
  • Gerard Reid, Shelco
  • Kim Sellers, Town of Mooresville
  • Erskine Smith, Community Volunteer
  • Jessica Stewart, Mooresville South Iredell Economic Development Corporation
  • Scott Traub, Modern Nissan of Lake Norman
  • Jonathan Wiechers, Ingersoll Rand
  • Tamara Williams, Central Piedmont Community College
  • Carole Windle, Wells Fargo

Local Partners

  • Ada Jenkins Center
  • American Red Cross - Western North Carolina
  • Davidson/Cornelius Child Development Center
  • Exchange Scan
  • Fifth Street Ministries (Diakonos)
  • HealthReach
  • Iredell Council on Aging
  • Lake Norman Community Clinic
  • LIFESPAN
  • Mooresville / Lake Norman Christian Mission
  • Our Towns Habitat for Humanity
  • Piedmont Mediation Center
  • Safe Alliance
  • The Salvation Army of Statesville, NC
  • YMCA of Greater Charlotte

Union County

Union County

The local office, advisory board, agency partners and volunteers in Union County are dedicated to raising and allocating funds that stay local, making sure that lasting change takes place closest to home.


To learn how you can LIVE UNITED in Union County, please call 704.283.1537.


Community Office
102 E Franklin Street
Monroe, NC 28112


Board Members

  • Jack Hargett (Chair), Hargett Electric Company
  • Carolina Aponte, CAJA Holdings
  • Jim Brewer, Pinnacle Financial Partners
  • Dr. Rhett Brown, Wingate University
  • Ron Brown, State Utility Contractors
  • Ricky Collins, ATI Specialty Materials
  • Cindy Coto, Union County
  • Dr. Ed Davis, Community Volunteer
  • Larry Faison, City of Monroe
  • Chad Griffin, Charlotte Pipe & Foundry, Plastics Division
  • Maria Hodge, Pilgram's
  • Dr. Andrew Houlihan, Union County Public Schools
  • Lynn Kroeger, Union Academy
  • Michelle Lancaster, Union County
  • Dr. R.J. Lightsey, Tyson Foods
  • Mike Lutes, Carolinas HealthCare System Union
  • Dale Morefield, The Enquirer Journal
  • Cheryl Neely, The Kinship Group
  • Dr. Gwen M. Perkins, Circle Medical Associates
  • Steve Poston, Wingate University
  • Dr. Nancy H. Randall, Wingate University
  • Pam Sanders, Park Sterling Bank
  • Mark Schulman, RSC Chemical Solutions
  • Tahira Stalberte, Union County Public Schools
  • Helen Thomas, First Citizens Bank
  • Mike Van Wingerden, UTC Aerospace Systems
  • Denise White, Carolinas HealthCare System Union
  • Matthew Whitt, BB&T
  • Phil Williams, Community Volunteer

Ex-Officio Members

  • Angela Bower, Community Volunteer
  • Pat Kahle, Union County Chamber of Commerce
  • Bill Norwood, State Utility Contractors
  • Sally Ormand, Community Volunteer
  • Dr. Jerry Thomas, Community Volunteer
  • Carol Tyson, Community Volunteer
  • Tom Williams, Community Volunteer

Local Partners

  • American Red Cross- Western North Carolina
  • Boy Scouts of America
  • Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy
  • Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center
  • Child Care Resources Inc.
  • Community Health Services
  • Council On Aging in Union County
  • Girl Scouts, Hornets’ Nest Council
  • HealthQuest
  • Legal Aid of North Carolina
  • Literacy Council of Union County
  • Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Charlotte
  • The Arc of Union/Cabarrus
  • Turning Point
  • Union-Anson County Habitat for Humanity
  • Union County Community Shelter
  • Union County Crisis Assistance Ministry
  • YWCA

Our Partners

We Unite with local nonprofits and organizations to serve nearly 250,000 people in our community every year.

View Community Partners