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Charlotte, NC, September 29, 2022 — Some 150 community leaders, donors, and guests convened at the Terrace at Cedar Hill on Thursday, Sept. 29 to raise money and celebrate the success of Renaissance West Community Initiative’s work in eradicating intergenerational poverty in our community. The Renaissance Mentors: A Night of Extraordinary Impact, featured Live and Silent Auctions that included opportunities to win an exciting experience both for the winning bidder AND members of the RenWest community. In addition, Presenting Sponsor Ally Bank helped RenWest CEO Mack McDonald present the 2022 Resident Achievement Award to a “rock star” resident to a standing ovation by the assembled crowd recognizing her for achieving extraordinary milestones and serving as a role model of success in the community.

A Paddle Raise to support the RenWest community’s 5-star Howard Levine Child Development Center raised more than $70,000 to help fund Early Childhood educator recruitment and retention. The Paddle Raise was infused with excitement when an anonymous donor committed an additional $25,000 to match donations to the cause.

The most spirited bidding occurred around a one-hour Lunch and Mentoring with Celebrity Athlete and Sports Analyst Steve Smith, and an Exclusive Box Seat Experience at a Charlotte Hornets Game Day for 20 donated by Ernst and Young. “We had an amazing outpouring of support and community to make this a truly one-of-a-kind event that was both fun and successful,” Mr. McDonald said. “Many thanks to our generous sponsors, our community businesses who donated the experiences we were able to auction, and the wonderful attendees who opened their hearts and their wallets to our community.”

Event Sponsors include Ally, Novant Health, SteelFab Inc., Duke Energy, Atrium Health, Fifth Third Bank, McGuireWoods, Deloitte, PwC, Ernst & Young, Brighthouse Financial, MDC Marketing Group, and Southminster.

About Renaissance West Community Initiative:

RWCI was launched in response to a critical need to improve economic mobility and break the cycle of intergenerational poverty for residents living on West Boulevard near the Billy Graham Parkway. RWCI serves 1300+ residents in the Renaissance and Little Rock Apartment neighborhoods, including 800+ students at Renaissance West STEAM Academy and the Howard Levine Child Development Center.

RWCI’s mission is to restore opportunity through comprehensive neighborhood revitalization and to advance those served by concentrating resources on the West Boulevard Corridor, a geographic area that has historically experienced the severe impact of structural injustice and socio-economic disparities. RWCI combines housing stability, an educational continuum from 6 weeks to college and career success, and coordinates the provision of wraparound services to focus on multiple critical factors to ensure children and families have the resources they need to be successful.