Communities in Schools - Charlotte-Mecklenburg
            WINTER 2013
Valentine 2013-cupcakes photo

 

Roses are Red, Violets are Blue... 

CIS is Sweet on YOU!  

 

Happy Valentine's Day to all of our CIS friends - we hope you are having a SWEET day!  And for us it would be so sweet to see you at our 2013 special events! Please mark your calendars and join us for:
 

Dine Out For Kids 

Tuesday, June 18

Join us for this 14th annual community-wide event that benefits CIS! Check our website in mid-May for details and participating restaurants, and invite your friends to join you for breakfast, lunch, or dinner - or all three!
 

Lowcountry on the Green

Saturday, September 21 

Celebrate the return of fall and back to school with our fabulous Lowcountry on the Green party benefiting CIS. Enjoy scrumptious lowcountry fare, live music and a silent auction - all for the future of our children and community.

 


Volunteer Spotlight - Betsy Ferguson    

Betsy Ferguson & Elijah 

Betsy Ferguson has been volunteering through CIS at Albemarle Road Elementary School for two years now - but you'd think it was much longer than that, based on all the hours she's logged thus far! Maritza Whitesell, CIS Site Coordinator at Albemarle Road, says Betsy began volunteering with CIS in February 2011, tutoring one 3rd grade Burmese student. But after a few weeks of working with this student, she noticed how many more students who were newcomers to the U.S. needed additional assistance in the classroom.  Read More 

 

"The perks are awesome - hugs, smiles, thank you notes and hearing the kids' heated debate over whose turn it is to sit next to me at lunch!"   - Betsy Ferguson
 

Elaine Wynn, CIS National Board Chair, visits CIS-Charlotte
      
Elaine Wynn, Dan Cardinali at Reid ParkCIS-Charlotte was delighted to host a visit on February 12 from Elaine Wynn, Director of Wynn Resorts, who is a long-time CIS supporter and is currently Chairman of the CIS National Board of Directors. She was accompanied by Dan Cardinali, president of CIS National, and Gary Chapman, esecutive vice president and director of field operations, also from the CIS National office. The new president of the CIS-North Carolina state office, Eric Hall, traveled from Raleigh to join the group as well. They were here to meet with CIS-Charlotte staff and CMS administrators, including Superintendent Dr. Heath Morrison, to learn more about some of the unique programs that CIS-Charlotte is supporting, such as Project L.I.F.T. and the "System of Care" pilot initiative at Reid Park Academy.

In photo above: Elaine Wynn and Dan Cardinali at far right, with Dr. Heath Morrison and Reid Park Principal Mary Sturge (center), and CIS staff Molly Shaw, Dianne Carter, and Reggie Gilkesson.

Meeting the Challenge:  Good News from Levine Foundation
 
Exciting news to report regarding the outcome of our matching gift "challenge grant" from The Leon Levine Foundation!  With very generous support from you, our faithful donors and new friends and supporters, we met the $100,000 matching gift challenge set forth by the Levine Foundation. THANK YOU for helping CIS accomplish this very important financial goal and for helping us increase awareness of our mission in the community, while strengthening our ability to serve thousands of children who need CIS most.  We are thrilled with the results and are so very grateful for this fantastic show of support from our donors, as well as that of The Leon Levine Foundation and its belief in our organization and the work we do. 
 
Building on the Success of the Levine Foundation Challenge GrantHow you can continue to help
 

One to Watch: CIS Student Anjelica Pendergrass 
Anjelica Pendergrass headshot

Anjelica Pendergrass.
  Remember that name, because we're sure to be hearing more from her in the future!  For now, she is making her mark locally at West Charlotte High School, where she is enr olled in CIS and is a junior in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. But with what she's already accomplished at the age of 17, we believe she's just getting started! 

"Making a Difference" - New Video from CIS National 

CIS National Video ThumbnailThe CIS National Office has just released a new video to help raise awareness about the difference Communities In Schools is making in the lives of students and schools across the country.  We're excited to "premiere" it here with you now -  we hope you will share it with your friends and through social media if you are active on Facebook, Twitter, You Tube, etc.!
 
Communities In Schools is changing the lives of 1.25 million children each year. Watch this video to learn how.
 

Something to Smile About!
Give Kids A Smile Day 2013Give Kids A Smile Day - February 1, 2013 

 

On February 1, the Charlotte community worked together to provide free dental care to CIS and CMS students with the most serious dental needs and whose families have no health insurance.  Led by the American Dental Association and Junior League of Charlotte volunteers, Communities In Schools, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, CMS school nurses, Carolinas HealthCare dental hygienists, and caring dentists throughout the city gave their time and expertise to relieve these children of pain and improve their oral health. Many thanks to all of these wonderful partners and volunteers - and especially the participating dentists and hygienists. Definitely something to smile about!   

 

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View more photos on our Facebook page  

 

Reginald Hester_headshotCIS-Charlotte Coordinator Reggie Hester featured on CIS National Website 

 

Reginald "Reggie" Hester, CIS Services Coordinator for the Re-Entry Program for Youthful Offenders at Jail North and Jail Central, was recently selected by the CIS National Office to be featured on its website as part of its "Site Coordinator Snapshots" series. Click here to read the full article. We're proud of you, Reggie, and all that you do for our students!

 


CIS-Charlotte in the News  

Mark You Calendar - Upcoming Events  

 

April 18
Risk Management Association (RMA) Spring Golf Tournament benefiting CIS-Charlotte. Contact Gina Salvati for details.
  
Dine Out For Kids logo
 
June 18
Dine Out For Kids
  
Lowcountry Logo
 
September 21
Lowcountry on the Green
  
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