Charlotte’s Ardrey Kell High School Principal Was Just Suspended For Allegations of Racism

Charlotte Stories
-
0
Charlotte’s Ardrey Kell High School Principal Was Just Suspended For Allegations of Racism

Yesterday, CMS announced that the Principal of Charlotte’s Ardrey Kell High School was suspended with pay while the board launches a full investigation into allegations of racism at the school.

Principal David Switzer has had a long history of racist allegations surrounding his leadership.

Recently, a popular white Ardrey Kell basketball player was suspended for using a racial slur toward the predominantly black West Charlotte High School, and someone also defaced a Black Lives Matter message that had been painted on a spirit rock in front of the school.

Last week, the Observer outlined a series of accusations from former and current students of the school who said that Switzer “directly contributed to a culture of intolerance at the school, using crude language, berating students and failing to seriously discipline those who made racist comments.”

Switzer even recently admitted to referring to people as “colored folks” during a staff meeting.

On June 8, CMS released the following video of Switzer in front of the school’s ‘Spirit Rock’ giving a message of anti-hate.

There are now 2 competing petitions on Change.org, one calling for the removal of Switzer and the other calling for the support of Switzer.

The “Have Principal David Switzer Resign from Ardrey Kell” petition currently has 3,792 signatures. The petition notes that “The racism that occurs at Ardrey Kell does not happen by “coincidence” but it is perpetuated, purposefully. The most recent event that has taken place on the campus with the school spirit rock being vandalized with hatred is only 1 of many incidents that have been covered by the local news in the past 6 years”, the petition ends with a series of links to all the past incidents at the school.

The “Ardrey Kell High School Community Supports our Leader” petition currently has 5,763 signatures. The petition states; “Much has been said lately in the media, which is for some reason determined to vilify David Switzer and the entire Ardrey Kell community. Let us tell you what actually happens at Ardrey Kell, and what David Switzer does here,” then goes on to detail actions Switzer has taken during his tenure.

What do you think about David Switzer’s leadership? 

Do you think he should resign or be fired? 

 

Top 10 Best Neighborhoods of Charlotte

Steve
-
0
Top 10 Best Neighborhoods of Charlotte

Charlotte is now one of the largest cities in America in terms of physical geography (due to its history of annexing so much of the land around it). It’s now an extremely diverse city in terms of areas and neighborhoods – it even has a few smaller cities within it, such as Ballantyne and South Park.

We have streetcar-era communities where buildings range from vintage factories to grand Southern estates. There are historic neighborhoods, and modern sections, working-class, and upper class.

Here are the top 10 most “livable” neighborhoods throughout Charlotte (according to AreaVibes.com);

#1 Sharon Woods

Located in the heart of the SouthPark area, Sharon Woods is primarily residential, with a sprinkling of churches and small schools.

Sharon Wood’s livability score is 86 – ranked #1 in Charlotte and #1 in North Carolina. It currently has a 98% high school graduation rate. The average home price is $302,250 and the 4,427 residents make an average household income of $88,238.

#2 Oxford Hunt

The neighborhood of Oxford Hunt contains the prestigious Beverly Crest Swim & Racquet Club and Providence High School.

Oxford Hunt’s livability score is 84 – ranked #2 in Charlotte and #2 in North Carolina. It currently has a 97% high school graduation rate. It’s average home price is about twice Charlotte’s average at $382,667, and its 4,753 residents bring in an average household income of $104,645 per year.

#3 Providence Park

Providence Park sits on the border between the rapidly expanding Cotswold area and SouthPark with a mix of old historic estates and new mcmansions. The border the Cotswold Village shopping center and they also claim one of Charlotte’s only Fresh Markets.

Providence Park’s livability score is 83 – ranked #3 in Charlotte and #3 in North Carolina. It currently has a 91% high school graduation rate. Average home prices are just above Charlotte’s average at around $188,550, and median household income is also slightly higher at $61,546.

#4 Providence Crossing

Providence Crossing is now one of South Charlotte’s favorite neighborhoods, with an extremely low crime rate, wide sidewalks, and sizable yards.

It contains the Providence Crossing shopping center with a Hickory Tavern location and one of Charlotte’s best European restaurants, Ilios Noche. They also recently built Charlotte’s newest nature preserve – Flat Branch.

The area’s livability score is 83 and it currently has a 97% high school graduation rate. Average home prices now sit around $399,225. The neighborhood’s 8,310’s residents make an average annual household income of $134,049.

#5 Ballantyne West

ballentyne neighborhood of CharlotteBallantyne was nothing more than farmland 25 years ago. When the Bissell/Harris family saw the potential of the new highway 485, they decided to build a new city in the southern tip of Charlotte. Through several partnerships, they built the Ballantyne Country Club, the five-star Ballantyne Golf Resort and Spa, a sprawling corporate office park (now home to some of Charlotte’s Fortune 500 companies), dozens of high end restaurants and shops, and many desirable new subdivisions.

Ballantyne East and Ballantyne West are nearly identical in terms of ‘livability score’, but the western half is slightly better with a livability score is 83. It currently has a 99% high school graduation rate. Average home prices in Ballantyne West are now hovering at $296,475, and its 11,318 residents currently make an average of $106,620 per year.

#6 Chantilly

Chantilly is sandwiched between 7th Street and Independence Blvd., on the eastern border of Elizabeth. The homes have undergone drastic renovations over the past 20 years and on many streets, the prices have doubled and sometimes tripled.

Chantilly’s livability score is 83 and has a 98% high school graduation rate. Average home prices are much closer to Charlotte’s average at $322,700, but the 1,503 residents make considerably more than Charlotte’s average household income at $92,311 per year.

#7 Foxcroft

expesive-homes-on-Lake-NormanLike Barclay Downs, Foxcroft is another neighborhood within the SouthPark area. For at least 50 years, the Foxcroft neighborhood has been one of Charlotte’s most desirable, featuring uniquely large lots, mature trees, and stunning landscaping. The Crepe Myrtle trees canopy the driveways and streets throughout the neighborhood in the summer and the old oaks just seem to envelope you as you drive through the lush, green community. Homes prices in Foxcroft range from $500,000 to over $2.5 million with homes built in the 30’s next door to renovated or re-built homes just completed in 2009.

Foxcroft’s livability score is 82. It currently has a 96% high school graduation rate, and a median household income of $120,148. Average home prices in Foxcroft are $724,175.

#8 Mountainbrook

Van Landingham Estate Plaza MidwoodMountainbrook is a small pocket neighborhood in the larger SouthPark area. Besides the communities large homes, its biggest draw is the Mountainbrook Swim & Racquet Club.

Mountainbrook’s livability score is 82. It currently has a 99% high school graduation rate. Average home prices in the neighborhood are $533,850, and its 2,538 residents make an average income of $106,958 per year. 

#9 McAlpine

The McAlpine neighborhood hugs the southern most tip of Carmel Road just south of Pineville-Matthews road. It’s mostly residential with 2 commercial strips on highway 51 and on either side of Johnston Road. The neighborhood contains South Charlotte’s Amelies location, the McAlpine Creek Greenway, The Fresh Market, and a handful of fast-food eateries, health centers, and banks.

McAlpine has a livability score of 82, a high school graduation rate of 94%, and a median home value of $141,775. It’s 6,173 residents earn an average of $59,753 per year.

#10 Beverly Woods

wessex square charlotteBeverly Woods sits in the heart of what many people consider “SouthPark”. It’s located between the Quail Hollow Country Club (home of the 2017 PGA Championship), and the SouthPark Mall.

Beverly Woods has a livability score of 81. It’s high school graduation rate now sits at 98%, and the community’s 6,482 residents have a median household income of $88,673 per year. Average home prices in Beverly Woods are now sitting at $480,920.

Tired of Paying Outrageous Energy Tariffs? Here is A Way Out

Robert Tilman
-
0
Tired of Paying Outrageous Energy Tariffs? Here is A Way Out

Most homeowners pay excessive tariffs on energy consumption. With the daily use of gas and electricity, there is a need to get a better energy deal to save cost. However, many households don’t know how to go about this. They feel that the process is complicated; hence, sticking to their current supplier. It is not difficult to switch energy providers – it’s as simple as changing your shirt. How do you know when to change your supplier? If you have been using a particular energy company for too long, then there is a possibility that you are missing out on better energy deals. Who are the big six companies? These are UK-based companies that distribute energy – electricity and gas – to consumers (households) in exchange for money (tariffs).

Why Should I Consider A Smaller Energy Provider?

It is understandable to believe that the Big Six energy companies provide the best deal as a result of their size and existence. However, smaller energy companies have increased the competition in the energy market. With them come better tariffs that even rival those of the Big Six providers: EDF Energy, SSE, British Gas, E.ON UK, Npower. Though a lot of people are concerned about being left high and dry should their small energy supplier run out of business. However, this doesn’t call for concern, as it has already been taken care of by Ofgem – Office of Gas and Electricity Markets – a regulatory body in charge of the energy market in the UK. Measures have been placed to combat such situations. This implies that you will still have access to electricity and gas should anything go wrong.

Reasons To Choose A Smaller Energy Supplier:

The question that has been plaguing homeowners for many years is about the advantages of smaller energy suppliers. Sometimes, smaller companies unable to compete against larger ones because they cannot afford to expand the size of their operation. So, what do these energy suppliers offer to families that are looking to reduce their monthly outgoings? 

Here are some reasons to choose a smaller energy provider:

  • Reduced operating costs: Many small companies have operating costs that are far lower than that of larger companies. However, competition drives these small businesses to reduce their costs and also improve efficiency. One such example is that some smaller companies offer electricity as a service, where you pay only for the electricity that you consume. This helps you avoid paying for your own electricity. Additionally, some smaller companies offer cheaper rates than their larger competitors.
  • Increased competition leads to lower prices: The price reduction is partly due to the fact that several smaller companies had decided to enter into the energy supplier market in an effort to provide lower energy tariffs to consumers. With the presence of companies, like Gexa Energy, competition is increased, and bigger energy companies work hard to keep their prices down.
  • Customer support: Smaller utility companies may be able to provide better customer service than bigger energy suppliers. Since they have fewer customers compared to larger companies, they will be able to handle consumer complaints faster than mainstream suppliers.
  • Quality service: Utilizing small home electricity suppliers may help reduce the risk of power shortages and blackouts because of its smaller customer base.

These are only some of the advantages of smaller energy suppliers. Even though the market is currently dominated by larger companies, new and smaller companies can provide a level of quality service that the bigger companies cannot. Furthermore, the financial benefits for consumers translate to monthly savings on energy tariffs.

What Supplier Provides The Cheapest Energy Tariff?

This is not a straightforward question as there are several factors that determine the answer, which include your energy consumption rate and area of residence. Hence, you need an online energy consultant that will help you compare energy tariffs. With this consultant, you can view a list of energy suppliers with their tariffs and select the one most ideal for your needs.

Is The Process Complicated?

As stated earlier, you don’t need more than 15 minutes to complete the process – depending on your search. Here is how it works. Contact an online energy provider. You will be required to provide details of your postcode, present supplier, current tariff, and energy consumption rate (gas or/and electricity). Once you supply them with these details, a list of all the energy suppliers within your area will be provided, along with their individual tariffs. Compare suppliers with your needs to find out which one suits you best. Having found one, you will have to wait for 21 days for the supplier switch to be completed. During this period, your new energy provider will be in charge. Hence, you have nothing to worry about. This new company will contact your present energy provider to complete the handover process. Also, note that you will be given a cool down period of 14 days to change your mind should you decide not to proceed with the switch.

“What will happen to my energy supply during this period?” you may ask. This has partly been discussed above. Your access to electricity and gas will not be disrupted during this period. Additionally, there will not be a drop in the quality of service you receive. The only change you will notice is the name of the new energy provider.

How to Convert BTC to USD: The Easiest and Most Reliable Way

Robert Dale
-
0
How to Convert BTC to USD: The Easiest and Most Reliable Way

Bitcoin is a unique and promising innovation in the field of financial and payment systems. Today, this crypto is attracting more and more attention. It is worth noting that the uniqueness of Bitcoin is determined by the fact that this currency is based on cryptography, and also represents a new decentralized block payment system. The emergence of this virtual currency forced us to rethink traditional payment schemes and think about the evolution of the world currency order.

Due to all of the above, the question of where and how you can convert bitcoin to dollar anonymously is relevant. Therefore, in this article, we want to reveal this issue in detail.

How to Convert BTC to USD on Switchere.com?

First of all, we should mention that today there are many companies that offer quick online currency exchange services. However, Switchere.com is the best and most secure place for money exchange. This USD to BTC converter can be easily accessed using the link switchere.com/exchange/usd-to-btc.

The exchanger that is provided on the site is a kind of calculator, with which you can easily convert dollar to bitcoin. Pay attention to an important aspect: the calculation is carried out automatically, online, at the current rate. And this means that the converter is not very suitable for performing theoretical calculations, that is, determining past rates or the dynamics of price changes. However, the fast exchanger as quickly as possible carries out USD to bitcoin exchange or dollar to BTC exchange and instantly shows the result. The converter can also be used to convert any world currency, in particular, EST to USD, euro to USD, etc.

So, if you decide to use the services of Switchere.com, then we will tell you about how the currency conversion process on the website goes:

  1. Registration of an account on the website;

  2. Verify your account. The verification phase is very important in order to obtain the right to conduct a transaction. Here you need to provide information that confirms your identity;

  3. Continued checkout. If you have passed a successful verification, then at this easy stage you need to specify the id of your wallet and bind it to your account. At any time, you can easily send money to a Visa or Mastercard, credit or debit card;

  4. Payment. You will be redirected to the service payment page;

  5. Receiving USD. This is the final stage of conversion.

As we can see, the conversion method offered by the service is quite simple and convenient. It is just necessary to go through several stages.

Benefits of Switchere.com

The online service Switchere.com provides customers with a number of beneficial advantages, in particular:

  • The ease of purchase process;

  • Instant payouts;

  • Lowest prices, no prepaid, no hidden fees;

  • Payment from anywhere in the world;

  • 5-minute verification of personality;

  • 24/7 support, etc.

So, now you do not need to go to the bank in order to buy or exchange cryptocurrency. Get it online via the online service Switchere.com quickly, reliably, and without a hidden fee!

Audio Setup for Big Room

Robert Tilman
-
0
Audio Setup for Big Room

If you have recently invested in a nice new sound system and soundbar for your entertainment system in the biggest room in your home and are finding it difficult to get the sound just right, don’t sweat it. We’ve all been there at one point in our lives. 

The truth is that you don’t necessarily need a huge sound system, you just need the right size for space you are trying to fill with sound and you need to apply a few key tips, that we are going to discuss in the following post.

Invest in the Right Size of Soundbar for the Room You Are Using It In

The first thing you need to do before you even contemplate buying any soundbars is to consider the size of your room. One of the most important aspects of how to choose a soundbar for your living room is its size. There are several different sizes out there and these help you to scale the sound produced by your television and home theatre to the size of the room. 

While it’s true that you don’t need to invest the biggest always, it does need to be big enough. Although many consumers will choose a soundbar that is the same length of their television’s width and it does look nice like that, it’s the dimensions of your room that is a key consideration when buying both the television and soundbar. 

This might not be any use to you unless you are looking to buy a new television at the same time as a new soundbar, but there is a simple calculation you use. That is, the distance there is from the entertainment center, by taking the size of the television and multiplying that number by 1.5 for standard television and 7.7. for a 4K UHD television. 

For instance, using that calculation, if you have a 42-inch sized television, you should really sit 7-feet from it for the best and most comfortable experience. The great thing is that if you chose a soundbar that matched the width of your television or was a little smaller, it would provide adequate sound. 

Always Switch Off the Inbuilt Speakers on Your Television

TVs generally have low-quality speakers, which is why you are doing the right thing by investing in a soundbar. However, you need to take care of using both the internal speakers of your television and the soundbar can dilute the sounds produced.

If you’ve ever listened to the same sounds coming from different sets of speakers, you will know how much of a distraction that is rather than it is an enhancement. The reason for this is that sound when it is played simultaneously from different sources is at different decibels or frequencies, diluting the quality. 

Fortunately, most modern television sets have been designed to allow you the freedom to switch the internal speakers off. Even if this is not available, though, you could use the mute option or simply turn the volume all the way down to 0. This allows the soundbar to do what it does best.

Invest in Better Quality Cables 

Nowadays, there is a wealth of choice available when it comes to cables for audio systems. You may have a limited budget, but if you are looking to achieve the best sound quality possible, you need to invest in the best quality cables. RCA and AUX, although still used, are outdated.

The cables you should be investing in are HDMI ARC, HDMI, or even optical cables.

There are vital differences you need to consider when choosing the right one. Generally, though, HDMI ae considered the best, as they can relay visual and audio signals. Particularly if you are using different media sources, like the television, set-top box, Blu-Ray player, and a games console.

While the first three tips we have considered are most important, you can also get even better sound quality by investing in a soundbar that supports modern sound tech like DTS or Dolby Atmos and you can adjust the equalizer settings if you are given this option.

While the first three tips we have considered are most important, you can also get even better sound quality by investing in a soundbar that supports modern sound tech like DTS or Dolby Atmos and you can adjust the equalizer settings if you are given this option. Hunting for the right model for your room and your specific audio requirements can be tough, but there are lists of suggested soundbars for large rooms that can help you out, especially when you don’t have an idea where to start. Just remember to follow our tips when filtering the model and you’ll surely be fine.

The cryptocurrency of virtual currency (bitcoin), what do you need to start bitcoin?

Robert Tilman
-
0
The cryptocurrency of virtual currency (bitcoin), what do you need to start bitcoin?
via pixabay

Bitcoin is an intangible virtual currency that can also be used as a means of payment for goods and services and as a means of investment. In recent years, there are people called virtual currency masters who have increased their assets with Bitcoin. Perhaps many people would like to start investing in virtual currency Bitcoin, considering their retirement assets. It’s now easy to invest and buy bitcoins because you can now buy bitcoins online with debit card instantly.

Is Virtual Currency Always Profitable?

The price of virtual currency fluctuates, so naturally the loss will increase if the value is lower than the price at the time of purchase. There is no guarantee that any investment, not just virtual currency, will be profitable, and on the contrary, it may suffer losses.

Therefore, when starting asset management with virtual currencies, do not invest the money allocated to living expenses and mortgages. However, since you can invest from 100 yen or 1,000 yen.

What you need for virtual currency trading

What you need for virtual currency transactions is an environment that can connect to the Internet, a computer (a smart phone or tablet is possible), a wallet and a bank account.

A wallet is like a safe deposit box for virtual currency. 

In addition, when starting virtual currency trading, it is essential to open an account on the virtual currency exchange. A virtual currency exchange is a place where you can buy and sell virtual currency, and you can trade when the account opening procedure is completed. First of all, let’s prepare the communication environment and the terminal used for transactions necessary for virtual currency transactions.

Virtual currency investment is relatively easy and can start from a small amount. Of course, it does not always make a profit, but it will be easier for beginners to invest. Therefore, even for beginners in virtual currency and asset management, the principal amount of 100,000 yen or 500,000 yen could be increased to 10 million yen or 100 million yen. The image of a so-called virtual currency master is probably strong. If you are interested, why not check out the virtual currency stock you are interested in?

If you want to start virtual currency trading, why not start with Rakuten Wallet, where you can open an account? Even first-time users can easily open an account and we are also holding a profitable campaign. Check the site for more details. The auto trading bot bitcoin evolution is one of best software for making money from the bitcoin currency.

 What is Altcoin?

Alt coins that can be bought and sold not only for purchasing goods and services but also for investment. Altcoin is a term other than bitcoin among virtual currencies, and it is considered that there are more than 2,000 kinds in the world. Each has different characteristics from Bitcoin, such as being used for system development and remittance. Here, for those who are new to virtual currency, let us introduce the mechanism of virtual currency, the features of Altcoin, and the stocks that can be purchased in Japan.

Difference from Bitcoin

Here, we will introduce the difference between Altcoin and Bitcoin in an easy-to-understand manner.

・Functions and uses are different

Bitcoin was developed as a payment currency that anyone in the world can use freely. However, although Mona coins such as Ethereum can also be used as payment currencies.

・Market size is smaller than Bitcoin

The market size is smaller than Bitcoin, and the price per currency tends to be low. Although Ethereum, which is in the top 5 in terms of market capitalization, is 10,000 yen or more, there is no Altcoin in millions like Bitcoin (as of February 5, 2020).

On the other hand, we can expect the future expansion of the market size, and some Altcoins have larger price fluctuations than Bitcoin, so it is an attractive investment target.

If you try to mine by yourself, you will have to pay for machine, electricity and communication costs, but with cloud mining you can start from the 1,000 yen range without the need for capital investment. If you want to start mining as a side business or asset management, why not consider the cloud mining service introduced this time.

New Bodycam Footage Shows Police Shooting And Killing Handcuffed Black Man in South Carolina

Charlotte Stories
-
0
New Bodycam Footage Shows Police Shooting And Killing Handcuffed Black Man in South Carolina

The South Carolina Attorney General is now calling for a federal investigation after new body-cam footage shows a police officer shooting and killing Ariane McCree while he was in handcuffs.

The incident occurred this past November in a Walmart parking lot in Chester, SC, about 30 miles south of Charlotte:

Here is the newly release body-cam footage along with a report from WSOC about the incident:

After the body-cam footage was released last week, the family and numerous members of the community held a protest rally near the Walmart, which caused South Carolina’s Attorney General to call for a federal investigation.

At this point it is unclear whether or not the U.S. Attorney will open an investigation.

The Carolinas Rank Among 2020’s Most Federally Dependent States

Charlotte Stories
-
0
The Carolinas Rank Among 2020’s Most Federally Dependent States

With Tax Day postponed to July 15 and states having received hundreds of billions of dollars in federal aid during the COVID-19 pandemic, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released updated rankings for 2020’s Most & Least Federally Dependent States.

This report illustrates the extent to which states are independent economically. However, the oxymoron in this situation is that states with a higher level of federal dependence are likely better positioned to handle the coronavirus pandemic, given that most relief has come from the federal government. In order to identify which states most and least depend on federal support, the site compared the 50 states across three key metrics: return on taxes paid to the federal government; federal funding as a share of state revenue; and share of federal jobs.

South Carolina was ranked #7 (3 spots higher than their previous ranking) and North Carolina ranked #28 (7 spots higher than their previous ranking).

Most Federally Dependent States

Rank (1 = Most Dependent) State Total Score ‘State Residents’ Dependency’ Rank  ‘State Government’s Dependency’ Rank 
1 New Mexico 85.80 1 5
2 Kentucky 78.18 3 7
3 Mississippi 77.02 6 4
4 West Virginia 73.86 5 9
5 Montana 70.78 14 2
6 Alaska 68.61 7 8
7 South Carolina 67.58 4 16
8 Indiana 64.37 8 11
9 Arizona 62.71 13 6
10 Wyoming 62.26 24 1
11 Alabama 58.89 9 14
12 Louisiana 54.89 31 3
13 Maine 52.11 10 21
14 North Dakota 51.63 2 44
15 Tennessee 47.73 22 10
16 Pennsylvania 46.54 17 18
17 Missouri 44.29 26 12
18 Oklahoma 42.17 19 23
19 Maryland 41.82 15 31
20 South Dakota 40.39 23 17
21 Arkansas 39.46 41 13
22 Vermont 39.42 20 30
23 Georgia 35.18 35 20
24 New York 35.04 46 15
25 Oregon 34.89 27 27
26 Idaho 34.33 21 35
27 Michigan 34.06 29 25
28 North Carolina 33.89 32 24
29 Rhode Island 33.79 39 22
30 New Hampshire 32.42 34 26
31 Nevada 31.70 36 29
32 Ohio 31.32 45 19
33 Wisconsin 31.24 16 43
34 Texas 29.90 42 28
35 Florida 29.89 28 33
36 Connecticut 28.04 18 42
37 Colorado 27.64 40 32
38 Hawaii 25.49 11 50
39 Nebraska 25.32 43 34
40 Virginia 24.99 12 49
41 California 24.42 44 36
42 Washington 24.32 37 37
43 Minnesota 21.99 25 45
44 Massachusetts 19.16 47 38
45 Illinois 18.53 48 39
46 Utah 17.83 33 46
47 Iowa 16.53 30 47
48 Delaware 14.91 50 40
49 New Jersey 14.52 49 41
50 Kansas 12.73 38 48

St. Jude Building 7th Dream Home in Charlotte Area – The First In Waxhaw

Charlotte Stories
-
0
St. Jude Building 7th Dream Home in Charlotte Area – The First In Waxhaw

Support St. Jude and maybe win a dream house?

That’s the Dream Home giveaway. The seventh dream home in the Charlotte, North Carolina area is currently underway, and City Electric Supply (CES) Waxhaw is proud to play a part to help give away the first dream home in Waxhaw.

“We help just about every year, and because this year’s St. Jude Dream Home is being built right here in Waxhaw, it’s a little bit more special to all of us,” said Branch Manager Shawn Odom.  “Knowing that you helped with a dream home is always humbling. Attending the events, hearing the St. Jude families tell their success stories and how communities like ours are truly making a difference in their lives — it’s always a special moment that reminds you why you help every single year.”

The way it works is that members of a community purchase tickets to enter the giveaway for their dream home, and all of the proceeds go toward helping St. Jude kids and families.

“We will sell 20,000 tickets this year at $100 apiece,” said Regional Managing Director of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Jessica Fisher. “The goal this year is to raise $2 million for our patients and their families to ensure they never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing or food — so that all a family has to worry about is helping their child live. Once all tickets are reserved, we draw a winner and award the home to someone in the community who purchased a ticket.”

And it looks like the turnout this year will be bigger than ever.

“Since we’ve started, it’s been our biggest fundraiser in the Charlotte area. This is only our seventh year, but when it’s all said and done, we’ll have raised over $9 million. Every year, more and more people get more and more excited,” said Fisher. “The money we raise truly helps a lot of families, but it starts in these communities. Without them, none of this would be possible.”

The first St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway kicked off in Shreveport, Louisiana, in 1991. Since then, it’s expanded to over 20 states and more than 40 cities across the U.S.

Dream Home Builder Jeff Newton, who has built almost every Dream Home in the Charlotte area for the past six years, says the community involvement and donations allow them to build truly remarkable homes.

“Like City Electric Supply and all the volunteers who work with us to make this possible, the community involvement has been among the most satisfying parts. We rely almost entirely on donations, sponsors and volunteers, and every year we get the chance to build incredible dream homes,” he said. “You’d think that wouldn’t result in the best items or materials, but it actually has.”

St. Jude also gets a little help from kids in the community through a fundraiser. Elementary school students have a fundraiser for St. Jude through which they sell 2x4s to their community that will eventually help build the home. Once the first mission is complete, the students write messages on them for St. Jude families. This means that before the drywall is even installed, the home is filled with words of hope, strength and resilience.

“It’s always a very successful fundraiser, and it’s something that is humbling to see during the building process,” said Newton. “In this home, the kids at Stanfield Elementary signed most of them. It’s just such a powerful thing to see that it’s even been picked up by many other builders around the country to help them with their fundraising and their efforts at getting their communities involved.”

While it’s a successful fundraiser, those involved realize that it is so much more than that.

“Jeff does a great job of making sure the home is always mission-centered. It embodies what St. Jude is, which is bringing people together for a common cause,” said Fisher.

Newton especially has enjoyed seeing everyone come together.

“One of the things that I’ve been blessed with has been all the great people of Charlotte. People from every background are represented in this campaign through their donations, support and volunteer work. Everyone comes together for this common good, and it gives me hope,” said Newton. “Hope in helping kids live and hope that it’s a model of what could be in our future.”

And as for Shawn Odom, he’s looking forward to staying committed to St. Jude’s mission and doing what he can every year to play a small part in a big cause.

“What everyone does to help is important,” he said. “It might just feel like a drop in the bucket, but with everyone pitching in and helping provide what they can, it can build something truly wonderful. It’s not just about building a home for someone in the community, it’s about giving back to the families and their children who are battling something no one should have to deal with. It just feels great to be a part of it and to help any way we can.”

For more information on when tickets will be available for the upcoming Waxhaw Dream Home click here.

Top 7 Unforgettable Father’s Day Experiences Around The Charlotte Region

Steve
-
0
Top 7 Unforgettable Father’s Day Experiences Around The Charlotte Region

Give Dad a Father’s Gift He’ll Never Forget!

Father’s Day gift-giving can be especially challenging – after all, how many ties can one man wear? Luckily, research shows that people value experiences more than material items, and Dad is no exception (yay, science!). So ditch the “World’s Best Dad” mug, and check out some of the options below to give your dad a Father’s Day in the Queen’s City that he’ll never forget!

#1 NASCAR Driving Experience

nascar-driving-experience

Does your dad have a need for speed? Put him in the front seat of a NASCAR racecar with the Richard Petty Driving Experience at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Dad can experience the thrill of a 600 horsepower engine at 160 miles per hour for 3 or 8 laps (4.5 to 12 miles). These spots fill up quickly, so be sure to make your reservation in advance!

$64-$199 on Groupon

#2 Manly Spa Day

Go ahead, Dad…treat yo’self! A day at the spa can still be manly, especially at Emerson Joseph’s. Offering hot towel barber services, massages, straight shaves, facials and more (along with complimentary beers), Dad can relax in style. Let him choose his own services with a gift card, or sign him up for a specialty package that combines a full service haircut, massage, and spa services (we recommend “Man of the Year,” but Dad would probably be OK with the “Ata Boy” package, too).

$39 – $234

#3 Guided Craft Brewery Tours

gastonia-first-brewery

For the dads who just want to relax, try some new beers, and learn a little bit about the craft beer scene in Charlotte, look no further than Charlotte Brews Cruise. These guided tours visit 3 different breweries around the Queen City, and give dad a chance to try over a dozen different beers – from light refreshing tailgating beers to bourbon barrel-aged stouts and everything in between. Best of all, the experienced guide is also the designated driver, so he can truly relax and enjoy the ride. Dad will want to bring his friends (and maybe his kids, if you’re nice), so check out their private tour options if the public tours fill up!

$49 – $54

#4 Outdoor Adventure at the Whitewater Center

whitewater-center-river-jam1

For the dad who can’t get enough of the great outdoors, the U.S. National Whitewater Center offers activities for all levels of adventurers. A day pass lets Dad choose between 29 different activities for a day, from whitewater rafting to canyon jumps, and everything in between, or you can schedule a tour for a 3-4 hour rafting and canopy adventure. Think he’ll need more than a day? Season passes are also available, so he can access all the activities the center has to offer until the end of the year!

$25 – $199

#5 Myrtle Beach Resort Trip

Does your dad love water? If he appreciates fishing, lounging, water slides, and relaxing on the sad, you might want to take him to Myrtle Beach for the weekend.

Water is the main attraction at Crown Reef Beach Resort and Waterpark. The resort’s oceanfront water park features two four-story slides, a Salty’s Splash House with kiddie slide and silly sub, and other ways to make a splash. You can also swim in the heated outdoor pools or lounge in the jetted tubs for some relaxation.

$69

#6 Rent A Pontoon Boat On Lake Norman

Does your dad love to relax on the water and hates to drive?

Lake Norman Marina is currently offering a great father’s day deal on a pontoon boat rental for the whole family.

$299

#7 20 Second Free-Fall

If you want to have a truly unforgettable Father’s Day experience, why not take pops skydiving?

A 20-minute plane ride followed by a 20-second free-fall will truly be an unforgettable experience. Piedmont Skydiving is currently offering a 27% off Groupon deal.

$179-$349

 

1...863864865...1,315Page 864 of 1,315