Start Upward Student is Giving Back

Isaiah Lamb has a sneaker cleaning business called CLYN KYCS. He presented the idea for his business during his Start Upward presentation last fall. Realizing that not everyone has great sneakers and getting guidance from his mom, Isaiah decided there was something he could do to help his community.

He decided to collect 300 pairs of sneakers that he will clean and present to elementary and middle school students. Do Greater will provide a dropoff box for sneaker collection to help Isaiah reach his goal. You can donate new or gently used sneakers (which Isaiah will clean) sizes 1-11 at Do Greater Charlotte Monday-Friday during our normal office hours until September 1.

Please consider supporting this wonderful opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our youth. To read more about Isaiah’s service project, click here.

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Lowe’s Levels Up Student Lawn Care Start Up

One of the greatest opportunities we have is to work with motivated students who are eager to turn their ideas into reality. Two years ago, Aiden was a participant in our first Design-a-thon event where students gave input in the design of the Creative Lab at Shiloh. Now, having participated in our StartUpward Entrepreneurship class and pitching his lawn care business, Aiden is heading to 9th grade as an entrepreneur!

Special shout out and thanks to Lowe’s for supporting Aiden with a new lawnmower, blower, and accessories to enhance and expand his startup lawn care business. Lowe’s continues to demonstrate their comment to Do Greater Charlotte as a proud sponsor and as a supporter of the success of our youth.

Aiden and his mother with Gary McCoy, manager S.W. Charlotte Lowe’s.

Students Help Design a Magazine Cover

A team of Do Greater students had the awesome opportunity to design the cover art for the program book for the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame 60th Anniversary Induction Ceremony!

Students worked with creative mentor Marcus Kiser. Allezzandra Champion attended the event on behalf of Do Greater Charlotte, and Ian Goldbach (9th grade) photographed the team for the inside credit.

Thank You to Genesis Inspiration Foundation

Do Greater Charlotte is grateful to the Genesis Inspirational Foundation for awarding us $20,000 in support of our youth programs.

Together, we are making a profound impact on the lives of young people in Charlotte, nurturing the next generation of creators and innovators.

Start Upward Graduates Win Big at Pitch Competition

Jordan Neal and Jon Hardeman are graduates from one of Do Greater’s most popular programs, Start Upward—an entrepreneurship program that helps youth explore their business ideas and passions.

Their business is called Bliss Bakery, an it’s gaining momentum. Jordan and Jon came in first place at the Fall 2023 Start Upward Pitch Party for Bliss Bakery. They recently used what they learned in Start Upward in a pitch competition sponsored by Johnson & Wales University, JWU SharkFest.

We are proud to say they won first place and a $1500 prize. Do Greater CLT celebrates these young entrepreneurs! Support Bliss Bakery on Instagram: @blissbakery.clt.

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Jon and Jordan displaying their winning check after finishing first place in the SharkFest Pitch Competition sponsored by Johnson & Wales University.