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Doing Your Part on Giving Tuesday 

Each year, Giving Tuesday offers us a moment to pause and reflect on the power of generosity. It’s more than just a day to donate – it’s a call to action to support our neighbors, strengthen our communities and create ripples of good across greater Charlotte. Whether through donating a gift, volunteering your time or simply spreading kindness, Giving Tuesday reminds us that we all have something to contribute to others. 

It took me a while to figure out how I could give back to others in my life. During my first year of high school, my mom asked me, “Righteous, do you feel like you are doing your part?” 

I pondered the question, wondering if there was a subliminal message posed to me. Dumbfounded, I wavered a yes and then an emphatic no. 

“Good. Now that you’ve recognized it, you better start doing your part,” she said. 

Was the encrypted message regarding the pile of dishes in the sink or was it revealing some deeper challenge? ‘Do your part’ resonated as I cleaned the dishes and contemplated my purpose. 

The verdict propelled me to action, leading me to join the student council and set personal goals. Inspired to do more, I saved money and started my own nonprofit, Bags 4 Bagless, to help the homeless in my community with survival kits. In high school, I began interning for grassroots organizations like Profound Gentlemen and serving with GenerationNation. I started mentoring younger students at Renaissance West STEAM Academy as well.  

As I continued to work with grassroots nonprofits throughout my undergraduate studies, I found joy in fundraising. While a student at UNC-Chapel Hill, I successfully raised $15,000 to support Black-owned businesses that were vandalized during the 2020 protests, as well as thousands of Christmas toys for teenage parents and children fleeing abusive homes.  

These experiences shaped my passion for community building and advocacy. What I didn’t realize at the time was that almost every single one of the organizations I worked with in high school had been supported by United Way of Greater Charlotte, where I now work as a Leadership Giving Officer on the Resource Development team. 

Having grown up in the very communities we serve, our work at United Way feels deeply personal. In this role, I’ve dedicated time to building stronger connections between myself and underrepresented communities and the resources they need.  

Collectively with our network of partners, we’ve raised millions of dollars to support over 130 grassroots nonprofit organizations providing all kinds of services, from mentoring programs for youth to housing stability for families. 

Through this work, I’ve learned that solving systemic inequities requires more than just passion. It requires collective action. Too often, underserved youth are blamed for their misfortunes, yet they are rarely given the tools to succeed. Our job is to provide consistency, opportunity, and hope for those who’ve been told they have none. 

This Giving Tuesday, I invite you to “do your part” and contribute something to the greater good in greater Charlotte. Your support of United Way is an investment in the children, families and neighborhoods that make Charlotte whole. Together, we can ensure that every person in our city has the chance to thrive, regardless of their zip code.