Wilmington Donates: $17,600
Through ImpactClub®, as Impact Venture Capitalists, we invest heavily in local charities that demonstrate a powerful “Story Engine” and have proven their willingness to fight for their cause – by competing in and winning a high-stakes competition. As a result, ImpactClub®, through Impact Venture Capitalism, has dramatically multiplied the Impact that a single person can have on charities in their local community.
The Charities
StepUp Wilmington was founded as Phoenix Employment Ministry in 2003 by the Rev. Don Skinner. During our initial decade of work, we hosted monthly “Orientations” to train and partner with 10 job seekers a month. In 2013, we began partnering with one of the leading job placement organizations in NC, StepUp Ministry in Raleigh. Through this collaboration came stronger programming, an emphasis on data tracking, increased capacity and a clearer vision of what could be achieved in Wilmington.
ACCESS of Wilmington is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization created in 2008 for the purpose of raising funds to construct the Miracle Field and Playground at Olsen Park in Wilmington, NC. Since 2013, hundreds of children and adults living with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism, and other physical, intellectual, and invisible disabilities have utilized the 33,000 square foot rubberized Miracle Field. A countless number of families have visited the Kiwanis Miracle Playground.
Inspired by the birth of his son, Jimmy Pierce started Kids Making It as a volunteer effort in 1994; he was then practicing law full time in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In 1996, Jimmy left the practice of law to move his family back home to North Carolina and devote himself to developing KMI full-time. Beginning with a volunteer pilot project in the Jervay public housing neighborhood in 1997, KMI has since taught woodworking and life skills to over 5,000 at-risk youth.
