The Foundation’s Board and staff reviewed over 62 grant proposals from nonprofits in or serving Gaston County. As a result, $723,000,000 was granted in 2024 to the following organizations:

Backpack Weekend Food Program, Inc. - $5,000

This grant will be used to help with weekend meals. These meals are sent home weekly in food bags that consist of healthy non-perishable food items.

Bountiful Blessings Food Pantry - $50,000

Funds for this grant will be used to cover annual operational expenses and bulk food purchases from Second Harvest Food Bank and other entities.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Gaston - $20,000

Funds will be used for after-school enrichment programming that provides an affordable, safe learning environment for members to complete Boys & Girls Club enrichment programs each day after school and during the summer. The Boys & Girls afterschool enrichment program will help Club members stay on track with their academics, receive emotional support and adult interactions to help students move to the next grade level, and graduate from high school with a plan for their future.

Camp Centurion, Inc. - $4,500

This grant will fund a strategic plan to ensure long-term success of the organization. Camp Centurion’s mission is to provide local veterans experiencing difficult transition from military to civilian life with the essential secure environment, services, and support to be able to finally “come home.” The community nature of transitional housing will provide fellowship and the forging bonds as the veterans help each other to achieve goals.

CaroMont Health Foundation: Cares Campaign - $500,000

The Cares Campaign envisions a robust network of education and training designed to ensure the future of health and wellness for the people of the Greater Gaston community. Funding will assist in increasing the availability of scholarships and financial support for students preparing for healthcare careers. Funding will provide multiple education options for students, including on-the-job training, technical colleges, two-year community colleges, four-year colleges and universities and apprenticeships via individual, varying scholarship awards.

Catawba Lands Conservancy: Spencer Mountain Trail - $250,000

This grant is for funding for the Spencer Mountain Trail construction. Spencer Mountain is the third highest peak in the Charlotte region. The trail project includes a multiuse base loop trail, a trail to the summit for hikers and people with mobility limitations, various trail structures, and public art.

Catherine’s House - $25,000

This grant will help expand the aftercare program which just completed its second year and celebrated some of its first graduates. Funds allow clients to continue to receive individualized trauma-informed therapeutic and case management services after they leave Catherine's House to help ensure that they remain in permanent housing and maintain adequate employment.

Charlotte Symphony Orchestra - $10,000

Funds will support a free community concert for Gaston County residents at Stowe Park in Belmont, marking the orchestra’s first full-orchestra performance in the county in over 20 years.

Christ Community Outreach Food Ministry - $5,000

This grant will be used to purchase an upright freezer for the food ministry program.

Classroom Central - $7,500

Grant funding will provide core, urgently needed school supplies to be distributed through the Free Store and Mobile Free Store to serve Gaston County schools and students in need.

Dallas High Shoals Christian Social Ministry- $7,500

Funding will be used to implement upgrades that aim to enhance the efficiency of the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CFSP) offered by the USDA. This essential program is specifically designed to cater to the nutritional needs of the community’s most fragile seniors. This program caters to 155 low-income seniors each month, providing them with additional items and meeting their basic needs.

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden - $15,000

This grant will help expand the education and outdoor recreation programs and provide accessible opportunities for community engagement. The key objectives are to bolster accessible educational activities for schools with programs such as field trips, camps, and have year-round educational opportunities for the community.

Dream Center Academy, Inc.- $25,000

Grant funding will support the purchase of a new bus to facilitate transportation of students to and from the Academy during after-school and summer programs; to transport students’ home in the evenings throughout the school year; and to transport students to and from off-site enrichment clubs, field trips, job shadowing internships, college tours, and service projects.

DYEP Distinguish Youth Enrichment Program - $5,000

Funding will be used to help with supplies and food for the after-school program.

Flynn Fellowship Home - $20,000

This grant will be used to do major repairs to the front entrance of the home. These repairs must follow code for historic buildings due to the home being in the historic district.

Gaston College Foundation - $20,000

Funds will be used to supplement student experiential learning experiences through participation in academic competitions and undergraduate research to build STEM competencies.

Gaston County Education Foundation - $16,000

Gaston County Schools (GCS) is implementing a new ESL Initiative to provide sheltered classes to support Multilingual Learners (MLs) in 14 schools across the district. Funds will promote lead teachers to coach staff in meeting the needs of multilingual learners across the district.

Gaston County Museum of Art & History - $15,000

This grant will be used to celebrate the Dia de los Muertos Cultural Festival. Gaston County Museum has been able to better serve the Latin community of Gaston County by celebrating this traditional Mexican holiday.

Gaston Literacy Council, Inc. $12,000

This grant will be used to expand/increase the availability of ESL instruction. Enrollment has more than doubled, increasing from 129 in 2022-2023 to over 300 in 2023-2024. A large number of immigrants from Haiti have moved (and continue to move) into the area and are eager to learn English language and literacy skills, allowing them the opportunity to obtain self-sustaining work and be a productive and participating member of our community.

Gaston School of the Arts - $15,000

Funding for the GSOA Children's Playhouse theatre space will support renovations needed due to its age, past use and future use. This project is part of a larger, long-term project to renovate the space both cosmetically and technically.

Habitat for Humanity of Gaston - $60,000

The material cost to build a sustainable Habitat 3BR/2BA or 4BR/2BA home is estimated at $185,000 each. This grant will provide funds for the foundation for these homes at a cost of approximately $20,000 each. With the help of volunteers and the homeowners themselves, we will construct these homes using eco-friendly materials.

HealthNet Gaston - $10,000

HealthNet Gaston began the Hypertension project in May of 2023. Our outcomes show the success of our program, and we continue to track the data. Funding will continue to provide clinical services, supplies and education to assist patients with uncontrolled hypertension to better manage this chronic medical condition.

Heart Society of Gaston County, Inc.- $10,000

This grant will be used to provide lifesaving cardiac-related medication to clients in Gaston County who are uninsured or underinsured.

Holy Angels, Inc. - $25,000

Holy Angels aims to provide the highest quality of care for residents and that includes ensuring the safe transport of each resident to/from recliners, wheelchairs, changing tables and shower trolleys. All of Holy Angels’ children are non-ambulatory, relying on the use of a lift and body sling as part of their individualized plan of care. This grant will help with the "Lifting Our Angels" project by assisting in the purchase of six mechanical lifts and 42 slings for its youngest residents.

Loray Girls’ Home - $35,000

This grant will be used to remodel the kitchen. LGH is committed to a healthy lifestyle for residents. Mindful eating, nutritionally conscious cooking, and sharing ideas is encouraged. An adequate space where learning to cook and sharing ideas can happen is needed. The current kitchen was remodeled in 1986 and little if any improvements have happened since.

Next Level Disaster Relief - $10,000

Funding will enhance disaster preparedness training throughout Gaston County.

Off the Streets Program, Inc. - $10,000

Grant funding will be used to provide increased community outreach, day-to-day operations, transportation, and supplies for the women who are seeking employment.

Piedmont Council Boy Scouts of America - $8,000

The First Responders Exploring Program provides local high school students with the opportunity to participate in a career readiness program to explore future careers. This grant will help subsidize the cost of this program.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina - $12,500

Grant funding will support mobile pantries in Gaston County. Mobile pantries are an excellent way to get fresh fruits and vegetables to underserved communities. Fresh produce has the highest nutritional value. Produce boxes will contain approximately 10 different produce items including both fresh fruits and vegetables. Each box will provide 20 pounds of fresh produce.

The Gastonia’s Potters House - $7,500

Grant funds will be used to continue the support of clients at The Potters House. A fluctuation of new clients is expected due to the closing of the Salvation Army's overnight housing assistance in Gaston County.

The King’s Daughters Ministry - $7,500

This grant will fund flooring replacements at the Emeral House Shelter, ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for women and children.

The Town of Cramerton - $50,000

This grant will assist in funding the Riverlink Greenway Trail Extension from Wilkinson Boulevard to Riverside Drive in McAdenville. This project is being planned in conjunction with the Town of McAdenville, seeking to connect historic downtown areas by extending the existing Riverlink Greenway Trail along the South Fork River into McAdenville.