South Charlotte center is kick-off spot for Wells Fargo’s Day of Caring
by Ciera Choate
(Pictured left to right) Kendall Alley, greater Charlotte regional president at Wells Fargo; Tami Simmons, senior vice president and director of corporate philanthropy for the Eastern U.S. at Wells Fargo and YWCA Board Chair; Kirsten Sikkelee, YWCA CEO; Sherrill Carrington, United Way of Central Carolinas; Mark Ortiz, Home Depot; and Jay Everette, community affairs manager at Wells Fargo. Photo courtesy of YWCA
Wells Fargo will send out 2,000 volunteers this Saturday, June 2, to work with nonprofits all over the community for the second annual Day of Caring. But first, they’ll come together at the Park Road YWCA before heading out early to posts across the city.
“We served as the kick-off site last year, and we’re honored that they’re coming back to have us be the kick-off site again for the second year,” Kirsten Sikkelee, CEO of the YWCA, said.
The volunteers who stay at the YWCA will work on general beautification projects all over the 10-acre campus, including landscaping in the middle of the traffic circle on the property. Last year the participants built a small patio where the YWCA set up a picnic area.
Many people in the Charlotte community benefit from the YWCA, and Wells Fargo’s local head of philanthropy, Tami Simmons, feels the center’s work with women and children is what makes the YWCA the perfect location to start this year’s Day of Caring.
“All of those things mean a whole lot to Wells Fargo from a philanthropic perspective, but our community certainly benefits from all of the programs of the YWCA,” Simmons, who also is chair of the YWCA’s board, said.
The YWCA hosts child-care programs, and programs that allow women or families to have a safe and affordable place to live.
“For the people we are serving here – the children and families who are coming from pretty challenging situations – it means so much to them to see people in the community that are not just YWCA staff. We are just very grateful to the Wells Fargo team for their work,” Sikkelee said.
The volunteer numbers have doubled since last year. Simmons said the Day of Caring was formed to give the employees of Wells Fargo a chance to go out and volunteer for their particular nonprofit of interest. Joining the volunteers from Wells Fargo will be YWCA and Home Depot employees, and Home Deport will donate materials needed for some volunteer projects.
While some volunteers will go to many places all over the city, all YWCA volunteers will stay to work on their campus. “If it’s as much fun as we had last year then it will be fantastic,” Sikkelee said.
Volunteers will travel to more than 125 events Saturday, starting at 8:30 a.m.
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