Formalizing a long-time commitment to supporting the non-profit community in Charlotte, Wray Ward has selected four recipients of its EmpoWWer service-grant program, now in its second year. In 2020, Wray Ward will offer the agency’s strategic and creative resources pro bono to The Foundation for the Carolinas, The ROC, QC Family Tree and the Teaching Fellows Institute.

Designed to help 501(c)(3) community organizations in the greater Charlotte area, EmpoWWer service grants from Wray Ward align with the agency’s passions and industry expertise under three pillars – creativity, shelter and advancement.

“Our clients and their brands are all over the world, but EmpoWWer lets us give back to the community where we live, work, play, create and grow with our business partners, families and friends,” said Jennifer Appleby, president and chief creative officer of Wray Ward. “This year, we’re partnering with four incredible organizations whose missions enrich and empower different corners of our community.”

Wray Ward selected recipients based on a demonstrated need for the agency’s creative and strategic resources; the organizations’ alignment with EmpoWWer’s pillars; and their ability to show how the outcome of the partnership would create substantive change. The 2020 EmpoWWer recipients’ impact in the community is diverse, and each tells a compelling story: a Foundation for the Carolinas affordable housing-related initiative aims to keep at-risk tenants in their homes through education; The ROC is an organization that educates and mentors at-risk high school students for technical education and employment opportunities in the building construction industry; QC Family Tree provides resources to local youth and educates community members on how to become effective agents of change within their community; and the Teaching Fellows Institute recognizes and honors Charlotte’s outstanding teachers by providing opportunities that further develop their leadership and expertise in order to promote engaged retention.

The agency’s EmpoWWer work in 2020 will take the form of customized programs that tap into various talents from among Wray Ward’s integrating marketing communications services, including strategic planning, positioning, identity, creative development, public relations and social media.

Wray Ward has been a long-time contributor to community causes, with past pro bono partnerships including the Arts & Science Council, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont and more. EmpoWWer, launched last year, formalized that giving and fostered agency partnerships with Digi-Bridge, The Relatives, SHARE Charlotte and Charlotte is Creative.

“The diversity of our EmpoWWer partners and the range of their marketing communications needs gives the entire agency an opportunity to get involved in giving back to our community,” Appleby said. “We’re thrilled to be both champion and bench strength for these important community nonprofits in their efforts, and we look forward to activating our new partnerships throughout 2020.”

To learn more about EmpoWWer and its 2021 grant application process, please visit empowwer.wrayward.com.