Written by our founder, Carrie Christian.

It was 2014, and I was driving home. It was dark, and I was listening to NPR, which I rarely did back then. The broadcast was about a Harvard/UC Berkeley study called "Where is the Land of Opportunity?" that revealed which US cities offered its citizens the best and worst opportunities for upward mobility.

And Charlotte was last. Out of all the cities in all the states. Dead last.

I was shocked. Charlotte was my city. I grew up here. I wanted to raise my kids here. I loved Charlotte. But I was unnerved by how badly the city treated its financially insecure community. If you were born into poverty in Charlotte, you had little hope of getting out.

Sitting there in my car, listening to the depressing statistics about the city I loved, I couldn't help but get emotional. I cried for my city. I cried for the children and families who weren't being given a fair chance at a better life. And I knew I had to do something - but what? I had no idea, so I started volunteering.

In 2016, my husband Tom and I bought Christmas essentials and presents for young Alex and his family. Alex had recently overcome cancer, but his family was dealing with a pile of bills they couldn't pay. Alex's single mother worked long hours but struggled to meet her three children's basic needs.

One of the items we provided Alex's family was a refurbished computer. Not new, mind you; refurbished. For years, Alex and his two siblings spent hours trekking to and from the nearest library to use its computers. With access to this old computer, they could now complete their schoolwork at home. Alex's mom wouldn't have to worry about her kids being out on their own, and the family could spend more time together under the same roof. All because Alex's family now had access to something that most of us take for granted.

It felt good to help Alex's family, but how many other families were in the same financial predicament? I felt compelled to do more.

I started looking into starting a nonprofit while talking to everyone I could about Charlotte's resources and the gaps that existed in the city. I quickly discovered that impoverished Charlotte families simply didn't know where or how to get the help they needed. Or if they did know, they couldn't physically get to the necessary locations.

I decided to start an organization to help families find assistance - in whatever form necessary - while also supporting them on their journey to a more financially stable life. Dena Graziano and Angelica Rosen joined me to help found Families Forward Charlotte and ensure we had a strong plan and mission.

Since Families Forward Charlote was born, we've achieved a great deal. Our initial idea of mentoring a few families grew into training volunteers to help us mentor even more. We discovered Mobility Mentoring^® and adopted and adapted it as our training model for Family Liaisons.

With a structure, methodology, and purpose in place, our successes accumulated. As they did, our resolve to help more and more families find a path to upward mobility grew as well. Charlotte was last once; we weren't about to let that happen again.

Since the beginning, we've walked alongside our Family Partners - without judgment and without making them jump through hoops to get the support they need. Whether it be a car, a first month's rent, or a refurbished computer, we help solve the pressing, real-world issues keeping our families down so they can focus on acquiring the information and tools needed to lift themselves up - for life.

Families Forward Charlote has arrived here on the backs of our many selfless volunteers and mentors, our tireless board, generous corporate partners, and, of course, trusting Family Partners. To anyone and everyone who's had a hand in our growth, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. What started as an emotional journey still is. Every day, the push continues to make a difference.