Charlotte Creates Entrepreneurship

Everyone in and around Charlotte knows the DNC took front and center the week of September 3rd. Here at Promising Pages we are a  non-partisan non-profit and we LOVE to volunteer. Our leadership team decided our volunteer hours should be spent helping out in the many various aspects and undertakings of such a historic, and for Charlotte, unprecedented event.   

Last week I had the pleasure of volunteering with Charlotte Creates at Packard Place. Packard Place is one of the most unique organizations in the Charlotte area.  According to their website, "Packard Place is the hub for entrepreneurship and innovation in Charlotte.  Our mission is to develop fast-growth businesses and the professional community to drive them."  The businesses involved with Packard Place are divided into five specific areas including Technology, Design, Energy, Social Entrepreneurship, and Art. Several of the businesses associated with Packard Place were there to present who they were and what they do as a part of Packard Place.  

The first group I encountered was part of the Social Entrepreneurship hub of Packard Place.  The group was called Second Helping.  It is a coffee shop which employs women recently released from prison.  Melissa Mummert, Program Director for Second Helping said, “In an economy where finding employment is already challenging, women who come home from prison face an even more severe challenge as a result of discrimination against people who have criminal backgrounds.”  Second Helping is helping to change the lives of women in the Charlotte community just like Promising Pages is doing for the children we encounter. 

The next business who left a lasting impression was Eventys.  Eventys is part of the Design group at Packard Place.  It is a company that is a source for invention.  They have a website which allows people to propose an invention they think could be taken to market.  Eventys has scientists who partner with the inventor to get the invention to market.  Once to market Eventys shares the profits with the inventor 50/50.  The company has started the award-winning television show Everyday Edisons.  

One of the technology companies presenting at Packard Place was T1Visions.  T1Visions is a company trying to revolutionize the way we use touchscreen technology.  The product they were displaying was called Social Connect Touchscreens.  It is a video monitor which enabled four to eight individuals to gather around a desk with individual laptops and share documents to one common screen. The desk also has touchscreen capability to move documents or items from the web.  According to President Mike Feldman,  "Teams can connect, share, and learn using an intuitive, multitouch user interface.  Meetings become more efficient, information is highly accessible, and presentations are engaging."  T1Visions has a prototype being used on campus of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.  

The most memorable portion of Charlotte Creates was several Random Acts of Culture.  About once per hour there was a different group who would come in and perform some type of artistic expression.  One performance was a group of four ladies who did a dance which seemed to be a mixture of rhythmic gymnastics and yoga.  Another performance was a lady singing the popular Adele song "Someone Like You."  The song was interrupted with a few poems speaking about empowering women.  


Charlotte Creates at Packard Place was a very unique experience which showed off some of the best of what Charlotte has to offer. Although of business of brining books to children in Charlotte never stopped behind the scenes the week of the DNC, it was good to get out and mingle with other like-minded folks who also want to better our community and leave a long lasting mark.  I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of this and to meet so many intelligent people and their entrepreneurial spirit.  

- Mitchell Sharp

Good Times at Greenway Park

The kids do something like a wave when Wilson tells them the good news: spreading out from the center of the flock, the kids of Greenway Park Elementary leap to their feet and at the news that Promising Pages has a present, a book for each of them just days before summer vacation. It might be the most important gift during the entire span of their elementary education, or perhaps all of their education. It’s a book for themselves, that they can treasure and read over and over again, helping keep their young minds active and exploring stories and words until August comes around.

The Magic Book Party at Greenway Park Elementary was the largest event in Promising Pages history, serving approximately 600 kids, grades kindergarten through fifth grade. Because of the size, we divided the school and held two Magic Book Parties, one for first, second, and third grade, and another for kindergarten, fourth, and fifth grades. Intern Mitchell Sharp had the privilege of playing Erm the Bookworm for the second Magic Book Party, his first time doing so. Excited about the opportunity, he noted how excited the kids were, how well-behaved they acted, and how enthusiastic the teachers and other volunteers, from St. Stevens United Methodist Church, were to participate. Kids danced as they waited for their books, compared their gifts to one another, read their new presents, and looked up to Erm with a crowd of smiles, all their white teeth shining like flashbulbs, their energy barely contained, some practically bursting with wanting to cartwheel across the floor in excitement. 

It’s exciting for all of us to see kids more excited for books than summer vacation. At Promising Pages, we try to make every book special for every kid, because it really is their magic book, the book that might bring them back to being interested in reading and changing the entire course of their education. One little girl was given a book on her favorite subject: unicorns. From the excitement she showed, the smile that spread across her face and took it over, we know she will take that book home to her parents, or brothers and sisters, or aunts and uncles. She’ll want to read it to them, have it read to her, cherish it and use it to improve her reading. And lots of students from Greenway Park will have the same experience, the same desire and enthusiasm.

Donating six hundred books is a lot, and Promising Pages wants to thank all of our donors and supporters. Without your help, this party would have never been able to happen, and the kids of Greenway Park would never have been able to get their presents. With your support, we’ve been able to do so much, and will be able to do so much more. We’d also like to thank Fox News Rising and Wilson for coming out and hyping up the crowd and covering our event, and the volunteers from St. Stevens United Methodist Church. But most of all, we’d like to thank the kids of Greenway Park Elementary for letting us have such an awesome time and share the magic of their Magic Book Party.

Wilson's World Video and Article 

Fox Charlotte Rising

Like Son Like Father

Ed Rosenblatt, inaugural Chairman of the Board of Directors

Junior Ambassador Tate Rosenblatt, an avid reader, involved himself with Promising Pages at the encouragement of his father, who told him that his love of books could be his vehicle to making a difference in the world. Now, Promising Pages is proud to welcome Ed Rosenblatt as Chair to the inaugural Board of Directors. He plans to begin his term by “creating the infrastructure necessary so that all those that are committed to our vision are able to succeed,” and has high praise for both our founders and other board members. 

With Promising Pages in the midst of our One Million Books campaign, strong leadership and creative ideas are essential. We’re continuing to grow and appointing our first Chairman to the Board of Directors is a major step in our process. We’re happy to include another member of the Rosenblatt family because, at the heart of it, Promising Pages is as much about family as it is about reading: parents who help their kids learn to read and encourage them to read as much as possible are helping to provide them with a lifelong skill set, one that Tate calls, “the most important skill you can have.” As the Rosenblatt family demonstrates, it’s important that we encourage a life-long love of reading to our family and the Charlotte community.

Ed says one of his favorite books as a child was The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger’s classic. Joining Promising Pages will allow him a similar mission as Holden Caulfield’s titular dream, grabbing the kids running through the rye before they plunge off the cliff, living their lives below their potential because of a lack of books. Because of the support of Ed and Tate, and all of our volunteers, we can raise up the estimated 60,000 kids in Charlotte who do not have any books of their own. Ed promises to bring the same fervor to his role as Tate has to his junior ambassador role, in which he helped his school, Charlotte Preparatory, collect 4,180 books, a Promising Pages school-drive record. Founder Kristina Cruise says Ed “embodies all the qualities that a good board member and good citizen should have: he is sharp, professional, and kind; he cares deeply about his community. He’s the kind of guy you are proud to be associated with and the kind of leader you aim to be.”

Ed Rosenblatt, an attorney, is a member of McGuireWoods’ Government, Regulatory and Criminal Investigations Department and co-chair of the Broker-Dealers & Investment Advisers Industry Team. His law practice focuses on government enforcement, internal investigations, securities and banking regulation and compliance matters. Prior to joining the firm, Ed held senior positions with Wells Fargo & Co. (and its predecessor Wachovia Corp.,). He grew up in Baltimore, MD and later moved to Washington D.C for 14 years; he has been a resident of Charlotte for the past 7 years. He is happily married with two boys, Tate (12) and Parker (9).

Business Leaders of Charlotte Charity Golf Tournament

'Houston, we have funding.' The 8th annual Business Leaders of Charlotte (BLOC) Golf Tournament at the Ballantyne Hotel may not have paralleled the importance of a space mission, but to Promising Pages Founder Kristina Cruise, that's exactly what it felt like. “This is our first opportunity for major funding and will give us a sizable operating budget for the first time in our existence.” Promising Pages came onto the Charlotte non-profit scene 1 year ago this May. Pages' total budget up to this point? A mere $3,000 thanks to a grant from Hands on Charlotte and a donation from Carolina Business Interiors, among others. "This tournament and the generous funding just make it all feel so real," said Cruise as she thanked the participants during a delicious spanish flair dinner provided by Chef Rodolfo from El Molino bakery and catering (rodolfomontero@yahoo.com).  

BLOC was founded in 2001 and has a network of several hundred members. According to their website, “BLOC is an organization dedicated to helping our members grow through business networking opportunities, support for professional development efforts and providing an avenue for members and local businesses to get “plugged into” the community through our various outreach programs and partnerships.” This golf tournament is one of their main outreach programs.

Scott Donaghy lines up to take a shot while
James Anderson and the rest of his foursome look on.  

This year there were 13 non-profits who applied for this opportunity and Promising Pages was chosen among three finalists. According to former BLOC President and Best-In-Tech Founder Scott Donaghy, “We like to choose non-profits which are small and local. We feel BLOC can help in a larger way by partnering with small groups just starting and by keeping the groups we support local.” It's doesn't get much more small and local than Promising Pages. Pages is run by three main volunteers, Cruise, Patricia Ozmeral and Linda Bonerba. Together with the help of others they have collected more than 25,000 kids books and are busy bees as they put them back into the hands of kids in our area who are growing up without books to call their own. 

Helping kids get books to call their own is also the mission of another foundation in the Charlotte area.  Carolina Panthers Linebacker James Anderson and his foundation have donated 4,500 books to children in Charlotte and his native Virginia.  Anderson was the celebrity golfer at the BLOC Charity Golf Tournament.  He is a native of Chesapeake, VA and has been involved with children since his days at Virginia Tech.  Before the tournament Anderson spoke passionately about the kids who have benefitted from his foundation when he said, “It is great to see the look in a kid’s eye when we give them a book. They can’t believe it when they realize they actually get to keep the book.”  We here at Promising Pages share that feeling.

Promising Pages founder Kristina Cruise with
Carolina Panthers Linebacker James Anderson

Even the crummy weather Monday couldn't rain on Anderson's parade, or the pride he felt about getting books into the hands of children. At one point there was a break in the golfing action because of lightning. There were three groups of golfers that parked their carts inside a tunnel along with Anderson. At first every group was attempting to see who could tell the biggest lie about their score. Shortly after this break Anderson sank a putt of about 12 feet on hole number 17. His athletic ability was on display as well when he had a driver in his hand.  He hit the ball a good 20 yards farther than anyone else in his foursome.  It seems his pride doesn't stop at books. 

Another partner of Promising Pages involved in this tournament was Tim O’Boyle, president of Journalbooks, a great marketing tool for any business large or small. O’Boyle is helping Promising Pages through a partnership with Queens University McColl School of Business.  He and a group of MBA Exec Students are writing a business plan for a new program called the One Million Books or OMB Campaign. That's how many books Cruise feels is needed to provide all kids in Charlotte who don't have them with a shelf full of books at home.

According to O’Boyle, “Journal books has always been part of the community and helped many organizations along the way.  Promising Pages seemed like a great fit for us and for BLOC. ” We at Pages look forward to implementing the One Million Book Campaign and we appreciate the funding this golf tournament brought us. 

Michael Barnes current President of BLOC and Vice President of Carolina Connections, Inc was also instrumental in making this opportunity become a reality for Promising Pages.  Barnes was the first person to inform Cruise about the BLOC Charity Golf Tournament and how to apply to be the beneficiary.  Barnes and Cruise met in Charleston, SC at a Charlotte Chamber Retreat. He thought she would be a good fit with BLOC and encouraged her to apply.  

“Kristina was one of three finalists allowed to give a 15 minute pitch on why their non profit should receive funding.  After seeing her presentation Promising Pages was the clear choice.” Barnes said.  This was the beginning of the relationship between Promising Pages and BLOC. This funding makes Promising Pages a real player in the non-profit world.  

The Members of BLOC are mostly small businesses.  In the Charlotte community they sometimes feel like David fighting Goliath in this city full of huge corporations.  Promising Pages sometimes also feels like David fighting against a Goliath which is the fact 60.000 kids in the Charlotte region are living without books.  With the generous help of BLOC, Promising Pages will feel much less like David by having an operating budget for the first time in its short history

Cicily Young dressed as Erma the Bookworm

On behalf of Promising Pages and the thousands of kids we serve we offer our sincerest thank you to BLOC, Ballantyne Resort, James Anderson and all of the sponsors who made this possible. It may be one small step for the BLOC community, but it was one giant leap for Promising Pages.

These were not the only supporters of the tournament. In fact, the list is long and distinguished:


HF Financial                                      The Hatcher Law Group

My Dentists CNP Technologies         Advanced Tech

Bk Bookkeeping On Demand            Hibiscus Graphix

Brian Boswell CPA                           Metlife of the Carolinas

In Good Company                            Best-in-tech

Chef Mike                                         Carolinas Connections Inc.

DiCi Services                                    Cabaret Systems

Difabion Remodeling                         HM Properties

Journal Books                                   Buona Vita Restaurant

John Street Graphics

Exactly how much funding has yet to be made know, but we know it's a BIG number. The full amount will be revealed at the June after-hours at the NC Music Factory.

-Mitchell Sharp

Promising Pages newest supporter, Baby Nate.  

Promising Pages' Hot Summer Project!

McColl School of Business

At the risk of sounding repetitive, I am proud to announce Promising Pages’ new partnership! I think it says something great about the Charlotte community when Promising Pages has found so many people and organizations like Second Food Harvest, the Business Leaders of Charlotte (BLOC), and countless schools and church that have assisted, supported, and encouraged us. And our newest partnership is with the Executive MBA program at the McColl School of Business at Queens University of Charlotte.

This connection began when the McColl School of Business sent out requests for local nonprofits to work with small groups of graduate students over the summer. According to the Executive MBA Director, Nancy McNelis, “We received 13 applications and selected 5 based upon project, diversity of organization and community need. Then all 5 nonprofits presented to EMBA students and they ranked their selection. All students were assigned to their first or second choice.”

When it was time to give the presentation, our Director Kristina Cruise stepped up for the responsibility. Even for such a multi-talented, outgoing woman, deciding to take on this job really showed her dedication to Promising Pages. I am not only referring to her giving a fantastic presentation, but she took her 12 day old son in with her! And her presentation encouraged four students to choose to collaborate with our summer project. Kristina explained the specific details of the project, saying, “They will be partnering to launch our 1 million books campaign. They will be assisting us for the branding and marketing campaign. We will work with the students and staff this summer and we likely roll out the OMB (One Million Books) officially in August. We will ask all businesses, schools and churches and civic groups to participate and collect books for us during a two or three week period between August and the following August.”

A large inspiration for Kristina to apply to the MBA partnership came from some encouraging words from Charlotte Chamber member Stoney Sellars. Kristina tells me, “The OMB campaign started as the Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG), then Stoney Sellars told me in a meeting on Oct 31st, 2011 that ‘We can do this. This is a supportive community and if you don't see this as a real goal instead of an audacious goal you are missing the point.’”

Kristina took a leap of faith and pursued this goal. In return, Promising Pages now has four dedicated graduate students to help market our journey in collecting 1 million books. Karen, who voted to join the Promising Pages team, has a long history of reading. She loved Dr. Seuss as a child and she tells me now, “I read mostly nonfiction and biographies of people of interest. I also read a lot of articles.” She is a Charlotte native and is a strong supporter of Promising Pages. She says her reason for choosing Promising Pages out of the other nonprofit options was because, “I strongly believe reading is important, and my family reads a lot.” When I asked her what she hoped to accomplish with the summer project, she eagerly replied, “I hope to help contribute to the public's awareness of the program. I feel it is so important to get books in the hands of those who cannot afford them or do not have access to them. Knowledge is so important and one can learn different ways of thinking, behaviors, philosophies, can relate to others, etc. just by reading.” I speak for Promising Pages when I say my hope is that by the time they're done, everyone in Charlotte will know about the likes of Promising Pages, at least that's the goal anyway, a big hairy audacious goal, transformed into reality.

I want to thank all of my viewers for reading my blog. I will be graduating from the School of Arts at Queens in less than two weeks, and this is my last blog. But, don’t worry, our new blogger, Michelle Tabler, will be continuing to write for Promising Pages. If you want to know more information about Promising Pages, visit us at www.promisingpages.com. Again, thank you for reading!  

--Faith Lippard, Promising Pages Blogger