West Charlotte organization lands $1 million gift for education, housing stability

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The Howard R. Levine Foundation continues its efforts to support a west Charlotte community.

The Renaissance West Community Initiative announced Monday a $1 million gift from the Levine Foundation, which will be directed to the new Educational Pipeline Initiative. It aims to advance RenWest’s mission with a focus on quality education, housing stability, health and wellness and increased social mobility in the former Boulevard Homes Apartments.

“For many years, the Howard R. Levine Foundation has been a dedicated partner in our community,” said William H. “Mack” McDonald, RenWest’s chief executive officer. “They believe in our multigenerational, neighborhood-based work, steeped in opportunity. This gift continues their strong legacy of commitment to our neighbors’ success.”

The Howard R. Levine Foundation was established in 2010 as a donor-advised fund held at Foundation for the Carolinas.

RenWest says the gift will bolster efforts to provide reliable childcare, recruit and retain high-performance teachers, and provide out-of-school-time academic support for residents of the Renaissance and Little Rock neighborhoods along West Boulevard.

The 334-unit Renaissance homes were redeveloped in 2016 by Laurel Street and Inlivian.

The organization ensures the area’s youngest students begin at the Renaissance West PreK-8 school, thus eliminating learning gaps, providing a stable childcare environment for working parents and reducing stress for families striving to improve their socioeconomic status.

Previously, another $1 million donation underwrote the $15 million comprehensive campaign that funded the construction and operating costs of the Howard Levine Child Development Center (HLCDC) at the front of the community, as well as additional programs and services for families within Renaissance West.

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