What if we told you you could change your city with just $5? Enter our sophomore Give Raleigh campaign, where that’s exactly what you can do—and double your impact.
Until Dec. 15, every donation—whether $5, $10 or some larger amount you have to spare or want for a tax write-off—is being matched by our partner TowneBank/Towne Insurance, up to the first $10K donated.
Making good on Aesop’s proverb that “no act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted,” every dollar literally adds up—and galvanizes the generous spirit of Raleighites. “I’ve seen firsthand, over and over again, that Raleigh is a city full of passionate and generous people,” says Nicole Stewart, former Raleigh city councilor and current director of engagement for the A.J. Fletcher Foundation. “When there is a cause they care about, they give what they can to support it. And small dollar donations add up and make a huge difference—especially for our local nonprofits.”
There’s still time to give, to make a difference with just a few dollars—and help us smash the near $25K we raised out of the gate last year. We are so thrilled to use our bullhorn for benevolence as we partner with this year’s trio of local nonprofits touching every age group and innumerable need—Haven House, Healing Transitions and SAFEchild—for a better tomorrow for all of us. It’s giving generous! Donate now at giveraleigh.com.
Haven House
Building strong young people and bright futures for five impactful decades, Haven House’s legacy is one for the books. Empowering youths ages 6–24 who are homeless; in crisis; or having difficulty at home, school or in the community to understand, work through and overcome challenges, the local safe haven is the place for vulnerable youth to find their way—and find the help they need. “Haven House served over 1,500 youth last year—a 25% increase from the year before—reflecting the urgent and growing needs in our community,” says Haven House Chief Executive Officer Michelle Zechmann. “The Give Raleigh campaign is vital to meeting those needs by helping us reach more young people. … Every donation, no matter the size, is about coming together to provide hope and a brighter future for all.” havenhousenc.org
EVERY DONATION MAKES AN IMPACT
$5 💰
One meal for a youth (10–17) at Wrenn House
$10 💰💰
One pair of athletic shorts for intervention program
$25 💰💰💰
One day of outreach and basic needs for youth experiencing homelessness
$50 💰💰💰💰
One hour of crisis counseling to youth and/or their families
Healing Transitions
At the core of every community is its people—all of them. And Healing Transitions is a beacon of real community for all Raleighites via its “Recovery for All” MO: Always open. Always free. Always everyone. Always another chance. Always community. And no matter who we are or how it begins, we all come to the same realization that we’re powerless to control addiction alone. Thankfully, there’s a way to prevent from-OD-to-RIP. “Healing Transitions is committed to making essential, effective recovery services accessible to everyone—especially those who are homeless, uninsured and underserved,” says Healing Transitions Executive Director Chris Budnick. “To eliminate barriers, we offer all of our services completely free of charge. This means every single donation—no matter the size—plays a critical role in our mission. When we say every dollar matters, it’s because it helps us continue saving and transforming lives—and the impact doesn’t stop there. It ripples out, touching families, friends and the broader community. It’s our neighbors’ support that makes this possible.” healing-transitions.org
EVERY DONATION MAKES AN IMPACT
$5 💰
One meal
$10 💰💰
Average prescription
$25 💰💰💰
Day of service on campus
$50 💰💰💰💰
24-hour stay in nonmedical detox
SAFEchild
Safety is not a birthright. But it should be. And they don’t teach parenting in school. But, fortunately, bringing healthy families to the forefront is SAFEchild via its roster of support and education services you won’t find anywhere else. In short, in a world where access is everything, SAFEchild is changing—and saving—lives. “We are the place for parent education and support, children’s medical evaluations when there is suspected abuse, and school-based programs in every Wake County public elementary school, plus several charter and private schools,” says SAFEchild’s Executive Director Cristin DeRonja. “We are that safety net for children and families in Wake County. Every dollar means so much to us… to be able to provide life-saving and life-changing services to children and families. And every dollar raised through Give Raleigh to ensure SAFEchild’s mission can thrive is critical to the health of the community.” safechildnc.org
EVERY DONATION MAKES AN IMPACT
$5 💰
Child care for a family attending SAFEchild parenting classes
$10 💰💰
Medical gown for a child seen in SAFEchild’s Advocacy Center
$25 💰💰💰
Funny Tummy Feelings programming for a Wake County first-grade classroom
$50 💰💰💰💰
Parenting classes, meals and child care for three Wake County families in SAFEchild classes
What if you could change your city with just $5?Now you can. Turns out, “no act of kindness, no matter how small, [really] is ever wasted.” Embodying the essence of Aesop’s proverb, RM’s sophomore Give Raleigh campaign—where every dollar literally adds up—is launching for 40 days of giving Oct. 1 in partnership with TowneBank/Towne Insurance to inspire the generous spirit of Raleighites.
Coming off an inaugural campaign supernova that raised a whopping $24,242, we look to double down on our community investment this year with a new handpicked trio of local nonprofits: Haven House, Healing Transitions and SAFEChild. As with last year, every dollar raised will stay right here in Raleigh and help families just like yours and ours. And our benevolent partners TowneBank/Towne Insurance will again match the first $10K of every donation—think $1, $5, $10 and beyond, donated to the one that most resonates with you or split three ways—and thereby doubling your dollar’s impact.
“Your donation matters,” says Nicole Stewart, former Raleigh city councilor and current director of engagement for the A.J. Fletcher Foundation. “Once upon a time in Raleigh, there was a group of 20-year-old women who pooled their fresh-in-their-career dollars together to donate to causes they cared about. Together, with even more of their friends, they raised nearly $10,000 in one year (and that was in 2007!). Over the course of their 14-year run, they raised and donated over $425,000. Small dollar donations add up and make a huge difference—especially for our local nonprofits.”
Raleigh is one of the most charitable cities in the country. Beyond sheer Southern hospitality, we donate, volunteer and buy tickets supporting boots-on-the-ground charities whose hard work wraps their arms around local families in their time of need and gives hope for a better tomorrow.
I’ve seen firsthand, over and over again, that Raleigh is a city full of passionate and generous people,” says Stewart. “When there is a cause they care about, they give what they can to support it.”
And each of these impactful organizations make a difference in our city each and every day across all sectors—strengthening and empowering families, youth and all, including the uninsured and underserved, through child abuse services, housing, crisis management and addiction recovery. Together we hope to galvanize our community’s inherently good nature to come together and propel these critical purposes.
Read about these three impactful organizations—and give hope where otherwise there may not be any. Then, from Oct. 1 to Nov. 10, let’s smash the funds raised last year, Raleigh! It’s giving generous! Donate at giveraleigh.com.
Photography by Keith Isaacs, courtesy of Healing Transitions
Recovery for All
At the core of every community is its people—all of them. And Healing Transitions is a beacon of real community for all Raleighites via its “Recovery for All” MO: Always open. Always free. Always everyone. Always another chance. Always community.
Regardless of birth year or bankroll, addiction likely touches each one of us in our lifetime—whether ourselves, a partner, a parent, a peer, a child, a colleague and so on. And it doesn’t always look the way you’d imagine. It affects individuals and families from every community in all walks of life—tearing at the very fabric of who we are. Separating us from everything we’ve known. Alienating us from everyone we need.
And no matter who we are or how it begins, we all come to the same realization that we’re powerless to control that addiction alone. But there’s a way to prevent “from OD to RIP.” And a glimpse of hope can reroute the course of an entire life.
Healing Transitions is committed to making essential, effective recovery services accessible to everyone—especially those who are homeless, uninsured and underserved,” says Healing Transitions Executive Director Chris Budnick. “To eliminate barriers, we offer all of our services completely free of charge. This means every single donation—no matter the size—plays a critical role in our mission. When we say every dollar matters, it’s because it helps us continue saving and transforming lives.”
“Healing Transitions is committed to making essential, effective recovery services accessible to everyone—especially those who are homeless, uninsured and underserved,” says Healing Transitions Executive Director Chris Budnick. “To eliminate barriers, we offer all of our services completely free of charge. This means every single donation—no matter the size—plays a critical role in our mission. When we say every dollar matters, it’s because it helps us continue saving and transforming lives.”
A lifeline for neighbors in need, with a focus on “healing” (recovery) and “transition” (rekindling desire to return to meaningful and productive life), so-named Healing Transitions is dedicated to the notion that addiction doesn’t have to be the end of the story. With open doors 24/7, the organization is Wake County’s only long-term, peer-based recovery program, serving the needs of all those struggling—with no financial barriers.
“Most importantly, Healing Transitions turns people’s lives around who can’t afford expensive recovery programs, but it also cleans up Downtown significantly,” says Healing Transitions board member David Meeker, who also serves as partner in Trophy Brewing, which has dedicated much of its resources and efforts, including the popular Trophy Trot, to the healing org. “We are so lucky to have Healing Transitions in Raleigh.”
Through its on-demand and innovative peer-to-peer addiction services ranging emergency drop-in shelter and nonmedical detox to long-term services and sustained sobriety, the recovery-oriented organization is dedicated to meeting anyone where they are, including those who are homeless, underserved and uninsured. In short, Healing Transitions saves lives. Period.
What I love about Healing Transitions is they don’t give up on people who need help,” says local hospitality titan Scott Crawford, who, beyond his dedication to nourishing the community via his boon of best-in-class concepts, also serves as a distinguished member Healing Transitions’ board of directors—and is marking his 20th year of recovery with his inaugural October Freedom Harvest event to benefit the nonprofit.
“There were people in my life who didn’t give up on me,” adds the renowned chef/owner of Crawford Hospitality and five-time James Beard semifinalist—including for Outstanding Hospitality this year. “And this is the reason I can celebrate 20 years of sobriety now—there’s no better way for me to celebrate than to give back to my sobriety community.”
To that end, every dollar donated to Healing Transitions saves lives—“and the impact doesn’t stop there,” says Budnick. “It ripples out, touching families, friends and the broader community. And it’s our neighbors’ support that makes this possible.” healing-transitions.org
Photography by Keith Isaacs, courtesy of SAFEchild
Stop Abuse for Every Child
Safety is not a birthright.But it should be. And they don’t teach parenting in school. Fortunately, bringing healthy families to the forefront is SAFEchild via its roster of support and education services you won’t find anywhere else.
“We are the place for parent education and support, children’s medical evaluations when there is suspected abuse, and school-based programs in every Wake County public elementary school, plus several charter and private schools,” says SAFEchild’s Executive Director Cristin DeRonja.
Established in 1992 with an MO to Stop Abuse For Every child (aka SAFE)—because “every child has the right to mature in an environment free from abuse and neglect”—it’s the only child-abuse prevention agency serving Wake County and providing a full range of no-cost critical prevention and intervention services for children and families.
[SAFEchild] took a horrible experience and made it as comfortable, manageable and safe as possible considering the circumstances… without causing any additional harm,” says a local parent whose child was served through the SAFEchild Advocacy Center.
“We are that safety net for children and families in Wake County. Every dollar means so much to us,” says DeRonja. “We raise over $3 million annually to be able to provide life-saving and life-changing services to children and families. And every dollar raised through Give Raleigh to ensure SAFEchild’s mission can thrive is critical to the health of the community”—not to mention having more people involved and aware of the prevalence of child abuse and to advocate for the children, she adds.
In short, in a world where access is everything, SAFEchild is saving lives. “I describe it as free counseling,” says a former participant. “It was such a breath of fresh air to actually… have someone who truly understands where you are, like right there.”
Today, the org’s reach has expanded far beyond physical safety. Raising a tremendous $11.1 million in just two years, the nonprofit bowed its 20,000-square-foot Raleigh facility last fall, allowing it to further empower children and caregivers and build stronger families via a range of programs, classes, parenting resources and support groups.
Photography by Keith Isaacs, courtesy of SAFEchild
“As Wake County continues to grow, so does the need for supportive family services,” says DeRonja. “The new space positions us to provide more for a growing community in a very time-sensitive manner—which all ties back to resources. For us to meet families and children in a time-sensitive way and provide more of what we do, it all ties back to people financially supporting our mission.”
As one local parent who learned multifarious avenues for positive parenting puts it: “It’s an education you won’t get anywhere else. This is a program you need, a group you need, before you know you need it.”
Thus, as little as $5 can have an immediate impact on programs and services that change the trajectory of—and even save—several lives and strengthen the safe and healthy community it fosters for all of us.
In a group of people sharing their stories, “you realize it’s not just you that feels this way,” says another program participant. “You come to realize mine can change too.” safechildnc.org
EVERY DONATION MAKES AN IMPACT
$5
$10
$25
$50
Child care for a family attending SAFEchild parenting classes
Medical gown for a child seen in SAFEchild’s Advocacy Center
Funny Tummy Feelings programming for a Wake County first-grade classroom
Parenting classes, meals and child care for three Wake County families in SAFEchild classes
For 51 years, local youthhave been lifted up by a haven for hope. Building strong young people and bright futures for five impactful decades, Haven House’s legacy is one for the books.
With an MO of empowering youths ages 6–24 who are homeless; in crisis; or having difficulty at home, school or in the community to thrive and be safe, supported and successful, the transformative nonprofit has altered the course of tens of thousands of vulnerable youths’ lives and futures for the better since its inception in 1973.
Helping them understand, work through and overcome challenges, Haven House is the place for youth to find their way—and find the help they need. “Haven House served over 1,500 youth last year—a 25% increase from the year before—reflecting the urgent and growing needs in our community,” says Haven House Chief Executive Officer Michelle Zechmann.
The Give Raleigh campaign is vital to meeting those needs by helping us reach more young people struggling with homelessness; mental health challenges; and problems at home, school or in the community,” Zechmann continues. “Every donation, no matter the size, is about coming together to provide hope and a brighter future for all.”
A critical asset to the health of the entire community, Haven House meets our local young people and their families where they are. Together, its 10 essential programs have helped youth navigate and overcome some of life’s most difficult challenges; be better prepared to transition into adulthood; and find paths to success by providing critical access to resources, counseling, connections, mentorship and community.
Of those programs, Wrenn House answers a critical call by providing a safe space through the only homeless, runaway and crisis-intervention program and shelter for ages 10–17 in the Triangle. Meanwhile, point-of-entry Street Outreach provides runaways, homeless and street-dependent youth under age 24 with their most essential needs and resources, and transition-in-place assistance helps homeless 18–24-year-olds (and their minor dependents, if applicable) move into transitional housing.
Doubling down on bright futures, myriad programs work with at-risk, court- or juvenile justice system-involved youth—from physical to mental. Innovative Second Round implements boxing, weight training and fitness to teach discipline, teamwork and leadership, while the January-launched Outpatient Therapy program provides guidance and resources to address growing mental health matters via clinical assessments, individual and family therapy sessions, and education.
Haven House was exactly what my son needed,” says one parent of the program. “For a while early on, I wasn’t sure [graduating high school] would happen, but I knew it could, and Haven House made it possible.”
Ultimately, Haven House is there for all of us when no one else is. And every donation, no matter how small, makes a difference in the life of a young person in our community. Just $5 can quickly add up to rewrite a child or young adult’s worst chapter for a better ending. Donate for a better future. Because it takes all of us. And we are “stronger together.” havenhousenc.org
EVERY DONATION MAKES AN IMPACT
$5
$10
$25
$50
One meal for a youth (10–17) at Wrenn House
One pair of athletic shorts for intervention program
One day of outreach and basic needs for youth experiencing homelessness
One hour of crisis counseling to youth and/or their families
In a big-time win for, well, everyone, hoops star and March Madness standout DJ Horne has teamed up with local VIANI Watch Company in an ode to Raleigh that serves to strengthen and celebrate our diverse local community—and is, hands down, the most baller move for a baller who’s always had his eyes on the clock.
Set to 9:19 in the photo campaign to rep the 919 area code, the duo of completely solar-powered unisex red VIANI watches dropped this July in limited quantities. And, as a natural Wolfpack nod, the Raleigh Red is of course “a tribute to our hometown and honors DJ and I’s shared pride as Wolfpack alumni,” says VIANI CEO Sunny Bhathela. “DJ is an avid watch lover… and we’re both born and raised in Raleigh, and love to represent our city.”
Famously sporting the number zero as the nation rooted for the underdog Pack through the madness to an ACC Championship and NCAA Final Four, Horne’s “0” jersey serendipitously aligns with VIANI’s ethos as the only solar watch company to proudly represent Hindi numerals on the dial—credited as the first to develop the zero, explains Bhathela.
Broadening its diverse reach, the campaign also marks the first time a South Asian-owned product is representing NC’s capital, he adds, nodding to the community as one of the fastest-growing minority groups. “There’s never been anything like [this partnership]—and we are proud to spotlight this vibrant and growing minority community alongside a hometown hero,” muses Bhathela.”
The result is a timeless recall of Horne’s part in carrying the NCSU Men’s Basketball team to nine straight all-or-nothing wins against all odds that unified Raleigh—NTM rallied the nation around NC State—and instilled a deep sense of pride in our city. Muses Bhathela: “This feeling of representation and uniting of our hometown was what I intended to capture with the release of the VIANI Solar in Raleigh Red.” Time to unify/Right on time, indeed.
A feast for the eyes and the senses, the crown jewel of Raleigh’s retail market is officially unearthing at East End via Giorgios Hospitality Group’s latest “GEM.”
Answering the call for an approachable and highly curated shopping and dining experience, the aptly dubbed Giorgios Epicurean Market is at once a European sojourn and one-stop shop for whatever you bloody well fancy—including even a bloody (or freshly squeezed OJ or coffee…).
From first entry, aromas, visuals (and for the samplers, scores of tastes) overcome the senses as you’re met with an abundance of lush flora and fauna—inviting you to check your real-world worries at the door and succumb to a Zen-induced haze of indulgence highlighted by a verdant design that’s “vibrant and alive with the fresh energy of a modern European market,” says Giorgios Bakatsias. Sommelier selects? Check. Olive oils, jams and spices? Yup. Plants and potables for the hostess, office or “oh-yeah-it’s-my-anniversary” gift? Count on it.
Playing on herbaceous hues, every detail is intentional—from the mod white, olive and rusty subway tile sections that merge with natural wood and concrete to the gentle botanical brushstrokes by artist Arianne Hemlein seamlessly blending the seasons across the length of the market to even the authentic “boulanger” sign Bakatsias procured from a flea market to add a little “spice.”
At the root of it all, a massive full-sight breakfast-lunch-dinner kitchen production helmed by Managing Partner/executive chef William D’Auvray promises to tempt the palate with fresh butcher cuts and made-in-house bakery selects, salads, grilled goodies and beyond—whether to grab a pastry, sandwich to savor on the piazza or steaks for tonight’s dinner.
Vinos for pairing are intentionally selected by sommelier Scott Hardiman to complement the cafe menu and prepared foods, says Bakatsias, “so guests can easily curate a gourmet meal to enjoy at home.” Essentially, they thought of everything so you don’t have to—the “simple things in life people want—executed at the highest level,” he adds.
And not to confuse elevated with unapproachable, this isn’t some stuffy, unaffordable pinkies-up place. Instead, at its very core is an MO of utter simplicity and approachability. “We’re not boxing somebody in to spend a certain amount to have this experience,” says Bakatsias. “You can come in and spend $10 for lunch or whatever you wish.”
Further delving into the Euro-ness of it all, docents are at the ready as you shop and savor to proffer wine, party platter or gift picks. And in line with that Old World vibe, no, they won’t pounce you like a SNL Sur La Table skit. But, so new age, they will provide a pay-where-you-are option sans the line.
Ambling past the abundant product—which D’Auvray, who also helms East End Bistrot, spotlights in the market menu—quaint alfresco-esque indoor seating gives way to a day-to-night indoor cafe and bar set off by rollup garage door. And, outside, a botanically-driven “relaxing playground for eating and drinking” awaits via covered terrace and lush piazza dotted with mixed seating—and primed for pop-up farmers markets.
Both masterful and masterpiece, it’s got Bakatsias’ fingerprints all over it. As the ultimate gardener (see flourishing East End Bistrot, Rosewater, etc.), the market extends that signature vibe. And like all gems, she’ll get better with age. … Stay tuned for catering, and wine and cooking classes—even visiting chefs—to come.
Until then, “I’m excited to start baking and cooking food Giorgios and I both love and live by,” muses D’Auvray. So are we. Tue.-Sat.,8am–9pm,gemraleigh.com
Giorgios Bakatsias hasn’t written his last chapter—in fact, he’s turning the page on a new one. As the ultimate gardener—cultivating places, people and literal gardens—his forthcoming Giorgios Epicurean Market expands his reach at East End Market with a morning-to-night all-in-one cafe and market, anchored by the three B’s: butcher, baker, beverage program. “We’re creating a whole village here with our wonderful [cider] friends,” says the master craftsman. “I love it.”
A “jam for the community,” jibes Bakatsias, the purposefully named space is a nod to his salad days frequenting markets in Greece to grab things for Mom. (Fun fact: Epicureanism, aka a hedonistic philosophy placing pleasure as paragon, was founded by famed Greek philosopher Epicurus.) “I just came back from Greece not long ago,” he says. “I love just getting lost in those markets… I could stay there forever.”
A feast for the eyes and senses, the space serves up a short sojourn to Europe, at once satisfying necessity and wanderlust. “What inspires me are the visuals, the aromas… the overstimulation of the senses—the market does it for me,” he muses. Filling a void beyond the big-box ops, Giorgios Epicurean Market is, in a word, curated. Period. In an age of “abundance, it’s nice to go deeper in knowledge instead of just having an extra bottle of something,” he says, and to have a more personal experience of service—not just asking, ‘Did you find everything?’… What does that mean?”
To wit, sundry handpicked goods will be on offer—from sommelier vino selects from the wine library to fresh rotating fare and expertly prepared foods (salads! sandwiches! moussaka!) to freshly baked breads (baguettes, pastries and beyond by operating partner and East End Bistrot executive chef William D’Auvray). Think even a personalized concierge at the ready to help you orchestrate the perfect meal or gift—this wine, this olive oil, this mustard, that pastry or cookie.
And, since “everything has a vibration,” says Bakatsias, for those not on the go, expect bountiful flora and fauna—not unlike the ambitious restaurateur’s Rosewater and East End Bistrot—cultivated across a massive canopy-covered piazza featuring 200+ myriad seating ops and some combination of spaces for relaxing so you can post up solo with a book or for a hang sesh with the SO or fam.
A water feature supplies serenity and heaters keep the nip at bay, while a window slide allows easy access for morning freshly squeezed juice or java giving way to afternoon or evening spirited mixology, wine or beer from the Euro-style bar. Inside, more seats abound in the cozy cafe where you can post up for a fresh snack amid the bustling market. “William makes amazing gourmet pizza,” suggests Bakatsias.
The lifeblood of the space is connectivity to ingredients—and people. An intentional gift to the community, at the heart of it all is that heartfelt hospitality. “The service culture and knowledge is just as important as the curation of product,” he says. “We can’t have everything in the world here, not because of space, but intention… so we can curate products that are meaningful and purposeful to you, and that you will enjoy with some quality and value because you know it’s important.”
Drafting another page in his book, Bakatsias still has more to come. “Creating is exciting,” says the master maker. “We don’t need just another project. What we need is to make sure we are serving the community—and in the best way we know how. … I want to write my best chapter—which I haven’t yet. You always want to continue to evolve and create.” Consider this just another brilliant “GEM” in Bakatsias’ beautiful jewel box. giorgiosgroup.com
