The Giving with Grace Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to fostering kindness and strengthening community bonds, proudly awarded $250,000 in grants to ten outstanding nonprofits during its Annual Gifting Luncheon in December 2025. Held at The Serve Pickleball + Kitchen, the celebratory event brought together community leaders, donors, and advocates to honor organizations whose work is creating meaningful impact across the region.
Each selected nonprofit received a $25,000 grant to support and expand its mission-driven efforts. This year’s recipients include:
From food insecurity relief and family support services to animal rescue and wildlife rehabilitation, the 2025 grant recipients represent a wide spectrum of causes. Together, they are addressing critical community needs, strengthening families, protecting vulnerable animals, and offering hope where it’s needed most.
The Foundation also presented the 2025 Community Appreciation Award in honor and memory of George Searle. George was a dedicated presence in the Lake Norman community, generously giving his time to organizations like Habitat for Humanity and the Peninsula Community Foundation. His kindness, service, and generosity left a lasting impact on countless lives.
The luncheon served not only as a grant presentation but as a celebration of collaboration, compassion, and shared purpose. Guests gathered inside The Serve’s vibrant event space to recognize the collective impact of generosity in action and to connect with the organizations making a difference every day.
The 2025 Gifting Luncheon once again reflected the Foundation’s unwavering commitment to building a more compassionate community. By investing in local nonprofits and empowering their missions, Giving with Grace continues to demonstrate how strategic philanthropy can create lasting, positive change.