Charlotte

On December 2nd, over 135 influential people gathered with General Mills and the Feeding Dreams team to celebrate Valarie R. Brooks, Kym Gordon Moore, and Kelly Hutchinson for their outstanding work in the Charlotte community. Led by the Feeding Dreams Celebrity Spokeswoman Susan L. Taylor, the awards ceremony upheld the program’s goal of paying tribute to those who go out of their way to make their communities happier and healthier.

Taylor, an advocate for organizations dedicated to moving the Black community forward, was the guest speaker. Commonly known for playing a major role in the success of ESSENCE Magazine, she is also the founder of National CARES Mentoring Movement, a campaign to recruit one million adults as mentors for at-risk youth.

The Feeding Dreams Community Champion nominees were each rewarded for their hard work and dedication. As the newly nominated Community Champion, Kelly Hutchinson received praise for participating in many community service initiatives, including Habitat for Humanity and First in Families (FIF), a family support project of The Arc of Moore County. In 2006, she started REFORM (Rescuing Everyone From Offenses 2B Real Men) to assist young men who have had problems with criminal activity and drug use, or who are at risk of these behaviors. She was very grateful for the award and noted that General Mills is the first company to support her organization.

Nominee Valarie R. Brooks received accolades for playing an active role in her community. From helping the homeless to empowering youth through the Girl Talk Foundation, her positive attitude is said to encourage people all around Charlotte.

The other nominee, Kym Gordon Moore, was honored for volunteering at the Doves Nest, an organization that helps women overcome substance abuse. She teaches classes and solicits donations in an effort to make a difference in these women’s lives.

See the Charlotte awards ceremony unfold by visiting the photo album.

Our mission at General Mills is to nourish lives by making them healthier, easier and richer. The entire company, including over 75% of employees, is dedicated to serving local neighborhoods. We’ve put many programs in place to enrich and enhance the lives of communities around the world – from Tennessee to China. For example, our Communities of Color program awards grants to programs that uplifts the metro Minneapolis/St. Paul area’s growing population of people of color. We even have hunger relief initiatives that stretch as far as Malawi and Tanzania. When it came time to develop a program that spoke directly to our African American consumers, we went straight to you to find out what you wanted to see from General Mills. Your reaction was loud and clear – you wanted a program that honored every day people. That’s exactly what Feeding Dreams does – honor and celebrate those everyday people who go out of their way to improve the lives of those in their communities. These people are champions in their communities and extraordinary examples of how anyone can make a positive impact. As you continue to read more about those we’re spotlighting, and cast your vote for the next Community Champion in your neighborhood, we hope that you will be inspired to give back to your community. The simplest things, like volunteering at a church, spending time with the sick and shut-in, or even sharing a meal with someone who’s hungry, can make a huge difference. If you need ideas on where to start, check out our Tips for a Better Community page. Written by the General Mills/Feeding Dreams family