Celebrate America Symphony Concert & Fireworks
2007 marked the ninth annual First Charter Celebrate America July 4th celebration at Symphony Park in South Charlotte. First Charter's partnership with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra provides a free holiday concert and fireworks event for families in the area.

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Walk
First Charter employees participate in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Walk held at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Habitat for Humanity
First Charter employees volunteered over 2,500 hours to help build a Habitat for Humanity house.

Ride for Life
As a faithful annual sponsor of The Collier Lilly Ride 4 Life, First Charter is helping to raise awareness and funding in support of life-saving organ transplants and donations. The Ride 4 Life is an annual recreational bike ride in Davidson, N.C. Proceeds raised from the event are donated to LifeShare of the Carolinas, a Charlotte-based organ procurement organization.

Camp Challenge
Camp Challenge is a NCBA sponsored summer camp for high-achieving, under-resourced, middle school students from across North Carolina. As a North Carolina Bankers Association (NCBA) partner, First Charter has participated in service projects for Camp Challenge for the past 8 years.

Camp Challenge
First Charter donated all of the computers for the Camp's Computer Center and provides volunteer teachers each year during the camp session.

A Child's Place
First Charter employees pitched in and purchased new school supplies for A Child's Place for the 2007-2008 school year. The organization works with businesses and individuals in the Charlotte community to help provide needed school supplies to students in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

Lincoln Economic Development Land Donation
First Charter officials and LEDA officials celebrate First Charter's recent donation of land for the LEDA's new headquarters building located at the visual gateway to downtown Lincolnton, next to the new First Charter Financial Center on Main Street. Construction began in July 2007.

Renaissance Ribbon Cutting
Renaissance, First Charter's 60th Financial Center, celebrated it's grand opening October 2007 with a ribbon cutting ceremony that included revelers from the Carolina Renaissance Festival.

Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
Our employees raised over $3,000 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in 2005 by participating in National Denim Day.

CharlotteSaves
First Charter is an active partner of CharlotteSaves, a non-profit coalition designed to encourage, persuade and assist Charlotte-area residents to achieve financial security by reducing debt and building wealth through savings. Pictured: North Carolina Banking Commissioner Joe Smith, First Charter CEO and President Bob James and North Carolina State Treasurer Richard Moore.

First Charter Volunteerism Policy
First Charter provides full-time employees with 20 hours of paid time a year to use to volunteer in the community as they choose. Many teammates choose to volunteer at schools, hospitals and non-profit organizations.

Mint Hill Town Square Streetscape Project
First Charter donated this antique clock replica to the city of Mint Hill as part of the Mint Hill Town Square Streetscape Project. The clock was installed February 2006.

Clock in Downtown Concord
First Charter Antique Replica Clock dedicated to Historic Downtown Concord.

United Way
A longtime supporter of United Way and the agencies it supports, First Charter has been a PaceSetter company for the past several campaigns. In 2005, First Charter was recognized with a Spirit of North Carolina award, recognizing First Charter employees for their support of the United Way Campaign. First Charter employees volunteer throughout the campaign with additional fund raising activities such as a car wash, BBQ event, raffle and bake sale.

Clean Air Works Partnership
A partner with Clean Air Works in 2006 and 2007, First Charter works with the Regional Air Quality project to help educate employees about ways to improve air quality in the Charlotte region. Through promotions to promote carpooling, CATS vanpools, gas cap checks and awareness about behaviors that can affect air quality, First Charter is pleased to partner with Clean Air Works.