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2XSALT, Inc. is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization in Charlotte, North Carolina, founded in 2003 by former NBA players Bobby Jones, David Thompson, and Bart Kofoed with the mission to strengthen the hearts, minds, and character of youth through high quality educational services, sports, recreation, and volunteerism so they may reach their God given potential. Together, they continue to build the organization with the overall vision of serving the youth of Charlotte through creating and sustaining meaningful programs that focus on youth who are challenged spiritually, educationally, emotionally, economically, and socially. 2XSALT has grown exponentially through partnerships to meet the critical need for innovative, community-based after-school mentoring and tutoring services and recreational sports leagues, camps, and clinics that provide Christ-centered character and leadership development. Through its relational ministry based programs, 2XSALT earns the opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the children and families it serves, making a permanent impact on their lives.
“You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.” Matthew 5:13-16 God tells us we are to be the salt of the earth, to share Christ’s love with others. By doing so, we will be exalting him. Basically, in being “salt” our jobs are “to exalt.” 2XSALT founder Bart Kofoed was thinking just that when he chose the name for the ministry. Striving to be salt to the youth of Charlotte through its various ministry programs, 2XSALT desires to exalt the Lord in all it does.
2XSALT has three core programs: - Faith, Hope and Love Mentoring Program: Through relational ministry, FHL aims to combat juvenile delinquency in Charlotte’s communities of greatest need with this goal: for each child K-high school to grow spiritually, socially and emotionally; to meet or exceed academic standards for their grade level; and to share the faith, hope, and love that they have experienced through the program by participating in community service. Through FHL, 2XSALT strives to reach out to at-risk youth by building Christ-centered, loving relationships with these children. Elementary-aged students receive Biblically-based character/leadership development focused lessons from 2XSALT staff teachers and one-on-one pairing with a trained volunteer mentor who provides tutoring with homework in a stable, nurturing environment at no cost to the children and families served. Middle and high school students also receive Biblically-based character and leadership development lessons in conjunction with YMCA Leadership Club curriculum.
- Sports Outreach Ministry: 2XSALT uses sports as a vehicle to inspire, educate, and cultivate future leaders through year-round outreach programs. 2XSALT Sports Outreach Ministry provides sports camps, leagues, and clinics in football, basketball, and soccer to youth who come from all over the greater Charlotte area. Instruction is given by an array of professional athletes including former NBA players Bobby Jones, David Thompson, Bart Kofoed and NFL greats Steve Israel, Eugene Robinson, and Leonard Wheeler. Soccer programs are administered by former Charlotte Eagles Jake Tassy and Meanu Kayea.
- Women of 2XSALT: Early in 2006, the founding wives of 2XSALT, Ria Kofoed, Tess Jones, and Cathy Thompson, launched a women’s guild called Women of 2XSALT. The purpose of this group is to further the mission of 2XSALT through public awareness, fundraising activities, and service projects that help provide necessary support to the children served through 2XSALT ministries.
Currently the 2XSALT administrative offices are at 1515 Mockingbird Lane in the Park Seneca Building, Suite 111, in Charlotte. The 2XSALT programs are actually housed in partnership with area churches and schools and children come to these sites for services.
After-school hours are a critical time for all youth, especially those who reside in communities of greatest need. That time can represent either an opportunity to nourish their minds through quality after-school programs or a time of risk to the overall development of the child. The after-school hours are the peak time for juvenile crime and the development of addictive behaviors such as alcohol, sex, and drug use. National research indicates that students who spend no time in extracurricular activities are 49 percent more likely to use drugs and 37 percent more likely to become teen parents than those students who spend one to four hours per week in extracurricular activities. An analysis of 9th grade students receiving free lunch in Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools in 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 indicated that only 40% of those students graduated from CMS in four years and more than 25% of the remaining students were characterized as having dropped out of school. According to a Princeton University study, by their mid 30’s, six in ten African-American males who dropped out of school had spent time in prison. Many of the children served through 2XSALT come from these urban neighborhoods that need spiritual enrichment, crave community involvement and after-school educational assistance. These children desperately need stability, structure, nurturance, emotional support, and encouragement. 2XSALT and its programs strive to help relieve the stresses on today's working families, serving as important youth delinquency prevention and intervention strategies. Without this type of meaningful intercession, the cycle will continue.
2XSALT's Sports Outreach Ministry is available to all youth. 2XSALT's Faith, Hope and Love Mentoring Program currently serves children from four Charlotte-Mecklenburg Elementary Schools and six CMS middle and high schools. These schools are located in some of the city’s most fragile and underprivileged neighborhoods. CMS teachers and administrators at each of the elementary schools refer children to FHL based on academic, social, and financial need. When admitted, these students are below grade level academically and are eligible for the CMS free and reduced meal program.
The mission of 2XSALT is to strengthen the hearts, minds, and character of youth through high-quality educational and mentoring services, sports, recreation, and volunteerism so they may reach their God-given potential. Through its relational ministry based programs, 2XSALT earns the opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the children and families it serves, making a permanent and positive impact on their lives. 2XSALT empowers youth, offering them opportunities to grow spiritually, learn new skills and conflict resolution, improve grades, and develop Christ-centered relationships with caring adults. 2XSALT strives to help relieve the stresses on today's working families and serve as important youth violence prevention and intervention strategies.
The vision of 2XSALT is to create and construct a state-of-the-art youth campus that incorporates opportunities for spiritual enrichment, character and leadership development, educational assistance, athletics, and community outreach on one campus that will serve the Charlotte community to significantly advance the Gospel and improve the quality of life for its youth. In February 2006, 2XSALT purchased 33 acres at 1900 Queen City Drive, on I-85 between Billy Graham Parkway and Freedom Drive, and in August of 2006, 2XSALT acquired an adjacent 6 acres and 43,000 square foot building. This nearly 40 acre campus will allow 2XSALT to be in the midst of the community that it serves, and it will address and meet 2XSALT’s ever-increasing need for facilities. The total Cornerstone Capital Campaign Fundraising Goal is $10,000,000. 2XSALT has a campaign committee chaired by community leader Charlie Williams, who are committed to reaching this goal.
The ministry is funded by the benevolence of generous corporations, foundations, and individuals.
2XSALT needs community support in the following areas:
- Volunteer for one of the ministry programs such as Faith, Hope and Love Mentoring Program or the Sports Outreach Ministry.
- Join the Women of 2XSALT and support the ministry through their activities.
- Donate as you are able to one of the ministries or to the 2XSALT Cornerstone Capital Campaign.
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