About Us

Bright Blessings (formerly Birthday Blessings) was founded in 2005 by Amy and John Cervantes of Mint Hill, North Carolina.  Their family service project was born from a desire to help needy children while instilling a love and commitment for community service in their own young children.  What began as a monthly birthday party at one homeless shelter has now grown into a thriving non-profit that operates numerous programs and supporting projects for thousands of homeless children and families across the greater Charlotte region. 

The goal of Bright Blessings is to bring joy, recognition and support to children and families during difficult and sad times in their lives.   Our two core programs, Bless-A-Birthday and Bless-A-Baby, raise spirits and boost confidence for homeless children ages tots to teens, and offer help and hope for babies beginning life amidst the struggles of homelessness.  Each program incorporates education, enrichment and critical-care needs for the children we serve-- our commitment to supporting the whole child.

Every year Bright Blessings makes a positive impact in the lives of thousands of needy youth and families across our greater Charlotte community.  As a volunteer-led organization, our dedicated group of volunteers are truly the heart in all that we do.

In addition to local expansion, Bright Blessings began developing a national network in 2009, with pilot affiliate chapters now organizing and under way in multiple cities across the nation.  For more information, please visit our National Network page.

On behalf of all the homeless children and families we serve, thank you for your interest in Bright Blessings.  We look forward to your participation and support.  

Behind the Blessings

BB Team

Board of Directors

Our Mission

To bring joy and support to homeless children and their families, while offering fun and meaningful volunteer opportunities for both adults and youth.
Management and Administration Team

Amy Cervantes
Volunteer, Executive Director/Co-Founder

Bronwyn Pressley
Manager, Community Relations

Terri Springer
Manager, Bless-A-Birthday Program: Shelters 

Karen O'Brien
Bookkeeper/Administrative Assistant

Eve Monti
Program Services Coordinator

Leah Baum
Volunteer, Program Coordinator
Bless-A-Birthday Program:  Schools

Cindy Mueller
Volunteer, Program Coordinator
Bless-A-Baby Program

Lori Voss
Volunteer, National Affiliate Network Coordinator

Julie Cowan
Volunteer, Group Projects Coordinator

Mandy Ravin
Volunteer, Special Events Coordinator

Sharon Teague
Volunteer, Administration/Business Support

Lisa Vogel
Volunteer, Administration/Business Support

Weekday Volunteers:
Sara BarkerChristina Trainor
Kristy Claudy      Indira Vallabh
Sheila Cloaninger                  Amanda Verrett
Tara Goodfellow                    James Vinci
Ali Harding                              Lisa Vogel
Roger & Pat Hice                   Cathy White
Meagan Johnson                   Alis Woodard
Sharon Lawing   Anne Taylor
Tisha Margraves                   Lynn Pitts
Linda Paride       Joe Rose
Linda Richie                 Joy Rousso
Joe Rose

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Officers

Chair Scott Anderson
Interim         Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge & Rice LLP

Vice-Chair       John Cervantes, Co-Founder
              IJL Financial Advisors

Treasurer        Matt Kiser
              IOMAX

Secretary        Robert Miles
             Wells Fargo & Co.



















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Bright Blessings Board of Directors

Why the programs of Bright Blessings are making a difference.  Read here:
Facts about homelessness
"That's what I love, when someone pays attention to your kids and makes them feel special.... especially in the situation we're in."

Homeless mother
                          Emergency Shelter
Volunteer Party Coordinators
    
Katie Oleson
Lead Coordinator:  YWCA, Charlotte

Charlotte Renner
Co-Coordinator: YWCA, Charlotte

Bronwyn Pressley
Lead Coordinator:  Charlotte Family Housing

Tisha Margraves
Co-Coordinator:  Charlotte Emergency Housing

Katie Wadley
Lead Coordinator 1:  Salvation Army Center of Hope

Michelle Brown
Co-Coordinator 1: Slavation Army Center of Hope

Lori Voss
Lead Coordinator 2: Salvation Army Center of Hope

Sharon Lawing
Co-Coordinator 2: Salvation Army Center of Hope

Liz Segarra
Lead Coordinator:  Battered Women's Shelter, Charlotte

Gina Martindale
Co-Coordinator:  Battered Women's Shelter, Charlotte

CJ Samonds
Lead Coordinator:  Mothers & Children Housing Ministry, Concord

Elizabeth Nickels
Lead Coordinator: FCS/Sarah's House, Charlotte

Tamika Bease and Sarah Hiccox
Co-Coordinators:  FCS/Sarah's House, Charlotte

Tammy Thompson
Lead Coordinator:  House of Hope, Rock Hill
Lead Coordinator:  Children's Attention Home, Rock Hill

Eve Monti,
Lead Coordinator:  Hope House Foundation, Huntersville

April Wentz & Linda Lochridge
Co-Coordinators, Hampton Creste Supportive Housing

Elizabeth Albright
Cabarrus Partnership for Children
Program Services Partner:  Cabarrus County

Bright Blessings Team
Board of Advisors

Bailey Dunmire, Wolfman Pizza

Amy Lewis, Belk Stores, Inc.

Bret Myers, Lending Tree

Russell Norris, Grant Thornton

Jenifer Rodgers, Robert Half International

Anup Shah, King & Spalding

Members

Scott Hirsch, Your Event Source

Caroline Hubbell-Yingling, Moore & Van Allen

Kandace Leap, Carolinas Healthcare System

Lisa Vogel, Community Leader

Liz Winer, Presbyterian Hospital

Brian Wright, Pionear Staffing