Deanna Moss and Shellisa Multrie volunteer to support vital programming and services in Charlotte's Northwest corridor, with LPL Financial providing generous corporate sponsorship.

This year's Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday held special significance for LPL's Deanna Moss, assistant vice president of Insurance & Annuities, and Shellisa Multrie, vice president of Culture and Engagement. As Board members of the McCrorey YMCA – part of the YMCA of Greater Charlotte – the association hosted its 27 annual MLK Holiday Celebration honoring the late civil rights leader in late January. And while the event has always been a focal point for the community, this year's featured speaker was Martin Luther King III, the oldest son of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

"When we found out that Dr. King's son would be our guest this year and lead a panel of our sponsors in the field of diversity equity and inclusion, it was just an honor," Deanna said. "Despite the virtual nature of this year's event, it did not feel like you were not there... It was an amazing production."

The Martin Luther King prayer breakfast is a celebration of Dr. King's legacy and the second-largest breakfast outside of Atlanta. It has also been the largest fundraiser that benefits the McCrorey YMCA.

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"Despite the virtual nature of this year's event, it did not feel like you were not there... It was an amazing production. " – Deanna Moss

The importance of the McCrorey YMCA to Moss and Multrie

Located in Charlotte, North Carolina's Northwest corridor, the McCrorey YMCA is a pillar of its community. Founded in 1936 as an African American YMCA in a segregated nation, its mission is to build healthy minds, bodies, and spirits.

Along with traditional Y gym facilities, McCrorey provides vital services for area residents, including childcare, subsidized meals, senior programs, after-school programs, leadership training, and health-related services. When presented with the opportunity to join its Board, Shellisa jumped at the chance. "I joined the McCorey YMCA Board of Managers seven years ago. I was an entrepreneur looking for ways to give back," she said. "My children were active participants in their programs, and it made sense to join and be aligned there."

"At a certain stage of your life, you realize you can't just be about yourself. You have to be about others." – Deanna Moss

While Deanna had been a member of McCrorey for nearly 16 years, she was unaware of much of its impact. "Shellisa basically courted me to join the YMCA Board of Managers," Deanna said. "I was involved in the African American ERG, and Shellisa was serving as a committee lead. Once I found out more, it was an easy decision for me to get involved. At a certain stage of your life, you realize you can't just be about yourself. You have to be about others. So I joined its Board of Directors."

The two are proud of the McCrorey YMCA's accomplishments, especially recently amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. "I'm just so very proud of how McCorey rose to the challenge, providing childcare to our families who are in the healthcare industry and providing food through its partnerships with local agencies. I was just amazed at how much we were able to accomplish through volunteerism and our corporate partnerships."

LPL Financial’s corporate sponsorship

One of those corporate sponsors has been LPL, which has supported the Martin Luther King prayer breakfast for the past three years. "Each year, LPL upped the ante a little bit in its participation," Shellisa said. "It went from sharing a table to having its own table and then this year, to becoming a higher-level sponsor."

"Having team members involved in the community is great; for us to put our money where our mouth is, make space for our employees to be involved, and do something that is meaningful." – Shellisa Multrie

Investing in its community is a core value for LPL, part of a culture that has made working for LPL far more rewarding for Deanna and Shellisa than just collecting a paycheck.

"I'm grateful that we work at a company that was willing to support the breakfast," Shellisa said. "Having team members involved in the community is great; for us to put our money where our mouth is, make space for our employees to be involved, and do something that is meaningful."

Deanna agrees. "It shows that LPL supports the work that we're doing for children and our community."

Get to know the YMCA of Greater Charlotte

To learn more about the YMCA of Greater Charlotte, visit the association's Facebook page.