A Night of Celebration, Community, and New Beginnings at ForKids

On November 20, ForKids marked a milestone evening filled with joy, gratitude, and community spirit.

In one unforgettable night, ForKids officially cut the ribbon on its new teen room (“The Den”), lit its 14-foot South Norfolk Christmas tree, and welcomed neighbors, supporters, families, and volunteers to celebrate the start of the holiday season together.

“The night was a powerful reminder of what happens when a community comes together,” said CEO Thaler McCormick.

A Teen Space Built for Possibility

A highlight of the evening was the opening of the new teen room, an inspiring and versatile space made possible through a Lowe’s Hometowns grant.

Earlier this year, ForKids was selected as one of just 100 nonprofits nationwide to receive this support. As Lowe’s largest community impact initiative, the Hometowns grants are designed to help organizations strengthen physical spaces and deepen local impact.

The teen room’s creation was a meaningful full-circle moment for longtime ForKids supporters Kim and Andrew Fink, whose belief in the potential of local teens helped launch the agency’s teen program nearly three years ago.

“We talked to the ForKids team about what we called a moonshot idea,” said Kim, as she reflected on the earliest days of the idea. “We wanted to create a program for teens here at ForKids, because we knew the desire to stay connected didn’t stop when the kids moved on from lower grade levels. So, we launched the teen program. Today, we are so proud and excited to have this dedicated space.”

The new room gives teenagers enrolled in ForKids programming a space to learn, unwind, explore, and build confidence. It’s an environment designed to strengthen their sense of connection during a pivotal stage of life.

Lighting the 14-Foot Christmas Tree: A Beacon for the Neighborhood

Outside, another major moment of the evening glowed even brighter.

About an hour after sunset, a 14-foot Christmas tree lit up Landmark Center. The tree was the centerpiece of an evening that included hot cocoa, snow from the rooftop, music, laughter, and even a surprise visit from a very kid-friendly Grinch.

Employees at local Lowe’s stores, led by the Battlefield Boulevard location, joined together to organize the donation of the tree, along with the interior holiday decor, which dozens of Lowe’s team members installed throughout ForKids’ Landmark Center. The effort delivered a sense of holiday magic for families in South Norfolk and ForKids participants and was spearheaded by Harvey Smith and Jeremy Beasley, representatives of Lowe’s and ForKids supporters.

“When I started in my role at Lowe’s, Harvey introduced me pretty quickly to ForKids,” said Beasley, Store Manager of the Battlefield Boulevard store. “I came for a tour at Landmark Center and learned more about the organization and its mission. I was really impressed and could see the direct benefit to our community, so I wanted to show my support, too.”

Alongside other community volunteers, Lowe’s employees also donated their time earlier this fall to help with landscaping and exterior improvements at ForKids.

Meanwhile, donations from Family Dollar and volunteer help from QVC employees helped the ForKids team deck the halls at the agency’s Birdsong Center in Suffolk.

A Community That Shows Up

The celebrations on Nov. 20 included remarks by Chesapeake Mayor Rick West and the participation of civic and government leaders, local council members, longtime donors, former board members, and individual volunteers, all eager to witness the impact of shared community investment.

Student musicians from the Oscar Smith High School Orchestra added to the festive atmosphere, with performances throughout the night.

The ForKids team also expressed deep gratitude to the individuals and groups that contributed to the event’s success, including the Chesapeake Rotary, which sponsored the Tree Lighting, along with volunteer teams from HII (Huntington Ingalls International) and members of Southside Baptist Church, who staffed the cocoa station and donated supplies.

“The tree lighting brought people into a shared community space, right here in the heart of historic South Norfolk,” McCormick said. “And, with our new teen room, we are giving young people a place designed just for them, where they can explore who they are and who they hope to become. This is the perfect way to joyfully kick off the holiday season.”

Join the Effort to Spread Holiday Joy

Interested in helping spread even more joy? Help make the holidays bright for children and families through ForKids’ annual Holiday Toy Drive, Dec. 1-15. Find out more.

Make a meaningful impact through a gift to our year-end campaign at forkids.org/spark25.

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