Coalition of Charlotte partners backs new creative and entrepreneurial hub opening June 19

CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 4, 2026 — The Ally Charitable Foundation and Novant Health announced today they are joining Charlotte organizations investing in Sparkhouse Uptown, a new 20,000-square-foot creative opportunity hub in the heart of Uptown Charlotte. The two organizations join an established coalition of anchor partners — including Wells Fargo, Truist Charitable Fund, and the City of Charlotte — whose early investment made Sparkhouse Uptown possible, and whose collective commitment reflects a shared conviction: that Charlotte’s next chapter of growth must be more inclusive, more connected and more opportunity-driven.

Sparkhouse Uptown is designed from the ground up as opportunity infrastructure for Charlotte. Powered by Do Greater Charlotte, the space gives under-resourced youth, young adults, entrepreneurs and creatives access to what many receive through college campuses, corporate networks or family connections — workspace, tools, mentors, technology and real-world pathways to move ideas into income and potential into progress. Do Greater Charlotte’s Sparkhouse Uptown is slated to open this month, with a ribbon cutting celebration set for June 19.

New Funders, Shared Purpose
Ally Charitable Foundation’s $500,000 investment supports the Ally Charitable Foundation Creative Studio — a fully equipped space within Sparkhouse Uptown. The studio will house learning and development programming, dedicated production spaces, computers, 3D printers, screen printing equipment, and flexible collaborative areas designed for makers, entrepreneurs and creatives to work and build together. It is the kind of infrastructure that has historically existed only inside corporate campuses or costly private programs — and its presence at Sparkhouse Uptown broadens who gets access.

The Ally Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Ally Financial, is dedicated to advancing economic mobility and breaking down systemic barriers to opportunity. Established in 2020, the Foundation focuses on affordable housing, financial education and workforce development. Since 2020, Ally’s total charitable giving has exceeded $100 million in support of economic mobility and community development, and the Foundation’s support for more than 100 nonprofits across Charlotte reflects a long-standing commitment to backing organizations that help communities build their own futures.

Novant Health’s investment will support Sparkhouse Coffee, a community coffee shop operated by Do Greater Charlotte that will provide hands-on business and workforce experience for young entrepreneurs while serving the Uptown community. The health system has previously partnered with Do Greater Charlotte on community programming initiatives, including the Symphony at Sparkhouse concert series, which combined free family programming with health screenings and wellness resources.

Building on a Foundation Already Laid
As established philanthropic leaders in Charlotte, Ally Charitable Foundation and Novant Health are building upon the strong foundation laid by earlier partners, deepening the community’s collective investment in Sparkhouse Uptown, previously known as Creative Lab Uptown.

Wells Fargo Bank, Truist Charitable Fund, and the City of Charlotte were among the investors whose early support helped transform Do Greater Charlotte’s vision from concept to construction. Additional support from Lowe’s, Bissell Ballantyne Legacy Foundation, Gambrell Foundation, Gresham Smith, DPR Construction and Center City Partners has turned Sparkhouse Uptown into a reality.

Together, this coalition represents a broad cross-section of banks, health systems, corporations, foundations, civic organizations, and government choosing to invest in the same block, the same building, and the same community at the same time.

Sparkhouse Uptown: What’s Inside
The space in Uptown Charlotte is designed as a hub where a young person can walk in with an idea and walk out with a plan — and with the skills, network, and tools to execute it. Sparkhouse Uptown provides access to:

• Creative and digital production tools
• Entrepreneurship and workforce development programming
• Technology and digital skills training
• Mentorship and professional networking opportunities
• Collaborative workspaces and community gathering areas
• A youth-operated coffee shop and social enterprise experience

Sparkhouse Uptown is more than just a building—it’s a place designed to expand access to economic opportunity. By offering resources and support typically found in educational institutions or professional networks, Sparkhouse Uptown welcomes anyone eager to pursue their goals, providing tools and guidance to help them succeed.

Sparkhouse is located at 500 N. Tryon St. a landmark building owned by Harvey B. Gantt, Charlotte’s first Black mayor and a pioneer in design and civic leadership. Originally built in 1921 as an automobile showroom, it was later home to the Gantt Huberman Architects, one of the first racially integrated architecture firms in North Carolina.

For more information about Do Greater Charlotte and Sparkhouse Uptown, visit dogreater.org.

QUOTES

Mike Rizer, President of the Ally Charitable Foundation
“Ally’s purpose has always been to show up for people and communities in ways that go beyond financial transactions — in ways that actually strengthen futures. Charlotte is our hometown, and the Ally Charitable Foundation Creative Studio at Sparkhouse Uptown is what that commitment looks like in practice. It is a space where young people who already have the talent and the drive will finally have the tools, the technology and the platform to build something real. We are proud to stand alongside Do Greater Charlotte, Novant Health, and every partner in this coalition in making that possible.”

Chris Bowe, senior vice president and president of Novant Health’s Charlotte region
“At Novant Health, we have always believed that a healthy community is a whole community — one where people have access not just to medical care, but to opportunity, connection, and the ability to build meaningful lives. Our investment in Sparkhouse Uptown, and specifically in the community coffee shop that Do Greater Charlotte will operate there, reflects that belief. When young entrepreneurs get real experience, real mentorship, and a real community behind them, that is a whole community with health care in its fullest and most powerful form.”

DeAlva Arnold, CEO of D. Wilson Agency and Board Chair, Do Greater Charlotte
“Sparkhouse Uptown is opportunity infrastructure for Charlotte — full stop. We built it because we believe that access to space, tools, technology, and community should not be determined by your zip code or the size of your network. And we are opening its doors because partners like Ally Charitable Foundation, Novant Health, Wells Fargo, Truist Charitable Fund, the City of Charlotte, and so many others believed in that vision and put real resources behind it. On June 19, we celebrate all of them — and we celebrate every young person in this city who has been waiting for exactly this.”

About Ally Financial
Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE: ALLY) is a financial services company with the nation's largest all-digital bank and an industry-leading auto financing business, driven by a mission to "Do It Right" and be a relentless ally for customers and communities. The company serves customers with deposits and securities brokerage and investment advisory services as well as auto financing and insurance offerings. The company also includes a seasoned corporate finance business that offers capital for equity sponsors and middle-market companies. For more information, please visit www.ally.com.

For more information and disclosures about Ally, visit https://www.ally.com/#disclosures.

For further images and news on Ally, please visit http://media.ally.com.

About Novant Health
Novant Health is an integrated network of more than 900 locations, including 19 hospitals, nearly 800 physician clinics and urgent care centers, outpatient facilities, and imaging and pharmacy services. This network supports a seamless and personalized healthcare experience for communities in North Carolina and South Carolina. Novant Health is nationally recognized for our unwavering commitment to safety and the highest quality care, and we serve as a catalyst for healthcare transformation through clinical trials, leading-edge research, innovative care delivery models and robust virtual care networks. The expertise and empathy of our nearly 44,000 team members along with more than 9,100 independent and employed clinicians are at the heart of Our Cause as industry leaders caring for communities across the Carolinas. In 2025, Novant Health provided more than $2.1 billion in community benefit, including financial assistance and services. 

For more information, visit NovantHealth.org. Follow Novant Health on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn. 

About Do Greater Charlotte
Do Greater Charlotte is a nonprofit organization that connects potential with opportunity by equipping underestimated youth and creative entrepreneurs with the skills and resources to thrive in the innovation economy. Through dynamic programs in digital creativity, entrepreneurship, and workforce development, Do Greater empowers young people to transform their ideas into businesses and careers that drive economic mobility. The organization’s upcoming Creative Lab Uptown—Charlotte’s first space to bridge economic resources from Uptown to historically under-resourced communities—will expand its impact by serving as a hub for education, entrepreneurship, and innovation. For more information, visit www.dogreater.org.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Ally Financial
Alex Moore
Alex.Moore@ally.com

Novant Health
Caroline Arey
Caroline.Arey@novanthealth.org

D. Wilson Agency on behalf of Do Greater Charlotte
engagement@dwilsonagency.com