Let's Create a Lasting Impact Together
ABOUT US
MISSION
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Hope at the Lake (HATL) bridges the gap between community needs and community resources across the Lake Norman area. Our mission is to build a community of caring by connecting compassionate donors with neighbors facing immediate needs by financially supporting Lake Norman charities.
HISTORY
Hope at the Lake was founded over 20 years ago in memory of a beloved member of the Mooresville community. What began with a focus on the “Three C’s” — Defeating Cancer, Community Service, and Supporting Children — has since evolved into a broader mission of compassion. As our organization and understanding of local needs have grown, so has our commitment to meeting them. Today, we continue to build a true community of caring — responding to immediate financial needs of Lake Norman charities as they arise while thoughtfully stewarding the generosity of our business sponsors and Circle of Hope donors.
OUR COMMITMENT
We are proud that more than 95% of donor dollars go directly to our charity partners. With an all-volunteer board and no paid staff, HATL is committed to strong stewardship and open communication. We encourage community members to reach out with questions, feedback, or ideas. To date, we’ve granted more than $2 million to dozens of local nonprofits.
The Hearts Behind The Hope
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Hope at the Lake (HATL) Foundation Board is a 100% volunteer, diverse group of community members dedicated to upholding and advancing the mission of HATL. We meet monthly as a board and countless times throughout the month to plan, collaborate, and carry out the many facets of our work. Together, we share our time, wisdom, and leadership to make a meaningful impact across our community.
With more than 20 years of granting and leadership, HATL has earned the trust and credibility to serve as a true catalyst for positive change in the greater Lake Norman area. Thanks to the generous support of local residents, we’ve been able to distribute more than $2 million in funds to local charities. As a board, we take great pride in our stewardship ensuring that at least 95% of all charitable gifts go directly into the hands of our charity partners.
Forrest Wilson
PRESIDENT
Forrest Wilson, our fearless President, hails from Amherst, Massachusetts and has lived in the Lake Norman area since 2011. In his professional life Forrest serves as the Chief Retirement Services Officer at Alerus, a publicly traded financial services firm headquartered in Minneapolis. Forrest holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Central Connecticut State University, as well as an MBA in finance and marketing from the NYU Stern School of Business. When Forrest wasn’t studying, he was a two-time Academic All-American on the Division I golf team. Forrest is also a certified commercial private pilot. Forrest and his wife Bryn are proud parents of two daughters and a son. The Wilson family enjoys golf, boating, travel, and spending time with their golden retrievers, Dodger and Hazel. Their interests also include the UNC Marching Band, JROTC, English Club and aviation. Since moving to the Lake Norman area, Forrest has been committed to giving back through volunteerism and community service. Forrest has found HATL offers a meaningful opportunity to be involved in a charity that supports the broader community and makes a tangible local impact. Now in his seventh year on the HATL board, Forrest has played a key role in the organization’s growth and outreach. He is proud to be part of a dedicated team that continues to expand Hope at the Lake’s reach and effectiveness. Looking ahead, Forrest is excited to help deepen community engagement and support for local charities, ensuring that Hope at the Lake continues to be a catalyst for positive change.
Frank Baldasare
VICE PRESIDENT
Frank Baldasare serves as HATL’s Vice President and has been a member of the board since 2019. Frank is originally from New York City but has lived the majority of his life In Ft. Lauderdale and Atlanta. Frank attended Auburn University and was a three year letterman in baseball and the SEC batting champion. He has lived in the Lake Norman region for six years, and prior to retirement, Frank was a Managing Director for Walker & Dunlop, a publicly traded commercial real estate finance and advisory services company. Frank is married to his lovely wife Gay and they have one daughter and two grandsons also living in the Lake Norman region. Safe to say, one of their favorite hobbies is annual grandparent camp and they also enjoy golf, boating and living an active lifestyle. Frank and Gay were very active with charities in the Greater Atlanta Area through their church. Joining the board was an extension of their faith to love and help others through the charities supported by HATL. Simply put, HATL is a ministry for Frank and Gay. Their goal is to impact as many people as possible that need a hand up from the cycle of poverty through the local Lake Norman area charities financially supported by HATL.
Laura Garrison
TREASURER
Laura Garrison serves as HATL’s Treasurer and loves seeing how generous community donations directly improve the lives of so many people. A seasoned Fortune 50 company finance and strategy executive, Laura most recently served as the business-unit CFO and strategic advisor for U.S. Stores, Pro, and Installation Services at Lowe’s Companies, Inc. Her background spans financial planning, strategy, M&A integration, productivity initiatives and advanced analytics. Serving on the HATL board gives Laura a meaningful way to help support and uplift members of the Lake Norman community.
Caroline Dewitt
SECRETARY
Caroline Dewitt serves as the HATL board secretary. In that role she manages minutes and agendas for our board meetings as well as managing our social media. Caroline is originally from Charleston, SC but grew up in Huntersville and settled in Mooresville in 2018, Caroline holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and Communications from Appalachian State University. She has a strong foundation in relationship-building, strategic communication and effective marketing. She currently is a real estate broker and marketing and sales director for Trump International Realty. Caroline loves the lake life, staying active and cherishes time with family and friends. She is very committed and involved in HATL and hopes to have an impact by expanding the organization’s ability to support local charities through social media tools. She loves being part of the collaborative spirit, and has a passion to see HATL grow stronger and have an even stronger impact on the community.
Jessica Babington
MARKETING, EVENT PLANNING
& FUNDRAISING
Jessica Babington has served on the HATL board for a number of years. She wears a multitude of hats for HATL including marketing, event planning and fundraising. Jessica is originally from Bergen County, NJ. She and her family moved to Atlanta when she was young and she later attended the University of Georgia where she holds a BA degree in Risk Management. Jessica is a licensed Realtor & Broker-in-Charge of Trump International Realty Charlotte. Specializing in the entire Lake Norman area, Jessica works with a diverse clientele ranging from first-time buyers and sellers to seasoned luxury real estate connoisseurs. Prior to real estate, she was a commercial reinsurance broker for a small international firm and has also worked in marketing and administration roles for her father’s biotech company. Jessica has lived in the Lake Norman area since 2009. She and her husband enjoy playing tennis, boating on the lake, and spending time with their two dogs. Jessica most loves HATL as it provides the opportunity to learn about multiple causes in our community and acts as a vehicle to help make an immediate impact when it is needed most. She hopes to benefit HATL by sharing her knowledge of non-profit event planning as well as her positive attitude and enthusiasm!
Cathy Critz
CRM MANAGER
Cathy Critz, originally from Richmond, Virginia has lived in the Lake Norman region for over 45 years. Cathy’s main role on the HATL board is to update and maintain our Contact Relationship Software(CRM) to enable smoother and more consistent communications with our supporters, and expand our reach for event and recurring donations. Cathy holds a BS and MS degree in Textile Chemistry from Virginia Tech and an MBA from Wake Forest. Cathy started her company Solutions FYS (For Your Success) over 30 years ago. Her company has supported hundreds of manufacturers’ goals to improve their business management systems with training, coaching and technical assistance. Prior to Solutions FYS Cathy had a long career with Astro Dye Works and Collins and Aikman. Cathy treasures her 28 years with her late husband, Rick Nelson. Cathy enjoys her dozens of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. In her mostly retired life she enjoys water sports, art, golf, travel and motorcycle rides in the mountains. She frequently can be spotted walking her canine kid Nika around her neighborhood. Cathy also serves on the board of IFB Solutions in Winston-Salem and is active with LKN Lions and the Lions KidSight screening program. Cathy loves giving back to the community through her involvement in HATL. She considers it a key part of her “almost retired” lifestyle and sees it as a perfect opportunity to help many local organizations immediate needs.
Heather Mueller
CHARITY LIAISON
Heather Mueller joined the HATL board in 2025 and serves as the Charity Liaison, ensuring every grant aligns with the foundation’s mission and community values. Although originally from New Jersey, Heather began her career in Manhattan’s advertising industry before running the marketing division of an international conference and event-planning company. It was her love of travel that led her to Trans World Airlines, where she served as Manager of Advertising & Leisure Marketing. Heather and her husband Gene have two children born in North Carolina, and also raised in both Switzerland and Louisville. In Kentucky, Heather published a community magazine while continuing to create events and raise funding for schools and local initiatives. Now retired and living at The Point on Lake Norman, Heather enjoys paddle boarding, pickleball, and photography—but nothing brings her more joy than welcoming family and friends into her home. In her current role, Heather continues to champion local causes, including launching Heart of the Lake, an initiative designed to meet the growing need for volunteers across the Lake Norman nonprofit community. The program brings people together to volunteer at local charities and then connect over lunch at popular Lake Norman restaurants. Heather firmly believes that when people come together with purpose, great things can happen.
Kim Heilman
CIRCLE OF HOPE DEVELOPMENT
Kim Heilman is originally from Troy, North Carolina. Kim’s role on the board focuses on building our Circle of Hope community. She and her husband Gibb have lived in the Lake Norman area for almost 5 years. Kim’s professional career has included using her educational background as a middle school teacher and working in retail. Kim’s main career has been as a stay at home mom raising her three children; Kase, 26, Laney, 25, and Smith, 15. Kim and her family enjoy golfing, boating and playing with their two golden retrievers. Her son Smith and she are active in the Young Men’s Service League. Kim also serves as a Guardian ad Litem for Iredell and Alexander counties. As Kim has become more entrenched in the community she has begun to learn more about HATL and the impact they are having on the community as a whole. This fueled her desire to become involved. She hopes to grow our Circle of Hope by recruiting more donors and volunteers. She is keenly aware that HATL cannot do what we do without our likeminded, generous supporters.
Reed Sapp
FUNDRAISING & COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Reed Sapp serves on the HATL board overseeing fundraising and community relations. Reed is originally from Pittsburgh and has been in the Lake Norman region for 30 years. Prior to retirement Reed was a Sr. Executive for 44 years for a privately owned chemical company. Reed and his wife Barb have a son and a daughter and three grandchildren who live nearby. They spend as much time as possible with their grandchildren! Reed and Barb feel very blessed and Reed serves on the board as a way to give back to the community where they raised their children. HATL gives them an opportunity to give back to multiple local charities. He hopes his work on the board will provide emotional and financial assistance to those in need.
Carolynn McNamara
WEBSITE LIAISON
Carolynn McNamara has worked to create a new website for HATL and hopes to continue her work with HATL by supporting our charity partners and supporting the Circle of Hope community. Carolynn’s professional background is that of a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She holds an MSW from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Carolynn has worked in foster care, adoptions, schools, hospitals, and residential treatment centers. For the last ten years she has maintained a private practice in which she provides therapy for individuals, families and couples. Beyond her professional career Carolynn considers being a mother to her four children her most rewarding role. Carolynn and her husband John recently relocated to the Lake Norman area from the Chicago suburbs. They share 7 adult children and two grandchildren. John and Carolynn love travel, anything on the water, spending time with family and friends, food and wine and are trying their hand at pickleball. Carolynn loves HATL’s ability to raise funds that can support multiple charities as opposed to supporting just one charity. The Circle of Hope offers an opportunity for a community of friends to collectively make a real impact for other community members in need. Carolynn hopes to utilize her background in social work to add a unique skill set to the board and their charity partners.
How We Make It Happen
At Hope at the Lake Foundation, everything we do is made possible through the generosity of our board members, business sponsors, and Circle of Hope donors. We like to say — we put the FUN in fundraising!
Each year, we host two signature events — the Annual Golf Scramble and the Halloween Gala. Both celebrations feature great food, lively entertainment, and countless opportunities to connect with friends old and new. Guests enjoy exciting live auctions and creative fundraising activities that make giving back a truly joyful experience.
In addition, we host quarterly Circle of Hope cocktail receptions that bring together our donors and charity partners for meaningful connection and inspiration. These gatherings give our Circle of Hope members the chance to hear firsthand from the organizations they support — and to witness the real impact their generosity makes in our community.
We invite you to join our Circle of Hope and become part of a growing network of neighbors committed to making a difference.
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