With opening day quickly approaching, Ballantyne Store Manager Patrick McGuinness and his team are busy putting the final touches on the store and preparing to welcome their new neighbors. But October 14 won’t be Ballantyne’s first introduction to Wegmans. For nearly a year, the team has been building connections across Charlotte by providing donations, establishing partnerships, and meeting with local nonprofit leaders.
When JP Prinzivalli, Ballantyne Service Area Manager, moved to the Charlotte region in January 2026, one of his first priorities was reaching out to local organizations and learning how Wegmans could make a meaningful difference. Because youth support is one of Wegmans’ community giving pillars, he began by connecting with nearby schools.
“We noticed there are quite a few schools located close to our store, so we reached out to see how we could collaborate,” said JP. “Those connections helped us to branch out and partner with other organizations in the area.”
His conversations resulted in donations to Knights View Elementary for their “Leader in Me” program, a three-year sponsorship at Cuthbertson Middle and High School for their Cavalier Athletic Booster Club program, and a donation of five $1,000 scholarship grants for seniors at Ballantyne Ridge High School as a symbolic nod to our Employee Scholarship Program.
Throughout the spring and summer, the Ballantyne team continued building relationships in the community by sponsoring and participating in local events. Their outreach began in April with the Charlotte MS Walk, followed by the YMCA Run! Ballantyne event in May. At each event, team members distributed snacks, water, and reusable bags to participants while sharing excitement about Wegmans' upcoming arrival in the community.
“These events were a great opportunity for us to get out into the community, introduce people to Wegmans and highlight our commitment to making a difference, while also sharing about employment opportunities at our new store,” said JP.
The store rounded out the summer by providing support to the Ballantyne250 celebration, donating to the Celebrate Nursing Banquet run by the Metrolina Council of Nursing Organizations, and sponsoring several concerts at The Bowl at Ballantyne.
Listening and Learning
In late August, JP and Patrick invited representatives from the local school district, area food banks and pantries, the United Way of Greater Charlotte, and other nonprofit organizations to gather for an informal conversation. The goal was to learn more about Charlotte, understand both the opportunities and challenges facing the community, and explore how Wegmans can fit into the picture to help make a difference.
“One of my biggest takeaways from the meeting was gaining a better understanding of the food insecurity many families in the area face,” said JP. “It’s not always something you can see, but hearing directly from community partners reinforced the importance of working together to address it.”
Fighting hunger is one of our main priorities at Wegmans. We do this by partnering with local food banks and pantries, and plan to continue this practice in Charlotte. In Ballantyne, Feeding Charlotte will receive daily donations of safe-to-eat and wholesome perishable food from the store once it opens in October.
The store will also run two annual customer scan campaigns to support local food banks. Our Check Out Hunger campaign will run each fall (beginning in 2027) and will benefit Nourish Up. As schools prepare for summer break, our Fill the Bus campaign will help Ballantyne Families ensure that kids have access to adequate food during school breaks.
JP was also impressed by how well the various attendees knew each other, and their willingness to collaborate for the greater good of Charlotte. At the meeting, he connected with SHARE Charlotte, an organization that supports more than 800 different nonprofits throughout the Charlotte region. SHARE Charlotte helped JP identify local organizations that align with Wegmans’ key giving priorities.
“Our store will have a giving circle, and every month we will take a team of employees into the community to volunteer at a different nonprofit,” said JP. “By partnering with a variety of organizations throughout the year, we can support a broader range of needs and make a meaningful impact across the community.”
Attendees of the meeting were equally impressed with the store’s interest in learning from their new neighbors.
“Thank you so much for hosting the community listening event this morning! I can't tell you how rare it is for a company to be so thoughtful when entering a new community and it really speaks to the values of Wegmans and your employees,” said Melissa Hovey, Executive Director at SHARE Charlotte.
Looking Forward
The Ballantyne team is already looking ahead to how they can continue making a meaningful impact this fall and beyond. Plans are underway to support several local organizations through donations, including Community Culinary School of Charlotte, Nourish Up, Feeding Charlotte, One Bag Pantry Meals, Ballantyne Ridge High School, and SHARE Charlotte. In October, the team will also lend its support to a variety of community events, including the Walk to End Alzheimer's, Charlotte’s More Than Pink Walk, Anne Springs Close Greenway’s Boil, Brew & ‘Que, and Mending Strides Ranch Charity Golf Outing.
Before the first customer walks through the doors on October 14, the store will have already contributed nearly $30,000 to the community through donations and event sponsorships.
"We’re thrilled to become part of this vibrant community,” said JP. “We look forward to serving our neighbors, supporting local organizations, and being a trusted partner in Ballantyne and the greater Charlotte area for many years to come.”