Friends and Families of CFTK, 

I am so excited to introduce myself as the 2025-2026 Executive Director of the Carolina For The Kids Foundation! As we begin our 28th year, I cannot wait to see the impact we make together. The Carolina For The Kids community is special. It connects students, the community within UNC Children’s, local businesses, Carolina Athletics, the greater Chapel Hill community, and more for one mission: to provide financial and emotional support to the patients and families of UNC Children’s.

This past year, we continued our annual Kilometers For The Kids Race, including an in-person 5K, Fun Run, and virtual race options. We hosted our annual Benefit Reception with a live auction and speakers who have been directly impacted by Carolina For The Kids. We partnered with campus Greek organizations to host benefit concerts and a pickleball tournament to unite students for our cause. We also expanded our partnerships with local businesses and organizations. Finally, our year-long fundraising work and dedication to UNC Children’s culminated at Dance Marathon. I am proud to be part of an organization full of such dedicated individuals, and I am confident in our ability to continue to grow! 

At UNC Children’s, we aid families directly through the For The Kids Fund, which assists families in areas that insurance does not typically cover. We also continue to fund the Carolina For The Kids grant, the N.C. Children’s Hospital PICU Waiting Room renovations, and the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill. Carolina For The Kids members are regular volunteers in both the Play Atrium at N.C. Children’s and in the Ronald McDonald House. We serve a free biweekly Bagel Brunch in the Family Room and coordinate frequent visits with Carolina Athletics. This year, we are so excited to expand the Always CFTK program, which you may know previously as the KCC program. Our goal is always to create lasting relationships with the patients and families of UNC Children’s, and we sincerely hope you will all join us!

To our donors, dancers, volunteers, runners, and committee members - thank you for everything you do to help us help the kids! Your commitment is inspiring and allows us to succeed year after year. I am honored to lead this organization this year, and I promise to keep our mission central to everything we do. Throughout my first three years with Carolina For The Kids, I have gotten to work with some of the most genuine, passionate, and innovative people I have had the privilege to meet at Carolina, and I have seen the impact that Carolina For The Kids makes on our entire community. During my time as Executive Director, I hope to help CFTK continue to adapt, grow, and make a difference!

I cannot wait to see all that we accomplish together this year. No one person could make all of this happen alone, so please do not hesitate to reach out to me or anyone else on the Executive Board if you have any questions or want to get involved!

Always Carolina For The Kids,

Avery Lloyd
2026 Executive Director