Our History
1985 - Our first house, MMAE's Inn
Our roots in Charlotte go back more than 25 years. Hospitality House of Charlotte was created because of the considerable need to provide overnight housing for out-of-town families who had relatives being treated in Charlotte’s hospitals. Today’s Hospitality House of Charlotte grew out of an organization called the Mecklenburg Medical Society Auxiliary.
In the Beginning
In 1982, the Auxiliary did a survey of the healthcare needs of the community and found that out-of-town families needed a place to stay. They looked at many different types of houses including a Ronald McDonald house. They chose the current model because Memorial Hospital (pictured right) was pioneering heart and kidney transplants. At that time people were staying in the hospital for many weeks after a transplant. Families of these patients had no where to go and were forced to bear the economic burden of their stay. The committee also liked the idea of a broader concept that all types of patient’s families were welcomed. The Auxiliary set about with 2 major goals in mind. First, they knew having a house would be costly, so they set up an endowment fund. This fund was started to help support the house as well as other health related projects in the community. Secondly that they wanted this project to stand alone and have a board would eventually run the house.
Jean Gaskin pointed out that the initials of the Mecklenburg Medical Auxiliary and Endowment formed a word – MMAE – (to be pronounced May.) Then the next step was how to describe it, a house, a home, an Inn? Inn sounded warm and friendly and MMAE’s Inn was born. In December of 1984, a wonderful house was found for sale on Scott Avenue. The community pitched in with donations of furnishings and services as well as the countless hours of volunteer work. In an unbelievable four months MMAE was opened. Below is a quote from the first newsletter describing the opening that April.
“When the first guest arrived that Spring morning, she found the smell of fresh paint mingling with brewed coffee. Beds for eighteen people were prepared and the kitchen was stocked. A Resident Manager, Fannie Bullock, had been hired for the evenings and a staff of volunteers scheduled for the days.”
The Medical Auxiliary Endowment Board oversaw the running of MMAE’s Inn for fourteen months, until the Inn was ready to take its first step toward independence. In June 1986, Articles of Incorporation were drawn up and a community wide Board of Directors was appointed with Nancy Johnston as Board Chairman. By March 1987 nonprofit status was achieved. In July 1987 the first Executive Director, Nancy Underwood, was hired.
MMAE Grows Out of Need
When Saint John's Baptist church was planning its new Fellowship Hall they wanted it to be used more than just on Sundays and Wednesday evenings. They wanted to create a building that could be utilized for church functions as well as make a difference in the community. They contacted MMAE’s Inn and a collaborative effort began. After 3 years of planning, in 1992 MMAE Inc. added a second location in this wonderful space. This expansion added 2,550 feet of space, 15 additional beds, and double the number of guests that could be sheltered overnight. Saint John’s also provided many of the volunteers needed to staff the Inn. Also in 1992, Charlotte Memorial Hospital changed its name to Carolinas Medical Center.
In 1998 our name was officially changed to Hospitality House of Charlotte to better reflect our affiliation with the National Association of Hospital Hospitality Houses (NAHHH) organization and to better reflect the hospitable service and accommodations we were providing our guests.
The Need for More Beds Grows
With the continued growth of Charlotte-area’s medical community and hospitals, the needs of Hospitality House grew as well. So by 2005, plans to build a brand-new, larger house were underway. The time came to consolidate the two separate houses and offices under one roof to streamline operations, expenses and to support more guests. In March 2008, the new house opened with an impressive 22-room house that can accommodate up to 50 guests every night.
We Serve Because of the Community Support
Since 1985, Hospitality House of Charlotte has sheltered more than 35,000 guests, from 49 states and over 30 countries. We shelter about 217 guests a month for an average of 10 days.
We would like to thank our Auxiliary and each of the volunteers, guests and the faith and community organizations that have helped us achieve our 25 years of service. We are not an organization that stands alone. We are only as good the community that has supported us. For 25 years Hospitality House of Charlotte has conveyed the true hospitality of the Charlotte community. We are deeply grateful for all the support, donations and love you have given us.
