Final Community Hike of the Year – Crowders Mountain
Hosted by Pain & Power Productions and the Uncle Sonny Initiative
We’re closing out the year with one more powerful community experience! Join us on Friday, October 25 at 9:00 AM for our final Community Hike of the Year at Crowders Mountain.
Pain & Power Productions and the Uncle Sonny Initiative are once again partnering to bring the community together for a morning of reflection, connection, and empowerment. Each hike reminds us that no matter how steep the climb, we can overcome life’s challenges together.
Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate unity, growth, and strength with fellow community hikers as we continue our mission to Transfer the Pain Into Power.
👉 Be sure to register on our website or click the flyer above to join the movement — we look forward to another great event at the mountain top!
Uncle Sonny Initiative 501c3 is an organization offering community service and family oriented events in North and South Carolina. Our goal is to provide events and services to families with children ages 7 to 17 that focus on the wellbeing of the children, introduce them to new activities and emphasize their importance in the community. We encourage them to challenge themselves academically, be active in their communities and Transfer the Pain into Power in all that they do. We educate them on our core value of “Unity, Community, You and Me” so that they know the value they bring to their families and communities.
Our Core Values:
Unity – Together, we are stronger.
Community – Change starts at home.
You and Me – It takes all of us to make a lasting impact.
Our Mission:
Transfer the Pain Into Power – No matter what life brings, we can turn adversity into growth, struggle into strength, and pain into purpose.
At Uncle Sonny Initiative, we’re not just mentoring youth—we’re building a movement of resilient leaders who will carry the torch of transformation for generations to come.
3rd Annual Mental Health Awareness Kickball Game Recap
Hosted by the Uncle Sonny Initiative
Laughter, teamwork, and togetherness filled Clanton Park in Charlotte, NC as the Uncle Sonny Initiative hosted its 3rd Annual Community Kickball Game. What started as a game turned into a family reunion — full of love, friendly competition, and genuine connection. The day reminded everyone that mental health matters and that no one is alone. Through every laugh, every play, and every word of encouragement, the community showed the true meaning of Transferring The Pain Into Power — one kick, one smile, one moment at a time.
Leading up to the day, the Uncle Sonny Initiative in Charlotte hosted a Mental Awareness Family Fun Day and 5k Walk in partnership with Mental Health America of Central Carolinas. The nonprofit focuses on events and community service for people ages 7 to 17.
We have to have a brighter future than our present," founder, Sonny Champion said. "So that's why we focus on the youth."
Champion started the nonprofit three years ago under his business Pain and Power Productions. His slogan is "Transfer The Pain Into Power."
"No matter what we go through in life, we have to take a negative and turn that into a positive," Champion said. "I'm living proof of what the slogan really stands for."
Champion says he has battled depression at several stages in life. His own niece and nephew became motivation for him to make sure they had positive outlets in their lives, eventually growing into the Uncle Sonny Initiative.
WHO's 2023 report says depression, anxiety and conduct disorders are the leading cause of illness and disability in adolescents. The report says each U.S. dollar invested in preventing and treating mental illness in youth could return around $24 in health, education and employment benefits over 80 years.
At the 5K, Champion passed out goody bags with green mental health awareness ribbons, pens, wristbands and a pocket size journal so kids have an outlet to express themselves wherever they go.
"We're pretty much raised to swallow and bury what we go through to the point where we're adults and don't even understand why we are the way we are," Champion said. "So, that's why what we're doing is so important."
🎒 Uncle Sonny Initiative’s 5th Annual Bookbag Giveaway
📍 Charlotte Baha’i Center
đź“Ť3414 Marvin Rd Charlotte NC 28211
📅 Aug 9| 🕚 11AM–1PM
🎒 Uncle Sonny Initiative’s 5th Annual Bookbag Giveaway
đź“Ť Old Armory Gym, Camden SC
📅 July 19 | 🕚 11AM–1PM
Relive the joy, laughter, and powerful moments from the 3rd Annual Uncle Sonny Initiative Community Bowling Party at Strikers Family Sports Center in Rock Hill, SC on Saturday, July 13th!
This free, family-friendly event brought our community together in the name of Unity, Community, You & Me—core values that drive our mission to help each other Transfer the Pain Into Power.
Watch as families connect, kids celebrate, and smiles light up the lanes. Whether you were there or want to see the impact of positive community energy in motion, this recap is a reminder of the power we share when we come together in love and purpose.
A special thank you to the community members who participated in our April 20, 2025 community hike. On a crisp April morning, we came together not just to hike—but to heal. 🥾✨
Hosted by Uncle Sonny Initiative and Pain & Power Productions, our Crowders Mountain community hike was more than a physical climb—it was a collective journey rooted in our core values: Unity, Community, You & Me.
People from all walks of life showed up with open hearts, ready to support one another and move with purpose. Step by step, we lived out our mission: đź’Ą Transfer the Pain Into Power.
Whether you’ve faced personal battles, emotional weight, or life’s uphill challenges, this hike reminded us all—we are stronger together. The trail was steep, but so are our stories. And through unity, we continue to rise.
