The Agency Acts Toy Drive with Rico Dowdle

Presented by The Agency Charlotte and Travis Crawford Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical, featuring Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle and benefiting Thompson.

🎟 Meet Rico Dowdle
Be one of the first 300 guests to RSVP for an exclusive chance to meet Rico Dowdle and snap a photo to remember the occasion.

• Please register once per household (up to 6 people).
• Bring your Eventbrite ticket + a new, unwrapped toy to participate in the meet-and-greet.

🎄 A Night of Joy & Giving

Join us for The Agency Acts: Give Back Holiday Toy Drive & Community Meet & Greet—a festive community event centered on holiday spirit, generosity, and supporting local families in need.

At the heart of the evening is our Give Back Holiday Toy Drive for Thompson, North Carolina’s largest child-serving human services provider, proudly serving children and families for over 139 years.

What to Bring (Donation Ideas):

• New, unwrapped toys (no violent themes or toy weapons)
• Infant to adolescent clothing
• New shoes
• Infant care essentials

Every gift makes a meaningful impact. Choose something you’d be proud to give your own child and help spread joy across our community.

🎉 Family-Friendly Activations
(Sponsored & Presented by Event Partners)

• Photos with Santa – Sponsored by Paladin Law
• Cabinet IQ Coloring Corner – Presented by Cabinet IQ
• Santa Hat Handout – Courtesy of Jackson Orthodontics
• Atrium Health Kids Gaming Zone – Powered by Atrium Health
• Holiday Face Painting Station – Presented by Aclara Lending

🛍️ Holiday Shopping & Interactive Experiences
(Vendors + Creative Pop-Ups)

• Make-Your-Own Holiday Floral Bouquet Bar – Gathered Grace Florals
• Locker Room Charlotte Photo Activation + Vintage Sportswear Pop-Up – Locker Room Charlotte
• Kendra Scott Holiday Jewelry Activation – Kendra Scott (20% of proceeds benefit Thompson)
• Hawley Truckers Custom Holiday Hat Bar – Hawley Truckers
• Glow Chemistry DIY Mobile Fragrance Bar – Glow Chemistry
• Glow Girl Permanent Jewelry Bar – Glow Girl
• Alisa Luxe Beauty Holiday Pop-Up – Alisa Luxe Beauty
• Dom Alexander Hand-Poured Concrete Candle Shop – Dom Alexander

❤️ Why It Matters

Whether you’re attending with family, meeting friends, or looking for a purposeful way to celebrate the holidays, this event promises an evening full of warmth, connection, and holiday spirit. Your participation—and your donations—directly support Thompson and the children and families they serve.

👉 RSVP today, bring a toy, and be part of changing lives.
If you can’t join us in person, you can still support Thompson with a donation: Give Here.

Changing Lives Changes Everything.

Interested in becoming an event partner or sponsor?
Email for more details.

Info: Experience the magic of the season at our charming Photos with Santa activation, proudly sponsored by Paladin Law. Bring your family, friends, or little ones to meet Santa, share your holiday wishes, and pose for a festive photo you can take home as a cherished keepsake. This joyful stop is the perfect way to capture a special moment from the evening—warm smiles, holiday spirit, and memories you’ll treasure for years to come. Paladin Law is a residential and commercial real estate law firm dedicated to helping you seamlessly complete your real estate transaction.

Info: Let your little ones get creative at the Cabinet IQ Kids’ Coloring Corner, a fun and festive spot designed just for our youngest guests. Children can enjoy holiday-themed coloring pages, crayons, and activities while you explore the event. It’s a cheerful, family-friendly space where kids can relax, express their creativity, and take home their artwork as a sweet reminder of the evening.

Cabinet IQ is a modern, full-service kitchen and bath cabinet company known for combining exceptional craftsmanship with a seamless, customer-focused experience. They specialize in high-quality cabinetry, custom design solutions, and streamlined installation—making the renovation process smooth, efficient, and beautifully executed.

Info: Step into the Little Elves Face Paint Corner, presented by Aclara Lending, where holiday imagination comes to life in the most magical way. Kids can choose from festive designs—snowflakes, reindeer noses, candy canes, holiday sparkles, and more—as our artists transform them into cheerful little elves ready to celebrate. This whimsical station gives children a fun, creative experience they’ll love and parents a picture-perfect moment to capture, all while highlighting Aclara Lending, a trusted lending partner dedicated to helping families navigate home financing with clarity, care, and a truly personalized approach.

Info: Kick off the holiday festivities in style at our Holiday Bouquet Bar with Gathered Grace Events, where you can build and purchase your own custom holiday floral bouquet from a curated selection of premium, seasonal blooms. Known for their sculptural style, refined aesthetic, and highly curated approach, Gathered Grace designs everything from intimate gatherings to grand celebrations with intention and effortless detail—and also operates as a boutique flower shop offering modern, artful arrangements for everyday moments and special occasions alike.

Info: Step into the Locker Room Charlotte Carolina Panthers Photo Activation & Merchandise Booth, where vintage sports culture and modern fan experience collide. Founded in 2019 by Matt Alexander, Locker Room Charlotte began as an online destination for high-quality vintage sportswear and has since grown into a beloved brick-and-mortar shop, now located at 4090 Raleigh St, Suite 141, in Charlotte. For this special activation, they’re bringing a curated selection of throwback jerseys, tees, and memorabilia from various decades, leagues, and teams—alongside a sponsored photo display where guests can snap content-worthy shots surrounded by authentic vintage pieces. It’s part shopping, part experience, and all about celebrating the timeless style of sports.

Info: Experience the sparkle of the season at the Kendra Scott Signature Jewelry Pop-Up, featuring a curated selection of the brand’s most loved jewelry styles and holiday exclusives. Guests can browse and shop timeless pieces known for their versatility, craftsmanship, and signature Kendra Scott design aesthetic—perfect for gifting or adding a festive touch to your own look. Enjoy a beautifully merchandised display, on-site styling assistance, and special event offerings as you explore the elevated world of Kendra Scott right here at our holiday celebration.

Info: Step up to the Hawley Truckers Holiday Hat Bar, where guests can design and purchase their own custom holiday hat—crafted on-site and completely unique. Choose from a wide variety of premium hat styles, including baseball caps, beanies, bucket hats, canvas truckers, suede-bill caps, full suede options, and classic foam truckers in seasonal and signature colors. Then make it your own with Hawley’s curated collection of festive patches featuring ribbons, nutcrackers, vintage ornaments, candy canes, Santa icons, and other nostalgic holiday motifs. Once you’ve selected your hat and patch combo, the Hawley team will assemble it for you right at the booth—giving you a one-of-a-kind holiday piece perfect for photos, gifting, or wearing throughout the season. With its mix of craftsmanship, personalization, and festive flair, the Holiday Hat Foundry brings a fun, fashion-forward experience to our event and celebrates Hawley Truckers’ Charlotte-based roots in style and creativity.

Info: Grab a festive Santa hat and a holiday photo-op at the Santa Hats & Smiles Station, courtesy of Jackson Orthodontics. With offices in Steele Creek, Charlotte, and Fort Mill, Jackson Orthodontics is known for combining modern treatment with truly personal care—where Dr. Jackson is hands-on at every visit and every patient is treated like family. Their warm, energetic team is dedicated to creating confident, beautiful smiles, and tonight they’re adding a little extra cheer with Santa hats to help you celebrate the season in style.

Info: Enjoy a lineup of kid-friendly, holiday and tailgate-inspired games for all ages, from festive toss games to fan-favorite challenges, creating a fun, high-energy space for families to play together throughout the event. Presented by Atrium Health, a leading, community-focused health system dedicated to caring for families across our region, this activation is all about bringing people together through joy, connection, and a little friendly competition—because feeling your best starts with moments like these.

Info: Create your own signature scent at the Glow Chemistry DIY Mobile Fragrance Bar, where guests can blend custom fragrances inspired by their own style, mood, and memories. Guided by the Glow Chemistry team, you’ll explore curated fragrance notes, layer your favorites, and bottle a personalized scent to take home. Founded by Deesha Capers, Glow Chemistry is Charlotte’s premier mobile fragrance bar—built on the belief that fragrance is more than just a scent; it’s an experience, a memory, and a signature. This interactive activation transforms a simple moment into something unforgettable, giving each guest a luxurious, sensory keepsake from the evening.

Info: Glow Girl Permanent Jewelry brings a touch of timeless sparkle to the season with custom, weld-on jewelry designed to celebrate life’s most meaningful moments. Known for their delicate chains, high-quality materials, and seamless clasp-free designs, Glow Girl offers guests the chance to create a personalized piece that’s as lasting as it is beautiful. Whether it’s a holiday treat, a mother-daughter moment, a friendship bracelet, or your newest signature accessory, each piece is welded with care, intention, and a bit of glow. This pop-up experience adds an elevated, modern touch to the event—turning simple jewelry into a lasting memory.

Info: Discover the understated elegance of Dom Alexander Concrete Candles, where modern craftsmanship meets warm, seasonal ambiance. Each candle is hand-poured into a signature concrete vessel—minimal, sculptural, and designed to elevate any space with a touch of refined simplicity. With rich, holiday-inspired fragrances and a focus on clean, contemporary design, Dom Alexander creates pieces that feel both artistic and functional. These candles make the perfect gift or personal indulgence, bringing a sophisticated, cozy glow to the winter season.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Hyatt Centric Charlotte SouthPark, 3100 Apex Drive, Charlotte, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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