Christina Browning Scholarship Fund
The Christina Browning Scholarship Fund was established in 2016 in order to provide financial assistance to those who would not otherwise be able to afford treatment. The Fund is named in memory of Christina Lynne Browning.
About Christina Browning
Christina was born in Illinois and spent her childhood years in Hyde Park, a neighborhood on the south side of Chicago. “Tina,” the nickname used by her family, went to Smith College in Northampton, MA. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in History (like her father), she met and married Dave McLaughlin. In 1997, her first daughter, Emily Browning McLaughlin, was born. Her second daughter, Margaret Ann Browning McLaughlin, was born in 2001. In 2002, her lifelong quest to be warm and near her family brought Christina and her family to Charlotte, where she lived until her recent death. Christina Lynne Browning passed away on May 20, 2015, two days after her 50th birthday in Charlotte, NC.
As a Sr. VP of Bank of America, Christina excelled (as she did in everything) and moved quickly up the ranks. Christina loved her family: her daughters, Maggie and Emily, and her parents Peter and Kathy Browning, Carole Shegog, and Richard Pardo. As the oldest in the family, she always remembered and told the best stories about her brother Peter and sisters Kim and Jenny. She readily welcomed and loved her sister-in-law Meike Browning and brother-in-law John Livingston. All loved her dearly and ache terribly in her absence.
As a struggling alcoholic, Christina both relied on and helped many people in the recovery community. She was always giving of her time and was lovingly candid with an incredible smile that brought a bright light to many people. The great irony is that she was unable to help herself. Christina would not want her family to hide her struggle with this awful disease. Instead, she would want us to celebrate her giving and loving personality and would want broader recognition and acceptance of addiction as a serious disease.
History & Impact: The Ugly Truth
Addiction is a health crisis of such great magnitude that it was declared a National Health Care Emergency by our federal government. The only other federally declared Nation Health Care Emergency in the United States is the COVID-19 Pandemic. To put this in perspective, here are some quick statistics:
· 25 million Americans have a substance use disorder
· Over 21 million people need addiction treatment
· 90% do not receive the care they need
· 260 people die every day due to alcohol
· A drug overdose death occurs every 8 minutes
Addiction affects us all. It spares no demographic, no segment of society; it disregards economic, racial, religious, political, social, gender and geographic distinctions. Addiction kills over 160,000 people in our country each year and these numbers are increasing. Addiction not only harms the individual, it also destroys family units, friendships and employment relationships. It is a destructive force that tears at the fabric of our society.
We’re grateful to all of the individual participants and community partners who work side by side with Dilworth Center to help us offer life changing services to thousands of citizens in the Charlotte and surrounding communities. Our mission is to provide effective and affordable treatment services for individuals and families affected by alcoholism and drug addiction.
How We’re Getting Involved
Dilworth Center’s Annual Christina Browning “Key to Recovery” Scholarship Breakfast
Transforming Lives Through Compassion
The Christina Browning Scholarship Breakfast is more than just a meal—it’s a lifeline for individuals who are battling addiction but cannot afford the treatment they desperately need. Every dollar raised provides critical financial assistance, ensuring that no one is turned away due to financial hardship. Your support allows us to offer life-changing recovery opportunities to those who need it most, empowering them to rebuild their lives and embrace a brighter future.
Information About Us and The Breakfast
How Our Community is Involved:
2024 Corporate Sponsors and You
Dilworth Center relies on the generosity of our community sponsors to help sustain our mission to provide effective and affordable treatment services for individuals and families affected by alcoholism and drug addiction.
Thanks to outstanding community support, the Christina Browning Key to Recovery Scholarship breakfast has consistently surpassed annual fundraising goals.
Want to join us in the fight against addiction? Interested in becoming a sponsor at our next breakfast? Contact our Director of Development, Cynthia Givens, to learn about our various sponsorship opportunities!
Past and Present Keynote Speakers
2022 – Chef Sam Diminich
On Thursday, September 8, 2022 at Quail Hollow Club Dilworth Center was honored to present Chef Sam Diminich as that year’s keynote speaker. You may not know Chef Diminich but there’s a good chance you’ve tasted his food.
Named Charlottean of the Year in 2020 by Charlotte Magazine, Diminich has cooked at many of the top restaurants in Charlotte; experienced national fame on Food Network’s ‘Beat Bobby Flay’; is the personal chef for Panther’s running back Christian McCaffrey; the owner of the successful meal delivery service Your Farms, Your Table; and opened Restaurant Constance, named after his daughter, later in 2022.
Diminich shared his incredible struggle with drugs and alcohol in the underbelly of the food and beverage industry and take us on a journey which truly displays the power of addiction. Those who are fortunate enough to have heard him will not soon forget his incredible story of despair, inspiration and hope.
2023 – Actress Janine Turner
Perhaps you best remember Janine Turner as an Emmy and three-time Golden Globe-nominated actress known to millions of fans for her role as Maggie O’Connell in the hit CBS television series, Northern Exposure. Janine’s lustrous career includes starring in NBC’s Friday Night Lights, Lifetime’s Strong Medicine, and in feature films such as Steel Magnolias, Cliffhanger with Sylvester Stallone, Dr. T and the Women with Richard Gere, Night of the White Pants with Tom Wilkinson, and in Universal’s Leave it to Beaver as June Cleaver. Her most recent movie role is portraying Anthony Hopkins’ wife in the feature film Solace, released nationwide in 2016.
As a recovering alcoholic with two decades of sobriety, Janine will discuss her own battle with alcoholism while sharing a powerful and inspiring message of hope and faith that substance abuse can be successfully conquered.
2024 – Priest Connor Gwin
Connor Gwin is an Episcopal priest currently serving as the Associate Rector for Spiritual Well-being and Care at Christ Episcopal Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. In this role, Connor focuses on building a comprehensive system of well-being that addresses the holistic needs of individuals and families with spiritual well-being at its core.
Connor holds degrees from James Madison University and Virginia Theological Seminary. His commitment to spiritual development led him to pursue training in spiritual direction and leadership at the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation, enhancing his skills in guiding others on their spiritual journeys.
In addition to his professional pursuits, Connor is an advocate for recovery, having been in long-term recovery from alcoholism since his time in seminary. His personal journey has significantly shaped his approach to spiritual well-being, allowing him to connect with others facing similar challenges.
As an accomplished poet and writer, Connor’s work, featured in various devotional books and The Mockingbird, an online and print journal, reflects his deep understanding of spirituality and the transformative power of recovery. He writes a weekly newsletter on Substack called The Brackish Water Psalter.
Connor makes a home with his wife, children, and rescue dog, Bear.
