New Scanner for Polk County

The Industrial Commons hosts Hometown Walkabouts to share stories of racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity in Burke County. CFWNC staff learned from storytellers, viewed murals and exhibits, and had facilitated conversations to deepen our understanding. Staff toured the collaborative ecosystem that is at the heart of The Industrial Commons.

CFWNC was pleased to host the Old Fort Partner Summit led by Chris Estes of the Aspen Institute and Tracey GreeneWashington of Indigo Innovation Group. More than two dozen thought leaders and strategic partners gathered to learn more about the rural economic development project centered on equity, inclusivity and sustainability.

GRANT TOTAL 7/1/22 to 3/31/23

$26,768,801

CFWNC staff members and board member Juanita Wilson took part in the Honoring Long Man river cleanup in Cherokee. Long Man, with his head in the mountains and feet in the sea, is a revered figure among the Cherokee tied to water, cleanliness, food and cultural rituals.

Fundholders and co-investors Esther Cartwright and Matt Lee participated in a tour of Shiloh in Asheville with Mrs. Norma Baynes and Lauralee Petritz of the Shiloh Community Association and CFWNC staff Spencer Butler, Virginia Dollar, Laura Herndon and Tara Scholtz. Shiloh is a historically Black community that was established in the late 1880s. Its community garden, started in 2004, provides healthy food to the neighborhood and residents at no cost. In November, the Association was awarded $20,000 to create an eCommerce office to provide a revenue stream and generate opportunities for artists and entrepreneurs.

Fundholder Alejandro Barberena dreamed of honoring Consuelo, his energetic, smart mother, by creating a fund to support the lives and educational efforts of single mothers. In 2023, Consuelo’s Fund is partnering with Mountain BizWorks to provide 1:1 coaching and wrap-around support to at least 15 single parents to deliver tailored assistance and better outcomes. BizWorks staff plans to use the opportunity to gain detailed information about what types of additional services and resources would most benefit single parent clients to guide future program design.

Thanks to an anonymous CFWNC fund that directs resources for cancer care, The Foundation for St. Luke’s Hospital in Columbus, NC, was awarded $40,000 to help purchase a diagnostic CT scanner that has been in operation since January. Amanda Thompson, VP of Operations and Foundation Executive Director, said, “We are thrilled that we can now provide the highest quality CT imaging possible in our rural community. Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer death in America. Soon, St. Luke’s will launch a low-dose CT preventative lung cancer screening program that will help detect lung cancer before high-risk patients ever have symptoms. Our Cancer and Infusion Center will then be able to provide care while the cancer is more treatable. This CT is also a tremendous aid to the medical team as it provides detailed 3D images of the body to locate cancerous tumors, obtain biopsies, and help monitor a patient’s response to cancer treatment. This technology is going to save lives and would not have been possible without the support from donors like The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina.”

The philanthropic work of the Asheville Merchants Corporation began as an independent foundation, funded through the sale of business assets. After five years, its board decided to transition it to a component fund of CFWNC, creating the Asheville Merchants Fund grant program. It seeks to improve the quality of life in Buncombe County by supporting projects that strengthen the community through innovative economic approaches, jobs & workforce training, social infrastructure, and youth success in school. Since 2002, AMF has awarded more than $3.1 million, and it was the first program at CFWNC to provide multi-year grants and general operating support. Tom Hallmark has overseen the Asheville Merchants Fund since 1997. We are grateful for his decades of leadership.