Newsletter spring 2016 by CFWNC

the community foundation of western north carolina PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

In our 38th year, we are seeing the work of those who labored before us come to fruition. Estates are settling and assets are flowing into CFWNC to carry on the legacies of some of our earliest relationships. Sometimes these gifts are a surprise, like the one from Ruth Hathaway to the Transylvania Endowment detailed on page two. More often, however, the realization of these gifts is coupled with the loss of a beloved donor, fundholder or friend. These losses remind us of the deeply personal nature of our work. According to the donor's wishes and goals, we steward these assets through scholarships and grant programs. This level of commitment, to our fundholders, their families and their legacies, is the core of our business. Funds reach communities across the region; and the lives of those that came before us impact people and places today. We’ve had a long partnership with the Richard “Yogi” Crowe Memorial Scholarship Fund, which was opened in 1985 and continues to support graduate studies for members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (see page six). Yogi Crowe’s passion was higher education for tribal scholars. We helped craft a charitable fund that allows his friends and colleagues to honor him by continuing his work.

Spring 2016

Sometimes there is a role for which we are uniquely suited. Mainspring Conservation Trust came to us when they needed a neutral funder to launch a reconciliation process. Through a Natural and Cultural Resources Focus Area grant (see page three), a process that began with the idea of preserving and honoring an ancient Native American mound has evolved into a larger project – one with the potential to rally a community and, possibly, result in important historic preservation and economic development work in Franklin. CFWNC is pleased to play a part in launching the Family Justice Center (FJC), a hub that coordinates the response and services available to victims of violent crimes in Buncombe County that will open in Asheville later this summer. Planning for the center was funded by a $45,000 grant from CFWNC’s Women for Women giving circle. Several nonprofit partners, including Helpmate and Our VOICE, received People in Need Focus Area grants to build capacity to meet an anticipated increased demand for services as a result of the FJC. FJCs represent the best practice model for a coordinated community response for victims. On page five, we profile the Green River Preserve, one of our more than 130 nonprofit funds. Providing efficient asset management

Elizabeth Brazas, CFWNC President and Dodger. Photo by Angelo Gianni.

and access to complex charitable gift options is another unique role for CFWNC. The Green River Preserve was founded by a former board member and continues to be led by family members carrying forward traditions of conservation and outdoor education. We regularly open new funds, as you will see on page seven. Just as our earliest supporters did for us, these generous families and friends are laying the groundwork for a better tomorrow for our region. It’s an honor to serve these visionaries and dreamers and steward their philanthropic legacies. Thank you for the opportunity to carry forward this good work.

POWER OF THE PURSE®

Register Now for the 2016 Power of the Purse® F E AT U R I N G A S T R O N A U T, P H Y S I C I A N A N D E D U C AT O R D R . M A E J E M I S O N

Online registration is available for the May 24th Power of the Purse® at www.cfwnc.org for $75 per person. Astronaut, physician and educator Dr. Mae Jemison, the first AfricanAmerican woman in space, is the featured speaker. Dr. Jemison served six years as a NASA astronaut. In 1992, she flew aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour, STS-47, a cooperative mission between the United States and Japan. She performed experiments in material science, life science and human adaptation to weightlessness. Prior to her work with NASA, Jemison was an Area Peace Corps Medical Officer for Sierra Leone and Liberia. She earned her M.D. from Cornell University and practiced Dr. Mae Jemison. medicine in Los Angeles. She is currently leading the 100 Photo courtesy of NASA. Year Starship, an initiative exploring human interstellar space travel, and is the founder and president of two medical technology companies. Proceeds from the event benefit The Women’s Fund, a permanent endowment that supports the unmet needs of women and girls across the region. Spendable income from the endowment is granted through the Women for Women grant program. The 2016 Women for Women grant recipients will be announced at the luncheon. The giving circle expects to award approximately $265,000 to nonprofits facilitating safe living environments for women and girls. The giving circle always welcomes new members. Learn more at www.cfwnc.org. Masthead photo courtesy of Green River Preserve.

A F F I L I AT E N E W S

CFWNC encourages the growth of affiliate funds to build charitable capital to address local needs. CFWNC provides investment, accounting, grantmaking, training and administrative support. Local boards focus on setting priorities, raising funds and supporting nonprofit organizations. Three affiliates have reached an asset level that allows them to award meaningful and significant grants through an independent grant program. In April, the Black Mountain – Swannanoa Valley Endowment Fund and the Rutherford County Endowment will announce new grants. Cashiers Community Fund grants will be awarded in August. Other upcoming affiliate grant cycles include: The Fund for Haywood County, in partnership with the Mib and Phil Medford Endowment Fund (that makes awards benefitting Waynesville); The Fund for Mitchell County supporting K-3 literacy; and The McDowell Endowment.

Transylvania Endowment Announces $334,000 Gift Brevard resident Ruth Hathaway remembered Transylvania County in her estate plans. In December, the Transylvania Endowment received a gift of nearly $334,000, bringing the endowment to approximately $1.2 million. The Endowment’s Advisory Board is in the midst of a campaign to grow the endowment to $1.5 million. “Ruth Hathaway’s generosity and planning is going to mean a great deal to the people of Transylvania County for years to come,” said Advisory Board Co-Chair Sara Champion. “Making a large unrestricted gift to the principal of the endowment means that grants can be awarded to projects of highest need now and can continue to meet needs as they change over time. We are so thankful that Mrs. Hathaway chose to support the region she loved in a permanent way.” Ruth and Ed Hathaway retired to Brevard after careers in Indianapolis. They were drawn to the area by their mutual love of nature. In 1978, the couple moved to the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary at Sherwood Forest in Brevard and were active in the community. Ed was a fixture at the Connestee Volunteer Fire Department before his death in 2009. Ruth volunteered at Sharing House for 20 years and was a charter member and officer of the Transylvania Literacy Council. She was a member of the Brevard-Davidson River Presbyterian Church, where she served as a deacon and elder and was involved in the Women's Association. Ruth died in May 2013. Her assets provided for a family member and, upon his death, were directed to the Endowment. “When I met with Mrs. Hathaway to assist her with her estate plan, she made it clear that she had a charitable inclination,” said attorney Michael K. Pratt. “She asked my advice. I explained the Transylvania Endowment, and that caught her attention. She wanted the assets to benefit the people of Transylvania County, and she liked the idea that a local board would review the expenditure of funds and make grant decisions. She believed strongly that these funds would be in good hands.”

Local high school interns and several teachers celebrated a gift from The Fund for Haywood County that helps fund the Teacher-Ranger-Teacher project in Great Smoky Mountains National Park at Purchase Knob. The Fund for Haywood County awarded $2,000 to the Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park for the Teacher-Ranger-Teacher project to help mark the celebration in 2016 of the 100th anniversary of the creation of the National Park Service. “This is our 6th year of having a local teacher spend his or her summer working in the park,” said Susan Sachs, Education Coordinator, Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. “This program has proven beneficial to the park and the teachers. We gain valuable feedback about ways we can improve our education programs, and teachers like Taylor (the program teacher participant in summer 2015) gain relevant field research and science experiences that they can take back to their classrooms.”

The Black Mountain – Swannanoa Valley Endowment Fund made a $7,400 grant to the North Carolina Outward Bound School to offer a Wilderness Unity Course for students at Owen High School. The original intent of the program was to recruit students from different racial, socioeconomic and school cliques. An unexpected opportunity arose when there was a cultural conflict resulting in a segment of the student body feeling marginalized. With the support of the school faculty, the Outward Bound participants formed the Student Empowerment Commission (SEC) to facilitate quarterly Student Speaks assemblies that allow the student body to make suggestions to improve the school. Principal Meg Turner noted, “These young people left the safety of the harbor, ventured into unchartered waters and sailed away under their own power. They have now returned feeling empowered to make a difference in their community.” Photos courtesy of NCOBS.

Photo courtesy of The Fund for Haywood County.

N AT U R A L A N D C U LT U R A L R E S O U R C E S

A $4,000 grant from the Natural and Cultural Resources Focus Area to the Cowee Pottery School purchased five new pottery wheels, chairs, splash pans and other essential accessories to enable the school to enroll more students. The pottery school is located in the Cowee School that was built in 1943 and served thousands of students before it closed in 2012. Mainspring Conservation Trust joined with Macon County and a local grassroots organization called the Cowee Community Development Organization to transform the shuttered school into what is now known as the Macon County Heritage Center. In addition to offering courses in textiles, pottery, and art, it houses rooms dedicated to local artifacts and Cherokee history. A farmer’s market is open during summer months and the former cafeteria is certified by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture as a shared-use kitchen. The Macon Country Heritage Center is currently a stop on the Blue Ridge Music Trail and will become a stop along the future Nikwasi-Cowee Corridor. Learn more at www.coweeschool.org.

Photo courtesy of Cowee Pottery School.

N AT U R A L A N D C U LT U R A L R E S O U R C E S

Mainspring Executive Director Sharon Fouts Taylor.

Nikwasi Mound today.

Mainspring Associate Director Ben Laseter.

Mountain Partners Come Together to Plan Nikwasi – Cowee Corridor A desire to bring honor and prominence to Nikwasi, a Native American mound located in Franklin that could be more than one thousand years old, has brought together diverse communities from Macon County and the Qualla Boundary and launched a process that could result in collaborative economic development and historic preservation, with the potential to help revitalize a downtown and build mutually-beneficial relationships.

position to step up and do reconciliation and relationship-building work.” Mainspring’s offices are located along the Little Tennessee River, just across a busy street from the Nikwasi Mound, in a location many consider a main entryway into Franklin. Next door is a former fuel depot site in dire need of remediation to prevent contaminants from seeping into the river.

Community Foundation funds were used to engage Catalpa Circle, a consulting firm based in Asheville. Through their reconciliation process, a group of residents from Franklin and the Boundary, calling themselves Mountain Partners, has worked for eight months to explore a potential Nikwasi-Cowee corridor promoting heritage tourism and economic development opportunities.

“The Mountain Partners facilitate a nonIn 2015, CFWNC made a Natural and Cultural “For me, the significance of that mound simply political, collaborative and cooperative dialogue Resources Focus Area grant to the Land lies in the fact that it’s a thousand-year-old about these culturally significant landmarks,” Trust for the Little Tennessee, now known as reminder of how long people have inhabited this said Laseter. “It was important at the start that Mainspring Conservation Trust, to this work was made possible by an support a reconciliation process to outside funder like The Community “The Nikwasi Mound is a significant cultural site bring stakeholders together around the Foundation.” common goal of highlighting cultural that has become invisible due to its location. People resources of the area starting with Mountain Partners plans to formalize drive by it every day and don’t realize it’s there and Nikwasi Mound. The Mound is owned as an organization to raise funds and certainly don’t realize the importance of it.” by the Town of Franklin; maintenance awareness of the corridor. “They show activities had resulted in conflict lot of ambition about wanting to work —Sharon Fouts Taylor atogether,” between the town and the Eastern said Fouts Taylor. “What Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) started as a reconciliation around the regarding its management. valley,” said Ben Laseter, Mainspring’s associate mound issue has grown into a desire to develop director. “The mound’s surroundings now don’t the corridor between Cowee and Nikwasi and “We had a pie-in-the-sky idea that through our do it justice.” into the Town of Cherokee. Once the group relationship with the EBCI we might be able to became cohesive they could see the potential for make a difference for the town and its economy Cowee Mound, another historic mound both communities.” through heritage tourism, as well as bring honor approximately seven miles away, is part of to the mound, and strengthen the relationship 70 acres along the Little Tennessee River Watch the video Bringing Honor to Nikwasi at between the Cherokee people and the citizens now owned by the tribe. Mainspring was www.cfwnc.org. of the Town of Franklin,” said Mainspring’s instrumental in protecting that land from Photos by Angelo Gianni. Executive Director Sharon Fouts Taylor. “We development and its return to the EBCI. realized that the land trust might be in the right

A Natural and Cultural Resources Focus Area grant is helping students at Polk Central and Tryon Elementary schools turn topics that inspire them into educational dance performances. The program, Dance About Anything, is sponsored by Tryon Fine Arts Center in support of its Arts in Education initiative. Dance About Anything, led by Sonya Monts, R.D.E., was developed by the National Dance Education Organization. Throughout the twelve-week program, students are exposed to dance and stage performance to foster creativity and build collaboration, communication and critical thinking skills. Seventeen classes are involved in the program this year. Photos courtesy of Tryon Fine Arts Center.

GRANT NEWS

Family Justice Center of Buncombe County will Support Victims Later this year, Buncombe County will open the Family Justice Center (FJC) at 35 Woodfin Street in downtown Asheville. The facility streamlines services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse. Grants from the Women for Women giving circle and the People in Need Focus Area are supporting the process. A best-practice model within the domestic violence field, FJC is a multidisciplinary center that allows victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and other violent crimes to access a range of services under one roof. “The Family Justice Center is a building and much more than a building,” said Julie Klipp Nicholson, FJC Executive Director. “There are about 75 FJCs nationally; the one in Buncombe County is the third in North Carolina. The central location, across from the courthouse, is a real asset.” Representatives from law enforcement, the court system, county health and human services and nonprofit advocacy groups will work collaboratively to help survivors. Being in one place with specialists cross-trained in all aspects of the abuse allows victims to tell their story once, decreasing cost to the system and trauma to the victims. Studies have determined that Family Justice Centers also reduce victim recantation, increases prosecution of offenders, and ultimately reduces crime. For law enforcement, the change in outcomes is documented and important. MAHEC, Helpmate, Pisgah Legal Services, Our Voice, Child Abuse Prevention Services, Mission Health and local law enforcement are working together to support victim services for domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse. An on-site Mission Health forensic nurse examiner means that medical care and evidence gathering can happen simultaneously, and many victims can avoid visiting the emergency room immediately following an assault. “The $45,000 grant from the Women for Women giving circle is allowing the collaborative work to take place,” said Julie Klipp Nicholson. “It took vision for them to support the coordinated community response that is the foundation of the FJC.” The cross-system dialogue allows relationships to develop that help victims to access all available services. “Sitting down with the folks at Helpmate had a huge impact on law enforcement. I personally came to a fuller understanding of the victim’s situation that helped me understand why it can be so hard, even impossible, to leave a bad situation,” said Sgt. Ben McKay with the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office. He credits the dialogue and relationships with an agency-wide

Sergeant Ben McKay, Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, and Julie Klipp Nicholson, Buncombe County Family Justice Center Coordinator, in front of 35 Woodfin where the Buncombe County Family Justice Center will open this summer. Photo by Lindsay Hearn.

change in behavior and thinking that has led to the retraining of every single officer that might respond to a family violence call. Research indicates that when FJCs are adequately resourced, staffed and managed, there is an increase in reporting of domestic and sexual crimes and an increase in demand for services. With the opening of the FJC in Asheville, the expectation is that there will be a corresponding increase in demand for services from organizations on the front line. People in Need grants to Helpmate and Our Voice are building the capacity of these nonprofits to participate in the coordinated community response for victims. Domestic crimes are often committed by repeat offenders. “Through community engagement, we are spreading the message that sexual violence and domestic violence will not be tolerated," said Klipp Nicholson. “Law enforcement tells the offenders that if they continue to be arrested, they will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law in Buncombe County; if they want to change, there are ways for them to access rehabilitative services.” Every day victims of interpersonal violence, and their children, are forced to navigate complex systems to receive services while gripped by fear and heartbreak. For many victims, receiving help proves burdensome and they lose hope and return to their abusive situations. Coordinating our community’s response to these crimes helps victims and their children and supports law enforcement in holding offenders accountable.

Participants Graduate from the YWCA’s "Getting Ahead in a Just Getting by World"

The first graduates of the Getting Ahead program at the YWCA celebrated completion in December. The program was supported by a $20,000 People in Need grant. The program is designed to help participants learn about and assess the effects of poverty and develop a personal plan to economic security. Following graduation, participants will implement their individual plans and serve on community task forces, boards and committees to inform these groups how to better serve and reach their communities. Aliah, pictured above with her daughter, fled a violent marriage out-of-state and came to Asheville. Through Helpmate, she learned about the YWCA’s Drop-in Childcare Program. She ultimately enrolled her daughter into full-time childcare, worked for the After School Program and graduated from Getting Ahead in a Just Getting by World.

Photos courtesy of the YWCA.

NONPROFIT FUND

Family Passion for Conservation and Environmental Education Green River Preserve is a coed summer camp located on a 3,400-acre private wildlife preserve, purchased by Alex Schenck and his wife Laurie in the early 1950s as a place to spend weekends and summers. In 1987, Alex left his business career to fulfill a lifelong dream of sharing the magic of the Green River Valley with children through a natural science-oriented summer camp. Today, the next generation of Schencks, Sandy and Missy, build on the family tradition of outdoor education. In addition to the nonprofit summer camp, they launched two educational programs within the camp, SEE (School of Environmental Education) and KALE (Kids Agricultural Learning Experience). Muddy Sneakers, a separate nonprofit organization based on the camp’s model, is now a thriving environmental education program serving Western North Carolina. Alex Schenck served on The Community Foundation Board of Directors from 1987 to 1990, so the family was familiar with CFWNC’s services for nonprofits. In 2002, Green River Preserve set up a fund to support camper scholarships. “Our family has had a donor advised fund with The Community Foundation since 1995, and we have a good relationship. It was an easy decision to place the assets at CFWNC,” said Missy Schenck. “We have a strong belief in philanthropy and giving back to our community; it is something our parents instilled in us, and we have instilled in our children,” said Missy. “Camp is one of the best investments in youth development that there is today, but it is not always financially possible. Having an endowment that makes it possible for more children to attend is a smart alternative.”

CFWNC helps more than 130 regional nonprofits by offering them expertise in administration and management of their investments. For more information about our services for nonprofits, contact Sheryl Aikman at 828-367-9900.

“At camp we invest in future leaders. Camp inspires a child’s imagination and challenges them to use their creativity. I believe the future belongs to the creative mind. We established the endowment to provide a legacy for future generations.” Missy credits CFWNC with providing good advice, personal attention and expanding links to the community. “CFWNC is a well-run, professional organization. WNC Nonprofit Pathways is also a great resource,” she said. “We have attended workshops, and one of our employees is in the program to earn her nonprofit certification.” “Conservation is our family’s passion and the hallmark of Green River Preserve. The philanthropic good deeds of many help support the camp and provide enriching summer experiences for children. Our partnership with The Community Foundation helps make this possible.” Learn more at www.greenriverpreserve.org.

Top, Sandy and Missy Schenck, bottom, Green River Preserve campers. Photos courtesy of Green River Preserve

F O O D A N D FA R M I N G

$75,000 in Food and Farming Funding Awarded Two Food and Farming grants totaling $75,000 were awarded to Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP) and Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC). With these grants, the Foundation has invested more than $742,303 in this funding focus area that supports a sustainable local food system, opportunities for farmers and food entrepreneurs and the sustainability and profitability of WNC Farms. CFWNC also works to address food insecurity and nutrition in the region. Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP) received $45,000 to help farmers develop personalized marketing relationships by “telling the farm story.” Over the past 10 Heritage cattle on SAHC's agricultural incubator in Alexander. years, ASAP has developed the Appalachian Grown (AG) brand now familiar in grocery Photo courtesy of SAHC. stores, farmers’ markets, restaurants and other food outlets to identify authentic local agricultural products throughout the region’s food system. With this grant, more than 200 farmers will be trained to develop marketing skills using unique farm stories and ASAP will develop and share materials, including a Story Telling Toolkit. An anonymous fundholder partnered with CFWNC to support this grant. Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) received $30,000 to continue development of its agricultural incubator that provides land, equipment, support and training for beginning and limited resource farmers. The farm incubator, located at SAHC’s 100-acre farm in Alexander, operates two agricultural businesses: Second Spring Market Gardens (marketing greens and other cold-hardy vegetables year round) and Piney Woods Farm (featuring a heritage breed of cattle that forage on underutilized pastureland). The Incubator Farm hosts educational workshops for farmers to learn state-of-the art production and operational techniques through in-field demonstrations. CFWNC grant funds will support infrastructure improvements and equipment and staff costs. The Dogwood Charitable Endowment Fund partnered with CFWNC to support this grant. “CFWNC continues to support local efforts addressing barriers of access to land, training and markets that limit new and expanding family farms,” said Tim Richards, Senior Program Officer. “ASAP and SAHC are key partners in a strong network working to revitalize the local food system and preserve the region’s tradition of family farms.”

FUND PROFILE

Richard (Yogi) Crowe Memorial Scholarship Fund Supports Graduate School for Tribal Members Since 1986, nearly 100 members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) have received grants to pursue graduate or post-graduate degrees through a memorial fund created to honor Yogi Crowe. Most recently, eight students received a total of $21,710, bringing the total amount awarded to $261,004. Who was Yogi Crowe and why was education so important to him? Yogi, as he was known to friends, graduated from the University of Tennessee with a Master’s Degree in Public Health. He became the Director of the American Indian Recruiting Program for the School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. In that role, he was able to encourage more Native Americans, especially Eastern Cherokees, to pursue higher education.

Recent Crowe Scholarship Recipients Beau Carroll – pursuing a Master’s Degree in Anthropology at the University of Tennessee Tishina Carroll – studying social work at Western Carolina University

Barbara “Sunshine” Parker being sworn in as a licensed North Carolina Attorney. She now works for the Tribal Legal Division. Photo courtesy of Barbara Parker.

"We talked with several different foundations but were most impressed with the flexibility and willingness to work with us that we received from CFWNC." —Mary Herr

Yogi was killed in an automobile accident in 1983. After his death, his friends wanted to honor him by carrying on the work he had begun, and the memorial scholarship fund at CFWNC was opened in 1985.

“Yogi would be very proud of what the scholarship fund named in his memory has done,” said Mary Herr, secretary of the Fund’s Board of Directors. “One of his hopes was for more Eastern Cherokees to go to graduate school and return to work in Cherokee. At the time the fund was established, there was virtually no funding from the Tribe for graduate or doctoral students. Yogi struggled with finances while working on his Master’s degree and would be pleased to help other Cherokee students further their education.” Awards have supported lawyers, social workers, teachers, psychologists, doctors and physical therapists, among others. “The support that the Tribe and scholarships, such as Yogi Crowe, provide to our community is invaluable,” said Barbara “Sunshine” Parker who received a scholarship when she was in law school. “There are now more people in my life, and in our Tribe, who have completed bachelors, masters and even PhDs than at any other time. This group will drive the Tribe forward so that we can achieve more than we have ever dreamed possible.” Today, Parker is the attorney for the EBCI’s Family Safety Program. She also represents the Tribe in state court in matters involving the Indian Child Welfare Act. “For me, giving back is the only way to truly show you appreciate all that you have been given,” concluded Parker. “I was lucky enough to have others sacrifice and support me, so I take every opportunity to do the same for others.”

Randall Crowe – pursuing a Juris Doctorate Degree at Charlotte School of Law Nelson Lambert – pursuing a Juris Doctorate Degree, Employment Law Certificate, at Charlotte School of Law Ashford Smith – studying Public Administration and Marketing at the University of North Carolina Charlotte Kim Smith – pursuing Master’s Degree in Business Administration at the University of Tennessee Megan Smith – studying Clinical Psychology at Middle Tennessee State University Shayna Williams – pursuing a Master of Social Work with a concentration in Social and Economic Development and Social Administration within Indian Country at Washington University St. Louis

Learn more at www.yogicrowescholarship.org. S TA F F N E W S

Senior Program Officer Tim Richards to Retire Longtime CFWNC staff member Tim Richards will retire this summer. Tim has been a CFWNC program officer since September 2001. He currently manages the grant process for the Food and Farming Focus Area, Pigeon River Fund, Asheville Merchants Fund and several affiliate funds. “Food and Farming has been one of the most vibrant areas of our proactive grantmaking in the past few years,” said Philip Belcher, Vice President of Programs. “Tim’s thorough knowledge of the organizations engaged in agricultural development in the region has been a huge asset for us, both in identifying significant opportunities for investing in the local food ecosystem and in engaging our fundholders in this work to further their philanthropic goals.” Tim Richards with Mark Ethridge of Haywood Tim began providing staff support for the Pigeon River Fund in 2002. Under his guidance, Pigeon River Waterways Association. Fund grants exceeding $5 million have developed classroom curricula; crafted citizen-led watershed plans; Photo courtesy of Haywood Waterways Association. restored riparian zones; built canoe launches, greenways and nature trails; launched water quality testing programs such as VWIN; and protected wetlands. His staunch support for the citizen-led Pigeon River Fund Board has enabled broad regional impact by protecting important water resources in Buncombe, Haywood and Madison counties.

Tim’s dedication to improving water quality through his work with the Pigeon River Fund has received wide recognition. In October, he received a Friend of the River Award at the Land of Sky 2015 Annual Banquet, presented by Karen Cragnolin, Executive Director of RiverLink, and David Gantt, Chair of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners. In December, Tim received the Pigeon River Award from the Haywood Waterways Association. “You have demonstrated deep concern for the health of Haywood County’s waterways,” said Bill Eaker, Haywood Waterways Association Board Member. “A part of every success that Haywood Waterways has had, from our awards, to fundraising, to educating youth, to water quality improvements, is a result of your work.”

Tim has worked in community and economic development in Western North Carolina for the past 35 years. He is a graduate of the State University College at Oswego, New York, and moved to the Asheville area in 1982. He served on the Bele Chere Board of Directors from 1988 to 1999 and the Mountain MicroEnterprise Fund (now Mountain BizWorks) Board from 1990 to 2001.

GIVING BACK

Funds Established 7/1/2015 - 12/31/2015

IRA Charitable Rollover Made Permanent

Charitable Gift Annuities allow donors

On December 19, 2015, the IRA Charitable Rollover provision was made permanent. If you are age 70½ or older, you may transfer up to $100,000 from your traditional or Roth IRA to a qualified public charity such as CFWNC. Couples with separate IRAs may each transfer up to $100,000. While there is no charitable deduction for the transfer, it is free of federal income tax, counts toward your annual Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) and is excluded from your gross income.

to make a substantial gift and receive tax advantages now, and enjoy annual annuity payments and additional tax benefits throughout their lifetime. • John Hazlehurst Charitable Gift Annuity 8

Designated Funds support specific nonprofits

named by the donor when the fund is established. • George and Diana Bilbrey Fund 2015 • Broadwell Designated Fund 2015 • Charlie Fund

Donor Advised Funds allow donors to make a charitable contribution, receive an immediate tax benefit and recommend grants over time. • AvL Technologies Charitable Fund • Cedar Creek Racquet Club Charitable Fund • Shannon Christy Memorial Fund • Paul C. Crowe Fund for Western North Carolina • Dunn/Gordon Charitable Family Fund • Peg and George Emerson Charitable Fund • Haynes-Eskrigge Fund • Hembree Family Fund • Taylor Hunt Fund for Rivers and Outdoor Learning • JNFC Family Fund • Lumos Fund • Mountain Jewell Fund • Pasasalamat Fund • Pickering Family Charitable Fund • Riverbend Fund • Anne Kyhos Stern Fund • Tom Sudderth Memorial Fund • Woodson Family Fund

Expectancy Funds will receive assets at a

later time, typically through an estate plan, charitable gift annuity or charitable trust. • Doug Cooper Fund • Final Folly Charitable Fund • Greiner-Gray Charitable Fund • Odell Harrill Family Endowment Fund • Orleans Belle Fund • Clarkie and Joan Davis Skelton Charitable Fund • Hubert and Joan Williams Charitable Fund

Field of Interest Funds support broadly-

defined causes, using CFWNC’s expertise to identify grantees.

• AdvantageWest Economic Development Fund • Margaret L. and Cameron H. Stone Endowment Fund

Nonprofit Funds are created by a nonprofit to invest and steward long-term or endowed assets.

• Suzanne Landis Geriatric Medicine Fund • LEAF Endowment Fund • North Carolina Arboretum Bonsai Fund • North Carolina Arboretum Endowment Fund • Patricia Olds Scholarship Fund • Southern Obstetric & Gynecologic Seminar Fund • Western North Carolina Public Radio Reserve Fund

At CFWNC, your gift can establish or add to a charitable fund: a designated fund for specific organizations, a scholarship fund, a field of interest fund or the Fund for Western North Carolina. While donor advised funds, supporting organizations and private foundations do not qualify for these transfers, CFWNC will work with you to understand your charitable interests and structure a customized giving plan. You’ll benefit most by giving IRA assets if you: • Are eager to make charitable gifts or build a legacy; • Take only the minimum required IRA distributions; • Are subject to charitable deduction limitations; • Are a non-itemizer. Gifting IRA assets gives you the equivalent of a tax deduction for charitable gifts transferred from your IRA. Making a gift with IRA assets is just one way CFWNC can help you to achieve your personal, financial and charitable goals. Contact us if you want to learn more about how to give now and create a legacy for later. PROFESSIONAL SEMINAR

25th Annual Professional Seminar F E AT U R I N G B R YA N K . C L O N T Z , C F P ®, C L U, C H F C , C A P, A E P

May 4, 2016 Registration and Breakfast Buffet at 8:00 am Seminar 9:00 am – 12:15 pm Lioncrest at Biltmore, Asheville, NC “There’s a Way to Give That Away: Creative Charitable Planning for All Kinds of Assets” Bryan is the founder and President of Charitable Solutions, LLC, specializing in non-cash asset receipt and liquidation, gift annuity reinsurance brokerage, gift annuity risk management audits, emergency assistance funds and life insurance appraisals and audits. From 2013 to 2014, Bryan served as the Leon L. Levy Fellow in Philanthropy at The American College of Financial Services. He also serves as a Senior Partner to Ekstrom Alley Clontz & Associates – a community foundation consulting firm in New Haven, CT. He is the founder of the Dechomai Foundation, Inc. and the Dechomai Asset Trust – two national donor advised funds focusing on non-cash assets generally and S-corp transactions respectively. He is also the founder and President of The Emergency Assistance Foundation, Inc. – a national fund allowing employers to create emergency assistance and disaster relief funds for their employees. Previously he served as the director of planned giving for the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta, national director of planned giving for Boys & Girls Clubs of America and then as vice president of advancement at The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. He received a bachelor of science in business administration from the College of Charleston in Charleston, SC; a master’s degree in risk management and insurance from Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA; and a master’s degree in financial services from the American College in Bryn Mawr, PA. He is the co-inventor of a proprietary CGA risk management process (LIRMASLife Income Risk Management Analytic Suite) based on an actuarial study he coauthored for the Society of Actuaries on CGA Mortality. He has given more than 2,000 presentations on charitable gift planning and is widely published, including a planned giving manual entitled Just Add Water, which has sold more than 2,500 copies. Bryan chaired the inaugural statewide Leave a Legacy Georgia! campaign. Cost: $110, $120 after April 29, 2016. Details at www.cfwnc.org.

Janirve SUN Grant Supports Jackson County Group Home About five years ago, CFWNC received the last $10 million dollars of the Janirve Foundation. At that time, it was the largest single gift to CFWNC. The Janirve money is distributed primarily through the competitive People in Need grant program. Some funds, however, are reserved for the Sudden and Urgent Needs (SUN) program which makes quick grants, typically in less than 72 hours, to help nonprofits respond to an unforeseen need that threatens their ability to provide a critical service. In December 2015, a $10,000 grant to the Clean Slate Coalition in Jackson County supported the purchase of an HVAC system for the group home that provides safe, comfortable, transitional housing and case management services for women facing serious life challenges. Often these are women who are leaving correctional or substance abuse treatment facilities. Clean Slate requires affordable housing close to public transportation. The organization was forced from its previous location due to mold. “Because of the Janirve funds, we can respond quickly to meet unexpected needs,” said CFWNC President Elizabeth Brazas. “There just aren’t that many funding sources in our region that can be that nimble.”

Our Affiliates

CFWNC

Phone: 828-254-4960 Fax: 828-251-2258 www.cfwnc.org

Management Team

Sheryl Aikman, Vice President, Development Philip Belcher, Vice President, Programs Elizabeth Brazas, President Lindsay Hearn, Communications Director Graham Keever, Chief Financial Officer

Officers

Board of Directors

James W. Stickney, IV, Chair Laurence Weiss, Secretary

Board Members Maurean B. Adams Caroline Avery James Baley Guadalupe Chavarria William Clarke Jennie Eblen

Black Mountain–Swannanoa Valley Endowment Fund Cashiers Community Fund The Fund for Haywood County Highlands Community Fund The McDowell Endowment The Fund for Mitchell County Rutherford County Endowment Transylvania Endowment The Yancey Fund

A.C. Honeycutt, Jr., Vice-Chair G. Edward Towson, II, Treasurer Ernest E. Ferguson Charles Frederick Howell A. Hammond Susan Jenkins Melanie Johnson Stephanie Norris Kiser

Lowell R. Pearlman Scott Shealy Anna S. (Candy) Shivers Sarah Sparboe Thornburg Stephen Watson

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LEARNING LINKS

Learning Links Grant Supports 8th-Grade Writing Practice Teachers at Cullowhee Valley School in Jackson County are providing 8th-grade students with opportunities to strengthen their writing, technology and public speaking skills through a Learning Links grant. The program, It’s All About Words!, helps prepare the students for high school through writing practice, use of technology and a showcase of final products, which provides opportunities for public speaking. Students worked in cooperative groups to create newspapers. They wrote feature articles, created comic strips, uploaded images to a computer, developed puzzles and more. “To assign final grades, I met with each group and let them determine a score based on the rubric given out at the beginning of the project,” said teacher Paula Fox. “Through participation in the process, they saw themselves as being responsible for their grade - not the teacher.”

The project also includes a unit on poetry that will culminate in a Poetry Night Gala event at which students will read their favorite poem to the audience. The Learning Links grant program awarded its largest slate of grants in 2015, awarding more than $90,000 to more than 119 projects in eleven counties. The program offers grants up to $800 to public schools to provide handson learning opportunities for their students. Applications are due in late September; grants are awarded in November. Learning Links grants are made possible by the Ben W. and Dixie Glenn Farthing Charitable Endowment Fund and the Cherokee County Schools Foundation Endowment Fund.

Cullowhee Valley students display their newspapers. Photo by Paula Fox.