A Magazine With, For, & About Members at The Cliffs
WHOLEHEARTED The Issue
Master Seven Courses With Just One Club
Discover ownership at seven private, club communities nestled within a 20,000-acre backdrop of emerald courses, sparkling lakes, verdant valleys, and breathtaking mountain terrain in the Western Carolinas near Asheville, Greenville, and Clemson.
With one Club Membership, you’ll get unlimited swings at everything The Cliffs has to offer.
LETTER FROM LEADERSHIP
A message from Rob Duckett, president at The Cliffs.
DEVELOPMENT UPDATE
A new sports pavilion that includes a swimming pool, dining, and racquet-sports courts is coming to Mountain Park.
GATHER
A snapshot of festive gatherings from across The Cliffs.
SPIRIT
Superintendents’ skills keep greens pristine; Dedicated to the dogs; Meet the extraordinary Cliffs Realty Mountain Region Sales Team.
YONDER
A local hotel with a big impact; Leaf lookouts along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
DOUBLE THE FUN
A dining, arts, and events guide with philanthropy at its heart.
AN IMPACT ACROSS GENERATIONS
Cliffs Residents Outreach members who invest themselves in community causes explain their motivation. 14 24 116 5
ALL IN ON GIVING
Walnut Cove Members Association believes in hands-on involvement in the community—and having fun while doing it.
TOURNAMENTS WITH PURPOSE
Golf tournaments across The Cliffs raise awareness and funds for charitable causes.
HAVEN
At home with the Dessalines and Zahns; A Keowee Falls home with spectacular details—including a hidden passageway to a speakeasy.
VISTAS
A collection of images by members at The Cliffs; Keowee Falls member shares her love of experiencing and preserving nature; Last Look and acknowledgment of giving.
Welcome to CLIFFS LIVING
Dear Members at The Cliffs,
Fall is a stunning season in the Western Carolinas, ushering in the vibrant colors of the Blue Ridge Mountains’ splendor. With the changing of the seasons, The Cliffs, too, continues to change. You may have noticed or visited a few of our new amenities— the Keowee Springs Clubhouse, The Lake Club at The Landing, and the beginnings of Mountain Park’s Sports Pavilion—or seen many of the recent improvements in our facilities across all our communities.
Though these buildings are a sign of growth and improvement, what makes The Cliffs a truly magical place to live is its people. Our dedicated staff works endlessly to ensure each day leaves a positive, lasting impact. Our future-shaping advisory committees continue to keep membership and management connected through their valuable input. And, of course, our enthusiastic, philanthropic members are second to none.
Inspired by these amazing people, we’ve put together “The Wholehearted Issue,” our fall/winter edition of Cliffs Living magazine. In this issue, you’ll read about the many members who tirelessly donate their time to community outreach programs, such as the Cliffs Residents Outreach and Walnut Cove Members Association, our golf course superintendents who maintain the gorgeous greens, and The Mountain Region sales team members who delight in sharing The Cliffs for others to then call home.
As we approach the end of 2024 and look forward to the coming year, I want to thank you, on behalf of the associates, as well, for your role in making The Cliffs an exceptional place to live. We are grateful that you, our members, have chosen The Cliffs as your home, and we are thrilled to welcome you to another year—sure to be filled with more adventures and special moments that create a fulfilling lifestyle like none other.
Warmest regards,
ROB DUCKETT President, The Cliffs
Bring these pages to life with additional photo albums and videos in our digital edition by visiting cliffslivingmagazine.com
To submit photos, story ideas, or feedback about Cliffs Living, email magazine@cliffsliving.com. We also invite you to help grow our community by sharing Cliffs Living with family and friends, and then invite them to join you here as a member.
New Sports Pavilion Includes Something for Everyone
STORY BY JOHN JETER ILLUSTRATIONS BY BIOLINIA TIME
At a recent conference, Rob Duckett tried his hand at padel, a mashup of tennis, racquetball, and pickleball played on an outdoor court enclosed with glass or plexiglass walls but without a ceiling.
“They had a padel court set up,” he says of the conference hosts, “and I got a chance to hit a couple of shots, but,” The Cliffs president adds with a chuckle, “that’s the extent of it.”
Though padel was invented in 1969 in Acapulco, the legendary Mexican resort town, Duckett says the sport is catching on here, just as pickleball took off 10 years ago. Now, the game will soon hold court among other premium attractions coming to the much-anticipated Sports Pavilion at The Cliffs at Mountain Park, conveniently situated near The Cabin.
In addition to two courts each for tennis and padel and four courts for pickleball, the campus will feature a resort-style pool, indoor and outdoor dining options, a one-acre dog park, a playground, an amphitheater, and green space for relaxation and recreation.
The facilities are designed by Atlanta, Georgia-based Summerour Architects, whose clients include some of the most iconic Southern brands, including Kentucky’s famed Maker’s Mark distillery and the Old Edwards Inn & Spa in Highlands, North Carolina.
“This particular set of amenities is the last major project that we committed to when we bought The Cliffs,” Duckett says, adding that
South Street Partners, who acquired The Cliffs in 2019, has invested “north of $70 million” for new amenities.
“Our strategy has been to diversify some of these new amenities to give members as many opportunities to try new things and explore new experiences as possible,” he says.
Duckett says this as a member himself since 2012.
“As a member, I think it’s phenomenal because I enjoyed The Cliffs before all this happened. And I love The Cliffs for what it did for me, which was mostly golf,” he says—never mind his current role, where he gets to see these projects start.
While new ground is breaking at Mountain Park, South Street Partners’ efforts have been executed in other communities. Some of the latest among them are the Keowee Springs Clubhouse, The Lake Club at The Landing, the Magnificent 7 party boat, and most recently, Simmer ’71 at the Lakehouse—a new barbecue concept whose name comes from the method used for cooking barbecue sauce and the year Lake Keowee was created.
And, of course, all members enjoy access to all communities at The Cliffs.
“We’re always trying to serve our current members while also attracting new buyers, so we have to keep the club amenities up to date and relevant for the future,” Duckett says.
“Our strategy has been to diversify some of these new amenities to give members as many opportunities to try new things and explore new experiences as possible.”
ROB DUCKETT, PRESIDENT, THE CLIFFS
Illustrations of planned Mountain Park Sports Pavilion
CLIFFSTOCK | MOUNTAIN PARK
LOBSTER DINNER | KEOWEE FALLS
NINE & DINE | WALNUT COVE
NINE & DINE | WALNUT COVE
COURTS & CORKS | VALLEY
OUTDOOR PURSUITS: RAVEN FALLS HIKE | THE MOUNTAIN REGION
GATHER
AT THE CLIFFS
Throughout the year, The Cliffs hosts dozens of soirées, golf tournaments, and events for members and their guests. Here’s a snapshot of a few gatherings from this past spring and summer.
PHOTOGRAPHS by BONFIRE VISUALS, ZACK PEELER PHOTOGRAPHY and JACK ROBERT PHOTOGRAPHY
CLIFFSTOCK | MOUNTAIN PARK
CLIFFSTOCK | MOUNTAIN PARK
REGGAE RHYTHM BASH | KEOWEE SPRINGS
NINE & DINE | WALNUT COVE
COURTS & CORKS | VALLEY
OUTDOOR PURSUITS: RAVEN FALLS HIKE | THE MOUNTAIN REGION
CLIFFSTOCK | MOUNTAIN PARK
LOBSTER DINNER | KEOWEE FALLS
LOBSTER DINNER | KEOWEE FALLS
REGGAE RHYTHM BASH | KEOWEE SPRINGS
NINE & DINE | WALNUT COVE
COURTS & CORKS | VALLEY
OUTDOOR PURSUITS: RAVEN FALLS HIKE | THE MOUNTAIN REGION
CLIFFSTOCK | MOUNTAIN PARK
CLIFFSTOCK | MOUNTAIN PARK
CLIFFSTOCK | MOUNTAIN PARK
REGGAE RHYTHM BASH | KEOWEE SPRINGS
REGGAE RHYTHM BASH | KEOWEE SPRINGS
COURTS & CORKS | VALLEY
OUTDOOR PURSUITS: RAVEN FALLS HIKE | THE MOUNTAIN REGION
CLIFFSTOCK | MOUNTAIN PARK
CLIFFSTOCK | MOUNTAIN PARK
REGGAE RHYTHM BASH | KEOWEE SPRINGS
NINE & DINE | WALNUT COVE
REGGAE RHYTHM BASH | KEOWEE SPRINGS
OUTDOOR PURSUITS: RAVEN FALLS HIKE | THE MOUNTAIN REGION
CLIFFSTOCK | MOUNTAIN PARK
LOBSTER DINNER
KEOWEE FALLS
WALNUT COVE
OUTDOOR PURSUITS: RAVEN FALLS HIKE | THE MOUNTAIN REGION
OUTDOOR PURSUITS: RAVEN FALLS HIKE | THE MOUNTAIN REGION
LOBSTER DINNER | KEOWEE FALLS
NINE & DINE | WALNUT COVE
COURTS & CORKS | VALLEY
COURTS & CORKS | VALLEY
OUTDOOR PURSUITS: RAVEN FALLS HIKE | THE MOUNTAIN REGION
NINE & DINE | WALNUT COVE
REGGAE RHYTHM BASH | KEOWEE SPRINGS
REGGAE RHYTHM BASH | KEOWEE SPRINGS
COURTS & CORKS | VALLEY
OUTDOOR PURSUITS: RAVEN FALLS HIKE | THE MOUNTAIN REGION
OUTDOOR PURSUITS: RAVEN FALLS HIKE | THE MOUNTAIN REGION
CLIFFSTOCK | MOUNTAIN PARK
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SUPERHERO SUPERINTENDENTS
BY JOHN JETER
Meet the golf course superintendents whose talents and passion are responsible for our meticulously maintained courses
Human nature and Mother Nature have played tug of war for millennia, and nowhere does that drama play out more than on a golf course. At The Cliffs, seven superintendents bring nearly 150 years of combined experience to refereeing that contest.
The job’s myriad responsibilities require someone who is equally passionate and, as most of them say, “insane”—or some version of that.
So, let’s meet these guys who groom the gorgeous grounds.
Steve Shand
THE CLIFFS AT WALNUT COVE
Steve Shand started in the business when he was 10 years old, part of a three-man crew off the Maine coast. This year, he marks his 32nd in the industry, including a six-month internship at Augusta National Golf Club in 2004.
“We’re a landscape architect, plumber, psychologist, accountant, HR manager, electrician, and agronomist. Did I mention plumber?” says Shand, who has been at Walnut Cove for 12 years.
Yet the single most important part of the job is people, from each crew member to every member. What would drive someone to wear so many hats at work? “It’s passion for the property,” he says, “passion for the course.”
Jim Evans
THE CLIFFS AT KEOWEE FALLS
Jim Evans is sweeping a tennis court as he chats about being a golf course superintendent. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. The golf course isn’t the only place I show off my talents,” he says with his ever-ready, easygoing laugh.
Before starting at The Cliffs 14 years ago, the New Jersey native served as senior assistant superintendent for a decade at Augusta National Golf Club—where, incidentally, Steve Shand was once one of his interns. “I do the job because it’s more of an art and a science for me than it is for recognition,” he says.
Jed Fedor
THE CLIFFS AT MOUNTAIN PARK
Like most of the others, Jed Fedor started playing golf as a teen. He has spent more than half of his 25-year career at The Cliffs, which he joined in 2010.
“It’s not for everybody, but for those that have the passion for it and drive and motivation,” the Indiana native says. “You take pride in your work, and I think that’s probably what keeps everybody’s wheels going.” That, and the “multiple moments of touching peoples’ lives,” he says, “from players to protégés.”
These days, he especially relishes paying forward mentorship. “That’s just a sense of accomplishment, that you were able to teach them,” he says of his protégés over the years. “I have a little legacy behind myself, that I helped them down the path.”
Chad Prest
THE CLIFFS AT KEOWEE VINEYARDS
Chad Prest points out that superintendents’ responsibilities run 24/7, 365 days a year because nature takes no breaks. “Just because you’re not there that day or that weekend or you’re on vacation, it doesn’t matter: your property doesn’t stop growing,” says Prest, who has been at The Cliffs for 11 years.
In 1999, the Massachusetts native moved to North Carolina, and he has spent most of his 25-year career in the Carolinas. “The most rewarding part is the appreciation from the members when you’ve got the course in great shape. It obviously makes you want to come back for more,” he says, adding, “It’s not a job per se, it’s a lifestyle.”
Cole Adcock
THE CLIFFS AT KEOWEE SPRINGS
The only native South Carolinian of the bunch, Cole Adcock grew up in Greenwood, where he would work at his grandfather’s nine-hole course. While attending Clemson University, he interned at Keowee Springs in 2010. He returned to The Cliffs in 2017 and was named Keowee Springs’ superintendent last year.
He adds a personal twist to the litany of professional challenges: “A lot of times, you’re your own worst enemy because you see things that a lot of people don’t. And you worry about it, stress over it. It’s like at the end of the day, it’s still a nice golf course, but you’re still, like, ‘Man, I wish I could …,’ you’re always going harder on yourself.”
Paul Lewis
THE CLIFFS AT GLASSY
The newest superintendent at The Cliffs, Paul Lewis joined in mid-June. But he started in the industry when he was 16, barely old enough to drive to work at the Metamora Golf and Country Club in his native Michigan.
In the business now for nearly 20 years, he says with a laugh, “It’s not the day that many have seen in Caddyshack.” It was a superintendent back home who sparked his passion: “He saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself, but honestly that is part of the job of being a superintendent: always seeing the things that people don’t notice and nurturing them to create something special.”
Matthew Stevens
THE CLIFFS VALLEY
It didn’t take long for Matthew Stevens to realize that working in Asheville’s then-RCA factory wasn’t for him. In his late teens, he would sit on a stool through 12-hour shifts doing injection molding for cassette tapes and CDs. “It was awful,” he says, “but I learned stuff.”
He also worked at a golf course then, where he found his drive. Today, after nearly 20 years at The Cliffs, he maintains 177 acres: “You fall in love with this job, and you can’t get away from it.” Likewise, he adds, “All the other superintendents here are just so passionate to do the best thing for our little piece of the Earth.”
The push-and-pull of Mother Nature versus the brothers-of-the-links will never end. At the end of the day, though, their expertise ensures the balance between nature’s unpredictability and human expectations, fostering lush, pristine greens. As stewards of this delicate harmony, they exemplify the art of maintaining perfection in a constantly evolving natural landscape.
MOVING MOUNTAINS
Hot off the press: a fun question-andanswer session from your Cliffs Realty Mountain Region Team
WRITTEN BY J. MORGAN MCCALLUM
One of the many things we pride ourselves on at The Cliffs is knowing that members of the Cliffs Realty team do more than serve our members: They are your neighbors, your competition on the golf course, your hiking or cycling buddies—and potentially your newfound friends.
We sat down with five real estate rock stars from our Mountain Region team, encompassing The Cliffs at Glassy, The Cliffs at Mountain Park, and The Cliffs Valley, to hear why they love what they do and where they do it—and introduce them–so when you see their faces out and about, you know a great conversation will follow.
ANGELA OSBORNE Sales Executive
Q Tell us about your time thus far with The Cliffs.
A I have been with Cliffs Realty for 10 years in a few different roles, including the marketing response specialist—which allowed me to interact with almost all new incoming prospective members to help them understand each of the three regions and decide which was the best place for them to start. I so enjoyed being able to extol the virtues of the incredible geographical area where we are fortunate to live! I grew up in the flat farming area of Indiana, so I quickly fell in love with the mountains and the Greenville area. Once I took up hiking, it was over for living anywhere else.
Q What keeps you busy and happy in your region?
A Being a hiker, I love all the choices I have to hike within the communities, as well as a plethora of hiking outside the gates. I also love that there are pickleball courts available with an outstanding racquet-sports staff that will help me learn the sport when I get the nerve to take it up! That being said, the fall/winter menu at The Cliffs at Glassy had the most amazing soup: Roasted Butternut Squash Apple Bisque. I would buy it by the quart to enjoy at home, and can’t wait for it to come back (fingers crossed!) this fall.
Q What makes the communities you serve so unique?
A Here in The Mountain Region, we have the advantage of having the two original communities at The Cliffs (Glassy and Valley) as well as the newest community, Mountain Park. Because of that, we have a variety of styles and sizes to offer—from rustic traditional to mountain modern. No matter which community you choose, you may find a highquality built home–or homesite–just for you!
ASHLEIGH CONNEL Sales Executive
Q Tell us why you and your clients love the Upstate.
A The views and breathtaking settings due to the changes in elevation are so unique to The Mountain Region. Do you want to live beside a babbling stream or on top of a mountain with layered sunset mountain views? Do you enjoy seeing miles and miles of twinkling night lights down below?
Q Why do you love being a part of our communities?
A My 5-year-old (Noah) has absolutely loved the 4th of July fireworks and festivities in the clubs. We also love going to the annual concerts and wine dinners! And I absolutely love what I do, too—I have the opportunity every day to help someone discover a new passion, find their favorite breathtaking view, breathe, slow down, and just enjoy the peace and mountain life. What could be better?
Q What can members find you doing on weekends?
A Our free time these days is usually spent with my son playing mini-golf, watching ice hockey, eating snow cones, or walking around downtown Greenville or the Biltmore Estate in search of more candy/sugar. Speaking of candy, you’ll find it at the front of all of our clubhouses for your enjoyment!
GARRY PATTON Sales Executive
Q What is your unique approach to helping homebuyers?
A I always start by talking with buyers about the Upstate area as a whole first. I want to be sure they have a good knowledge of the wonderful opportunities and lifestyle that our region has to offer. I’m a native of Greenville, and I love to tell the story of how the city has been transformed from an old Southern textile city to the dynamic metropolitan destination to which it has evolved. One of the most important parts of the time we spend together is to be sure clients are sold on the region first—selling The Cliffs is the easier part.
Q What surprising fact do your clients appreciate?
A I always make a point to emphasize that quality real estate offerings and worldclass amenities are a given at The Cliffs. What really matters the most are the genuine, welcoming members who live here and the new friendships you will form when you join our communities. One of the most fulfilling experiences for me is running into clients at a clubhouse or wellness center for the first time after they bought their new home, and the excitement they share about how happy they are in their decision to live here at The Cliffs.
Q How do you “gear up” to connect with future members?
A As a cyclist, I especially relish the opportunity to share my passion for riding opportunities around The Cliffs. If I find out someone is a cyclist ahead of time, I encourage them to bring their bikes so that we can ride together, or I will try to coordinate our riding with one of The Cliffs cycling groups if there happens to be a ride scheduled during their visit so they can meet other members who share their interest.
“Your first meeting with me is all about the feels: the community, the view. Something will pull you in the right direction.”
– JON SKILLMAN
JON SKILLMAN Sales Executive
Q What do you love about helping clients call your region home?
A The variety that we have to offer. You can remodel a home, build from scratch, have a wooded setting or a 75-mile view. It’s up to you, and that’s the fun part for me. Every home is built to fit your lifestyle—it allows you to make it just the way you want it. Big windows for views, a wood shop, a garage with a lift for the car enthusiast, the best porch you can dream of … No cookie cutters here.
Q What does your lunch break look like?
A I love eating lunch at the clubs, including The Cabin. I’ll sit at the corner of the bar and listen to the golfers coming in talking about their rounds, and they always want to know how sales are going. Oh, and the staff! The staff is so friendly; I feel like they are part of my family.
Q What is the best part of your job?
A I love showing clients the area we call home and seeing them smile when they think about what the next phase of their life could be like here. Most of them are escaping something: Hot, cold, traffic— whatever it is, they are going to have that in common with everyone here, and it’s comforting to know that they will have friends with the same experiences and new lifestyle to enjoy.
“From spring to fall, Mother Nature is in all her splendor in our region—every day features a new painting of the sky and of the views.”
– JOANN ROSER
JOANN ROSER Sales Executive
Q Tell us why you love your home.
A I like to call The Mountain Region “the explorer region.” You can find something new to lure you out of your haven every day! Quaint mountain towns bring delight to taste buds as you enjoy the local flavors. The destination cities, like Greenville, SC, and Asheville, NC, provide an abundance of cultural activity without the “big city” hassles … and our hiking trails provide an unspoiled adventure for the body and spirit. From spring to fall, Mother Nature is in all her splendor in our region—every day features a new painting of the sky and of the views. It is no surprise that Greenville was just voted a Top 4 Place to Live by USA Today!
Q Where will members find you on the weekends?
A There are a variety of activities I enjoy as a member of The Cliffs—I love our racquetsports program in The Mountain Region, led by a dynamic duo: Adri Atkinson and Rebecca Weaver. I have met great friends on the tennis courts, and pickleball is fun, too! I also enjoy hiking the trails in Mountain Park, which run along Buckhorn Creek. There are numerous waterfalls along the trail, providing great opportunities for taking in the tranquility of this community—it’s as beautiful as any national park … and you don’t have to share it with thousands of other strangers!
Q Why do you love what you do every day?
A It always seems corny to say “the people,” but it is true—not only the new people I meet every day exploring The Cliffs but also my teammates in the office and out in the field. I enjoy the camaraderie and support of our team: We work hard and celebrate success together. The people I meet are often eager to share the personal journey that brought them to The Cliffs and what an honor it is to be part of the intersection of their hard work, miles traveled, families raised, health battles won, and dreams realized.
WELCOMING A VISIONARY LEADER
The Cliffs is pleased to announce that respected industry veteran Richard Seay joined the family as the new director of real estate sales, overseeing real estate sales across the seven luxury mountain and lake club communities that comprise The Cliffs. A Greenville native with more than 30 years of experience breaking sales records in the luxury real estate industry across the U.S. and the Caribbean, Seay brings the perfect blend of authentic investment in our beautiful region and global expertise in the field to the table. Grab a glass and join us in raising a toast to Seay—welcome to The Cliffs team and communities. Cheers to many years of meaningful work and mutual prosperity ahead!
“It’s wonderful to be back in the Blue Ridge Mountains, working at one of the best clubs in the United States with a great group of sales executives who have been selling for Cliffs Realty for many years.”
RICHARD SEAY Director of Real Estate Sales
FOR THE LOVE OF ANIMALS
These members of three different communities at The Cliffs get a big paws-up for their work with animals
WRITTEN BY J. MORGAN MCCALLUM
When Bill and Judi Coker, members at The Cliffs Valley, paid their first visit to the Greenville Humane Society (GHS) in 2010, seeing all the homeless animals tugged at their heartstrings. “You can’t rescue them all,” thought Bill at the time, “but you can maybe help them all.” In that spirit, the couple, both avid golfers and animal lovers, established the first Greenville Humane Society Golf Benefit.
This will be the 15th consecutive year of the tournament, which has raised a total of over $70,000 to date to help feed and care for the no-kill shelter’s animals. For the tournament’s 10-year milestone, Kim Pitman, executive director of GHS at the time, had a plaque made to honor the generosity of The Cliffs Valley community. It sits on the bridge that connects the Humane Society’s parking lot to their new medical facility, where, Bill says, “it’s a wonderful recognition for the members of The Cliffs Valley and the big hearts they have.”
The couple’s connection to GHS further changed their lives in 2012. One day, after running errands in Greenville, Bill joined Judi at the Humane Society. Inside, he found his wife sitting on a bench with a 4-year-old bluetick coonhound on her lap. “I looked at [the dog] and said the same thing to myself that I said when I first saw Judi: ‘She’s the one.’” Their beloved Maggie is now 16 years old.
Wendy Zacchio, a member at The Cliffs at Keowee Springs, began working with the Pickens County Humane Society in Liberty five years ago. Despite having a full-time job, she became more and more involved, until the small no-kill shelter asked her to join its board in early 2024.
My goal is to raise awareness for the Humane Society [which receives no government funding]. The driver is: What could The Cliffs communities be doing to make a difference in these animals’ lives?” says Zacchio, who also volunteers at the shelter at least two weekends a month and helped PCHS create Roxie’s Thrifty Paws pet supply store in downtown Pickens earlier this year. “These dogs are so happy to see you when you come in. It warms my heart, and it’s heartbreaking at the same time because I wish I could just wave a wand, and they’d all have homes.”
The Zacchios recently lost their older dog, who’s survived by a young Airedale named Ruby. Though they’re not yet ready to adopt another dog, they’re keeping an eye out at the Humane Society for a pup who might like to make the Zacchio’s house its home.
Just as humans help dogs, canines can return the favor, as Betty Vandeputte–a member at The Cliffs at Keowee Falls–will tell you. She makes 14 to 20 visits a year to schools and libraries in the area around her community with her two mini-labradoodles. Both certified therapy dogs, Bailey and M.B. went through extensive training to qualify for this work. Bailey loves working with little children who are struggling with reading, while M.B. excels at calming college students during exam periods.
“I especially enjoy working with the kids,” Vandeputte says. “You never know what’s going to happen next.” During the school sessions, the dogs sit quietly while the children read to them. “One little boy was funny—he said to me, ‘Miss Betty, Bailey can’t see the book,’ so he snuggled up right next to Bailey and faced the book in Bailey’s direction.”
Vandeputte has observed that the animals help break down the children’s defenses. “It’s rewarding seeing the kids forming a bond with the dogs,” she says. “The stress relief the kids get from having the dogs there helps them to relax and feel free to talk about [whatever is on their minds].”
SUPPORT
Contact your local Humane Society
Greenville Humane Society greenvillehumanesociety.com/volunteer
Pickens County Humane Society pchumanesociety.org/support-us
Asheville Humane Society ashevillehumane.org/get-involved/volunteer
Want to support SC Dogs? Email: info@scdogs.org
Hospitality With Heart
How each inspiring getaway at The Shepherd Hotel makes a life-changing impact in the Upstate
WRITTEN BY J. MORGAN MCCALLUM
T“he Shepherd Hotel was truly built on the concept of love,” says Erica Walters, program director of ClemsonLIFE.
“Everything about the experience is intentional—from aesthetics and design to the soft bedding and sheets to the way entrances were built to accommodate people with disabilities. It is changing the lives of LIFE students, yes … But our students are changing the lives of every person that walks into that hotel.”
The Clemson University students that Walters is so proud of are equally as proud to be the heart and soul of downtown Clemson’s celebrated new boutique getaway: The Shepherd Hotel. For the unfamiliar, the ClemsonLIFE program offers a collegiate experience that prepares young people with intellectual disabilities for competitive employment and independent living through a combination of academic coursework and career exploration.
For seasoned hotel leader and cofounder of the Shepherd Hotel, Richard Hayduk, partnering with these incredible students is part of a deeply personal mission. “Eighteen years ago, my daughter was born with Down Syndrome, which completely changed the lens that I looked at life through,” reflects Hayduk. “When your child is born with a disability, you question what kind of life they will have—and what happens when you’re gone,” Hayduk explains. “So, I began toying with the idea of how to best set my daughter up for her future.”
SOUTH AFRICA MEETS THE SOUTH
Book a table at The Delish Sisters, the South African-inspired, on-site restaurant serving up worldly dishes with locally sourced ingredients with the slogan, ‘Tasty Food Made With Love.’
“IT IS CHANGING THE LIVES OF OUR STUDENTS, YES—BUT OUR STUDENTS ARE CHANGING THE LIVES OF EVERY PERSON THAT WALKS INTO THAT HOTEL.”
– ERICA WALTERS
Leaning into his hospitality expertise and dream of operating a hotel, Hayduk was introduced to Rich Davies, a third-generation real estate developer and involved Clemson alum, through Dabo Swinney, Clemson’s head football coach. What Davies and Hayduk would later call one of many “Godwinks” in the life of The Shepherd Hotel, Davies had purchased 389 College Avenue in 2015 with the goal of developing an upscale boutique hotel to better serve Clemson’s growing number of visitors looking for a more unique travel experience. As soon as Davies heard of Hayduk’s vision for what would become The Shepherd Hotel, he knew it was exactly what Clemson needed.
“People with special needs have a unique gift of bringing joy to every interaction. This creates what we call authentic hospitality, transforming every guest that visits The Shepherd Hotel,” says Davies. Transformation has been happening at the hotel since its opening in 2022, where LIFE students have surprised and delighted hotel guests every day.
“Fast forward to today, and about 30% of our staff have a disability,” adds Hayduk. “We gainfully employ and train ClemsonLIFE students and alumni, as well as those in our local community with disabilities. We also partner with other organizations, like the Pickens County Vocational Rehabilitation. The end game, of course, is still running a phenomenal hotel: A smooth check-in process. The room is incredibly clean. The cup of coffee is perfectly made. When you come in, whether it’s for dinner or to spend the night, you’ll leave feeling inspired.”
Hayduk credits the Upstate area with some of The Shepherd’s magic. “There’s a vibe here, an energy that makes it a wonderful visit. Clemson is a very special place to begin with and probably the best place to have opened the first Shepherd Hotel. Part of it is the culture—of the city, the university, the type of people who go to Clemson. And in our case, those who are coming here embrace someone with Down Syndrome or autism. Our guests are patient and tolerant; they understand the disabilities at play, and they enjoy interacting with our staff.”
For Walters, seeing the staff thrive also means watching her students find joy and purpose. “I think the beauty of the hotel is that it provides opportunities to reach diverse individuals with different skill sets,” she adds. “You have some students who may excel in the front of house and enjoy interacting with others. And then we have students who are less interested in being around people but enjoy cleaning and preparing rooms—they’re meticulous. The partnership between The Shepherd Hotel and ClemsonLIFE has been a beautiful relationship and continues to grow. It’s nice to be around like-minded, likehearted folks.”
It’s impossible not to feel embraced by a rare and welcoming community inside The Shepherd Hotel. “We wanted The Shepherd Hotel to capture the spirit of the Clemson family and be a place where community happens naturally,” explains Davies. “The lobby is designed for connectivity between the first floor Delish Sisters restaurant and the third floor Thomas bar, and the hydration stations in the hallway facilitate conversation. Our goal was to be a place that cultivated community.” If you look closely, you’ll see words and phrases of inspiration written in braille in the elevator or woven into the tapestry behind the desk.
For Walters, however, the warmth and positivity of the hotel is only matched by its elegance.
OPENING NEW DOORS
Just as The Shepherd Hotel helps individuals and the community grow, the leadership team also has plans to open new locations soon—one of which will be inside a renovated firehouse just on the outskirts of the University of South Carolina campus, partnering with CarolinaLIFE.
BOOK YOUR ROOM
The Shepherd Hotel in Downtown Clemson 110 Sloan Street Clemson, SC
239.340.1405
shepherdhotels.com
“When you walk into the lobby, it’s very homey and welcoming, which isn’t typical of a high-end boutique hotel. There are couches, a fireplace, and a beautiful grand staircase. You see our students right away, at the valet access, the front desk, in the restaurant,” she adds. “I love watching sunsets from the rooftop, and the Thomas bar is so unique— it’s a great upscale place for faculty or community members to go for drinks.”
With elevated hospitality at the heart, a shared sense of purpose with The Cliffs was only natural—and familiar ground for Hayduk. “When I first came to the Upstate, I was working at The Cliffs. That’s when we fell in love with the area and knew we wanted to come back,” says the hotelier.
For both businesses, it’s about creating community and cultivating great experiences for people—whether it’s a weekend stay or a move to the area.
True Colors
Easily accessible from the Asheville area, the Blue Ridge Parkway offers a myriad of places to drink in fall’s beauty
Meandering for 469 miles through the rounded, indigo-hued peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Blue Ridge Parkway can’t be beat for fall leaf peeping in Western North Carolina. From Asheville, adjacent to The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, there are four main access points (Mileposts 382.5 through 393.6) to this ribbon of a road that connects Shenandoah National Park in Virginia with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee. Designed to blend in with the mountainous topography, the Blue Ridge Parkway is punctuated by recreation areas strung along the route like beads on a necklace.
WRITTEN BY M. LINDA LEE
GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN
MILEPOST 305 TO US-221
The 2-mile drive that snakes up to the top of Grandfather Mountain (5,946 ft) reveals spectacular scenery—no matter the season. Stop at overlooks along the way until the end of the road brings you to the Mile-High Swinging Bridge, America’s highest suspension footbridge. Spanning an 80-foot chasm, the 228-foot-long bridge affords a 360-degree view of the area’s peaks and valleys—a leaf gazer’s dream.
LINVILLE FALLS
MILEPOST 316.4
Beginning at its headwaters atop the steep slopes of Grandfather Mountain, the Linville River cascades through two falls as it tumbles 2,000 feet through Linville Gorge. In fall, white pine, oak, hickory, and birch trees wear a mantle of crimson and gold against the backdrop of towering evergreen hemlocks. Two trails lead from the visitor center to lookout points at different stages of the falls.
CHESTOA VIEW OVERLOOK
MILEPOST 320.8
Located 4 miles south of Linville Falls, this overlook peers out across the vast expanse of Pisgah National Forest.. Follow the paved path from the parking lot and take the left fork. A set of 32 steps will take you to a stone balcony on the east side of Humpback Mountain, where undulating peaks roll toward the horizon.
MT. MITCHELL STATE PARK
MILEPOST 355.4
The highest peak east of the Mississippi River, Mt. Mitchell rises 30 miles northeast of Asheville. Its lofty elevation (6,684 ft) provides a cool respite to any lingering summer heat. On the drive to the summit, mountainsides dress for fall in a vibrant array of colors, while an evergreen fir forest covers the top of the mountain, threaded by easy trails through the woods.
CRAGGY GARDENS
MILEPOST 364
For breathtaking fall sunsets that are a quick (35-minute) drive from Asheville, head to Craggy Gardens. A short but steep hike through a rhododendron thicket from the Craggy Dome Parking Overlook yields big rewards 20 minutes later at Craggy Pinnacle. Here, the panorama sweeps over dramatic rock formations and mountain peaks that stretch all the way to Tennessee.
WALNUT COVE OVERLOOK
MILEPOST 396.4
Interspersed among the other hardwood trees, there is an abundance of black walnut trees with leaves that turn bright yellow in the fall. From the overlook, views of The Cliffs at Walnut Cove’s golf course and properties can be seen. The historic Shut-in-Trail, built in the 1890’s by George W. Vanderbilt, is easily accessible from here.
MT. PISGAH
MILEPOST 408.6
An iconic landmark visible from downtown Asheville on a clear day, Mt. Pisgah is the perfect break along the Blue Ridge Parkway. In addition to being able to hike to the 5,721-foot summit of the mountain, you can stay overnight at the Pisgah Inn and revel in sunset views from your room’s windows.
GRAVEYARD FIELDS
MILEPOST 418.8
Despite its forbidding name, a reference to the skeletons of felled trees that once covered the grassy meadows here, Graveyard Fields is a hauntingly beautiful spot—and one of the first places to blush with fall color. A popular trail, an hour south of Asheville, descends into the ravine, crosses a bridge over the river, then traverses the fields and continues to Yellowstone Falls.
BLACK BALSAM KNOB
MILEPOST 420.2
A treeless, or bald, mountain top in Pisgah National Forest, Black Balsam Knob boasts a 6,200-foot elevation accessible via the 1.4-mile round-trip Art Loeb Trail. The trail traverses open meadows and aromatic stands of balsam firs before reaching the summit, where clouds seem to float over the blue peaks for miles as you drink in the magnificent cloak of color.
For more information, stop at the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center, Milepost 384, just 13 miles from the gates of The Cliffs at Walnut Cove. 195 Hemphill Knob Road, Asheville, NC | nps.gov/blri
NORTH CAROLINA ARBORETUM
In any season of the year, beauty blooms at the North Carolina Arboretum. In addition to 65 acres of cultivated gardens, this 434-acre public arboretum, adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 383, encompasses a network of wooded hiking and biking trails where you can immerse yourself in the glory of fall. More than 10 miles of trails connect to area attractions, including Bent Creek Experimental Forest, Lake Powhatan, and Pisgah National Forest. Trails range in length from 0.3 to 1.2 miles and in difficulty from easy to challenging. Some trails are earmarked for foot traffic only, but all of them allow leashed dogs. This outdoor sanctuary is less than five miles from The Cliffs at Walnut Cove.
100 FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED WAY, ASHEVILLE, NC | NCARBORETUM.ORG
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DOUBLE DOUBLE THE FUN
Pair great food, art, and entertainment with supporting local charities
BY M. LINDA LEE
As the leaves paint the landscape in brilliant colors and cool temperatures bring relief from the summer heat, a wealth of events and things to do welcomes fall and winter across The Asheville, Mountain, and Lake regions at The Cliffs. In addition to fostering good times, many area organizations—such as restaurants, botanical gardens, and art centers—set a goal of giving back to their communities. To pair with our issue’s theme of giving, we’ve curated a selection of places and events you can enjoy, knowing that you’re making your community a better place while you’re at it.
THE ASHEVILLE REGION
WINTER LIGHTS AT NORTH CAROLINA ARBORETUM
The North Carolina Arboretum’s programs are supported by its largest fundraiser of the year, Winter Lights, which invites visitors to stroll through the Arboretum at night when it sparkles with over a million colored lights. You can’t help but ooh and aah over the 50-foot-tall lighted tree; the Quilt Garden, where lights mimic quilt patterns that are best viewed from the observation point above; and the row of illuminated Magical Maples. The kids will delight in Woodland Cove, which comes alive with animatronic forest creatures who tell stories and sing carols. Bring the family (but not the family pup) to spend an evening on the grounds and experience the joy of the holiday season with this spectacular open-air show of lights from November 15 through December 31, 2024.
100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC | 828.665.2492 | ncarboretum.org
OPEN HEARTS ART CENTER
Can the arts serve as a communication tool for adults with varied abilities? The folks at the Open Hearts Art Center think so. They established this nonprofit studio and gallery in 2005 to help adults reach their full potential through opportunities in the visual and performing arts. Professional artists and experienced caregivers guide participants to draw inspiration from their personal stories as they create art in the center’s fully equipped studios. You can visit the gallery weekdays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. or by appointment to see and purchase works or attend public exhibits held at various venues around Asheville, NC. Check the website for the center’s schedule of events, which include seasonal pop-up markets, exhibits, and talent shows.
When you eat at Dandelion in Hendersonville, NC, you will get a delicious meal and support a great cause. The restaurant, which is open for lunch only, acts as the cornerstone of Safelight’s job-training program. Dandelion offers internships to survivors of violence, abuse, and exploitation as part of Safelight’s continuum of services. These services also address needs such as affordable housing, accessible health care, and steady employment—and are all offered free of charge. Through the restaurant’s internship program, participants learn financial budgeting, personal responsibility, and teamwork. Whether you stop in for a Tuna Melt or a Chicken Caprese Panini, know that you are helping to change people’s lives for the better.
127 5th Avenue West Hendersonville, NC 828.595.9365 safelightfamily.org/dandelion.htm
THE LAKE REGION
SOUTH CAROLINA BOTANICAL GARDEN
Designated as the state’s official botanical garden in 1992, the South Carolina Botanital Gardens began as a camellia preserve planted in 1958 on a small plot of land adjacent to John C. Calhoun’s Fort Hill estate. Today the garden has blossomed into more than 200 acres of cultivated landscapes and natural woodlands, open free of charge 365 days a year. Dedicated to providing the public with an example of healthy landscapes tha t showcase diversity and highlight plants native to the Southeast, the Botanical Garden provides a tranquil place to stroll, look, and learn any time of year. They also offer classes, interpretive exhibits, and special events, as well as educational outreach that fosters understanding of our local ecosystem.
150 Discovery Lane Clemson, SC 864.656.3405 clemson.edu/scbg
BLUE RIDGE ARTS CENTER
Blue Ridge Arts Center is operated by the volunteer-run, nonprofit Blue Ridge Arts Council, embracing its mission of “bringing art to the people and people to the arts.” The center sponsors art shows, classes, artist demonstrations, and lectures for its diverse membership base, in addition to promoting its members’ work. Bringing art to the community includes projects such as creating welcome murals in Ram Cat Alley and placing brightly painted metal cats around downtown Seneca for folks to find via the Alley Cat “sCATenger Hunt.” Throughout the year, juried art exhibitions, themed shows, and educational opportunities invite public participation. You’ll find the gallery in Seneca’s oldest church building, built in 1882, which also houses the Center’s permanent art collection.
111 E. South Second Street, Seneca, SC 508.963.4959 | blueridgeartscenter.com
WALHALLA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
If you’ve enjoyed a performance at Walhalla Performing Arts Center, you can thank a group of concerned local residents who formed a committee, obtained a 501(3)c nonprofit designation, and signed on to save this 1903 grade school building from demolition in 1993. The renovation took 10 years, and the Performing Art Center’s auditorium-which was added to the structure in 1913-hosted its first show in August 2003 when American pianist Emile Pandolfi played to a packed house. Today the building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, stages a regular schedule of performances, from talented local rockers like The Black Jacket Symphony to nationally acclaimed entertainers such as Travis Tritt, Wynonna Judd, and the Marshall Tucker Band.
101 E. North Broad Street, Walhalla, SC 864.638.5277 | walhallapac.com
THE MOUNTAIN REGION
GREENVILLE CENTER FOR CREATIVE ARTS
The area’s only nonprofit community art center, Greenville Center for Creative Arts (GCCA), was founded in 2015 to provide hands-on art education and community engagement. Located in the former Brandon Textile Mill in the Village of West Greenville, the center serves as a hub for visual-arts education by offering art classes for all ages and skill levels in a variety of mediums. Come take a workshop, browse changing exhibitions, and visit working artists in their studios on the First Friday of every month. During the year, GCCA partners with two Greenville, SC, community centers to offer free after-school art-engagement programs for area youth. They also sponsor the Brandon Fellowship, a 12-month professionaldevelopment program awarded each year to three young emerging artists.
Opened in 2020, this lunch café in Greenville, SC, nourishes the body as well as the soul as a social enterprise arm of the nonprofit Jasmine Road. The two-year residential program for adult women survivors of human trafficking, prostitution, and addiction offers its participants employment in the café, where they receive job training and career-building opportunities. At lunchtime, the cheery interior and outdoor deck fill with diners savoring a rotating selection of fresh seasonal soups, salads, and sandwiches. Lunching here means you get a lovely meal, and women in the program get a chance to turn their lives around. While you’re there, consider purchasing candles and jewelry handcrafted by the women of Jasmine Road.
503 Augusta Street Greenville, SC 864.263.3374
jasminekitchen.org
KRINGLE HOLIDAY VILLAGE
Can’t get to the North Pole this year? Try the next best thing: Kringle Holiday Village. Relocating in December to the Greenville Convention Center, this annual Rotary Club of Greenville event will be held in tandem with the venerable Holiday Fair from Dec. 5 through 7. Expect the same European village experience, complete with live music and mugs of glühwein for parents to sip, while the kids amuse themselves with activities including face painting, balloon art, inflatables, and visits with Santa. Get a jump on holiday shopping with unique finds by the fair’s 400 artisans, and keep an eye out for roving characters, so you can snap a photo with the Ice Princess, Elf, and Snowman. Proceeds benefit Rotary Charities.
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AN IMPACT ACROSS GENERATIONS
Five stories highlighting the life-changing volunteer efforts of the Cliffs Residents Outreach programs
BY J. MORGAN MCCALLUM
There is no denying the life-changing impact that the Cliffs Residents Outreach program makes. With hundreds of thousands of dollars raised to fund grants throughout the different communities–and thousands more students and families reached–the experience is deeply meaningful—and rewarding—for the volunteers who embrace it.
The Cliffs is proud to feature five volunteers’ inspiring stories from the past year, one from each CRO chapter. To these dedicated individuals, we say thank you for your service in uplifting others, and to any potential new volunteers reading this, we invite you to join these members in making a difference all across the incredible region we call home.
WHILE THE FIRST TEE DOES, IN FACT, TEACH GOLF, THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE PROGRAM IS HELPING KIDS FROM AGE 6 TO 18 BECOME SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
KEN ALBRIGHT
THE CLIFFS AT GLASSY CHAPTER
For casual golfer Ken Albright, his love for the sport was magnified the moment he shared the fairway with deserving students from The First Tee program.
“In my career, I was a regional account director for AT&T. I started volunteering in 2009 with The First Tee in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and ran their Learning Center at Winston Lake Golf Course after retiring,” says Albright, who has shared the experience over the years with his family. Both Albright and his wife, Stacey, are formally trained as recognized coaches.
While The First Tee does, in fact, teach golf, the heart and soul of the program is helping kids from age 6 to 18 become successful adults. “We start by introducing them to our nine core values and nine healthy habits,” explains Albright. “These core values are interwoven with our golf skills lessons and are reinforced with open-ended questions and discussions with the kids. As the kids get older, we teach them life skills such as how to set and obtain goals, how to handle conflict, and at the top levels, how to select a college, apply for a scholarship, and write a resume.”
The positive ripple effect of the program has been obvious: From stories of betterbehaved math students after First Tee lessons in PE class to a young person who had swiped an unlocked bicycle only to have a long heart-to-heart with Albright about how his actions could impact others—and a proud moment of hearing that the young man had later returned the bike and apologized.
“Since moving to The Cliffs at Glassy, I have joined the CRO, and I am now a corporate partner liaison,” adds Albright. “Stacey and I often take the kids out on the golf course as part of our regular programming. It is rewarding to watch them grow using the golf and life skills we have taught them. Additionally, I like knowing that all of our grants are vetted—100% of our funds go to the exact program that was requested.”
A big highlight of Albright’s experience was when two First Tee participants qualified for the Pure Insurance Open at Pebble Beach. “The kids were able to play alongside Senior Tour players and interact with them and their caddies. We turned it into a vacation, following them for five days (practice round and four days of tournament play). It was great to see 40 or so of the best First Tee kids in action.”
REID BECKER
THE CLIFFS VALLEY & MOUNTAIN PARK CHAPTER
Reid Becker of The Cliffs Valley might just have the coolest retirement plan ever: Helping great kids make fun robots that compete in exciting games.
“I founded STEAM Tech Teams 11 years ago with the OSHA Lifelong Learning Institute at Furman University. It is a volunteer organization supporting science, technology, engineering, art, and math in local schools,” says Becker, who collaborates with volunteers to teach children skills in artificial intelligence, 3-D design, robotics, and much more— all through approachable activities that they might not normally have access to.
“We just finished a 3-D design course with kids ranging from third grade to seventh grade at the Kroc Center through the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club,” says Becker. “They learned something called TinkerCAD, and we set up a networked printer for the community to use. The kids designed a rocket ship first, and then they were able to choose different magic tricks to create.”
The group’s initiatives vary widely—and fuel brighter futures. Five years ago, Becker and his team established a robotics program at Northwest Middle School in Travelers Rest, where they held a competition robotics camp for 30 students this past summer. He has helped kids create battery powered, rideon toy cars modified to help babies and toddlers with special mobility needs. And his students have helped “give a hand” to those who need them most.
“We actually started our program teaching kids to make simple prosthetic hands for kids that were born without them or lost them due to accident or war,” reflects Becker. “We had a group of kids in Spartanburg that actually made a prosthetic arm and hand for their assistant principal who was born
YOU END UP GIVING EXPERIENCES TO KIDS THAT WOULDN’T NORMALLY HAVE THOSE. YOU END UP WITH KIDS THAT REALLY TAKE OFF ON THIS STUFF AND REALLY FLOURISH.
without one. When these kids interact with the person they’re measuring for the prosthetic, it really opens their world view.”
One of the first things Becker will tell you—after he’s done bragging about the young people he mentors—is that he’s not a rocket scientist; he’s a “finance guy.” While his career led him from a farm in North Dakota to founding his own medical-diagnostic company, he wants everyone to know that you don’t need to be tech-savvy to enjoy volunteering with STEAM Tech Teams.
“One of the major things we do is help kids with the planning they have to do in robotics competitions,” says Becker. “They have to go through interviews, present their engineering notebook, make eye contact, and have confidence while speaking. So even though what we do sounds very engineering-focused, it involves a tremendous amount of mentoring around general life skills and soft skills.”
Becker says one of the most rewarding things about volunteering is seeing how excited the kids are to experience new things. “We’ve sent some teams to national competitions, and some of our kids have literally never been on an airplane—and suddenly they’re competing with kids from China,” says Becker. “You end up giving experiences to kids that wouldn’t normally have those. You end up with kids that really take off on this stuff and really flourish.”
Becker’s group includes members from different communities at The Cliffs, and his CRO has given funds to STEAM Tech Teams’ programs, which “gives the communities a lot of pride to be a part of what we’re doing,” adds Becker. “The Cliffs communities are really an extraordinary group of people. There are probably hundreds of volunteers across the different CROs. It’s just amazing.”
IT’S
GIVEN ME A MEANINGFUL CONNECTION TO PEOPLE I NEVER WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE HAD AND ALLOWED ME TO SEE HOW THEY’VE EACH LEVERAGED THEIR TIME, TALENT, OR TREASURE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF UNDERSERVED KIDS LOCALLY.
LOUISE HUGHES THE CLIFFS AT KEOWEE FALLS CHAPTER
Cliffs Residents Outreach programs have touched countless lives. Louise Hughes should know: She has poured her heart and soul into many of those programs for more than a decade. Her dedication to serving others comes as no surprise, considering Hughes spent a significant chapter of her career working with nonprofits.
“I was invited to join the Keowee Falls CRO Advisory Council when I first moved here in 2012 … And I’ve stayed on our council ever since,” shares Hughes. “The later part of my career was spent managing local community relations and our executives’ engagement for a very large company. My role gave me the opportunity to personally serve on numerous nonprofit boards and see first-hand the impact of strategic focus, collaboration, and effective non-profit governance.”
With such relevant expertise, Hughes was a natural fit for leading the Keowee Falls CRO on its inspiring growth trajectory—with the group’s engagement and budget swelling from about $20,000 in 2012 with only a handful of volunteers to over $225,000 budgeted for the 2023/2024 school year and more than 50 active volunteers—all thanks to the generosity of members at The Cliffs.
“I’ve been fortunate to have experienced our CRO at work across the whole gamut,” says Hughes. “From helping students one-on-one or being a part of a group of volunteers to recruiting volunteers and seeking support from corporate partners.” Hughes received an award from the Keowee Falls Advisory Council for her tenure as chair of the advisory council. She also served on the CRO board of directors as secretary and vice president for 10 years. “The best part of my role ‘evolution’ has been working with the volunteers who went on to assume a role I played so that I could move onto something else,” insists Hughes. “I’m always inspired by the new energy others bring to the table!”
For Hughes, a key highlight of volunteering is the relationships she has developed with people at Keowee Falls and the other communities at The Cliffs. “It’s given me a meaningful connection to people I never would have otherwise had and allowed me to see how they’ve each leveraged their time, talent, or treasure to make a difference in the lives of underserved kids locally.”
In fact, some of those kids recently spent an exciting afternoon oneon-one with Hughes. “I recently led a basic sewing craft project for fifthgrade girls at the final session of a weekly reading mentoring program. The girls loved it! Their eagerness to learn, and how it helped them to ‘open up’ and talk with us and each other, made the volunteers there resolve to find more ways to include practical, hands-on activities,” smiles Hughes.
BRETT BAUMGARTEN
THE CLIFFS AT KEOWEE SPRINGS CHAPTER
Brett Baumgarten was raised to possess a unique perspective on life—one that combines clarity with approachable ease—and he is paying it forward by sharing that gift with young people in his region.
“I volunteer as a mentor and Career Café speaker at DW Daniel High School,” says Baumgarten, who resides with his wife and two sons at The Cliffs at Keowee Springs. “I spent a day at Daniel High School talking to different classes and the kids and encouraging them to think about the world of opportunities that are out there for them— reminding them that they can do anything they want to do and don’t need to get stuck in the traditional mindset of climbing the ladder. I want them to know that if they work hard, they will be rewarded and not be inhibited by what others say they can or can’t do.”
Baumgarten was fortunate to have parents and a grandfather who instilled in him the idea that “if you can think it, you can do it. It’s a theory that has paid off for a lot of successful people I know. And now I have two sons and am raising them that way. But unfortunately, a lot of kids in our area don’t have people in their lives that feel that way, and they need engaged mentorship,” reflects Baumgarten.
For three years, Baumgarten has had the immense pleasure of also volunteering with the school system and
has spoken with several students of different ages who seek him out for advice. Most recently, he has been a mentor to a bright young man with a single mother. “I’m there as a friend to support him, to make sure he’s staying on the right path, and to help him to think things through,” Baumgarten smiles. The pair started working together when the boy was in sixth grade, and now his mentee is about to become a freshman at DW Daniel High School.
“It took a long time to earn his trust, and even now, there’s still a long way to go. We started off playing cards because he was very quiet, and I’d ask him questions about his life until he was comfortable enough to open up. Now, he’s asking me to come watch him play in soccer games,” says Baumgarten, who notes that the volunteer program is facilitated by the YMCA and guidance counselors within local schools, who then partner with The Cliffs communities to provide mentor training to additional members of volunteer programs.
“I’ve taken him to our Sportsman’s Trail at Keowee Springs, which he loves. We play disc golf and miniature golf. I try to get him out and give him an activity, so he’s not getting bored or into trouble,” says Baumgarten. “It’s been really rewarding, fostering a friendship with him. It’s fun interacting with kids that are interested in your story and how you can help them.”
THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM IS FACILITATED BY THE YMCA AND GUIDANCE COUNSELORS WITHIN LOCAL SCHOOLS, WHO THEN PARTNER WITH THE CLIFFS COMMUNITIES TO PROVIDE MENTOR TRAINING TO ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS.
EVERY TIME I ASK OUR BOARD AND COMMUNITY FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT, THEY HAVE PROVIDED IT. WHEN I SOLICITED OTHER LIKE-MINDED GROUPS TO JOIN OUR EFFORT, TO PUSH THE PROGRAM FORWARD AND FUND THE ENTIRE COUNTY, THEY HAVE ALL STEPPED UP TO SUPPORT US.
ROB ACKLEY
THE CLIFFS AT KEOWEE VINEYARDS CHAPTER
For children, books are not only a portal to new worlds— they open doors later in life. Rob Ackley of Keowee Vineyards CRO chapter knows this and when not reading to his grandchildren, has helped play an instrumental role in bringing the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to Pickens County.
“I’ve spent the last 38 years in the Upstate. It’s accurate to say I worked in the foam-fabrication business supplying products to both medical and retail customers, but it’s a lot easier to just say that I sold pillows,” laughs Ackley. “We moved to The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards in 2010, and after retiring in 2019, I began another career: grandparenting.”
Being non-golfers living in a golf community, Ackley’s wife, Ann, volunteered the couple for the CRO board in 2012. “At that time, our CRO was small and primarily supporting the local Holly Springs Elementary. There is much poverty in Pickens County, and we found as much of our effort was in social support as it was educational,” says Ackley. When the county closed Holly Springs Elementary, the CRO then adopted Pickens Elementary and Hagood Elementary. “We all experienced the changes brought on by COVID in 2020. Our community grew, and we supported several schools with resources to help them experiment with different learning options focused on keeping the students safely together and in school.”
The CRO was also given this challenge: Explore other programs that could be truly impactful at a critical time for families and children. Ackley was already familiar with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library (DPIL), as his grandchildren
received books through the program—so he volunteered to research the program, which then led to a recommendation, a trial run, and adoption in early 2022. “This early reading program, inspired by Dolly Parton, mails an age-appropriate book each month to children from birth to 5 years old,” says Ackley. Since the Pickens County DPIL launched in May 2022, Ackley’s team has partnered with other CROs and similar organizations to fund all of Pickens County. About 3,200 children, 50% of the 6,350 in the county, are registered and receiving books monthly.
“All of my previous volunteer experiences were as a worker bee. I served on the Audit Committee for United Way, picked up litter, worked concessions at games, and things like that. This was my first experience as a volunteer philanthropic manager, or my official Imagination Library title of ‘main coordinator.’
The experience has been both humbling and inspiring,” says Ackley. “Every time I ask our board and community for additional support, they have provided it. When I solicited other like-minded groups to join our effort, to push the program forward and fund the entire county, they have all agreed to join us in this effort.”
Ackley notes with pride that not only have community members provided funding support, but many also volunteer to visit preschools and kindergarten registrations to spread the word and register eligible children. “All of these efforts encourage me to work harder to try to hold our program to the highest standard. I feel truly blessed to be able to hang out with such selfless neighbors of my community,” reflects Ackley.
ALL IN ON
GIVING
HOW A PROACTIVE, PASSIONATE, AND FUN-LOVING APPROACH TO GIVING GUIDES THE WALNUT COVE MEMBERS ASSOCIATION
BY J. MORGAN MCCALLUM
The Walnut Cove Members Association is proof that a group of passionate people can achieve incredible things—just as the South Carolina communities exemplify with the Cliffs Residents Outreach programs. In addition to their big hearts, fun events, and remarkable giving records, WCMA volunteers make a collective positive impact that spans wildly diverse causes.
Nancy Fredin has been along for the ride since 2012, when her family moved to The Cliffs at Walnut Cove. “We’ve been members since day one. I’ve been on the board for three years, and this is my first year as chair of the board,” reflects Fredin. “WCMA is a grassroots organization that was started by neighborhood residents in 2007, and since that time, it’s pretty much grown exponentially. Last year, we awarded over $570,000 in grants. While there is a small amount of corporate money in there, it generally all comes from our members, which is great. We simply ask, and our neighbors generously give,” says Fredin.
The history is a charming one of friendly competition: originally, 56 men from Walnut Cove chipped in $100 each to found the association. It went so well and was so enjoyable that, just two years later, the women of Walnut Cove said, “If the men can do it, we can do better,” laughs Fredin. The two groups merged in 2009, and the association officially registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2012. It’s even in the bylaws that the board has to include a gender-neutral mix of individuals, “which I find quite funny, really,” adds Fredin.
“Something that is unique to this organization is that for every nonprofit that we support, we require a WCMA member in the neighborhood to actively volunteer there,” reveals Fredin. “This encourages active involvement. In order to apply for a grant, that WCMA member needs to act as a grant sponsor first. Once those requirements are met, organizations are allowed to apply and are vetted.”
EIGHT VOLUNTEER DAYS
Members spend time at the different charities that we support doing various projects to help the community.
EIGHT MUCH-LOVED WCMA GRANTEES
Walnut Cove members volunteer for 31 unique organizations, but these eight are among their most engaged—and paint a broad picture of their efforts to give back across three key focuses.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES:
• MANNA food bank
• Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministries (ABCCM)
• Western Carolina Rescue Mission
EDUCATION:
• Boys and Girls Club of Hendersonville Avery Creek Elementary
NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES:
• The North Carolina Arboretum
• RiverLink
• Flat Rock Playhouse
The number of volunteers in WCMA—and still growing!
FREDIN’S GIVING GO-TO
The WCMA chair loves volunteering at Transformation Village in Asheville, a 100-bed supportive living environment for women and children. There, she answers calls to the crisis hotline.
Choosing grantees is a very egalitarian process at the WCMA. The association conducts a survey to encourage WCMA members to express their preferences for how the funds are divided. This has naturally created three key focuses that most grantees fall into: health and human services claim roughly 80% of grant funding; education, 12%; and natural and cultural resources, 8%. The results act as an interesting reflection of the interests and values shared by WCMA members.
Having fun is central to the WCMA’s purpose—something that might seem counterintuitive to the traditional fundraising practice of selling $10,000 tickets to dinner. Instead, members give of their own accord—and gather for dinner to celebrate how good that feels. These opportunities allow volunteers to connect the nonprofit’s mission to its impact while also enjoying the camaraderie of teaming up with neighbors for a worthy cause. “Something very successful this year has been our Eight Volunteer Days, where members from our community spend time at the different charities that we support doing different projects,” says Fredin. “We had people cleaning up around the river with RiverLink. We’ve had people at the food bank preparing and serving a meal downtown at one of the centers that feed the less-fortunate population. Everyone really enjoyed that.”
Once a year, the WCMA throws a two-day, action-packed gathering called the Weekend of Giving. “There are croquet and bocce ball tournaments. There’s hiking and a golf tournament,” adds Fredin. “These activities aren’t designed to raise money— it’s just a celebration of the work that we do and of the fact that we live in a great spot where we’re able to reach out and help other folks. Everyone says it’s the slowest round of golf in the year, but for a great reason … It just shows how many people have come together that enjoy giving back.”
For both Fredin and the leadership of the WCMA, the vision for the future is simply to expand on these proactive and fulfilling experiences. “As we continue to grow, I think our Volunteer Days program will continue to expand. If you want to volunteer somewhere, you don’t always know how to start that process—but if we can organize events like this and show you different opportunities for getting involved, that’s great.”
Another arm of WCMA has always been coordinating “outside the gate” activities, as well. “Going to baseball games, wine tastings, Asheville food tours, and such. The intention is for that program to expand, too, so we can continue to give members new opportunities to get together and do something fun, and foster new relationships in the neighborhood,” says Fredin.
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We offer our clients concierge quality advisory and planning services customized for their individual needs and goals. Our approach is to centralize our clients’ diverse financial strategies and life-plans to provide a coordinated, efficient and effective roadmap for financial security. Contact us today and discover how we can help you achieve your goals for the future.
TOURNAMENTS WITH PURPOSE
TEEING OFF FOR A GREATER GOOD STORY BY
STEPHANIE TROTTER
On any given day, hundreds of golfers scramble across seven, nationally acclaimed courses at The Cliffs. While special occasions and memberguest tournaments fill the calendar, a few rounds of play stand out for their purpose—that of community, stewardship, and service.
NAOMI’S VILLAGE
THE CLIFFS AT MOUNTAIN PARK
With an inaugural tournament under their belt this past summer, neighbors and volunteers at Mountain Park are already weighing a return in 2025. “Everyone told us the first year would be tough,” says tournament organizer and member at Mountain Park, Ross Travis. “So, our goal was primarily to raise awareness. But the tournament was so well received, we raised roughly $65,000 for Naomi’s Village.”
The children’s facility in Kenya houses 99 kids, teaches 100 preschoolers, and educates another 400 in a K-12 academy. A current goal is to expand the school to accommodate 1,000 children in the high-poverty region north of Nairobi. Ross and his wife, Alice, got involved
with the nonprofit after learning about them through a local church. Since then, they’ve sponsored children and visited the village in Africa. “They’re doing great things there,” says Alice. “We’ve made real connections with the children, and it means so much.”
In June, major sponsors were invited to a Founder’s Reception and Dinner before taking to the Gary Player Signature golf course for an 18-hole captain’s choice scramble format. Each swing of the club under the Carolina sky brought joy to faces, knowing they were helping feed and educate kids under the African sun.
For more information, visit naomisvillage.org
(ABOVE) Founders Dr. Robert & Julie Mendosa with tournament organizers Ross & Alice Travis, Mountain Park members.
“They’re doing great things there. We’ve made real connections with the children, and it means so much.”
– ALICE TRAVIS
(FAR LEFT) Tournament volunteers from The Cliffs & Prisma Health. (LEFT) Karen Starbuck & Annette Branham.
FLAMINGO FLIRT THE CLIFFS AT GLASSY
While dozens of species nestle into nature at The Cliffs at Glassy, pink flamingos in lavender boas strut the course each summer at the Flamingo Flirt. The tournament started in 2009 to benefit the Susan G. Komen charity. Within two years, the organizing committee decided to support the needs of what is now the Prisma Health Cancer Institute. This past summer’s proceeds are going specifically to local cancer research, local clinical trials, and the Prisma Health Roger C. Peace Rehabilitation Hospital Wellness Center at Unity Park.
Under the umbrella of the Glassy Ladies Golf Association, Rita Zrimsek has volunteered with the tournament since day one. “I’ve seen it blossom from our first, modest, $11,500 in donations to over a cumulative $300,000 this year,” she says. “This tournament embodies the enormous generosity of our Glassy family. Each year has been bigger and better, and the best is yet to come.”
This past summer, the Flirt hosted the largest field ever, with 108 players
lining up for a shotgun start. Each tee box honored those who have been affected by cancer; a gentle reminder for the cause bringing all together. Head golf professional Kris Kleinsasser says, “Glassy is so passionate about supporting this event. It’s fun to work hand-in-hand as a community, to try to make a difference and impact others. The member involvement from the GLGA, from start to finish, makes this tournament unique from others.”
The Flirt brings a different spirit and energy than most tournaments to the course, with lavender cocktails, choreographed dance routines, and laughter. Co-chair Karen Starbuck says, “The event is constantly evolving and changing. The ladies on our committee aren’t afraid to try anything. All of us have been touched by cancer, whether directly or indirectly. Every dollar we raise is wisely utilized by the outstanding team at Prisma Cancer Health Institute. To be part of this fundraising effort, to not only prevent cancer but to help someone heal and survive it, it’s an opportunity that I cherish.”
For more information, visit prismahealth.org
“To be part of this fundraising effort, to not only prevent cancer but to help someone heal and survive it, it’s an opportunity that I cherish.”
– KAREN STARBUCK
UNBROKEN SPIRIT
THE CLIFFS AT WALNUT COVE
In two, fast-paced years, Unbroken Spirit has raised almost half a million dollars to help veterans transition from military to civilian life. “Basically, it’s a yearlong program for vets who feel there’s a better way to live and are committed to becoming their best-self again,” says group founder and Executive Director Col. Pete Champagne. The organization was founded by community members of The Cliffs and four of the five board members are veterans, adds Champagne.
Unbroken Spirit takes both veterans and active military members through a comprehensive program to re-calibrate their purpose and mindset, to best serve themselves and their family, community, and country. The program includes mentoring, community service, outdoor adventures, leadership training, and techniques for healing traumas. “Freedom isn’t free,” says the colonel. “We are grateful for all veterans have given so we can live free. Our sponsors and neighbors at Walnut Cove are committed to helping them.”
The yearlong program ends with recipients of this program joining club members for a weekend of fundraising, which includes a golf tournament at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove on the golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus. The tournament begins with a salute to the United States of America and a member of The Cliffs leading golfers in the National Anthem. “It’s an incredible scene,” Champagne reflects. “The entire weekend is dedicated to remembering the veterans’ service and sacrifice. The day after the tournament ends, we begin working with our new groups of vets.”
Each year, the tournament has sold out, with 28 foursomes. “Many residents of The Cliffs are veterans or are related to someone who has devoted themselves to our country,” Champagne says. “It feels good to pull others up who have walked in our shoes. We’re just a bit further down the path, leading the way.”
For more information, visit unbrokenspirit.org
“The entire weekend is dedicated to remembering the veterans’ service and sacrifice …”
– COL. PETE CHAMPAGNE
(LEFT) Tournament volunteer & organizer, Col. Peter Champagne.
(CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) July Fourth Drive game; Presentation of Colors; Warrior Surf Foundation; Ramp Build; and The Cliffs Valley Tournament 2023. (OPPOSITE PAGE) Upstate Warrior Solution check presentation, 2023.
UPSTATE WARRIOR SOLUTION THE CLIFFS VALLEY
With almost a half million dollars donated to Upstate Warrior Solution (UWS), the annual tournament at The Cliffs Valley is set to tee off again in November. “A lot of people here are vets,” says retired Air Force Col. Mike Weitzel. “We’re ’60s and ’70s kind of guys, Vietnam all the way up to Desert Storm. It’s easy to embrace the idea of UWS when you know how much they can make a difference to warriors, retired veterans, even the army guy who’s in and out in a couple of years.”
With offices in Greenville, Spartanburg, Easley, and Anderson, SC, Upstate Warrior Solution has assisted more than 10,165 vets, 137 first responders, and 24,722 family members with jobs, legal and medical benefits, transportation, therapy, and recreation. The Cliffs at Glassy
member Charles Wong sits on the Board of Directors. He shares, “As a veteran and former LEO (law enforcement officer), I’m especially grateful to The Cliffs for its support of Upstate Warrior Solution. It’s one of several joint activities where The Cliffs supports the efforts of UWS.
A number of Glassy members participate in the Valley Tournament.”
In addition to extending a legacy of patriotism while raising money, the tournament also provides the perfect escape for those UWS serves.
“The pros pair each foursome with a veteran,” says Weitzel. “The vets are the only ones who win anything. It’s all about them and making sure they have a good time.”
For more information, visit upstatewarriorsolution.org
“It’s easy to embrace the idea of UWS when you know how much they can make a difference to warriors, retired veterans, even the army guy who’s in and out in a couple of years.”
– COL. MIKE WEITZEL
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Home at The Cliffs
The Cliffs at Keowee Springs HEATHER & JOSH DESSALINES
Tracing the path of places Josh and Heather Dessalines have lived— Massachusetts, Maryland, Wisconsin, California—is like trying to untangle a yellow jessamine, the official flower of their newest home state. The former marine and retired nurse are relatively new to The Landing at Keowee Springs. They sat down to share their excitement as move-in day approaches.
CL How’s the build going at The Landing?
A Josh: Really well. Our builder, Alair Homes, thinks it will be done by December. We’ve had a great relationship with both the builder and architect. The house is designed to live like a nice one-bedroom, but it can expand to four when the kids are here. It has great space and big windows that look out at the lake and the land.
Heather: The house is very modern. We’ve renovated multiple houses in our lifetime but never built from the ground up, so this has been a crazy, fun experience. I’ve loved picking out the interiors.
CL Is this a huge change from your previous home?
A Josh: Yes! We’re coming from Orange County, California. The yard there is so tiny, it really doesn’t count, so this is amazing. There you can touch your neighbor’s house. Here, you can see your neighbors, but you don’t have to live on top of them.
Heather: We bought two lots, so we’re on 4 acres of land. Our property is kind of famous for its nesting bald eagles.
CL What?!
A Josh: It was crazy! The first time we met the builder and architect on the land, this gentleman walked by with his labradors and said, ‘Hey, your bald eagles are here.’ My builder’s eyes got real big, and he said, ‘That might be a problem.’ But we started the federal permitting process to build around them, and it wasn’t that bad.
Heather: Their nest is about 6 feet wide and on top of a pine tree. Thankfully, it’s on the edge of our property. You can’t disturb anything within a 42-foot perimeter of their nest. They return to the nest in the fall. Last year, they had two babies. Neighbors have been sending us pictures.
CL That is very cool. And with your family’s military background, that must feel much more meaningful.
A Josh: Yes, our son is heading into his final year at West Point and plans to go to flight school. Our daughter is a graduate of the Naval Academy and stationed in Norfolk, Virginia. She works in cyber warfare. It didn’t make sense for us to stay in California. We’re closer to them here.
Heather: They would come back to visit California, but there’s so much more to do here, to draw them to come visit. This is a really cool place. We really enjoy the outdoors and spend hours outside every day.
CL It seems like Orange County would be perfect for that.
A Josh: Everything is centered around the beach. You’re walking on the beach, lunching on the beach, wading in waist-deep water at the beach. But you get trapped in a relatively small space. This feels like Disneyland, there’s so much to explore and do, from Asheville to Atlanta.
Heather: The ocean isn’t a great place to water ski or wake surf. Here, we have two boats: a Sea-Doo pontoon boat—we call it the dog boat because the dogs love it—and we also purchased an MB Sports wake boat, to surf behind. We both also play golf, tennis, and pickleball.
CL Is this retirement for you?
A Heather: When we moved east, I left behind my labor and delivery career after 20 years. So I retired. After helping deliver hundreds of babies, and 10 by myself, before the doctor got there, I’m now going to work on my golf handicap.
Josh: I work in the executive protection space and can work remotely from anywhere with internet access. I am hoping to scale back.
CL How did you find The Cliffs?
A Josh: Once we knew we wanted to move east of the Mississippi, we Googled golf, lake, hiking, dogs, and paddle sports and got a bunch of listings. We then used Google Earth to zoom in and find this property. We learned a lot about the houses under construction and Lake Keowee. Golf was a central point.
CL Do you have a favorite course?
A Josh: We’ve only played the three courses in The Lake Region. We like The Cliffs at Keowee Falls course the best so far. It’s open, yet challenging. The topography is interesting, and the greens are a bit more challenging.
Heather: We also love the practice facility at Keowee Springs. I just got fitted for new clubs
CL Sounds like you’re certainly set for this next chapter
A Heather: We’ve already had a ton of visitors because everyone wants to come to the lake. We’ve been teaching them about floating—it is a thing in South Carolina!
Josh: We also like to hike. There’s just so much to do here. If there were an eighth day and 25 hours in a day, that would make everything a lot easier. It’s been great.
Home at The Cliffs
The Cliffs at Glassy KRISTINE & EVAN ZAHN
As the leaves turn and temperatures cool, Kristine and Dr. Evan Zahn look east and count the days until they can return to The Cliffs at Glassy. The space, the serenity, the views. It’s a far cry from the pressure, hustle and bustle of their lives in Brentwood, California. As director of the heart program at Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Evan treats ill children on a daily basis (including high-profile patients, like Jimmy Kimmel’s son). The newlyweds share how they find Glassy to be the perfect escape.
CL How did your home search lead you to The Cliffs at Glassy?
A Kristine: My husband’s winding up his career and we were trying to figure out a good place to retire. We didn’t want to retire in California for various reasons. When Evan worked in Miami, he used to take his kids to Asheville for camp, and he told me we needed to look at the area.
Evan: It started with me and two buddies dropping off our boys at Camp Highlander. We love the area so much that we’d stay two to three days to bike and hike. That turned into a week, and when the kids got older, we just kept coming.
CL Evan, you grew up in New York. Kristine, what about you?
A Kristine: I’d never been to this part of the country! I’m a West Coast girl! On our very first scouting trip, I fell in love with the community right when we drove through the gate. We looked at a few houses and found the house we ended up buying.
Evan: That’s one of the many things I love about her: her impulsivity. She’s more impulsive than me. We were looking at all kinds of communities online, but the minute we came through the gate at Glassy … it was love at first sight, I must say. The house sits on 4 acres with forest all around. The neighbors have been so welcoming.
CL Do you have a favorite place in the house or on the property?
A Kristine: Definitely! We call it our “Carolina Room.” It’s the screened-in room on the side of the house and was a “musthave” for whatever home we purchased. We don’t have that on the West Coast. We love that we can enjoy it year-round since it has a fireplace.
CL How will your home at Glassy meet your family’s needs for the next chapter of your life?
A Kristine: It’s so different from Los Angeles. We have eight kids between us. We’re a blended family, so we wanted a place that was big enough for everyone to come and gather. Evan doesn’t have a firm date for retirement, so we’ve committed to coming once a month until he does.
Evan: It’s conceivable I could retire from clinical medicine in 18 months, but I built the heart program at Cedars Sinai, and I would feel bad to leave it and not have stewardship leading in the right direction. I take care of babies with heart disease.
CL That’s got to be high pressure. And Kristine, you’ve joined him in helping some young ones?
A Kristine: Yes. We also work with Mending Kids, a nonprofit that provides critical care to children in 74 different countries. We do two medical missions a year. This year, we’re going to Mauritius, off the coast of Africa. My husband does heart procedures on babies, and I’m a mission coordinator in the field, working with parents and our partners.
Evan: Nothing feels better than helping these sick children. I describe it as a warm shower for the soul.
CL Do you feel the need to relax?
A Evan: Our patients have a 99% survival rate. So, 99 out of 100 days, I’m having an amazing day. But Los Angeles is very busy, and crowded — a hectic place. The truth is, since I was a kid, I’ve always wanted to live in a less-citified environment. When we go to Glassy, within 20 minutes, I feel it in my head and all around me. It’s peaceful.
Kristine: We are so excited to start this next chapter in our life. It’s like summer camp. I got the book, “How to Be a Southern Girl,” and I’m learning all the proper sayings. See y’all soon.
OLD WORLD CHARM
The Leens blended European designs and family heirlooms to create their perfect home
WRITTEN BY JOHN JETER
Welcome to the home of Brian and Vickie Leen, whose centerpiece—the first-floor library—echoes European manors of elegance, intimacy … and mystery.
“Just imagine that same 19th-century library with a paneled door in it,” says Brian of their home at The Cliffs at Keowee Falls. “It’s the kind of thing as a kid you grew up thinking about, all the hidden passageways in some of these old buildings.”
The Leens, married 32 years, purchased their homesite at The Cliffs in 2018. Soon, they selected Gabriel Builders, a Preferred Builder at The Cliffs. Gabriel, a Greenville-based, family-owned business, began construction in August 2020. Brian and Vickie moved in June 2022 from Colorado.
Brian describes their 5,800-square-foot home, with five bedrooms and five-and-a-half baths, as “English cottage-y.” The slate chip driveway and gas lanterns add to the atmosphere.
“Inside, you’ll see Old World flair with details and symmetry used to balance the creative floor plan boasting surprises at every corner,” says Belinda and Gus Rubio, owners of Gabriel Builders.
As Brian explains, “I think the other thing that gives it that estate kind of feel is that we didn’t want the typical wide-open concept design. Vickie and I both like small spaces, we like you to continue to discover smaller places to have a more intimate conversation.”
“Interestingly, the library,” he notes, “is the largest room in the house.” Boasting three French doors, the space opens to a spectacular view of Lake Keowee.
Trips to Europe informed much of their design choices. Brian travels for his work in the specialty chemicals industry, selling ingredients for food and beverages, personal cosmetics, and agricultural products, among others. Interior flourishes include Venetian plaster, century-old Italian terracotta, and tastes of Tuscany, both say.
Vickie mentions the Bertazzoni gas stove, an Italian classic whose antique appearance belies its contemporary gourmet technology.
Then she tells of their dining room table. Made of dark wood with light wood inlays, the piece wouldn’t fit in the curved dining room. So, she asked the builders to use it as the top of their kitchen’s island.
“We didn’t want to give it up, it’s so pretty,” she says.
Vickie also has a room of her own: a writing studio on the topmost floor. To get the inspiring view she wanted from the small windows there, builders had to raise the floor 12 inches, compressing the room into a space reminiscent of the romantic garrets of Paris where American expat writers toiled in the 1920s and ’30s.
Overall, Vickie says, the home is designed to reflect their shared tastes and history together.
“Both of our families have always collected antiques,” she says, adding that she especially wanted a home that displays their objets d’art along with treasured gifts of great sentimentality.
“I want everything in my house to have meaning,” she says, adding, “We have a lot of different things coming together here, lots of different styles, and we married it all, so every time we walk in the house, it feels like home.”
BUILD WITH THE BEST
BUILDING A CUSTOM HOME AT THE CLIFFS SHOULD BE AS REWARDING OF AN EXPERIENCE AS LIVING HERE.
To that end, we’ve assembled and thoroughly vetted the finest custom home builders in the region to form The Cliffs Preferred Builder Program.
By choosing to build your custom home at The Cliffs with one of our Preferred Builders, you can be confident the firm you choose to work with has the experience and commitment necessary to understand and execute your unique vision.
Please visit cliffsliving.com/preferredbuilders for more information on this esteemed group of master builders and the specific regions they service.
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MEMBER-SUBMITTED SIGHTS OF THE CLIFFS
Janice Bond Andy Breslow
Ralph Massullo
Dave Head
Larry Adelman
Hal Hall
Anita Wilbur
Kris Russell
John Eskuri
David Cole Hal Hall
Bruce Wielicki
MEMBER-SUBMITTED SIGHTS OF THE CLIFFS
Laurie Metzger
David Cole
Andy Breslow
Alan Sawyer
Bruce Wielicki
John Eskuri
McFaddin Blanding
Andy Taffin
Elizabeth Magee
Joseph Roberson
Rene Miller
Kris Russell
Donna Mullinax
Jordan Johnson
Amy WIlde
Fred O'Toole
MEMBER-SUBMITTED PEOPLE OF THE CLIFFS
McFaddin Blanding
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Tim Callahan
Jeff Kurek
MEMBER-SUBMITTED
PEOPLE OF THE CLIFFS
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Todd Scharich
Terry White
Laura Brand
Elizabeth McWey
William Bylenga
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NURTURING NATURE
Keowee Falls member shares how life at The Cliffs shaped her conservancy work
WRITTEN
BY
EMELYN JONES
What comes to mind when you hear “tree hugger?” And what does that have to do with The Cliffs? Well, my journey to The Cliffs and my conservancy work in the Upstate are closely connected. By all accounts, I was a city girl until 2011, when I received a book listing the waterfalls of South Carolina. Living in Greenville, I discovered how close we were to waterfall country and set a goal to hike to all 31. As I checked each waterfall off the list, I rediscovered the beauty and tranquility of Oconee County, particularly Lake Keowee. Each time we crossed the Highway 11 bridge, I admired the pure water and the glorious Blue Ridge Mountains. Even though our family had spent time boating on Lake Keowee as our children grew up, my husband, Neil, and I began to see Lake Keowee as a potential place to build a weekend getaway. In 2012, we purchased our homesite at The Cliffs at Keowee Falls to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary, and in 2014, we built “The Hype,” our dream lake house. We have been full-time members in The Cliffs for the past seven years, and we love every minute.
As my hiking confidence grew and we settled into life at The Cliffs, Neil and I joined Kyle Henry and the amazing Outdoor Pursuits team on hikes including The Foothills Trail, which we tackled in sections. The Foothills Trail is 76 miles long and extends from Table Rock State Park to Oconee State Park. Completing this trail on August 20, 2018, was one of the most challenging and rewarding events in my life.
It is impossible to spend time in such stunning surroundings without feeling the need to preserve it. In 2018, I joined the board of directors for Upstate Forever, a nonprofit conservation group that focuses on balancing growth with the protection of our region’s natural resources and unique character. The Carolinas are rapidly growing, and there is great value in smart growth! In 2023, I was appointed by the Oconee County Council to the Oconee County Conservation Bank board and was elected chair in 2024. This board provides funding to landowners to protect Oconee County’s significant natural, cultural, and historic resources. People relocating to this
area are often drawn by its natural beauty and resources, and it is time well spent working to safeguard our land.
I frequently share my love of hiking and the outdoors with family, friends, and neighbors who are mutually encouraged throughout the year. For instance, David Delahunty motivated me to hike Table Rock (arguably one of the most difficult hikes in South Carolina) the week before I turned 55. He still claims we set a record time—the longest time anyone has ever taken to hike to the 3,124-foot peak and back down!
Did you know that each of the seven communities has its own hiking paths? Maps are online, and these trails are a great way to start exploring your neighborhood. I am so thankful that The Cliffs recognizes the remarkable nature around us and encourages the protection of it through nonprofits like Upstate Forever, The Nature Conservancy, and Naturland Trust. By the way, my older sister decided that the term “tree hugger” didn’t suit me, so she deemed me “Mother Nature’s press secretary.” I like that much better, don’t you?
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LAST LOOK
CCOMMUNITY IS A CENTRAL ASPECT TO LIFE at The Cliffs. Deep friendships are forged through shared experiences and a dedication to the place members call home. The members who make life at The Cliffs so special also have a heart for service. In this issue of Cliffs Living, we’ve had the opportunity to share some of the stories of how these members are giving their time and talent to worthy causes. As Mother Teresa once wrote, "It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving."
