(October 2018) The Highlands Community Fund is pleased to announce $58,000 in grants to local nonprofit organizations supporting programs benefitting the Highlands community and residents. The Mildred Miller Fort Charitable Fund also supports grantmaking in Highlands.
The Bascom was awarded $2,000 for its Community Outreach and Education Initiative.
Blue Ridge Mountains Health Project, Inc. was awarded $8,500 for equipment and personnel expenses for its Hygiene Program.
Community Care Clinic of Highlands-Cashiers, Inc. was awarded $8,500 to expand chronic disease management services.
Counseling and Psychotherapy Center of Highlands was awarded $2,500 for mental health services to low-income and disadvantaged residents of Macon and Jackson counties.
Gordon Center for Children, Inc. was awarded $8,500 for its childcare, preschool and afterschool programs.
Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust was awarded $3,000 for its Kids in Nature environmental education programs.
Highlands Community Child Development Center was awarded $8,500 to replace its phone system, upgrade its childcare management software, purchase teaching tools and supplies for new nursery and other classrooms and add an electronic code lock to the exterior door of the nursery.
The Hudson Library of Highlands, NC, Inc. was awarded $4,000 to enhance the library's children's area.
Literacy Council of Highlands, Inc. was awarded $5,000 for two after-school programs: After-School Enrichment (kindergarten through fifth grade) and Homework Helpers (sixth to twelfth grade).
ML Performing Arts Center was awarded $5,000 for its PAC Youth Theater Program that serves schools in Highlands and Cashiers.
REACH of Macon County was awarded $2,500 for outreach efforts to educate local community members about REACH's new mobile crisis team initiative.
"Through the generous gifts of friends and neighbors, we are pleased to support our local nonprofits," said Advisory Board Chair Jim Landon. "We are committed to Highlands and to building a permanent charitable resource that uses local dollars to address local needs."
The Highlands Community Fund is a permanently endowed fund designed to meet local needs. Tax-deductible gifts are added to the principal, which is preserved and invested. The returns are used to make grants to support nonprofits in Highlands. Since 1996, the Highlands Community Fund, in partnership with CFWNC, has awarded 125 grants to 30 organizations totaling more than $809,000. Organizations interested in applying to the Highlands Community Fund should review the guidelines and application instructions.
To make a tax-deductible contribution to the Fund, donate online or by mail to Highlands Community Fund, P.O. Box 1150, Highlands, NC 28741-1150. Checks should be made payable to CFWNC, noting Highlands Community Fund in the memo line. Contributions of any size are welcome and will enable the Fund to support more programs with local dollars.
The local volunteer Advisory Board works to raise awareness of the Highlands Community Fund and to build assets for the future. These board members are: Kathy Bowman, Caroline Cook, Gayle Cummings, Amanda Gregory, Ann Klamon, Jim Landon (Chair), Jeff Nixon, Diane Riddle, Jim Stokes, Cindy Trevathan, John Viani and Jeff Weller.