AmeriCorps Member teaching Pond Life to Gordon Center group. Photo courtesy of Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust.
(October 2019) The Highlands Community Fund is pleased to announce ten grants totaling $62,490 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 $2,500 for the Highlands Community Education and Outreach Initiative offering in-house and off-site educational arts opportunities for all and advocating for enhanced quality of life.
Blue Ridge Mountains Health Project was awarded $8,500 to increase free preventive dental services and dental health education for low-income residents of the Highlands area.
Community Care Clinic of Highlands-Cashiers was awarded $9,740 to increase free health care services for uninsured, low-income residents, primarily from southern Macon and southern Jackson counties.
Counseling and Psychotherapy Center of Highlands was awarded $3,750 to supplement fees paid by individuals, families and couples.
Gordon Center for Children was awarded $8,500 to offset the cost of supervision, snacks and supplies during its free afterschool program.
Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust was awarded $1,500 to support its Kids in Nature programs.
Highlands Community Child Development Center was awarded $8,500 to purchase instructional supplies and install coded door locks that allow teachers quick entry to locked spaces.
Literacy Council of Highlands was awarded $8,500 for its free afterschool programs providing students with individualized help from instructors trained to work with any learning disability, enhancing the potential for success for students.
Pisgah Legal Services was awarded $8,500 to expand free civil legal assistance and advocacy to low-income people who live and work in and around Highlands.
REACH of Macon County was awarded $2,500 to implement a 24-hour crisis textline for victims of domestic, sexual violence and human trafficking and to promote the availability of services.
“Through the support of friends and neighbors, the Endowment has been able to award grants to a wide variety of nonprofits and projects over the last 23 years,” said Advisory Board Chair Jim Landon. “We are very grateful to everyone who has helped to build a permanent charitable resource and to meet this milestone for the Highlands region. We always welcome additional gifts that enable us to support more local programs with local dollars.”
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 grants totaling more than $929,000. 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, Melissa Delany, Ann Klamon, Jim Landon (Chair), George Manning, Jeff Nixon, Diane Riddle, Jim Stokes, Derek Taylor, Cindy Trevathan and Jeff Weller.
For additional information about the Highlands Community Fund, contact Advisory Board Chair Jim Landon at 404-434-0932.