In the wake of Hurricane Helene, Western North Carolina native and Wicked Weed Brewing employee Rachel Dudasik opened a CFWNC donor advised fund to ensure ongoing support for her home community. The WNC Long Haul - Recovery and Resilience Fund will support key areas impacted by the storm, including the arts and culture, local businesses and support for individuals.
“Immediately following Helene, support poured in from all directions, but as the spotlight fades, we’ll still need resources,” said Dudasik. “This fund is about ensuring that WNC can recover and preserve what makes us special—the people, the culture, the craft. The local arts and music communities, both cornerstones of our culture and economy, have been among the hardest hit.”
Organized to award grants at specific milestones, funding thus far has supported the Community Housing Coalition of Madison County, Arts AVL, rent relief through Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, Madison County Arts Council, RADA Foundation, Mountain BizWorks, Asheville Independent Arts and Music, and the Footprint project. Plans call for additional grants to be distributed at 1 year and 3 years post-storm.
With over a decade of nonprofit experience, Dudasik recognized CFWNC as the right partner. “It didn’t make sense to create a new 501(c)(3) with so many vital organizations needing support now,” she explained. “My goal was to create a ‘savings account’ for groups that will need a boost in the future. CFWNC is transparent and trusted.”
Dudasik’s family history and extensive community involvement have deeply influenced her approach. Born and raised in Marshall, Dudasik guides Wicked Weed’s community engagement and giving and serves as part of the management team for AVLFest, a local music festival. This blend of professional and personal investment in WNC’s resilience shaped her vision for the fund. Her mother, Leigh Pettus, who has dedicated over thirty years to the nonprofit sector in this region and was deployed with FEMA to New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, reinforced Rachel’s commitment to the value of long-term investments for meaningful recovery.
With damages estimated in the billions, the need for long-term support is clear. The WNC Long Haul Fund seeks to offer continuity when immediate resources wane, prioritizing funding for cultural resilience and local business sustainability.