(April 2026) – The Fund for Haywood County with the Jane Cole Endowment Fund, J. Aaron and Adora H. Prevost Endowment Fund, and the Mib and Phil Medford Endowment Fund awarded twelve grants totaling $76,055 in a recent grant cycle. Since 1994, The Fund for Haywood County, in partnership with The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (CFWNC), has awarded grants totaling $1,559,691.
“Supporting local nonprofits is key to helping our community address the needs of our friends and neighbors,” said Advisory Board Chair Chris Kuhlman. “These grants are funded from charitable endowments that have been built over time by contributions from people who care about Haywood County. They address food insecurity, library improvements, services for people with disabilities, the needs of students, and much more. Demand for services remains high, and we are honored to partner with these effective organizations.”
The 2026 grants are:
$4,900 to Camp Ability to provide summer field trip opportunities for youth with disabilities.
$3,500 to Clothes To Kids of Haywood County to support operations so that donations can be directed toward purchasing clothes for youth.
$6,250 to The Community Kitchen to purchase food and supplies for its client-choice pantry.
$6,250 to First United Methodist Church of Waynesville for its Friendship House to distribute nutritious foods from local producers and purchase farming supplies for an afterschool community garden program.
$7,500 to Haywood Christian Ministry for a food locker program that allows households to order healthy food online for pickup at rural locations throughout the county.
$3,000 to Haywood Community College to enhance a nature playscape at its childcare and preschool facility in Clyde.
$4,585 to Haywood Community Learning Center to connect high school students to local employers and career experiences.
$12,973 to Haywood County Public Library from the Mib and Phil Medford Endowment Fundfor the addition of public amenities and hardscape improvements on library grounds.
$6,402 to Haywood Vocational Opportunities for a summer program that supports youth with disabilities by teaching essential job and everyday living skills and personal development strategies.
$7,500 to KARE (Kids Advocacy Resource Effort) for operational costs and maintenance for specialized equipment needed to support programs for children and families affected by abuse.
$5,695 to MemoryCare to purchase tools and equipment to enhance and improve client visits at its Waynesville location.
$7,500 to The Thirtieth Judicial District Domestic Violence - Sexual Assault Alliance Kitchen for therapeutic and advocacy services for children who have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, and other violent crimes.
In 1994, local residents established The Fund for Haywood County as a permanent charitable endowment to meet local needs. Gifts added to the Fund’s principal are preserved and invested, while grants from the Fund support nonprofits in Haywood County. To make a tax-deductible contribution, donate online or by mail c/o CFWNC, 4 Vanderbilt Park Drive, Suite 300, Asheville NC 28803. Make checks payable to CFWNC, noting “The Fund for Haywood County” in the memo line. Contributions of any size are welcome.
The local volunteer Advisory Board includes: Chair Chris Kuhlman, Vice Chair Bill Cole, Secretary Amy C. Spivey, Angela Bleckley, Kim Ferguson, Susan Hooper, Travis Howard, Joan Kennedy, Jeff Lee, Kristina Proctor, Greg Shuping, and Eric Yarrington.
For more information about The Fund for Haywood County, please contact Advisory Board Chair Chris Kuhlman at chris@theprinthaus.com.