THE 2024 GRANT AWARDS CEREMONY HAS BEEN CANCELED
The entire team at the Health Foundation is deeply saddened by the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in our community. The impact has profoundly affected so many, and we are glad to see the early stages of recovery are underway.
With this in mind, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the grant award ceremony that was scheduled for October 8 at the Village Green.
Our focus is on providing support to our community as we work towards recovery from the hurricane. Instead of the awards ceremony, we will be utilizing those resources to aid in the disaster relief efforts.
October 8 • 4 p.m.
The Village Green • 160 Frank Allen Rd • Cashiers
The Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation has awarded seventeen grants, committing over $1 million to the community in our 2024 Grant Cycle. The Health Foundation has a strong commitment to funding lasting solutions aimed at the following strategic focus areas: Health, Access to Healthcare, and Behavioral and Mental Health. The grants awarded in the 2024 cycle will help to expand needed services across western North Carolina by supporting a variety of health-related programs and services in the region.
We are excited to invite you to our awards ceremony on October 8th at 4 pm in Cashiers, NC at the Village Green to honor this year’s grant recipients!
get to know our 2024 grantees
A.W.A.K.E (Adults Working and Advocating for Kids’ Empowerment) ensures that children heal from abuse by providing sound care not only in the medical room but also throughout the entire process of coming to the Children’s Advocacy Center. The grant will help support child medical evaluation services. This program ensures 24/7 services are available to child abuse victims in Jackson County and now Swain County.
Blue Ridge Free Dental Clinic works with a variety of community agencies whose clients and patients are considered Special Populations. This grant will increase access to dental care and address health disparities by increasing the number of Partner Days available to organizations.
Funding will ensure local access to high-quality, comprehensive primary care for everyone, regardless of financial circumstances. No one is turned away. With over 10,000 patient visits to date, supporting this clinic is the Health Foundation’s most substantial community initiative.
The Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau provides essential youth services. They aim to prevent mental health issues through a range of after-school programs and support services that nurture social-emotional well-being. With the grant, the Club plans to employ Social Emotional Support Specialists at each Club location and improve trauma-informed training for all staff who work directly with youth.
Child Medical Collaborative, Inc. partners with three child advocacy centers serving five counties in WNC. This grant will fund forensic interviews and child medical evaluations by specialized medical providers employed by the Child Medical Collaborative. These medical providers focus on the overall health and well-being of the child to start the process of healing from trauma. In addition, they provide medical information for local investigators throughout the judicial process.
Chronic diseases are costly and common, but many can be prevented. In response, Clay County Governing Board has developed a realistic and intentional mitigation method through dental and cardiac health promotion. The Healthy Hearts and Smiles program grant aims to expand access to routine follow-up and preventive care services at the Clay County Health Department and Dental Clinic for individuals at risk of developing chronic diseases.
The Community Care Clinic of Franklin aims to provide quality healthcare to traditionally underserved populations, regardless of their financial situation. The grant will provide funding for expanded operating hours at the clinic, patient education for chronic illness awareness and prevention, and imaging services not currently offered.
Life Challenge of Western North Carolina offers a Christian Residential Rehabilitation Program designed to assist young women in recovery from addiction. The grant will provide funding support for their program to serve women reclaiming their lives from addiction.
The grant will allow Macon County EMS to upgrade their equipment and provide more up-to-date and technologically advanced medical care to their patients. Macon County EMS transports critically ill patients to local medical facilities as the primary 9-1-1 EMS service in Macon County. They are also called upon to transport other critically ill patients from one facility to another when a higher level of care is required.
Pisgah Legal Services’ Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention Program provides free civil legal assistance and advocacy to low-income survivors of domestic violence and child abuse in Jackson and Macon counties. The grant will provide funding for the program to continue to support these victims. Stopping interpersonal violence and supporting survivors’ independence improves health outcomes immediately and interrupts the cycle of violence for future generations.
REACH has been leading a Forensic Nurse Initiative to provide local forensic care for victims of domestic violence. Grant funding from the Health Foundation will support training nurses, establishing care with local healthcare providers, securing contracts with nurses, and providing direct services to victims of sexual assault, human trafficking, and other domestic violence. This initiative will increase local access to forensic care, mitigating trauma and ensuring victims receive timely, comprehensive support.
The grant will support the Nurse-Family Partnership, a program that serves first-time, lower-income mothers during pregnancy from 28 weeks or below until their child is two years of age. These mothers receive education and support through regular home visits from their assigned Registered Nurse.
The grant will provide funding to close the financial gap for a school therapist and school nurse at Summit Charter School. These health professionals help to ensure the physical, mental, and social-emotional well-being of the 300+ students at Summit Charter School.
The grant will provide mental health services for children in the Together We Can Do Great Things transition home. By addressing the mental health needs of foster children and families, this project aims to create a supportive and healthy community, leading to better long-term outcomes for those involved in the foster care system.
Vecinos provides direct healthcare services to underserved communities in the Western North Carolina region. This grant will provide funding to fully implement the Care Plan Program to assist their clients in managing chronic disease.
The Western North Carolina Colorectal Cancer Screening Initiative is a nonprofit program dedicated to improving colorectal cancer education, awareness, and screening access. The grant will expand colorectal cancer screening access in Western North Carolina for underserved populations.
Pacesetters, a youth service agency and outfitter for Southern Appalachia, provides youth with the opportunity to challenge themselves through unique experiential, outdoor activities that inspire participants to become more resilient, aware, and responsible community members. The grant will provide funding to address the mental health needs of at-risk youth in our communities.
Grants are our most prolific way to make an impact in our community.
Since our establishment on February 1, 2019, the Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation has awarded 135 grants, providing over $10 million to 82 organizations across our communities. These grants have had a substantial and enduring effect on the well-being of our residents, ensuring that all members of our community have greater access to necessary care. We extend our sincerest gratitude to these dedicated organizations and individuals whose unwavering commitment is changing lives for the better.
As we look toward 2025, we will continue to build healthier and stronger communities, together.
