Watauga County Community Foundation awards more than $39,000 in grants

June 13, 2024 – The Watauga County Community Foundation, a North Carolina Community Foundation affiliate, has awarded $39,480 in grants to organizations supporting the local community.

The board of advisors granted:

• $1,500 to Appalachian Theatre of the High Country for AppTheatre: Our Community’s Theatre
• $3,000 to Back 2 School Festival for general operating support
• $3,000 to Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture for general operating support
• $500 to Carolina Cross Section for CCC access in Watauga County
• $1,000 to Casting Bread to support feeding the high country
• $2,500 to Community Care Clinic (CCClinic, Inc.) to support clinical staff
• $2,500 to F.A.R.M. Café, Inc. for F.A.R.M. Café pay-what-you-can community kitchen
• $500 to High Country Caregiver Foundation for Kinship Navigation
• $2,000 to Hospitality House of Northwest North Carolina for remote food lockers
• $3,000 to Hunger and Health Coalition for general operating support for food and medication provision services
• $2,500 to Immigrant Connection of the High Country for immigration legal services – Watauga
• $540 to Mediation & Restorative Justice Center for recovery support and supplies
• $3,000 to Mountain Alliance for School’s Out academic enrichment program in Watauga County
• $1,500 to New River Conservancy for building healthier and more engaged communities through water quality improvement on North America’s oldest river: the New River Watershed in Ashe, Alleghany and Watauga counties
• $3,000 to Oasis, Inc. for Emergency Shelter Program: accessible technology
• $2,000 to Quiet Givers for general operating support
• $1,000 to Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC for Watauga County partner agency rural delivery fees
• $2,000 to The Children’s Playhouse for creating an environment of support and learning at The Children’s Playhouse
• $1,000 to W.A.M.Y. Community Action for W.A.M.Y.’s housing repair program – Watauga County
• $1,000 to Watauga County Habitat for Humanity for a safe home for a family in need
• $1,940 to Watauga County Parks and Recreation for Special Olympics
• $500 to Watauga Housing Council for Getting to Know our Neighbor’s Housing Needs

“This is a prime example of neighbors helping neighbors,” said Brad Moretz, advisory board president of the Watauga County Community Foundation. “Funds donated by members of the community stay in the community.”

Funds for 2024 grants came from WCCF’s community grantmaking fund, the Armfield and Rachel Rivers Coffey Memorial Fund, the High Country Recreation Endowment and the Dr. Don Saunders Endowment. Each year, WCCF’s local volunteer advisory board uses dollars from its endowment funds to make grants to eligible local organizations, including nonprofits, local governments, schools and churches.

Visit nccommunityfoundation.org/watauga to learn more about WCCF and its work in the community or make a tax-deductible donation. For information about WCCF, contact the western region community leadership officer.

Watauga County Community Foundation Advisory Board Members
Advisory board members live and work in Watauga County, positioning them to strategically leverage resources, meet local needs and access opportunities. In addition to Moretz, board members include Ryan Postlethwait (vice president), John Ritter (secretary), Mindy Coatney, Scott Elliott, Joe Furman, Dave Harman, Jake Hutchison, Stephen Poulos and Lane Robinson.