BOONE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION RECEIVES $250,000 GIFT FROM THE DUKE ENDOWMENT FOR HURRICANE HELENE RECOVERY

BOONE, NC – In a sign of its commitment to ongoing Hurricane Helene relief efforts in North Carolina and South Carolina, The Duke Endowment has provided a $250,000 gift to the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation for its business and community stabilization efforts.

This gift brings the Chamber Foundation’s fundraising effort to more than $600,000 raised since late September 2024.

"This generous gift from The Duke Endowment will help us provide necessary support for the struggling business community, the families they impact, while working to provide some stability for the High Country community during a difficult time," said David Jackson, President/CEO of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. “This gift will help us allocate dollars to touch as many different aspects of our community as possible. While we wait for our State and Federal government agencies to adopt the necessary storm relief our community desperately needs, we are touched that individuals and organizations across North Carolina continue to come to our aid.”

The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation remains focused on helping with community and business relief in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene’s impact on the High Country. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization has centered its focus on the current disaster grant program and will continue to raise and distribute funds locally to businesses and community efforts as additional needs are assessed throughout Watauga County. 

For its initial project, the Chamber Foundation partnered with The Children’s Council of Watauga County and local licensed early childhood development centers and in-home care providers to cover more than $206,000 in October tuition payments. Earlier this week, the Chamber Foundation announced Hope for the High Country, a Hurricane Helene Business Resiliency Disaster Grant for businesses in Watauga, Ashe and Avery counties.

For more information on the challenge match or to donate, please visit www.boonechamber.com/foundation or contact Ethan Dodson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

**About the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation**   

The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Commission, Inc. (BACC EDC, Inc), also known as the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation, is a 501(c)(3) organization created to solicit, manage, and distribute funds and resources to further the development and welfare of the Boone, N.C. and Watauga County, N.C., area through activities which are exclusively charitable, educational, or scientific. 

**About The Duke Endowment**

Based in Charlotte and established in 1924 by industrialist and philanthropist James B. Duke, The Duke Endowment is a private foundation that strengthens communities in North Carolina and South Carolina by nurturing children, promoting health, educating minds and enriching spirits. Since its founding, it has distributed $4.8 billion in grants. The Endowment shares a name with Duke University and Duke Energy, but all are separate organizations.