Cullasaja Women’s Outreach announced the results of its 2024 fundraising this week.
This independent collective of 99 women focused on local philanthropy is awarding $345,000 in grants to Highlands and Cashiers area not-for-profit organizations. Since its founding in 2006, CWO has invested over $3,145,000 in area 501(c)(3) organizations striving to strengthen the community.
Funds raised this year are being awarded to 29 local entities through a grants process jointly chaired by Lindy Colson Harrison, Jo Hill, and Dawn Van Fleet. Individual awards range from $2,500 to $28,900.
Grant recipients for 2024 include: Big Brothers Big Sisters; Boys and Girls Club of the Plateau; Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society; Cashiers Historical Society; the Community Care Clinic of Highlands-Cashiers; Counseling & Psychotherapy Center of Highlands; Fishes and Loaves; Friends of the Albert Carlton Library; Friends of Panthertown; Girls on the Run; Hampton Pre-School and Early Learning Center; Highlands Biological Foundation; Highlands Cashiers Chamber Music; Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust; Highlands-Cashiers Players; Highlands Community Child Development Center; Highlands Emergency Council; Highlands Hurricane Swim team; Highlands Historical Society; Hudson Library; International Friendship Center Food Pantry; Junior Appalachian Musicians® Blue Ridge; The Literacy Council of Highlands, Inc.; Mountain Theatre Company; Peggy Crosby Community Service Center; Performing Arts Center Educational Theater Program; Pisgah Legal Services; The Bascom; and the Summit Charter School.
Forty-two percent of CWO grants this year support in-school, after-school, and summer educational programs for local children. Each program funded strives to ensure academic success, whether promoting literacy or math comprehension, study of the physical or natural sciences, or participation in the arts. Moreover, these educational programs work to build self-esteem, personal responsibility, and positive values in young lives.
“Focusing our grants on local educational and mentoring programs opens new windows of opportunity for our children,” said Dawn Van Fleet. “There is nothing more rewarding than helping a child reach their potential from the earliest of learning to young adulthood.”
Thirty-nine percent of dollars granted this year focus on organizations dedicated to providing safety-net health and humanitarian services. These grants recognize the needs of the underinsured, underprivileged, and hard-working people who provide many of our services here on the Plateau.
“The need for health care, diagnostic testing and access to critical social services is very real,” said Jo Hill. “During our site visits, our eyes have been opened to the many unmet needs of those around us. We are proud to stand behind local organizations and their volunteers, who provide access to care, as well as those who help alleviate food insecurity and who address the most basic of needs, such as heating fuel or warm clothing in the winter.”
“The generosity of our members has also allowed us to support 2024 projects that enhance our towns’ offerings,” remarked Lindy Colson Harrison. “From improvements to our community spaces to our historical societies, CWO grants are helping Highlands-Cashiers nonprofits move forward on projects that will benefit all.”
“For the past 18 years, Cullasaja Women’s Outreach has advocated local philanthropy and community involvement,” reflected Margaret Eichman, executive director. “Supporting people and programs dedicated to making a positive difference in our corner of the world, inspires and changes all involved. As it has been said: Make a difference. Help change the world. Change yourself…the benefits accrue to all.”
Partnering with the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, CWO established a CFWNC-CWO Charities fund, which enables the group to raise funds each summer and award them through a judicious grants process to make a meaningful difference in the local community. To date, Cullasaja Women’s Outreach has assisted over forty-three local not-for-profit and charitable organizations in their efforts to enhance the community.