A private, Charlotte-based foundation has given nearly $15 million to area agencies supporting the recovery effort in the wake of Tropical Storm Helene.
In a Dec. 17 release, the Duke Endowment, established in 1924 by industrialist and philanthropist James B. Duke, announced that the foundation has disbursed $14.4 million to agencies in Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina.
“We stand with our neighbors in Western North Carolina,” Robb Webb, director of the endowment’s Rural Church program area and its internal disaster relief response committee, said in a statement. “Our hearts have been broken with theirs. We want them to know that all of us ‘down the mountain’ are working diligently to help fill gaps where we can.”
In WNC, the endowment provided the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina’s Emergency and Disaster Response Fund $5 million to support nonprofits in 18 WNC counties like Homeward Bound and Mountain BizWorks in Buncombe County.
“Their support allowed us to distribute grants quickly for the critical early response and to continue to fund relief and recovery efforts across the region,” said Lindsay Hearn, a CFWNC spokesperson. “With the support of our funding partners and thousands of individual donations, CFWNC is committed to supporting nonprofits and organizations working to rebuild our region.”
Other WNC organizations receiving funding include:
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Feeding the Carolinas, $2 million to support emergency food distribution in N.C. and S.C through MANNA Food Bank, Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina and other organizations.
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Wine to Water, $1 million to provide clean drinking water in WNC.
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American Red Cross, $1 million to support food and shelter needs in N.C. and S.C.
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AMY Wellness Foundation, $1 million to support emergency shelter, food, water, mental health counseling and home repair in Avery, Mitchell and Yancey counties.
The foundation expects to provide additional support as needs evolve to long-term recovery.
“We understand that relief is only a part of the equation,” said Charles C. Lucas III, chair of the endowment’s Board of Trustees. “In the future, we’ll engage in the work of recovery and rebuilding as well.”
More: Asheville MANNA FoodBank receives $1 million grant to support Helene rebuild efforts
More: Eviction notices in hand, people flock to a North Asheville church seeking rental assistance
Jacob Biba is the county watchdog reporter at the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY network. Reach him at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Duke Foundation gives nearly $15 million for Helene recovery
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