Endowment grows hope in eastern Haywood County, with $62,000 in grants awarded so far this year
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May 15, 2023
NCCF News
The Cruso Endowment, a charitable fund at the North Carolina Community Foundation that benefits the eastern Haywood County community, is offering support to a region that continues to face challenges.
The endowment, established from the estate of David and Irene Smathers, has already distributed over $62,000 this year to charitable programs and organizations with distributions ongoing. Since 1996, it has granted nearly $700,000 to organizations dedicated to supporting community members and improving quality of life in eastern Haywood County, including nearly $127,000 in 2022.
Now, with the Canton millclosure underway, the support is especially needed. The mill, owned by Pactiv Evergreen, employed more than 1,200 people and has been in operation since 1908.
“We are especially happy to be in a position to make the grant for improvements to our town following Evergreen's mill closure announcement,” said Cruso fund advisor Pat Smathers. “We remain confident in our community and look forward to pushing forward on projects and being a part of what will surely be transitional changes for Canton.”
New projects aim to help aid the transition to Canton’s next chapter by supporting beautification and recreation in the town. Projects already funded in 2023 include:
$7,500 to the town of Canton in partnership with Mill Town Farmer’s Market in Sorrells St. Park.
$4,350 to the Community Kitchen for general operating support
$23,000 to the Pigeon River Garden Club for a community orchard and flagpole garden
$20,000 to Pisgah High School for improvements and repairs to the football stadium, a hub for sporting, recreation, entertainment in the Canton and Haywood County community
“We cannot thank [the Cruso Endowment] enough for their continued support to make Canton and Haywood County a better place to live, work and play,” said Canton Town Manager Nick Scheuer.
As Canton looks to its next chapter, the Cruso Endowment will remain a strong root of hope and support for the community.
“The purpose of the endowment is to meet the needs of the community, and now that is even more important,” said Smathers. “We remain committed to collaborating with the town of Canton, Pisgah High School and many other local nonprofits to support and improve our community.”
{"tinyMCE_dummy":"","title":"Endowment grows hope in eastern Haywood County, with $62,000 in grants awarded so far this year","url":"\/news\/endowment-grows-hope-in-eastern-haywood-county-with-62000-in-grants-awarded-so-far-this-year","meta":{"title":"","description":"","excludeFromSitemap":"No"},"ordinal":999,"content":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The <\/span><a href=\"\/list-of-funds\/cruso-endowment\"><span data-contrast=\"none\"><span data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">Cruso Endowment<\/span><\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, a charitable fund at the North Carolina Community Foundation that benefits the eastern Haywood County community, is offering support to a region that continues to face challenges.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":259}\"> <\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The endowment, <\/span><a href=\"\/news\/cruso-endowment-to-support-haywood-county-for-generations-to-come\"><span data-contrast=\"none\"><span data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">established from the estate of David and Irene Smathers<\/span><\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, has already distributed over <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">$62,000<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> this year to charitable programs and organizations with distributions ongoing. Since 1996, it has granted <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">nearly $700,000<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> to organizations dedicated to supporting community members and improving quality of life in eastern Haywood County, including nearly <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">$127,000 in 2022.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":259}\"> <\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><a href=\"\/blog\/haywood-county-resilience-boosted-by-cruso-endowment\"><span data-contrast=\"none\"><span data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">Recent projects<\/span><\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> helped boost community resilience in the wake of devastating floods and damage due to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizen-times.com\/story\/entertainment\/2021\/12\/28\/victims-tropical-depression-fred-reflect-life-after-storm-flood\/9008438002\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\"><span data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">Tr<\/span><span data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">opical Storm Fred in 2021<\/span><\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":259}\"> <\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Now, with the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.themountaineer.com\/canton-paper-mill-to-close-by-summer\/article_43c6e9e8-bc72-11ed-a6b9-b30784569b10.html\"><span data-contrast=\"none\"><span data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">Canton mill<\/span> <span data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">closure<\/span><\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> underway, the support is especially needed. The mill, owned by Pactiv Evergreen, employed more than 1,200 people and has been in operation since 1908.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":259}\"> <\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">“We are especially happy to be in a position to make the grant for improvements to our town following Evergreen's mill closure announcement,” said Cruso fund advisor Pat Smathers. “We remain confident in our community and look forward to pushing forward on projects and being a part of what will surely be transitional changes for Canton.” <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":259}\"> <\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">New projects aim to help aid the transition to Canton’s next chapter by supporting beautification and recreation in the town. Projects already funded in 2023 include: <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":259}\"> <\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">$7,500 to the town of Canton in partnership with Mill Town Farmer’s Market in Sorrells St. Park.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":259}\"> <\/span><\/li>\r\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">$4,350 to the Community Kitchen for general operating support<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":259}\"> <\/span><\/li>\r\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">$23,000 to the Pigeon River Garden Club for a community orchard and flagpole garden<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":259}\"> <\/span><\/li>\r\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">$20,000 to Pisgah High School for improvements and repairs to the football stadium, a hub for sporting, recreation, entertainment in the Canton and Haywood County community<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":259}\"> <\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">“We cannot thank [the Cruso Endowment] enough for their continued support to make Canton and Haywood County a better place to live, work and play,” said Canton Town Manager Nick Scheuer.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":259}\"> <\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As Canton looks to its next chapter, the Cruso Endowment will remain a strong root of hope and support for the community. <\/span> <br \/> <br \/><span data-contrast=\"auto\">“The purpose of the endowment is to meet the needs of the community, and now that is even more important,” said Smathers. “We remain committed to collaborating with the town of Canton, Pisgah High School and many other local nonprofits to support and improve our community.”<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559685":0,"335559737":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":259}\"> <\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Media Contact:<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":259}\"> <br \/><\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Hannah Hogewood, NCCF Marketing & Communications Manager<\/span> <br \/><span data-contrast=\"auto\">(919) 256-6901<\/span> <br \/><a href=\"mailto:hhogewood@nccommunityfoundation.org\"><span data-contrast=\"none\"><span data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">hhogewood@nccommunityfoundation.org<\/span><\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}\"> <\/span><\/p>","excerpt":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The <\/span><a href=\"\/list-of-funds\/cruso-endowment\"><span data-contrast=\"none\"><span data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">Cruso Endowment<\/span><\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, a charitable fund at the North Carolina Community Foundation that benefits the eastern Haywood County community, is offering support to a region that continues to face challenges.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":259}\"> <\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The endowment, <\/span><a href=\"\/news\/cruso-endowment-to-support-haywood-county-for-generations-to-come\"><span data-contrast=\"none\"><span data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">established from the estate of David and Irene Smathers<\/span><\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, has already distributed over <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">$62,000<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> this year to charitable programs and organizations with distributions ongoing. Since 1996, it has granted <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">nearly $700,000<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> to organizations dedicated to supporting community members and improving quality of life in eastern Haywood County, including nearly <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">$127,000 in 2022.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":259}\"> <\/span><\/p>","media":0,"custom":{"masthead":{"title":"","counties":"","affiliate_logo":"","sub_text":"","background_image":"","caption":""},"latest_blog":{"post":""},"post_image":{"image":"https:\/\/nmcdn.io\/e186d21f8c7946a19faed23c3da2f0da\/7868d48393ef4e3bb7bca8cdf7bc2f20\/files\/the-community-kitchen-1--1-.jpg"},"social_sharing":{"share_image":""},"the_latest":{"show_latest_posts_by":""}},"inMenu":false,"visibleTo":"Everyone","publishedAt":1684154400,"orderChildrenBy":"ordinal","enableComments":false,"permission":"read","id":"3fe3320f8bb04ccf9d816178aac0bcfd","parent":"31bc018cb0694068b20999237c54f462","node":101481,"created":1683833972,"modified":1683835906,"fresh":1,"type":"post","children":{},"relations":{"category":[{"tinyMCE_dummy":"","title":"NCCF News","url":"\/categories\/nccf-news","meta":{"title":"","description":"","excludeFromSitemap":"No"},"ordinal":999,"content":"","excerpt":"","media":"0","inMenu":false,"visibleTo":"Everyone","publishedAt":1536248733,"source":null,"orderChildrenBy":"","id":"1b78a2294942490a941757f68891b9dd","parent":"9fd09d3a1e4f4302a38c86e00a22828b","node":20907,"created":1536248733,"modified":1536248733,"fresh":1,"type":"f9a6b2b005cb46ed8778f11c37e4d3a5","children":{}}]}}