Jackson County Community Foundation announces more than $69,000 in grants; new fund to support Southwestern Community College students
The Jackson County Community Foundation, a North Carolina Community Foundation affiliate, has announced $69,180 in grants to 25 organizations supporting the local community.
The board of advisors granted $16,680 to 11 organizations:
- $2,500 to Balsam Community Center for food pantry
- $2,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina for activity boxes
- $1,500 to Cornbread & Roses Community Counseling for cold food storage to expand food access
- $1,000 to Counseling and Psychotherapy Center of Highlands for scholarships for clients needing a sliding-scale fee structure for outpatient mental health services
- $1,180 to Courage to Grow Food Forest for Gadugi Veganic Food Forest and Agriculture Project
- $2,000 to Fishes and Loaves Food Pantry, Inc. for free food distributions
- $1,000 to Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont for Access to Girl Scouting in Jackson County
- $1,000 to Prevent Blindness North Carolina for Jackson County Vision Screening Program
- $2,500 to Rolling Start NC, Inc. for vehicles for Jackson County residents
- $1,000 to Special Olympics North Carolina for Jackson County Young Athletes Program
- $1,000 to Vecinos, Inc. Farmworker Health Program for Health Education and Community Engagement
Additionally, the Balsam Mountain Preserve Fund for Jackson County granted $52,500 to 14 organizations:
- $ 4,500 to Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina for Homebase Support
- $ 2,500 to the Blue Ridge Mountains Health Project, Inc. (doing business as Blue Ridge Free Dental Clinic) to ensure dental access in Jackson County
- $4,000 to Center for Domestic Peace for interpersonal violence shelter services
- $3,500 to Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas for Jackson County Childhood Cancer Safety Net
- $3,000 to Christmas Connection of Jackson County for general operating support
- $4,500 to Circles of Jackson County for emergency assistance
- $3,000 to Communities in Schools of North Carolina to help vulnerable students at Smokey Mountain Elementary School overcome barriers to lifelong success
- $7,000 to The Community Table for general operating support
- $1,500 to Holt Brothers Foundation for Kickoff to Courage – A Kid’s Book about Cancer
- $5,000 to HIGHTS for fuel for After School and Crisis Respite programs
- $3,000 to Jackson Neighbors in Need for cold-weather heating assistance program
- $3,000 to the Marcus Harris Foundation for Neighborfood Express Expansion
- $3,000 to Pisgah Legal Services for legal services for survivors of domestic violence and child abuse in Jackson County
- $5,000 to United Christian Ministries of Jackson County for Feed the Hungry
“Communities thrive when the nonprofits and local organizations serving them have sustained support. We’re proud to support these organizations,” said Eddie Wells, advisory board president of the Jackson County Community Foundation.
Funds for 2026 grants came from JCCF’s community grantmaking fund and the Balsam Mountain Preserve Fund. Each year, JCCF’s advisory board uses dollars from its endowment fund to make grants to eligible local organizations, including nonprofits, local governments, schools and churches.
Community members and donors gathered Thursday, Oct. 22, at Southwestern Community College to recognize grant recipients and announce a new fund in memory of the late Linda Outlaw, a longtime member of JCCF’s advisory board and a driving force behind the Balsam Mountain Preserve Fund.
The Linda Outlaw Balsam Mountain Preserve Memorial Scholarship Fund will support Southwestern Community College in providing scholarships for students from Jackson County, NC.
Visit nccommunityfoundation.org/Jackson to learn more about JCCF and its work or to make a tax-deductible donation.
Jackson County Community Foundation Advisory Board Members
Founded in 1992, JCCF is led by a local volunteer advisory board that understands community needs. In addition to Wells, board members include Mike Wade (vice president), Scott Baker (secretary), Jaret Bessette, Robert Edwards, Geoffrey Hirsh, Hank Hodge, Rob Howard, Pam Martin, Joseph Pechmann, Lane Perry and Norman West.
About the North Carolina Community Foundation
The North Carolina Community Foundation transforms the collective generosity of our donors into a permanent source of community support, with a focus on the state’s rural areas.
NCCF partners with donors and a network of affiliates to sustain over 1,300 endowments totaling over $600 million in assets. Nearly $360 million has been awarded as grants to charitable organizations and scholarships to students, creating stronger communities for generations to come.