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Rise, Shine and Dance
Issue: July 2023
Highlands Community Fund will be staging its immensely popular 2023 Rise and Shine celebration at 6:00 P.M.Sunday, July 30, at the Cullasaja Club. Tickets can be purchased at the Highlandscommunityfund.org – look for the Big Blue Button.
The 2023 Rise and Shine Celebration will be held at the Cullasaja Club at 6:00 P.M. Sunday, July 30. Though tickets have already be sent out, you can still buy tickets at highlandscommunityfund.org.
Those attending can expect barbecue, music by the Caribbean Cowboys and, of course, dancing.
Highlands is beyond blessed with the myriad of nonprofits that support our community.
A brief recap of local history will show just how vital this fundraiser is to the health of this corner of the Southern Appalachians.
Life on the Plateau wouldn’t be the same without the generous support of groups like Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Literacy Council of Highlands and the Highlands Cashiers Land Trust. The services of these and other local nonprofits are invaluable, but they too require support through funding.
Since 1996, the Highlands Community Fund has been answering that call.
Supported by the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, the Highlands Community Fund relies on the generosity of sponsors and donors to grow the core of the fund. Those donations are wisely invested and the earnings are given back to the community in the form of grants. The mission of the Fund is to be an ongoing resource. Its focus is upon charities that assist people in need, but other grants support the arts and environmental conservation. Since its inception, the Highlands Community Fund has given over $800,000 in grants back to the community.
Gayle Cummings, a Highlands Community Fund board member, decided that everyone needs a good Gala. She thought it would be an effective way to raise money for the Community Fund. Gayle’s definition of a good party was one with good music, good food, and adult beverages, in a nice location. Gayle had successfully raised funds through Galas for the Highlands Community Child Development Center, in earlier years, and knew how to throw a party.
The first Rise and Shine generated over $90,000 and after expenses netted approximately $80,000 for the Community Fund endowment.
Rise and Shine has evolved over time and in the intervening years it has been held at The Bascom and most recently the Cullasaja Club, which graciously made its space available. Rise and Shine has raised over $750,000 for the endowment for the Highlands Community Fund and over the last 10 years the Highlands Community Fund has distributed $728,410 to 23 nonprofits on the Plateau.
