Making a Real Difference

Written By: Margaret Eichman | Issue: 2016/11 - November

It’s an uplifting, million-dollar story…uplifting, outreaching, inspiring, and yet, very down-to-earth.  

The 10-year history of Cullasaja Women’s Outreach is an amazing one.  This grassroots collective, formed in 2006, believed that together they could make a positive difference in the local community.  What they have accomplished is incredible.  Since its founding, Cullasaja Women’s Outreach has invested over $1,030,000 in Highlands and Cashiers area not-for-profit organizations.

“Over the years, we have found so many wonderful people investing their time and talents to strengthen our community,” noted founding member Cris Hayes.  “The range of organizations and services has expanded, focusing on literacy, education, health, hunger and healing.  The programs offered clearly embrace our goal of inspiring, encouraging, and improving the life experiences of all here on the plateau.”

The past summer, this independent collective of women — now 80 members strong — contributed a record-breaking $177,850 to local area charities and non-profits through their CWO Charities Fund. Monies raised were awarded to organizations in the Highlands-Cashiers area through a sophisticated grants process led by Grant Co-Chairs Joy Abney and Lindy Colson.  Grant recipients included: Blue Ridge School; the Blue Ridge Mountains Health Project (Free Dental Clinic); Boys and Girls Club of the Plateau; Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society; the Center for Life Enrichment; Community Care Clinic of Highlands-Cashiers; Counseling & Psychotherapy Center of Highlands; Fishes & Loaves Food Pantry; Friends of Founders Park; The Gathering Table; Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival; Highlands Community Child Development Center; Highlands Emergency Council; Highlands Historical Society; Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust; Highlands Playhouse; Hudson Library; International Friendship Center Food Pantry; Literacy Council of Highlands; Martin-Lipscomb Performing Arts Center; the Peggy Crosby Service Center; and the Summit Charter School.

“The organizations we support strive daily to make a difference in people’s lives,” noted Executive Director Frazer McCrorey. 

“The teachers, doctors, staff, and volunteers of local not-for-profits are truly our first-responders,” added Margaret Eichman, her counterpart.  “Cullasaja Women’s Outreach hopes that, by its example, everyone will get behind these folks – to help and encourage them in whatever way possible.  They are working to strengthen the fiber and the future of our community.  That’s worth far more than a million dollars…it is priceless.”  

Partnering with the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, CWO established a CFWNC-CWO Charities Fund, which enables the group to raise funds and award them through a sophisticated grants process to make a meaningful difference in the local community.