Myrle Grate, Executive Director and Rhonda Oakley, Director of Operations
In these mountains that we call home, people take care of one another.
When a neighbor falls ill, loses a job, struggles to access childcare, or needs support during a difficult season, communities across the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau have a long history of stepping forward to help. It’s one of the things that makes this place so special.
Yet behind the beauty of our mountains and the strength of our communities, significant needs continue to exist.
For many families across the six westernmost counties of North Carolina, access to healthcare, mental health services, affordable childcare, transportation, food assistance, and other essential resources remains a daily challenge. Geographic isolation, workforce shortages, rising costs, and limited access to services can create barriers that are difficult for individuals and families to overcome on their own.
The organizations working to meet these needs are often stretched thin. Their missions are critical, their teams are dedicated, and the demand for their services continues to grow.
The requests that we reviewed during this year’s grant cycle provided a powerful reminder of both the challenges facing our region and the incredible work being done to address them.
In our most recent grant cycle, Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation received 39 grant applications requesting more than $2.5 million in funding to support programs and services throughout our region.
Behind every application is a story: A child receiving developmental support during their earliest years. A senior gaining access to healthcare close to home. A patient receiving mental health services they might not otherwise be able to afford. A nonprofit working tirelessly to fill a gap that no one else can.
The requests we receive each year represent far more than funding needs. They represent real people, real challenges, and real opportunities to strengthen the health and well-being of our communities.
Since its founding, Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation has worked to bridge these gaps by investing in organizations that are creating meaningful, measurable impact throughout Western North Carolina.
Last year alone, the Foundation awarded $1.8 million in grants supporting organizations serving residents across Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties.
These investments help make possible everything from primary care access and early childhood education to crisis aintervention, mental health support, and programs that improve quality of life for thousands of individuals and families.
The reality is that no single organization can solve every challenge our communities face. But together, we can make meaningful progress.
When donors invest in Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation, they are investing in a network of trusted partners working every day to improve lives across our region. Through collaboration, strategic grantmaking, and a shared commitment to community wellbeing, those investments become opportunities for healthier families, stronger communities, and brighter futures.
The need is real. The work is ongoing.
And thanks to the generosity of those who care deeply about this place and the people who call it home, hope continues to grow across our mountain communities.
Together, we are helping bridge the gap between need and opportunity – one investment, one partnership, and one life at a time.
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