NEWS
CFF Awards $3.5 Million to 38 Local Nonprofits
Projects target elder care, wellness and youth development
Forest City, N.C. - June 21, 2024 - The Carolina Foothills Foundation (CFF) awarded $3.5 million in grants to 38 nonprofit organizations in Polk and Rutherford counties this June as part of the foundation’s annual grant cycle.
“We are honored to support our community in addressing critical needs through these grants. The dedication of our local nonprofits in caring for our communities is truly inspiring. We are also deeply grateful for the diligent efforts of our foundation’s volunteer board, who carefully review each application to ensure that these funds are used effectively,” said CFF President & CEO Rita Burch.
Per the grant criteria, the selected nonprofits must focus on the areas of elder care, wellness, or youth development. Of the grants awarded to 38 organizations in Polk and Rutherford counties, 76% of the funds will serve the elderly, including CFF’s Carolina Foothills Eldercare. Youth development grants totaled 15% of overall funds awarded and wellness grants totaled 9%.
The 2024 nonprofit recipients are as follows:
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Bills Creek Community Center: $25,000 for Medical Supply Closet
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Carolina Foothills Eldercare: $2 million for eldercare home care
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Champions for Wildlife: $15,000 for Wild for Art program
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City of Saluda North Carolina: $25,000 for “Reach for the Top
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Hands of Hope for Life: $77,500 for main office repair/transition housing project
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Hickory Nut Gorge Olympiad: $5,000 for Hickory Nut Gorge Olympiad
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Kidsenses Children's Interactive Museum: $175,000 for completing The FACTORY, KidSenses Museum’s Teen Learning Center
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Laurel Lake Music Society Inc.: $15,000 for summer camp fee
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Leaders & Entrepreneurs for the Advancement & Promotion of Youth: $12,000 for leadership development exposure and education
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Martin Luther Jr. King Committee of New Hope: $9,000 for healthy foods for seniors
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Mary B. Mullen Bible Camp Inc.: $25,000 for The Store House
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Mosaic Hope: $100,000 for Mosaic House Renovation
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New Beginning Soup Kitchen: $15,000 for New Beginnings Soup Kitchen
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North Carolina State University: $17,500 for Rutherford County 4-H Youth Development Program
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Out of the Ashes Inc.: $190,680 for sponsorships for 60+
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Pilgrims Pathway House of Refuge: $17,000 for men's home appliance updates
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Pisgah Legal Services: $10,000 for Elder Law Program
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Polk County Council on Aging Inc.: $70,000 for senior nutrition
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Polk County Film Initiative Inc.: $25,000 for Hands On Media Arts for Youth
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Polk County Public Libraries: $7,000 for a multisensory collection to support early literacy
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Polk County YMCA: $250,000 for Polk County YMCA Facility
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Roseland Community Center Inc.: $10,000 for RISE! Cultural Enhancements
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Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation Inc.: $24,500 for Project STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, & Mathematics)
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Rutherford Outdoor Coalition: $15,000 for Youth & Senior Outdoor Adventure Programs
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Rutherford Lifeservices Inc .: $40,000 for elder care transportation
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Safe Kids Rutherford County Inc.: $10,000 for traumatic injury prevention and education
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Saluda Community Land Trust Inc.: $15,000 for Henry's Nature Center
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Saluda Pop-Up Pantry: $37,500 for Farm to Neighbor Program
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South Mountains Christian Youth Camp: $49,850 for a new multipurpose building freezer and equipment
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Special Olympics North Carolina Inc.: $10,000 for Special Olympics Health
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St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church: $21,000 for St. Gabriel's "Jericho Road" Soup Kitchen Renovation
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St. Luke Cme Church Inc.: $20,000 for Reigniting Tryon’s Eastside Youth
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Throwing Bones: $5,000 for Life is Not a Sprint
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Town of Spindale: $100,000 for North Slope Skatepark and Pump Track
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Union Mills Community Development Club: $10,000 to install heating and air
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Union Mills Learning Center Inc.: $15,000 for CPR/emergency training instruction
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Washburn Community Outreach Center: $10,000 for Meeting the Need - food and hygiene
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Yokefellow Service Center, Inc.: $30,000 for Crowns of Wisdom
About the Carolina Foothills Foundation
The Carolina Foothills Foundation (CFF) is a community-based, 501c(3) charitable organization that provides funds and other support to meet the many health challenges that face people in Rutherford and Polk Counties. We provide direct support and empower carefully selected non-profits to impact individual and community wellness in the areas we serve, which are elder care, youth development, and wellness. Learn more at www.carolinaff.org or call 828-222-4350.
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