Dear Friends,
 
With Spring upon us, while the flowers bloom and crickets begin to sing, we see signs of new life and opportunity all around us. While we plant our garden for tomorrow, we continue to sew with it the seeds of collaboration, transformation, and innovation. As we proceed into the spring and summer seasons, alongside our mountain communities, we are honored to be apart of this growth and opportunity to support health and wellness.


Please enjoy updates from our Foundation, new grant partners, and philanthropy at work. We hope you enjoy and connect with us!


Gratefully Yours,
Luke Howe
Executive Director
GRANTS
Family Resilience
Mental Health - IPV - Education - Child Poverty 
Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention Program - Pisgah Legal Services
 
Through grant support, Pisgah Legal Services will provide free, high-quality civil legal aid to underserved survivors of crime, specifically survivors of domestic and sexual violence, child maltreatment, and elder abuse to help victims escape violence, abuse and gain economic independence so they can live safely apart from their abusers. 
Parent to Parent Program - Appalachian State University
In Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey Counties, Parent to Parent supports families who are facing the overwhelming prospect of navigating the health care and educational systems with a child who has special needs. Program outreach coordinators are advocates for families, buildings trusting relationships and connecting them with specific services they need to feel supported. AMYWF is proud to support this program for a second year.
COVID-19 Rapid Response
Greatest Need
 
TRACTOR Food and Farms
 
Over the past two years, TRACTOR has seen an increasing demand from food pantries for produce and healthy food options. The number of families seeking emergency food assistance remains elevated from the impacts relating to COVID-19. Through AMYWF's COVID-19 Rapid Response grant, TRACTOR will continue to serve the AMY region through their Healthy Harvest program and to work collaboratively with local food partners and pantries to ensure there are healthy food options for those in need while also strengthening small farms and rural economies.
Capacity Building
Operational Funds - Community Trainings 
MY Neighbors, an all volunteer eldercare network, received a Capacity Building grant from AMYWF to reimburse volunteer drivers who use their personal vehicles to give Yancey County seniors needed rides to and from doctor, dental and hospital visits, rehabilitation services, exercise classes, grocery shopping, social and family visits, events, voting and many other activities.
Through grant support, TRACTOR Food and Farms, will continue to be a community food hub that provides local people and organizations with access to food and agriculture resources and infrastructure not otherwise available. Funds will specifically be used for their Harvest Share, Healthy Harvest, and Clinical Referral programs through staffing support. 
Mitchell Giving Gardens' mission is growing food together for our community. Previously made up of all volunteers, the organization sought out to receive support for their first paid part-time employee to serve as their Garden Coordinator through AMYWF. This position will help ensure everyone in Mitchell county has access to fresh, healthy, and tasty vegetables essential for the well-being and resilience of our community. 
Philanthropy at Work
Last fall, AMYWF received support from Dogwood Health Trust to ensure our region had safe, affordable, and adequate housing. AMYWF used that funding to support WAMY Community Action's Home Repair program which hit the ground running to service those in need. Please take a look at how our partnership is making an huge impact in the lives of our community members. 
AMY Wellness Foundation Updates
WELCOME! Please join us in welcoming two new additions to the AMY Wellness Foundation team!
New Board Member 
John Hartom
 
John Hartom is a visual artist who spent 29 years as a high school art educator. In 1990 he co-founded The Empty Bowls Project, an international grassroots effort to fight hunger. After more than thirty years Empty Bowls events continue to raise both awareness and money across the United States and beyond. He and his wife moved to Yancey County in 2004 and in 2010 John co-founded the Dig In! Yancey Community Garden. He served as a Board member for eight years, three years as Board President.

AMYWF Staff and Board Members are thrilled to have John on the team. 
New Summer Intern
Ariel Gilpin
 
Ariel Gilpin, is a life long Mitchell County resident and currently a student at Mayland Community College pursuing an Associates in the Arts degree. In conjunction with securing her degree, she is also enrolled in a phlebotomy certification course in hopes to continue her health and public relations experience.
 
Ariel will play an essential role this summer, starting in May, in helping with AMYWF grants program while Caitlin Johnson is on maternity leave. If you have any questions regarding grants please reach out to Ariel or Luke Howe over the next few months.

Ariel Gilpin, Intern

Luke Howe, Executive Director
2022 AMY Nonprofit Summit - A Conversation with AMY Grantmakers: Funding During COVID and Beyond
AMY Wellness Foundation was excited to participate in the Funders Panel for the Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey region, hosted by WNC Nonprofit Pathways, alongside some of our amazing peers WNC Bridge Foundation, Dogwood Health Trust, Samuel L. Phillips Family Foundation, The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina and Mountain Air Community Fund.
This virtual panel discussion was hosted especially for organizations in the AMY region and was an opportunity to meet the funders, ask questions, learn how foundations are responding to needs during COVID, and explore how funders and nonprofits can further collaborate. With over 65 attendees AMYWF Staff was thrilled to be a part of this important conversation. If you were unable to attend you can watch the recording by accessing the link below and entering passcode : @Hn%y0C9
 
Looking for Support? Learn How to Apply for a Grant with AMYWF.

AMY Wellness Foundation grant opportunities are open year-round. Details on the funding opportunities and how to apply can be found on our

Be sure to read our updated grants policy before you apply.