Dear Friends,
This year, has exceeded our expectations in so many ways. AMY Wellness Foundation is excited to share with you the latest news from our Foundation including the addition of a new board member, new grant partner updates, strategic community meeting findings, philanthropy at work, and more!
But first, this year AMYWF has partnered with 16 amazing organizations serving our communities, through which, we have granted over $1.7 million dollars exceeding our capacity for charitable giving for 2021. This means, our grant opportunities will be closed for the remainder of the year. Please be assured that our year-round funding will resume in January 2022. We are so grateful to the communities we serve and our grant partners for all their amazing work.
If you have any questions please be sure to reach out to us directly!
Gratefully Yours,
Luke Howe
Executive Director
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Collaboration & Planning
Coalitions - Regional Programs - Cross-Agency Programs
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Reconciliation House
Grant funds were given to support four non-profits, Reconciliation House, Partners Aligned Toward Health, TRACTOR Food and Farms, and Dig In Community Garden, working together to achieve food security in Yancey County.
Read more about this collaboration HERE.
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Blue Ridge Partnership for Children
AMYWF is excited to support the second year of MY Healthy Families initiative to create a regional approach to the provision of parent education for children prenatal to age 18 that offers a full continuum of information, education and support, and amalgamates the successes of county-specific efforts.
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Family Resilience
Mental Health - Housing - Food - Advocacy
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Mitchell County SafePlace
The mission of SafePlace is to eliminate domestic violence and sexual abuse
through education, advocacy and crisis services. Through support from AMYWF, Safeplace will continue to support Family Resilience efforts through their emergency shelter, 24-hour hotline, hospital and/or court accompaniment, support group and fresh start, prevention education, community outreach, Spanish speaking advocacy and so much more!
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WAMY Community Action and MY Habitat for Humanity
With support from Dogwood Health Trust, AMY Wellness Foundation is partnering with WAMY Community Action and MY Habitat for Humanity to address critical home repair needs in Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey Counties.
Continue reading for more information on this initiative.
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COVID-19 Rapid Relief
Greatest Need
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Partners Aligned Toward Health
Through AMYWF funding, PATH, MCHP, and partners continue the successful Community Ambassador Real Equality (CARE) initiative to reduce COVID-19 spread, increase vaccine uptake, and address COVID-19 related health disparities.
This program was featured in the North Carolina Medical Journal, read more HERE.
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Yancey County Schools provides education to approximately 2,200 students through four elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. YCS received support from AMYWF to hire a Mental Health Provider to establish a continuum of mental health and substance use support for students across the county.
“Mental and behavioral wellness is directly linked to overall positive student achievement, school climate, high school graduation rates, and the prevention of risky behaviors, disciplinary incidents, and substance abuse. Currently, mental health and substance use services across Yancey County Schools are fragmented, reactive, or non-existent. Too often, mental health and substance use needs are not addressed until the student and family are in crisis and academic progress is impacted. Through this grant, the school will be able to provide a continuum of mental health and substance use support necessary for all students to be fully engaged in the learning process,” said Kristin Buchanan, School Social Worker, Yancey County Schools.
Recently, we were able to interview Landon Beaver, Mental Health Counselor, and Kristin about the new position, what impact this service is providing to children and families, and how they hope to grow the program. AMY is proud to support Yancey County Schools in this innovative project.
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AMY Wellness Foundation partners with Dogwood Health Trust to bring $300,000 to AMY region for critical home repair initiative.
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Since AMY Wellness Foundation’s (AMYWF) inception, safe, affordable, and adequate housing has remained a top priority. One of the first grants AMYWF supported was to develop a housing coalition in the AMY region to identify and create a housing report that outlined the current state of housing and potential solutions. The report found that more than 80% of the homes in Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties are over 40 years old. As these homes age and repairs are needed, many low-income families do not have the means to make repairs on their own. In time, small repair needs become significant and expensive concerns, which commonly jeopardize the resident’s safety and ability to remain in their household.
In addition, elderly and disabled persons represent 86% of the average population in need and their income falls between 75% – 100% of the national poverty guideline. An overwhelming percentage of elders are not physically or financially capable of making critical repairs on their own and many do not have the support system to help them. Being forced to vacate their households is a tragic reality many face.
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With support from Dogwood Health Trust, AMY Wellness Foundation will now partner with local agencies to address critical home repair needs, putting into action the housing coalition findings. “We are so grateful to have the support of Dogwood Health Trust to help AMYWF improve the state of housing in our region,” said Luke Howe, Executive Director, AMYWF. “Through home repairs we can support residents who wish to remain in their homes, while preserving the current housing stock before they become uninhabitable and without disrupting the current environmental landscape,” he continued. |
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“As a health foundation, we know that many of the factors that influence health outcomes happen well before someone seeks medical care. That includes having a safe and stable place to live,” said Dr. Susan Mims, Dogwood Health Trust interim CEO. “That’s why housing is a strategic priority area for Dogwood, along with education, economic opportunity, and health & wellness.”
The housing coalition report also identified that 5,331 homes in Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties are considered inadequate. AMYWF will partner with local organizations who have expert experience in critical home repairs and work together to help families and individuals restore their homes to give them new life. When this initiative is complete our goal is to be able to answer yes to these questions: Are people dry, safe, and warm? Are young people living in an environment that is secure and decent? Are seniors able to age in place safely? An adequate environment is supportive of positive physical and mental health outcomes. AMYWF believes having a suitable place to live is more important now than ever and through this partnership we hope to accomplish that for our communities in need.
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AMYWF and MY Substance Abuse Taskforce Community Meeting
AMYWF had the opportunity to host a virtual listening session with the Mitchell-Yancey Substance Abuse Task Force to discuss with leaders in the community the needs around substance misuse. Facilitated by WNC Health Network, we spoke with over 35 individuals about what is currently happening and where the gaps are with prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery. The insight we gained from this discussion is invaluable and will help lead AMYWF's funding efforts in the future to better support community members who are suffering from addiction.
This is just the beginning. Based on the findings, AMYWF staff and board members will be following up with community members to continue the conversation and work together to find solutions. Thank you to everyone who participated!
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Join us in welcoming AMY Wellness Foundation's newest 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 is thrilled to welcome John to our team!
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Together, they will donate 10% of all sales to AMYWF benefitting organizations in Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties. We hope to see you there!
Address: 321 W Main St, Burnsville, NC 28714
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To learn more about AMY Wellness Foundation visit our Website
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