February/March 2024

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In this Edition

• New Priority Announcement
• Leaving a Legacy: Support the Youngest Among Us
• Podcast Recommendation: Youth Mental Health
• Now + Next is Accepting Youth Applicants
• DYK: NHF Services for Area Nonprofits

New Priority Announcement

We Seek to Support School-aged and Young Adult Health and Well-Being

After taking most of 2023 to host community listening sessions, conduct interviews with subject-matter experts, and dive deep into proven methods and anticipated results, our Board of Directors has approved an adaptation to our community investment and grantmaking programs to address the needs of school-aged children and young adults. We will be seeking to invest in projects designed to significantly move the needle on issues that impact health and well-being for children from age 5 to young adults age 24.

"Nantahala Health Foundation exists to improve the health and well-being of those living in the westernmost region of North Carolina. We believe the best way to do that is to work with and empower community organizations as they remove barriers to health faced by too many of our youngest, most vulnerable neighbors," said NHF Executive Director Lori Bailey. "With this narrowed focus we are further proclaiming that a brighter future for WNC is not only possible but probably if we concentrate on helping kids now to enjoy the best possible experiences as they journey from Kindergarten to young adults."

This new focus on support for children and young adults will remain rooted in NHF's tradition of addressing the social drivers of health, including access to quality education, economic stability, and access to healthcare, Bailey continued.

It Takes A Village To Raise A Happy, Healthy Child

FACT: The work we are planning to support enhanced health and well-being measures for at-risk children and young adults this year will be made all the more impactful with your donation.

We urgently appeal to your generosity and compassion to join us in supporting young people in desperate need of a brighter future.

In every corner of our community, vulnerable youths are facing the harsh realities of poverty, abuse, and neglect. Their dreams are overshadowed by the challenges they endure daily, hindering their potential for a promising tomorrow.

Your charitable support can be the beacon of hope that transforms their lives.

By contributing to our efforts, you are investing in programs that provide essential education, counseling, and access to healthcare services, creating a safety net for those teetering on the brink of despair. Together, we can break the cycle of poverty and empower these young souls to build a foundation for a better life.

Every donation, big or small, fuels our efforts to create a nurturing environment where at-risk youth can thrive. Your support provides a lifeline, offering the tools and resources necessary for them to overcome adversity and reach their full potential.

Let us unite in this mission to give these children and young adults the chance they deserve. Your kindness can be the catalyst for a brighter, more compassionate future. Join us in making a lasting impact on the lives of those who need it most.

Help Us Celebrate

Youth Mental Health Podcast

We enjoy recommending the ease of podcasts as learning tools, especiall when they are so well done. 'This is Normal' is a podcast where young people talk about their own mental health challenges -- and how they got through them. Because when we share our stories, we can all feel a little less alone.

Reserve Your Seat or, Better Yet, Recommend a Future Leader

PROGRAM UPDATE: Our Spring 2024 Session is Nearly Full

Our primary purpose for launching our Now + Next leadership development program was to bring to this region a collaborative training program specific to the needs of those living and working in the far-western region of North Carolina. Now + Next was locally developed and designed to increase connectivity, diversity, collaboration, and collective leadership capacity to address our region’s most pressing problems now and for our next (and future) generations. 

"One of the ways we've chosen to accomplish this is to prioritize support for leadership development among a broad base of community stakeholders, including youth and other emerging leaders," said NHF Executive Director Lori Bailey. "We need to do all we can to help young people see that they have a future in WNC and not feel the need to leave their hometowns for perceived greater opportunities in larger urban areas."

Now + Next is designed to be complimentary to other training opportunities available in the area and seeks to expand opportunities to individuals not usually included in leadership development (youth, young professionals, underrepresented groups, etc.), add value through the development of local relationships, and address concerns specific, and often unique to, our region.

If you or someone you know is interested in joining one of our no-cost cohorts, use the link below to let us know.

Our grant-making priorities are designed to create a strong network of organizations by investing in your strategies to remove barriers to health.

At Nantahala Health Foundation, we build partnerships with forward-thinking organizations focused on improving the overall health of the region. 

Our Values Statement

Our values speak to who we are as an organization and how we intend to achieve our mission. Read our full statement of values and let us know what you think.

Grantmaking | Capacity Building | Elevating Leaders

About Us | Our Priorities | Our Values

Financial information about our organization and a copy of our license are available from the N.C. State Solicitation Licensing Section at (919) 807-2214. The license is not an endorsement by the State.