July 2024

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In this Edition

• YYA Qualifying Questions Due July 22
• N+N Summer Session Begin July 31
• Partner Spotlight: Boys & Girls Club
• Southwestern Commission is Hiring
• One-Day Now + Next Available to Orgs
• NHF Partner Services Available

Youth + Young Adult Well-being

Grant Attracts Lots of Attention

Thank you to the more than 55 organizational representatives who attended one of our Youth + Young Adult grant presentations earlier this month. It was exciting to hear about the many programs offered to young people to ensure they have access to what they'll need to thrive.

"We were thrilled to speak with so many potential partners in Murphy and Franklin and to provide them an opportunity to meet each other and learn more about the work being done to support kids and young adults in our region," said NHF Executive Director. "Our greatest hope with this grant is to make even more progress by creating generational change."

Phase One of this grant will remain open for applicants through Monday, July 22.

Nantahala Health Foundation Executive Director Lori Bailey addresses those gathered in Murphy to learn more about the Youth + Young Adult grant opportunity and to share the work they are currently doing to support youth in our region.

Now + Next Summer Cohort

Begins July 31 in Franklin

Our summer Now + Next cohort will begin their journey to enhanced leadership skills with Dr. Frederick Buskey (right) on July 31 in Franklin.

Features of our unique-to-WNC program include:

• Small, in-person cohorts of 8-12 people
• Diverse, intergenerational participation
• Representation from multiple organizations
• Applied + personalized learning
• Highly collaborative environment
• Networking + community building
• Manageable schedule
• Informative + interactive sessions
• Actionable practices to apply immediately
• Reflective + applied work to complete before + between sessions
• Optional virtual meetups to provide support
• Building community + growing deep connections are important

A few seats remain available in the fall cohort, which begins in late September. Use the link below to learn more and register your interest in attending.

Partner Spotlight:

Congratulations to N+N Alumna Carman Waite at Boys & Girls Club

USDA announced this week that Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau (BGCP), where Now + Next alumna Carman Waite serves as executive director, will receive a portion of a record-breaking $14.3 million in Patrick Leahy Farm to School grants.

“Farm to School is a huge win for children, schools, farmers, producers and communities,” said USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack. “When schools have access to fresh, local food options with homegrown flavor, they can serve delicious, healthy dishes that kids are excited to eat, while also supporting the local economy. These grants continue our work to address both food insecurity and nutrition insecurity, ensuring that we’re not only feeding kids, we’re feeding them well.”

BGCP will utilize funding for an edible garden. This garden will provide healthy snacks to youth and teens by turning BGCP outdoor spaces into a powerful hands-on learning environment. The garden will be designed to connect kids with healthy fresh food, spark their curiosity, and support their goal of fun with a purpose through experiential learning.

Key partners in the project include Jackson County Schools Nutrition Department, N.C. Agricultural Extension, Laurel Garden Club, along with community volunteers.

Join Southwestern Commission's Team

One-Day N+N Workshops Available

Nantahala Health Foundation and Strategic Leadership Consulting have partnered to bring Now + Next training to your organization.

Now + Next alumni and Nantahala Health Foundation partner organizations are invited to host a one-day workshop for their leaders. This training is designed to help organizations capitalize on the power of the Now + Next leadership experience.

Benefits include…



●     Improving listening skills and presence to create more intentional leadership.

●     Developing coaching skills to support growth throughout the organization.

●     Becoming aware of change processes to bring organizational alignment.

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.