Nonprofits: CFRC receives $1M grant; Horizon expands giving program and more

HENDERSONVILLE - Two local nonprofits received good news this week, as Children & Family Resource Center received a large grant from Dogwood Trust, and Horizon Heating and Air's Charitable Giving Program added more business partners to expand and rebrand, according to news releases.

CFRC awarded $1 million grant from Dogwood Trust

Dogwood Health Trust recently awarded more than $8.3 million in grants to support organizations to help the Early Childhood Education workforce. The grants were made to 10 nonprofit organizations, including Henderson County's Children & Family Resource Center, which received a $1 million grant over a five-year period.

According to the release, the grant will support early childhood workforce development in Buncombe, Henderson, Madison and Transylvania counties. Working in collaboration with Buncombe County Partnership for Children, funds will be used to recruit and train individuals to become early childhood educator substitutes, which are in incredibly high demand, who will then eventually be highly-qualified, early childhood educators.

“Even before the pandemic, we knew that our county’s child care centers did not have enough staff to meet current or future classroom staffing," said Executive Director Jamie Wiener of the Children & Family Resource Center. "It is our hope that with this funding, we will be able to support the child care centers in our community by increasing the number of highly qualified staff so classrooms can stay open, working parents can find a slot for their children, and our children can receive the care they need during their earliest and most critical days of development."

As a result of this funding, the Children & Family Resource Center will be providing financial supplements as a retention strategy for early childhood educators, the release said. All teachers who are not eligible for the WAGE$ supplement but who are continuing their education in the field of early childhood and employed in child care centers will be eligible for $600 annually.

CFRC will also raise the hourly rate for substitutes both during training and while they are substituting in the classroom by $2.80 to recruit more participants and create more highly trained teachers.

Just Economics WNC has found numerous studies that have shown, “that paying a living wage leads to increased worker morale, worker health, and quality of service." Paying a living wage also lowers absenteeism, turnover rates and recruiting and training costs. The average hourly rate for an early childhood educator is $12 and these are the people who are often caring for our children for more than eight hours a day, changing diapers, helping potty train children and watching them take their first steps.

“Investing in the workforce behind the workforce — our Early Childhood Educators — is a win for everyone,” said Dr. Susan Mims, CEO for Dogwood Health Trust in the release. “Our children, working families, employers and educators all benefit, resulting in a stronger, healthier and more economically viable region for Western North Carolina.”

Horizon Heating and Air Charitable Giving Program expands, rebrands

For the past seven years, Hendersonville's Horizon Heating and Air has provided support for local nonprofits through the Horizon Heating and Air Charitable Giving Program, and now that program has added three new partners and changed its name.

After partnering with Edward Jones (Financial advisor Ken Adams), Boyd Automotive and Triangle Stop, Horizon, with other regular partners Hannah Flanagan's and Southern Alarm and Security, the new name of the program is Work with Heart Charitable Giving Program.

Nonprofit organizations wishing to apply for the 2023 Work with Heart Charitable Giving Program canaccess applications online at www.cfhcforever.org/grants/cgp. Applications will be accepted through Feb. 10. Last year, $48,000 was awarded to 28 nonprofits whose programs range from housing assistance to medical care and after-school education.

“Giving back to this community is a pillar of my personal and business philosophies,” said Horizon OwnerDan Poeta. “I feel fortunate to have this community’s support and in turn, be able to provide these grants.year after year. I am especially excited to have three new partners in this charitable endeavor and lookforward to seeing the positive impact our pooled dollars will have.”

Pavillon offering a weekend of self-care, wellness to start the year

MILL SPRING - Pavillon, a non-profit center for the treatment of alcoholism and addiction located at 241 Pavillon Place in Mill Spring, is starting 2023 by offering a weekend of self-care, wellness and peace of mind. All are welcome to attend the retreat set for Feb. 17-19.

According to the National Council for Mental Well-Being, “Engaging in a self-care routine has been clinically proven to reduce or eliminate anxiety and depression, reduce stress, increase happiness, and more. It can help you adapt to changes, build strong relationships, and recover from setbacks.”

“As humans, one of our biggest downfalls is too much stress and not enough self-care. For many, this has been even more true of the last few years," said Pavillon’s Spiritual/Wellness Director, James "Wolf" Yoxall said in a news release. "This weekend will provide an opportunity to get away and discover where the blocks are around our ability to take better care of ourselves.”

For information on pricing and accommodations, call 828-694-2300, ext. 193.