Mountain agencies benefit from Dogwood Health Trust grants

WAYNESVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — A trust formed with the Mission-HCA sale handed out millions of dollars to hundreds of mountain nonprofits and government agencies. The Dogwood Health Trust awarded more than $3.7 million in grants. The trust's stated goal is to improve the health and well-being of people in our mountains.

The Pigeon Community Multicultural Development center in Waynesville received $22,500. The center is housed in the school built for African-Americans in 1957. As the name suggests now, it's a place to facilitate harmony among all residents.

“We’re going to use that to update our electrical system and repair some flooring in the dining room. The tiles are popping up. So, we’re going to do some repairs on the dining room floor. The tiles are coming up because the boiler vent was leaking,” the Pigeon Center’s Lin Forney said.

Forney said the money comes at good time, so the electrical system can be fixed by summer when more kids show up.

“So that each room will be able to use their computers and air conditioning without popping circuits,” she said.

Haywood County Schools also received $18,800 from the Dogwood Health Trust. It will go help its exceptional children’s department provide funding to improve and maintain technology for school psychologists, speech pathologists and people who work with visually- and hearing-impaired kids.

School leaders said the money will help broaden horizons and foster inclusion.

“To allow teachers, special education teachers and other people, to literally Skype in to other classrooms around the world,” Superintendent Dr. Bill Nolte said.

The Dogwood Health Trust awarded grants to 259 organizations in Western North Carolina.

www.dht.org