The culmination of this year’s program occurred via Zoom on Thursday, Dec. 2, with over 100 community leaders and volunteers from 13 Western North Carolina Counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Five community centers from Haywood County were honored with cash awards and recognition, and three of these won top awards.

Despite COVID shutting down many of the communities’ usual activities, the 66 communities participating in this year’s program made an incredible $5.8 million investment of time, talent, money and effort in our Western North Carolina communities.  A total of more than 4,900 volunteers invested an impressive 116,400 hours of their time in outreach programs dedicated to feeding people during COVID and other benevolence projects, education, beautification, health, wellness, and economic development.

All participating communities received $550 to support their efforts.  Additionally, communities were assessed across six different competencies and awarded a designation of Trillium, Mountain Laurel, Redbud, or White Oak level according to their demonstrated capacity to lead and serve. These competencies include Good Governance, Leadership Excellence, Financial Stewardship, Volunteer Recruitment and Retention, Community Programs and Civic Engagement, and Collaboration. 

North Hominy Community Center was celebrated for achieving the Trillium level. Communities at this level have a solid board of directors, are providing helpful programs to their residents, and collaborating with at least three community partners.  Beaverdam Community Development Club, Bethel Rural Development Organization, Fines Creek Community Association, and Pigeon Community Multicultural Development Center were congratulated for receiving the Mountain Laurel level. Communities at this level have their 501(c)3 status, offer several quality programs to assist their communities, seek training for their board, and are actively collaborating with at least five community partners.

WNC Communities also gives out Best in Class Awards to the stand-out communities at each level.  Bethel Rural Development Organization, Fines Creek Community Association, and Pigeon Community Multicultural Development Center were all awarded Mountain Laurel Best in Class Awards and took home an additional $500 each.

WNC Communities also awarded the Calico Cat Awards, the new Youth Leadership Award, and the President’s Award.  Carson Community Development Association in Macon County received the Calico Cat Sr. award and the Caney Fork Community Development Council in Jackson County received the Calico Cat Jr. award for their significant efforts toward the improvement and upkeep of their existing community centers over the past year. The competition for these awards is always strong. Caney Fork Community Development Association’s Ryleigh Stevens took home the Youth Leadership Award for spearheading a youth-led effort to purchase and coordinate meat deliveries to families in need in their community.  Additionally, Leicester Community Center of Buncombe County received the President’s Award for 50 years of participating in the WNC Honors Awards.

Generous sponsorships from Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, Harrah’s Valley River Casino & Hotel, Duke Energy, Biltmore Farms, Inc., First Citizens Bank, The McClure Fund, Buncombe County Farm Bureau, New Belgium Brewing, Carolina Farm Credit, and Wells Fargo brought in $44,800 to award to the 66 community centers and clubs participating in the 2021 WNC Honors Awards.