Evergreen Foundation gives away half million
The Evergreen Foundation has provided $507,995 in funding to 13 agencies providing programs and services for individuals with behavioral health, substance use and intellectual/developmental disabilities.
• The Arc of Haywood County received $5,000 to expand supported employment services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and $3,600 to support development of a year-round art therapy program.
• Appalachian Access serving Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Haywood, Macon, Swain received $20,000 to provide transportation for voluntarily committed patients who need to have a plan in place for transportation home after discharge from an inpatient psychiatric hospital; $39,366 to provide community support services for people with behavioral health and substance abuse issues and $21,000 to provide funding for the jail assessment and treatment programs; $25,722 was also awarded for safety changes to the Balsam Center, which will enable them to support individuals with a higher level of crisis needs and $10,807 for solid core, fire rated doors in the facility.
• AWAKE (Jackson) received $13,185 to fund a part-time victim services assistant to support children who are victims of abuse.
• Family Resource Center of Cherokee County received $10,000 to provide early intervention activities and parent education programs for families with young children.
• Haywood Pathways Center received $14,631 toward the purchase of additional bunk beds, upgrade lighting and replace windows in the homeless shelter.
• HIGHTS (Jackson, Haywood) received $7,935 toward the purchase of a sawmill to be used in their apprenticeship program for at-risk youth.
• Macon Citizens Habilities received $16,875 toward the purchase of large fans to cool their day habilitation program and $25,000 toward the purchase of an accessible van.
• Macon County EMS received $34,499 to expand its community paramedic program to provide in-home medication monitoring for individuals with mental health needs to increase their stability in the community.
• Meridian Behavioral Health received $37,000 to provide funding for the Patient Assistance Program; $23,250 toward the training cost for 25 clinicians in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocess Therapy; $82,500 to develop an early recovery team to work with individuals with addiction issues post discharge from the hospital; $64,500 for the jail treatment programs in Haywood and Jackson counties.
• Mountain Projects Senior Resource Center received $5,000 to provide access to Project LifeSaver for individuals unable to afford the radio-tracking bracelets.
• Soar, Inc. (WNC) received $20,000 toward the purchase of a 15-passenger van to support its outdoor adventure program for at risk youth.
• Southwestern Commission Area Agency on Aging received $26,500 to provide elder abuse awareness and resources throughout the region.
• Youth for Christ Outdoor Mission Camp (Haywood) received $1,625 to provide camp facilities, boat rides and horseback riding for the Camp Ability program serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.