Community News

Foundation bestows top honors, reports record giving

By Lightning Reports, Published: November 13, 2025

Mark Warwick and Paige Posey, who used their WTZQ radio station to keep the public informed before, during and after Hurricane Helene, and Grace J. Vineyard, who has devoted years of dedicated service and volunteerism across numerous community programs, received the top honors at the annual luncheon of the Community Foundation of Henderson County on Nov. 5 at Blue Ridge Community College.

More than 230 friends of the foundation gathered for the luncheon, themed “Bridging Generosity and Impact.” The event celebrated the foundation’s accomplishments during the 2024–2025 fiscal year and featured keynote speaker Leah Wong Ashburn, the second-generation owner, president and CEO of Highland Brewing Co. in Asheville.

Foundation Chair Ruth Birge opened the luncheon by recognizing outgoing board members Carolina McCready and Matt Henry, and welcoming new members Paul Purfield and Pastor Greg Williams.

Bill Hale, vice chair of the CFHC Board of Directors, reported the highlights of a record-setting fiscal year. During the 2024–2025 fiscal year, the Foundation received $12.2 million in contributions and distributed more than $9.4 million, marking the largest single-year distribution in its 43-year history, a 65 percent increase over the previous year. CFHC now holds over $168 million in total assets. Since its founding, CFHC donors have awarded more than $102 million in grants and scholarships throughout the community.

Julia Fawcett, Chair of the CFHC Grants Committee, provided examples of how donor generosity has made a difference in Henderson County over the past year. She highlighted support for Bullington Gardens, where all-terrain wheelchairs now make trails more accessible for individuals with mobility challenges. She also noted the Foundation’s partnership with The Food Connection, which rescues surplus food from restaurants and caterers to distribute to families and individuals facing food insecurity. Fawcett spoke about the completion of a three-year, $150,000 grant helping to bring the Ecusta Trail to life in the community, and funding that expanded bilingual support and case management for disaster response services.

Ashburn shared how Highland Brewing Company supported its community in the aftermath of Helene, illustrating how even small businesses can make a meaningful impact in times of crisis. She spoke about navigating both the “planned” and the “unplanned,” and about finding good amid discomfort. Leah emphasized the importance of always being true to who we are, remaining people-focused with both precision and care. She reminded us that people choose how to use their resources, and that we must always keep our “thirst for good.”

The Dorothy “Dot” Marlow Philanthropic Catalyst Award was presented to Warwick and Posey for their tireless promotion and support of local nonprofits and their commitment to the community at large. During and after Helene, Warwick and Posey remained on the air at WTZQ radio to provide essential news and information that kept residents connected and informed, broadcasting for more than a week from the city emergency operations center at Fire Station 1. 

“They gave us life-saving information, with a little bit of music and some laughter. They kept us informed and connected. They built a bridge over the silence of the storm,” said Lutrelle O’Cain, Recognition Committee chair.

Vineyard received the Richard C. and Vina L. Sauer Charitable Leadership Award. Renee Kumor, CFHC board member, shared that Vineyard and her spouse organized a family foundation that passes on the importance of giving to their sons and families.

“Grace truly understands how to bridge generosity and impact, building a strong bridge arching into the future,” Kumor said.

In closing, foundation President-CEO McCray Benson reflected on more than four decades of community generosity.

“Each person’s philanthropy is deeply personal,” he said. “The vision of each individual’s legacy has provided bridges across gaps, helped overcome rough waters in life, and created access where none previously existed. Some see history as shaping who we are today, while others, such as philanthropists, have shaped history with their lives.”