News

Icy Hot, Dollar General celebrate new hoops courts, present checks

By Lightning Reports, Published: September 25, 2025

Icy Hot and Dollar General joined Hendersonville and Henderson County public schools representatives to celebrate completion of a fully revitalized basketball court at Sullivan Park and present surprise checks to the local school district totaling $50,000. The dedication of the new basketball court comes one year after Hurricane Helene devastated the community.

Icy Hot’s $25,000 donation to the Henderson County Education Foundation is committed to enhancing the educational experience for students and educators by providing vital resources, innovative programs and support to help Henderson County schools thrive.

Dollar General’s surprise $25,000 donation to Henderson County Public Schools will help advance the district’s current literacy and education programs through the purchase of books, technology programs, computers and other needed resources.

The basketball court renovation included:

• Repaving and surface restoration
• Drainage improvements and crack repairs
• Four new basketball goals
• Fresh color coating and new court lines
• New basketballs, racks and player benches

"Basketball courts like this one at Sullivan Park are more than just places to shoot hoops; they’re the heart of our neighborhoods," City Council member Melinda Lowrance said. "After everything our city endured from Hurricane Helene, and as we continue to rebuild, this revived court shows how far we’ve come and what we can accomplish when partners like Icy Hot and Dollar General invest in our community.” –

“We are very excited about this new partnership with Icy Hot and Dollar General," said Peggy Marshall, Henderson County Education Foundation executive director. "The generous funds will go directly toward our students for things like our summer reading program, elementary book vending machines, leadership development and our 1:1 mentorship initiative."

Denine Torr, Dollar General’s vice president of corporate social responsibility and philanthropy, added: “Dollar General is thrilled to partner with Icy Hot to give back to our neighbors and support a thriving community in Henderson County. We have a longstanding presence in Henderson County, having opened our first store more than 30 years ago in 1992. We look forward to furthering our mission of Serving Others and seeing the positive impact the new court and literacy donation will have on the community.”