On September 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene changed our beloved Hickory Nut Gorge forever. In an unprecedented catastrophic event, Gerton, Bat Cave, and Chimney Rock were devastated; many roads, bridges, telecommunications, and other infrastructures were destroyed; and Lake Lure was filled up with the resulting debris.
Due to the indominable spirit of the people of these communities, what arose from the destruction was care and concern for one another and unrestrained generosity. People helping people with mountains of bottled water, food, clothing, and even shelter. Local churches, businesses, and non-profit organizations became spontaneous collection points and distribution centers for much-needed supplies and human connection. It seems that everyone—regardless of their personal circumstances—wanted to do something to contribute to the greater good.
Many people wanted to provide financial assistance and that led to the Hickory Nut Gorge Foundation (HNGF) establishing a special grant fund to help our non-profit partners that rendered (and are still rendering) assistance to our Gorge Community in relief and/or recovery from the storm.
With little more than word-of-mouth notification (which is about all that we had for some time) people from our communities contributed more than $25,000 to this fund. In turn, using a simplified Grant Application form, these funds were all granted out to those non-profit partners who have been actively involved in relief and/or recovery from Helene in the Gorge.
Examples of recipients of these special grants were the Hickory Nut Gorge Outreach for direct relief to families; Friends of the Mountain Branch Library for a dinner for many relief volunteers; Carolina Climbers Coalition for restoration of access to key trails; the Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Community Club for help in rebuilding their facility; and the Bat Cave Volunteer Fire Department for relief and recovery efforts.
This special fund was an extraordinary measure taken in light of extraordinary circumstances and, of course, HNGF was honored to help where we could. (The Helene fund has now been closed.)
HNGF’s primary on-going mission is to invest in our Gorge Community now and into the future by building and carefully managing the Foundation’s endowment to provide growing investments in our Community in perpetuity.
As such, with the exception of the special Helene fund, all contributions to HNGF go 100% into the Foundation’s endowment (unless the donor specifically designates a gift to offset the Foundation’s expenses).
Due to two recent generous gifts of more than $25,000 each, the funds in the HNGF endowment have now exceeded $500,000 and generate granting funds of more than $15,000 per year. As the endowment grows every year, so will the funds available to invest in our Community.
The Gorge is a unique community that all who live here love and enjoy. Many of us have come here from elsewhere because of the beauty and serenity of this place. However, this being the case, the reality for many is that, as we near the end of our lives, we may end up moving away from the Gorge to be closer to family.
But all of us who call the Gorge home have a responsibility to those who come after us to leave this lovely community a little bit better than we found it—now more than ever. So the HNGF Board asks each family in our area to please make a provision for the Hickory Nut Gorge Foundation in your estate plan. In so doing, you will help to ensure that the Gorge community will not only recover but will thrive even after we are gone.
With all of this in mind, the Board of Directors of HNGF is asking for your new and continued investment in the Foundation as follows:
1. If you are not yet an HNGF “Legacy Leader,” please join this key group of local investors who pledge $250 per year for 10 years.
2. If you are already a “Legacy Leader,” please be sure that you are up to date on fulfilling your pledge (and feel free to fulfill your pledge early and start a new one).
3. Please consider a special one-time investment in the Foundation as you are able (e.g., from an inheritance or business sale).
4. Please ask your financial advisor if you qualify for tax-free “Qualified Charitable Distributions” (QCD) from your IRA or 401(k).
5. Please consider making a tax-wise gift of appreciated securities (e.g., stocks, bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, etc.)
6. Please make a provision in your estate plan for a significant investment in the Foundation that will make a difference in our Community long after all of us are gone.
Of course, if you have any questions, need additional information, or would like to make a pledge, please send us an e-mail at: HNGFHorizon@Gmail.com
Investment funds via check or written pledges should be mailed to:
HNG Foundation
PO Box 783
Lake Lure NC 28746
Thank you for your partnership as we invest in the future of our Hickory Nut Gorge Community.