News

Work with Heart fund announces grant recipients

Matt Johnes of Hannah Flanagan’s and Dan Poeta of Horizon Heat & Air formed Heart with Hands.

By Lightning Reports, Published: March 8, 2023

Six local businesses that came together to provide charitable support for nonprofits in and around Henderson County have announced their 2023 grant recipients.

The Work with Heart Community Fund, a component fund of Community Foundation of Henderson County, has selected 38 different organizations to receive grants totaling $85,000 this year. Horizon Heat & Air, Hannah Flanagan’s, Southern Alarm & Security, Boyd Automotive, Edward Jones Financial Advisor Ken Adams and Triangle Stop have pooled their charitable dollars and selected the recipients through a grant application process.
“This charitable joint effort of local business owners will have a far-reaching impact for those who are served by these nonprofits,” said Community Foundation of Henderson County President/CEO McCray V. Benson. “These businesses are making a positive change in our local community through this Fund each year and their continued growth demonstrates how combining charitable giving can build strong connections, increase engagement in the community, and amplify awareness of the impact that nonprofit organizations are making in the lives of local people.”

Work with Heart grant recipients were:

• 1st Quarter: Thrive, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Vocational Solutions, Helping Hand Development Center, Blue Ridge Community Health Services Inc., Open Arms Pregnancy Center, The Free Clinics, True Ridge Caja Solidaria, Hope Coalition.
• 2nd Quarter: Boys & Girls Club of Henderson County, The Storehouse, Economic Investment Fund of Henderson County (Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development), St. Gerard House, Camplify, Project Dignity, Special Needs Sports, Henderson County Education Foundation Only Hope WNC Inc., Young Naturalist 4-H Club.
• 3rd Quarter: Kenmure Fights Cancer, Four Seasons Foundation, First United Methodist Backpack Ministry, Pisgah Legal Services, Fletcher Academy, Saluda Pop-Up Pantry, Bullington Gardens, Historic Johnson Farm Foundation, The Arc of Buncombe County Inc.
• 4th Quarter: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina, Children & Family Resource Center, Apple Country Woodcrafters, Homes for Youth, Safelight Inc., Housing Assistance Corp., Sentinel Patriot Club (STAND TALL), YMCA of Western North Carolina, The Hope Center.

In 2015, Dan Poeta of Horizon Heat & Air found himself looking for an avenue of giving that would help his philanthropy evolve and help move the needle on key issues. By creating a Donor Advised Fund with Community Foundation of Henderson County, he discovered the structure and organization his charitable giving process truly needed. Within two years, Matt Johnes's Irish pub Hannah Flanagan’s joined in on the charitable venture and as of 2023, six local businesses have come together to offer the Work with Heart Community Fund.
Since 2015, $288,000 has been awarded to the local community through numerous nonprofits as unrestricted grant money. The grant application for the next cycle of Work with Heart grant funding will open in January of 2024. In order to qualify, organizations must be a tax-exempt, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates programs in Henderson County for the benefit of the residents of Henderson County.