News

LOCAL BRIEFS: 'Work with Heart,' congressional art competition, Pardee surgeon

By Lightning Reports, Published: March 1, 2024

Work with Heart fund boosts 38 nonprofits

Six local businesses who have come together to provide charitable support for WNC nonprofits announced their 2024 grant recipients.

The Work with Heart Community Fund, a component fund of Community Foundation of Henderson County, selected 38 different organizations to receive grants totaling $84,000 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.

In 2015, Dan Poeta of Horizon Heat & Air found himself looking for an avenue of giving that would help his philanthropy evolve and make the most impact. By creating a Donor-Advised Fund with Community Foundation of Henderson County, Poeta discovered a structure and organization that perfectly supported his charitable-giving process. Within two years, Hannah Flanagan’s Irish pub joined the charitable venture. And as of 2023, six local businesses have come together to offer the Work with Heart Community Fund.

Since 2015, the fund has awarded more than $350,000 to the 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 2025. In order to qualify, organizations must be a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates programs in Henderson County for the benefit of the residents of Henderson County.

Quarterly grants have been awarded to the following organizations for 2024:


1st Quarter: Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Henderson County Foster Parents Association, Henderson County Free Medical Clinic, Smart Start Partnership for Children, Thrive, True Ridge, Veterans Healing Farm, Vocational Solutions of Henderson County.

2nd Quarter: Boys & Girls Club of Henderson County, Camplify, Economic Investment Fund of Henderson County, Henderson County Education Foundation, Only Hope WNC, Project Dignity of WNC, Special Needs Sports, St. Gerard House, The Storehouse, Young Naturalist 4-H Club

3rd Quarter: Bounty of Bethlehem, Calvary Episcopal Church Food Pantry, First Contact Addiction Ministries, First United Methodist Church, Fletcher Academy, Four Seasons Foundation, Hope Coalition of Henderson County, Kenmure Fights Cancer, Pisgah Legal Services, Saluda Pop Up Pantry.

4th Quarter: Apple Country Woodcrafters, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina, Children and Family Resource Center, Council on Aging, Homes for Youth, Jewish Family Services of WNC, Safelight Inc., Sentinel Patriot Club (Stand TALL), The Hope Center.

Congressional art competition now open for high school students

U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards is accepting submissions from high school students in the 11th Congressional District for the 2024 Congressional Art Competition. The winner of the competition will have his or her artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year.

“The annual Congressional Art Competition is an opportunity for high school students in North Carolina’s 11th district to showcase their talent, creativity and passion,” Edwards said. “After seeing the incredible artwork from WNC’s budding artists during last year’s competition, I’m even more excited to see the art that this year’s contestants will create for all the visitors at the Capitol to see.”

Once the Congressional Art Competition winner is selected, Edwards will hold a “Facebook Favorite” competition on his Facebook page for the public to vote for their favorite piece of art. The “Facebook Favorite” winner’s artwork will be displayed in Edwards’s Hendersonville district office, and the runner-up’s artwork will be displayed in his Washington, D.C., office.

Artwork submissions must be submitted to the Hendersonville district office by April 24. Students can submit their artwork by dropping it off at the Hendersonville office, shipping it to the district office, dropping it off at the students’ schools or contacting the district office to make other arrangements. For details about the competition requirements, visit edwards.house.gov/artcompetition or call 828-435-7310.

Pardee practice adds colorectal specialist

UNC Health Pardee announced it is expanding its surgical specialties with the addition of Coen Klos, a board-certified general and colorectal surgeon at Pardee Surgical Associates.

Dr. Klos specializes in treating patients with colorectal diseases and has a special interest in robotic and minimally invasive surgery. He is committed to practicing patient-centered and evidence-based care to develop treatment plans and achieve the best possible result for each patient, in any given circumstance. 

“To me, it’s clear Pardee’s priority lies with the quality of care the patients receive and their wellbeing, which has been my priority throughout my career,” Klos, a native of the Netherlands, said in a news release. “The quality of the patient experience does not only depend on the quality of the surgeon but the quality of the entire team and I believe Pardee has the best team.” 

 Including young onset, familial and hereditary colorectal cancer, Klos also specializes in treating inflammatory bowel disease and complicated diverticulitis. A favorite part of his specialty, he said, is that he treats a wide variety of conditions — some that can be a source of embarrassment or insecurity for patients. “It always feels good to restore a patient’s confidence and quality of life.”

When not seeing patients, he enjoys soccer, basketball, rowing, cycling, running and hiking and fishing with his children. Dr. Klos is accepting new patients. To schedule an appointment call 828-693-7230.

Alma mater honors Lapsley as Distinguished Engineer for 2024

William G. “Bill” Lapsley, who in a decades-long career had a hand in dozens of major construction projects and subdivisions while spearheading Henderson County’s economic development efforts, is being recognized by his alma mater as the Distinguished Engineer for 2024.

Cameron H. G. Wright, Carrell Family Dean at the University of Wyoming, notified Lapsley on Feb. 1 that the Committee for Awards and Recognition had selected him for the honor.

“Selection as Distinguished Engineer is reserved for those alumni of the College who have at least ten years of professional experience in engineering since graduation and have distinguished themselves based upon their achievements and contributions in engineering practice and leadership at the regional or national level,” Wright said. “Awardees are recognized as leaders in their respective fields and for their accomplishments and contributions to their profession and to society. Your accomplishments reflect great honor upon yourself and the College.”
Lapsley will be recognized at the annual awards banquet of the College of Engineering & Physical Sciences on Saturday, April 27, in Laramie. Lapsley said last week he and his wife and two sons have made plans to attend.