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RHI Legacy Foundation recently completed their 2025 grant year, awarding $1,712,562 to non-profit organizations and municipalities who serve Rutherford County residents. This includes a $1,000,000 contribution toward the completion of the Dr. Bobby F. England Health and Sciences Center through the Isothermal Community College Foundation. This gift was announced by the college earlier this year.
Kerry Giles, Board Chair for the Foundation, stated, "We are inspired by the projects outlined in the new grant applications and feel honored to award these funds to groups striving to make our community healthier. This marks our twelfth year of awarding grants, and each year we are reminded of the passion and dedication within our community to create lasting, positive change."
Terry Hines, Executive Director for the Foundation, commented, "RHI Legacy Foundation remains committed to supporting outstanding organizations in our community in their efforts to address the needs represented in our focus areas of active living, chronic disease, and healthy eating. We are pleased to announce funding for forty-two grant awards and look forward to the positive impact these will have on health and wellness in our community."
Active Living - Nine grants totaling $160,600
• Bill's Creek Community Center - Fun and Fitness Programs
• MountainTrue - Equipment for Broad River hurricane debris removal
• Rutherford County Swim Team - Equipment and swimmer recruitment
• Rutherford Outdoor Coalition - Operating support
• Safe Kids of Rutherford County - Traumatic injury prevention
• South Mountain Christian Camp - Rutherford County camp scholarships
• Special Olympics Rutherford County - Operating support
• Town of Rutherfordton - Ruff'ton Roots space and Crestview Park masterplan
• Trinity Christian School - Summer camp
Chronic Disease - Nine grants totaling $198,812
• Blue Ridge Community Health Services - Chronic disease monitoring
• Blue Ridge Hope - Mental health therapy
• Children's Cancer Partners of the Carolinas - Assistance for Rutherford County pediatric cancer patients
• East Rutherford High School - Vape prevention and education
• Pisgah Legal Services - Increased access to health care
• Preferred Choice Healthcare - Recreation programs for the detention center
• Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services - Intravenous infusion pumps
• Rutherford Housing Partnership - Portable ramps
• United Way of Rutherford County - 2-1-1 resource referral program
Healthy Eating - Twenty-three grants totaling $353,150
• Abounding Grace Ministry - Healthy food for clients
• Basics Christian Ministries - Food pantry operating support
• Chase Corner Ministries - Food pantry building facility and equipment repairs
• Cliffside Baptist Church - Hot meal delivery
• Friends of the Mountain Branch Library - Healthy eating programs
• Grahamtown Team - Food for distribution
• Lake Lure Classical Academy - Breakfast programs for students
• Lake Lure Classical Academy - Horticulture programs
• Liberty Baptist Food Pantry - Holiday meals for the elderly
• Maw-Maws Cheer Ministries - Food for clients
• NC Cooperative Extension - Food and nutrition education for students in limited income families
• New Beginnings Soup Kitchen - Food and supplies
• Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation - Backpack Program Coordinator
• Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation - Kitchen kits for homeless students
• Rutherford County Senior Center - Home Delivered Meals
• Rutherford County Transit - Transportation to food providers and medical appointments
• Spindale United Methodist Church - Community food ministries
• St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church - Jericho Road Soup Kitchen
• Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy - Backpack food supplies
• Union Mills Development Club - Kitchen repairs for meal programs
• Washburn Community Outreach Center - Food pantry operation support
• Wells Spring United Methodist Church - Hot meal delivery
• WNC Food Systems - Bilingual digital and print materials for the Rutherford Food Council
Organizations that receive funding provide regular reports and participate in conversations with foundation staff throughout the year regarding the health impact that the grant accomplishes. Jill Miracle, Community Impact Director for the Foundation, explained, "Our work emphasizes healthy eating and active living because those factors have proven impacts on the prevention of chronic diseases. Our county continues to rank lower than the state and nation on length and quality of life. We strive to improve those rankings through the good work of our grantees. Partnerships with our grantees are vital to identify and resolve issues that affect the health of our county. We look forward to visiting our grant recipients throughout the year to learn about their work and the impact that they are making."
RHI Legacy Foundation began operations in 2014. Since that time, $17,232,654.54 has been awarded to local organizations to address health issues. This amount includes regular grant cycle awards and infrastructure projects such as the Thermal Belt Rail Trail. Details about funding for another significant project will be announced before year-end.
Plans for the 2026 grant cycle will be announced in the Spring.
Visit RHILegacyFoundation.com for more information.
