Endowment Established With the NC Community
Foundation
Anna Lugbill performs in the
annual Greening Up the Mountains
Youth Talent Contest.
Photo by Jennifer
Petosa
Established in 1989 as a
nonprofit organization, the purpose of Catch the Spirit of Appalachia (CSA) is
to awaken people of all ages to their self-worth, to the wisdom of their
ancestors, and the beauty of their natural environment and culture. Situated in
Jackson County, North Carolina, the organization’s main thrust is to draw
attention to the need to conserve, protect and save the natural and human
heritage of the local mountain people in the region. CSA’s mission is to
accomplish their goals through environmental and cultural education in the
primary grades and by involving the community in honoring and preserving the
local heritage lifestyle.
In April,
2006, CSA celebrates its 16th year. The organization’s main thrust has been
creative writing, visual art, and drama workshops along with “Heritage Alive”
performances for children and adults. Their community work has been manifested
in the heritage festivals of Sylva’s Greening Up the Mountains on April 29, 2006
and the Great Smoky Mountain Railfest Mountain Craft Fair in Bryson City on
September 16, 2006.
Last year, CSA
formed a partnership with Appalachian Homestead Farm & Preserve on Tilley
Creek to establish a living, working homestead and a “Spirit of Appalachia
Folklife School for Children,” along with a second partner, Dogwood Crafters of
Dillsboro. A place locally to keep our living heritage alive is well
underway.
Another partnership has been
formed recently with Jackson County Parks & Recreation Center to provide two
new festivals supporting the local crafters at the Rec Center: With the
Patchwork Fabric Festival on June 3rd, 2006, and the Appalachian Arts &
Crafts Bazaar on October 21, 2006, CSA continues to support the local
crafters.
Another important goal of CSA
is to provide assistance in publishing books written by the local people. So far
CSA has assisted in publishing seventeen books; the most recent: “The Life and
Times of Mary Jane Queen,” written by Mary Jane Queen (92 years
old).
“The great success of Mary Jane’s
booksigning at WCU’s Mountain Heritage Center in January, 2006 was so
satisfying,” says Amy Ammons Garza. “All mountain people achieved success that
day through Mary Jane’s success. Her stories are now saved in a book written in
her own voice, to be cherished forever.
“With this in mind, we have just established the “Catch the
Spirit of Appalachia Endowment Fund” with the NC Community Foundation to support
and publish writers, artists and craftspeople of Western North Carolina. Thus
the more people choose to donate to this endowment, the more book, art and craft support we can
provide.
“Catch the Spirit of
Appalachia is an organization of many like-minded people wishing to stop the
erosion of our mountain heritage. With this new endowment, we believe our
outreach will go on indefinitely, supporting and publishing those people whose
stories, art, or crafts might be otherwise lost forever.”
Sue
LeLievre, Regional Associate with the North Carolina Community Foundation; Amy
Ammons Garza, cofounder of Catch the Spirit of Appalachia; Irene Hooper
representing the Board of Directors for Catch the Spirit of Appalachia and first
contributor to the endowment fund.
Realizing the Value of Everyone's Heritage
and Creativity Brings a Better Life Now and in the
Future
You can help us by becoming a "heritage
saver"—one who believes in remembering our families by a gift to a non-profit
501(c)3 organization who is actively providing avenues for our children to honor
and value their heritage.
CSA's programs are based on this
philosophy:
Each of us is unique! Each of us is creative and
worthy. We are the product of our heritage. It is through realizing the
value of who came before that we realize the true importance of who we are—WE
ARE the individuals who link, bridge and fulfill destiny of all the ages...we
make the future. Whenever one of your ancestors, or you, topped the
horizon, you became a valued part of the community. Your voice must be heard.
What you do now to encourage, to inspire, to trust, to assist will provide the
road the community must travel in future history.
Catch the Spirit of Appalachia, Inc.(CSA) is a
nonprofit organization whose goal is to celebrate our heritage through the arts
and inspire a passion for creativity in our world. We ask you to join our
forces. Children and adults everywhere can find a more constructive way of life
when they find their own creativity. Help us help you by supporting our
endeavors to inspire a passion for creativity and a love for heritage in all our
lives.
Please go to Sponsorship Form (see
below)
Catch the Spirit Legacy Giving
Program: *Heritage Savers: Gifts of $300 or more
toward the CSA Endowment Fund. *Heritage Homesteaders: Gifts
of any size targeted for the development of Appalachian Homestead Farm *Wisdom Keepers: Gifts of any size targeted to supporting
Heritage Alive! programming, arts & writer training and publishing
Anna Lugbill performs in the 
book, art and craft support we can
provide.