Dogwood Health Trust, the nonprofit created by the sale of Mission Health, says it is donating more than $30 million in relief funding to help western North Carolina recover from Hurricane Helene.
The group’s board approved the funding Thursday. Priority is going for immediate, short-term needs and local organizations. Officials say they are seeking to attract additional capital to the region, including from the federal and state government.
Beyond urgent needs, Dogwood says it will support efforts tied to the FEMA response and maintaining critical healthcare services across the region.
“Hurricane Helene has affected the people and communities of western North Carolina in unimaginable ways,” Dogwood CEO Susan Mims said in a release. “Our response includes this funding for short-term relief, and we will be here for long-term recovery and rebuilding as well.”
She noted that Dogwood previously funded several networks of organizations that are helping the group deploy resources for healthcare, legal services and healthy food distribution.”
Many private and nonprofit organizations from across the U.S. have announced donations for relief efforts following the hurricane. Dogwood’s investment is the largest one announced thus far.
Dogwood is directing $10 million to the Emergency and Disaster Response Fund at the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, which then will make smaller grants to human service and community-based organizations. Criteria and an application are available on the foundation’s website.
More than $20 million will be given to direct-service nonprofits and organizations with connections in local communities, the group said.
Dogwood was formed after the $1.5 billion sale of Mission to Nashville, Tennessee-based HCA Healthcare in 2019. Its purpose is to improve the health and well-being of people in the Qualla Boundary and 18 western N.C. counties.
In 2023, Dogwood approved $92.7 million in new grants, some of which will be paid in future years. More than $79.3 million was distributed through 545 grants, some approved in previous years, according to its annual report.
The group had assets of $1.9 billion as of Dec. 31.