The WNC Honors Awards, a signature program of WNC Communities, continued its 76-year tradition of recognizing rural community development clubs for their innovative ideas, volunteer-powered leadership, and grassroots service. The celebration was held on November 15th, 2025 at the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort Convention Center with over 300 guests, marking one of the largest gatherings in the program’s recent history. 81 communities from 15 Western North Carolina counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians were honored, receiving a total of $121,000 in cash awards for their work to strengthen local quality of life.
The 2025 theme, “Appalachian Hands, Appalachian Hearts: United in Service to WNC,” reflects both the remarkable commitment demonstrated by communities in the wake of Tropical Storm Helene and the renewed regional focus on volunteerism heading into 2026.
This year, all participating communities received $1,000 to support their efforts. Additionally, communities were assessed across six different competencies and awarded a level of Trillium, Mountain Laurel, Redbud, or White Oak according to their demonstrated capacity to lead and serve. These competencies include Good Governance, Leadership Excellence, Financial Stewardship, Volunteer Recruitment and Retention, Community Programs and Civic Engagement, and Collaboration.
Best in Class
Several communities advanced to the next level, and Best in Class Awards were presented to the top performers in each tier. Seven Trillium Best in Class communities received an additional $750 each: Balsam Grove Community Club, Beech Community Club, Dunn’s Rock Community Center, Peachtree Community Development Club, Qualla Community Club, Towstring Community Club and Walnut Creek Community Club. The Mountain Laurel Best in Class distinction along with an extra $1,250 was awarded to the following thirteen communities: Avery’s Creek Community Development Club, Bills Creek Community Center, Buladean Community Foundation, Caney Fork Community Development Council, Garren Creek Foundation, Grape Creek Community Development Club, Leicester Community Center, Otto Community Development Organization, Stecoah Valley Arts, Crafts & Educational Center, Texana Community Development Club, Unaka Community Development Club, Walnut Community Center Foundation, and West Marion, Inc. Two Redbud communities (Fines Creek Community Association and Shiloh Community Association) were awarded $2,500 each, and Big Ivy Community Development Club and Spring Creek Community Center were recognized as White Oak communities, receiving $3,500 apiece for Best in Class.
Youth Volunteer Awards
Two Buncombe County communities, Garren Creek Foundation and Big Ivy Community Development Association, were also awarded Youth Volunteer Awards in recognition of their amazing youth volunteers. April Skye Lee from Garren Creek Foundation was celebrated for how she cultivates youth participation and leads by example through her Youth Coordinator role. Big Ivy Community Development Association’s Infyniti Daily was applauded for her extraordinary volunteerism, especially for contributing over 900 hours during the few months after Helene.
April Skye Lee (center) of Garren Creek
Infyniti Daily (second from left) of Big Ivy
President’s Awards
The President’s Awards honored communities for longstanding membership with WNC Communities’ Honors Program:
- 25 years: Cathey’s Creek Community Center; Ellenboro Woman’s Club; Texana Community Development Club
- 50 years: Unaka Community Development Club; Upper Laurel Community Organization
- 75 years: Cane Creek Community Council
President’s Award 75 Years – Cane Creek Community Council
Calico Cat Awards
The Calico Cat awards are given annually to two community clubs who, through their volunteer and fundraising efforts, made the most significant improvements and renovations to their community center over the past year. The artwork for these unique awards was done by FiredUp! Creative Lounge in downtown Asheville.
This year’s Calico Cat Jr. went to Cedar Mountain Community Center in Transylvania County, which had taken on 3 feet of water during Helene. In addition to serving as an essential post-storm relief hub (serving 3 meals per day for 300-600 residents), the community successfully remediated and renovated their center, enhancing their center to serve both their members and local businesses.
The prestigious Calico Cat Senior award was given to Fines Creek Community Center. Fines Creek has four large old school buildings, all of which suffered from Hurricane Helene, and all of which they repaired. Substantial demolition and rebuild work was completed with the help of dozens of committed volunteers, and funded by donations. Such work included exterior waterproofing, indoor mold remediation, and a complete interior remodel contributing to the structural integrity and safety of the center.
Calico Cat Jr. Award – Cedar Mountain Community Center
Impact Award
The Fines Creek Community Association Center in Haywood County received the Impact Award, which honors a community for its outstanding effort to positively improve the wellbeing of both its residents and the surrounding region. After Tropical Storm Helene, Fines Creek became a major hub and relief center providing critical supplies to 17 Western North Carolina counties and into neighboring regions of Tennessee and Virginia. The community received and distributed more than 450 tons of food, clothing, blankets, generators, camp stoves and other critical supplies. They also prepared and served daily meals, feeding both local families in need as well as work crews that were repairing and rebuilding key infrastructure. Through its recovery work, Fines Creek also partnered with the Cherokee Job Corps Pre-apprentice program, providing the community center as a hands-on learning environment for students in the electrical wiring trade.
Impact Award – Fines Creek Community Association
Congratulations to ALL of our WNC Honors communities and award winners for their outstanding community dedication and accomplishments!
Generous sponsorships from Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel, Duke Energy, Wells Fargo, Biltmore Farms, Inc., First Citizens Bank, The McClure Fund, Buncombe County Farm Bureau, New Belgium Brewing, Henderson County Farm Bureau, and Dogwood Health Trust brought in $121,000 to award to the 81 community centers and clubs participating in the 2025 WNC Honors Awards.