Two Years After Hurricane Helene, $4 Million in New Grants from the Center for Disaster Philanthropy Support Long-Term Recovery Efforts in Western North Carolina

Final round of funding brings total investment from the Truist Foundation-supported recovery fund to nearly $19 million for housing, mental health, environmental restoration and other resilience-building efforts

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Two years after Hurricane Helene devastated communities across Western North Carolina, local organizations continue their efforts to help repair homes, rebuild livelihoods and address other challenges to recovery. To help sustain that work, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) today announced $4 million in grants from its Truist Foundation Western North Carolina Recovery and Resiliency Fund to 18 organizations. https://disasterphilanthropy.org/funds/truistfoundation/

With this latest and final investment, the Fund will have awarded almost $19 million to local organizations working to help communities recover, rebuild and prepare for future disasters.

"Across the region, communities that were devastated by Helene are continuing to drive effective and critical recovery efforts through their dedication, hard work and ingenuity," said Sharad Aggarwal, vice president of funds management and coalition building of CDP. "We are proud of the extensive recovery work that we have funded through locally led organizations. Truist Foundation's support allows us to be a partner in community-led efforts to secure a thriving and vibrant future for all."

In January 2025, CDP announced the launch of the Truist Foundation Western North Carolina Recovery and Resiliency Fund, a partnership with Truist Foundation that is part of a $725 million commitment from Truist and Truist Foundation, called Truist Cares for Western North Carolina. Through the Fund, CDP addresses medium- and long-term needs to help strengthen the region's housing and small businesses.

Since its launch, the Fund has awarded grants to organizations working to expand access to safe and affordable housing, strengthen mental health programs, restore local ecosystems, support small businesses, and build resilience across the region.

"We have been honored to watch locally led organizations do the critical recovery work in their communities over the past two years since Hurricane Helene hit," said Namrata Yadav, chief culture and philanthropy officer at Truist. "Our partnership with Center for Disaster Philanthropy in Western North Carolina, through the Truist Cares for Western North Carolina initiative, has boosted community-led recovery, strengthening affordable housing, small businesses, and the resilience families need to thrive for future generations."

CDP will sunset the Fund in December 2027, although much of the work supported through its grants will continue into 2028.

18 new grantee partners

The final round of grants was awarded to the following organizations in support of a range of initiatives, from home repair and environmental restoration to behavioral health programming and community resilience projects.

• Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity
• Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry
• Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Agriculture and Natural Resources Program
• EcoForesters, Inc.
• Energy Savers Network Incorporated
• First United Methodist Church of Waynesville
• Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church
• Haywood Habitat for Humanity
• Mission Serve
• North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Member Services Foundation
• North Carolina Baptist Men
• North Carolina State University Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Cooperative Extension Office
• PIVOTPoint WNC
• RiverLink
• Rutherford Housing Partnership
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - Gillings School of Public Health
• Valley Hope Foundation
• WAMY Community Action, Inc.

A description of each grant is available on CDP's blog.

About Truist Foundation

Truist Foundation is committed to Truist Financial Corporation's (NYSE: TFC) purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities. The Foundation, an endowed private foundation established in 2020 whose operating budget is independent of Truist Financial Corporation, makes strategic investments in a wide variety of nonprofit organizations centered around two focus areas: building career pathways to economic mobility and strengthening small businesses to ensure all communities have an opportunity to thrive. Embodying these focus areas are the Foundation's leading initiatives – the Inspire Awards and Where It Starts. Learn more at TruistFoundation.org.

About the Center for Disaster Philanthropy

CDP mobilizes philanthropy to strengthen communities' ability to withstand disasters and recover equitably when they occur. It provides expert advice and educational resources, supports diverse coalitions and manages domestic and international disaster funds on behalf of corporations, foundations and individuals through targeted, holistic and localized grantmaking. Find out more at disasterphilanthropy.org and on X and LinkedIn.

Media Contact

Kristina Moore, Center for Disaster Philanthropy, 1 720-583-5325, [email protected], https://disasterphilanthropy.org/

SOURCE Center for Disaster Philanthropy