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.
