ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Bank of America has committed $250,000 to three Western North Carolina nonprofits to support ongoing recovery efforts following the devastation of Hurricane Helene.
The funds will go to Arts AVL, OnTrack WNC and Pisgah Legal Services to help sustain housing stability, strengthen financial health and support artists and small business owners affected by the storm.
“As Western North Carolina continues to recover, sustained support is critical,” Bank of America Asheville president David Dowd said. “We’re proud to partner with organizations that are making a tangible difference in people’s lives — from honoring our creative roots to helping families achieve financial stability.”
The funding will be divided among the three organizations:
- Arts AVL will receive $100,000 to provide grants for artists and creative entrepreneurs who were ineligible for previous disaster relief or loan programs.
- OnTrack WNC will receive $75,000 to expand counseling and education programs, including financial literacy, homebuyer support, credit building, and foreclosure prevention.
- Pisgah Legal Services will receive $75,000 to bolster homelessness prevention efforts through free civil legal assistance for residents facing eviction.
Dowd, who lives in Swannanoa and became Asheville market president just before the storm struck, said he witnessed firsthand how quickly local communities rallied.
“Artists and small business owners are the heart of our mountain communities,” he said. “Bank of America is committed to helping this region thrive. We encourage everyone to support local creators, explore our neighborhoods and be part of Western North Carolina’s comeback story.”
The $250,000 commitment builds on Bank of America’s earlier disaster relief efforts. The company previously deployed $12 million in zero-interest loans to Community Development Financial Institutions and donated $1 million for immediate storm relief across the Southeast, including $200,000 each to the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation and MANNA FoodBank.
“When the hurricane hit, one of our first actions was making sure our teammates and families were safe. And having that, having a lot of folks that I knew personally and reaching out to them, it meant a great deal to me,” Dowd said.
Bank of America employees also played a hands-on role in recovery. In the weeks after Helene, nearly 500 local teammates conducted more than 5,000 damage assessments for the American Red Cross to help expedite financial aid for affected families. Volunteers have also worked with Habitat for Humanity to build tiny homes and assist displaced residents.
To mark the first anniversary of Helene, bank volunteers joined Feed the Children and community members to pack meals and essentials for more than 700 local students.
“With this next wave of philanthropic giving, we really kind of wanted to make sure that our arts communities were being supported, as well as the ongoing efforts of home ownership,” Dowd said. “And when you think about it, financial counseling, credit building, home buyer education and foreclosure prevention come into play, too.”
Dowd, a native of Burke County whose family has lived in Western North Carolina for nearly 400 years, said the bank’s investment reflects a long-term commitment to the region’s recovery.
“There are corporations and community members coming together to give hope and help people take that next step,” he said. “We’re here for the long haul.”
Those in need can contact Arts AVL, OnTrack WNC or Pisgah Legal directly.
About the nonprofits
- Arts AVL strengthens Western North Carolina’s creative sector by supporting artists, arts organizations and the local music and cultural ecosystem.
- OnTrack WNC provides accessible financial counseling and education to help residents overcome crises, manage money and achieve homeownership goals.
- Pisgah Legal Services offers free civil legal aid and advocacy for at-risk residents, including families facing homelessness, seniors and domestic violence survivors.
