State what makes your charity so important
Lorem ipsum amet elit morbi dolor tortor. Vivamus eget mollis nostra ullam corper integer metus felis velit. Natoque tellus semper taciti nostra semper montes.
Our
Vision
We envision a community where disaster recovery leads to renewed strength, deeper connection, and lasting resilience. By investing in relationships, local leadership, and inclusive strategies, we aim to transform the social cohesion that often arises after a crisis into a permanent part of our county’s story. We bring together public, private, nonprofit, and faith-based partners to ensure no one walks the road to recovery alone.
Our
Mission
The mission of FWRD Transylvania is to provide coordinated recovery support to residents after a disaster, prepare for future events, and build community resilience.
30+
Volunteers
Vivamus semper mollis nostra corper auctor metus felis velit.
Our
Structure
FWRD Transylvania is governed by an executive committee composed of officers and committee chairs, with input from key government liaisons and nonprofit partners. We meet regularly to coordinate our response, strengthen relationships, and ensure transparency in decision-making.
Our
Story
FWRD Transylvania was formed in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene (September 27, 2024), when community leaders, nonprofits, and emergency response partners came together to create emergency and transitional housing solutions, assess unmet needs, and chart a path forward. With support from the American Red Cross, FEMA, NCVOAD, and local organizations, we began holding open community meetings, convening subcommittees, and building the foundation of a long-term recovery strategy.
Since then, we’ve:
- Established an Executive Committee and active working committees
- Approved bylaws.
- Secured Articles of Incorporation from State of NC.
- Filed for 501(c)(3) status
- Secured Pisgah Health Foundation as fiscal sponsor.
- Developed relationships with key regional and state-level partners
- Received startup funding from The American Red Cross, Dogwood Health Trust, and Weeks of Compassion. (ARC and Dogwood funding pending).
- Planned One-Year of Healing event on September 27, 2025 and continued volunteer coordination
We believe in listening deeply, collaborating across sectors, and showing up throughout the county, not just expecting people to come to us. Our approach is rooted in equity, humility, and long-term trust-building.
Disasters don’t just damage property—they impact people emotionally, spiritually, and psychologically. At FWRD Transylvania, we recognize that true recovery means caring for the whole person.
We believe in trauma-informed recovery, where healing isn’t rushed, community voice is prioritized, and emotional well-being is seen as essential to long-term resilience. Our work reflects the understanding that people need to be seen, heard, and supported in more than just material ways.
What’s Next
As we continue supporting recovery from Hurricane Helene, we’re also laying the groundwork to respond faster, communicate better, and reach more people in future disasters. Our priorities for the coming months include:
- Hiring staff and rolling out our case management system to better serve individuals with unmet needs
- Applying for new grants and connecting with individuals interesting in supporting recovery work
- Defining LTRG membership and building a network of community “champions” to support local outreach and engagement
- Hosting community workshops and preparedness trainings to strengthen grassroots resilience
- Sharing regular updates through the Transylvania Times and coordinated media outreach
- Mining lessons from the Helene response—from waste disposal to communications—to improve future systems
- Developing shared messaging, rapid response protocols, and communication tools that serve the entire county, especially during emergencies
By investing in both relationships and infrastructure now, we’re working to ensure that Transylvania County is not only able to recover—but to thrive through whatever comes next. With federal disaster assistance for Hurricane Helene significantly reduced, the responsibility of long-term recovery has shifted to local communities. That means us. FWRD Transylvania exists to make sure we don’t face this alone—that together, we can rebuild stronger, more connected, and more resilient than before.
There was no way to prepare except to leave. But also, no way to think something like this could happen.
Who We Are
FWRD Transylvania is a community-led coalition supporting disaster recovery, preparedness, and long-term resilience. We have a part-time Executive Director and are governed by an executive committee composed of officers and committee chairs, with input from key government liaisons and nonprofit partners. We meet regularly to coordinate our response, strengthen relationships, and ensure transparency in decision-making.
Executive Director
Cara Bradshaw
Officers
Sarah Hankey, Chair
Meg Lebeck, Vice Chair
Josh Nelson, Treasurer
Tamika Hunter, Secretary
Executive Committee and Committee Chairs
Business + Economy:
Tamika Hunter
Communications:
Mary McKeller
Construction + Volunteers:
Meg Lebeck
Finance + Legal:
Madeline Offen & Josh Nelson
Fundraising:
Angie Hunter
Spiritual + Emotional Needs / Diversity & Inclusion:
Rob Field + Charlotte Shackleford
Unmet Needs & Disaster Case Management:
Bryan O’Neill
Government Liaisons
(non-voting)
Wilson Hooper (City of Brevard)
Ashley Minery (Transylvania County)
Core Partner List
National/Regional Partners
Local Partners
- Age Friendly Brevard
- Anchor Baptist Church & Ministries
- Balsam Grove Community Center
- Bethel “A” Baptist Church
- Brevard-Davidson River Presbyterian Church
- Cedar Mountain Community Center
- First United Methodist Church of Brevard
- Grace Brevard
- Historic Toxaway Foundation
- Hunger Coalition of Transylvania County
- Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd
- Mary C. Jenkins Community Center
- Quebec Community Center
- The Free Clinics
- The Haven of Transylvania County
- Through the Trees
- Transylvania County CARE Coalition
- Transylvania County Schools
- Transylvania Economic Alliance
- Transylvania Public Health
- Transylvania Vocational Services
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Join the team at GOFWRD.
Feature some of your charity’s success stories and how they impacted your community
Charity event title
Lorem ipsum amet elit morbi dolor tortor. Vivamus eget mollis nostra ullam corper. Pharetra torquent auctor metus felis nibh velit. Natoque tellus semper taciti nostra. Semper pharetra montes habitant congue integer. Nullam magnis semper maximus integer primis vivamus aptent nostra.
120
Statistic
$2k
Statistic
100+
Statistic
Charity event title
Lorem ipsum amet elit morbi dolor tortor. Vivamus eget mollis nostra ullam corper. Pharetra torquent auctor metus felis nibh velit. Natoque tellus semper taciti nostra. Semper pharetra montes habitant congue integer. Nullam magnis semper maximus integer primis vivamus aptent nostra.
120
Statistic
$2k
Statistic
100+
Statistic
Charity event title
Lorem ipsum amet elit morbi dolor tortor. Vivamus eget mollis nostra ullam corper. Pharetra torquent auctor metus felis nibh velit. Natoque tellus semper taciti nostra. Semper pharetra montes habitant congue integer. Nullam magnis semper maximus integer primis vivamus aptent nostra.
120
Statistic
$2k
Statistic
100+
Statistic
Charity event title
Lorem ipsum amet elit morbi dolor tortor. Vivamus eget mollis nostra ullam corper. Pharetra torquent auctor metus felis nibh velit. Natoque tellus semper taciti nostra. Semper pharetra montes habitant congue integer. Nullam magnis semper maximus integer primis vivamus aptent nostra.
120
Statistic
$2k
Statistic
100+
Statistic
From our community
Lorem ipsum amet elit morbi dolor tortor. Vivamus eget mollis nostra ullam corper integer metus felis velit. Natoque tellus semper taciti nostra semper montes.
There was no way to prepare except to leave. But also, no way to think something like this could happen.
– Transylvania County Community Member
We are all vulnerable. There is help, there is hope.
– Transylvania County Community Member
Learn to get to know your neighbors and build community around you.
– Transylvania County Community Member
That if you work together, anything is possible.
– Transylvania County Community Member
I learned not to be afraid of accepting help or offering it in a time of need. That’s what we are here for.
– Transylvania County Community Member
Be prepared. Trust and help your neighbor. Tomorrow is never promised and Mother Nature can’t be tamed.
– Transylvania County Community Member
Keeping yourself as safe as possible during a disaster puts less risk on first responders.
– Transylvania County Community Member
When your neighbor needs help, help. Community helping community. No one asked what political party you’re affiliated with or what church you go to.
– Transylvania County Community Member
I learned not to be afraid of accepting help or offering it in a time of need. That’s what we are here for.
– Transylvania County Community Member
Being prepared means more than just having supplies. It’s knowing who you can count on.
– Transylvania County Community Member
This crisis brought out the best in our community members. Everyone was affected, and everyone wanted to help.
– Transylvania County Community Member
These events bring out the best in good people and the worst in bad people. Be the good people.
– Transylvania County Community Member
Even those most impacted still found ways to help others.
– Transylvania County Community Member
We’re still experiencing the effects of the storm—physically, emotionally, financially.
– Transylvania County Community Member
Lorem lorem.
– Transylvania County Community Member
Help make a difference in your community today
Partner Spotlight
Through deep collaboration with local partners, we multiply impact:
pairing home repairs, legal advocacy, economic recovery, with emotional support.