Our thoughts are with our readers in the southeastern United States as they recover from the recent damage caused by Tropical Storm Helene and Hurricane Milton. The Cecil family, owners of Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, and frequent speakers at Family Business Magazine conferences over the years, have launched the Biltmore Relief Fund for WNC, pledging $2 million in immediate localized Helene relief alongside additional resource commitments and employee crisis support.
The fund will be used to support employees in crisis, invest in community recovery efforts and support area non-profits, including Always Asheville Fund, Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity, Asheville Dream Center Concert for Carolina, Meals on Wheels of Asheville and Buncombe County, Mountain Strong Fund for Business Recovery and The Community Foundation of WNC – Emergency and Disaster Response Fund.
The family also provided a list of community organizations that are accepting financial donations toward recovery efforts.
“Western North Carolina has been our family’s home for more than 125 years, and we are devastated to see Helene’s impact on our region. We remain committed to supporting our employees and neighbors in the aftermath of this unprecedented storm and the long-term recovery efforts. Now more than ever, we must work together to stabilize and rebuild this community,” Biltmore President and CEO Bill Cecil Jr. says in a statement.
Biltmore Estate itself suffered flood damage during Helene and plans to remain closed through Nov. 1.