Dear Friends and Supporters,
As I reflect on my first year as Executive Director of the Highlands Biological Foundation, I am overwhelmed with gratitude and excitement for our organization’s future. Since stepping into this role last April, I have had the privilege of witnessing our profound impact on helping to preserve, educate and inspire our community, and visitors alike, to appreciate and protect the amazing biodiversity we have here on the plateau.
One of the most rewarding aspects of my role has been engaging in myriad of programming we offer throughout the year, as well as meeting
visitors of all ages at the Nature Center. Hearing their excitement and seeing the positive impact of our programs and the powerful stories of those we serve have been constant reminders of why our work is so essential. Beyond our shared love of this region and its preservation, it is what keeps the staff and me striving every day to do better and create more opportunities for community learning and engagement.
2024 was a year of remarkable achievements for HBF in terms of growth and impact. We hosted eighteen successful Nature Camps for ages 5-13, eleven Nature at Nights, nine Zahner Conservation lectures, reached over 12,000 visitors at the Nature Center and expanded our Nature on the Go! outreach programming to local non-profits, schools, and community groups We funded over $100,000 in research and operational support at the Station including “Grants In Aid” and assistantships to researchers and students, ongoing research endeavors like the BatPack Citizen Science and MAPS bird banding projects, as well as wayfinding signage for the Botanical Gardens
Through the transformative gift from Amy, Cookie and Karen Patterson, HBF has a new home on Cashiers Road, formerly the Highlands Cashiers Animal Clinic, that will serve as the organization’s new administrative offices. Their gift will enhance our ability to better serve the Highlands community and beyond - to expand our reach, deepen our impact and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.
As we look ahead, I am filled with anticipation for the growth and opportunities that await us. Thank you to everyone who has supported HBF over the years. Your generosity, dedication, and belief in our mission make everything we do possible.
Jamie Creola
JAMIE
CREOLA | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | HBF
HBFBOARDOFDIRECTORS
JohnMitchener President
TomHolmes VP&Treasurer
DavidMartin Secretary
JennieStowers Past-President
Lisa Armstrong
Linda Barlow
William Bush
Lisa Dailey
Ruthie Edwards
Lindy Harrison
Lori Heys
Cathy Jones
James Landon
Frank Langford
Drew Lanham
Leslie Manning
GayleWatkins
Highlands Field Site
OurpartnershipwiththeUNC-ChapelHillHighlandsField Sitecontinuedtothrive,thankstoa$300,000investmentby HBF.UndertheguidanceofDr.RadaPetricandJasonLove, studentsconductedcriticalresearchonsouthern Appalachianwildlifeandecosystemsincluding:
BlueRidgeTwo-linedSalamander
Bats&FlyingSquirrels
Summer Naturalists
Lastsummer,ourNatureCenterwasenrichedbypassionate Naturalistswhocontributedtoourprogrammingin meaningfulways.Theirexperiencesincluded:
Thankstoyourgeneroussupport,thesestudentsarecontributing vitalknowledgetoprotectthesouthernAppalachians. Throughtheirhardworkanddedication,theseNaturalistsplayedavital
PhotoscourtesyRada Petric&HFSStudents
Photoscourtesy JulieThomson
Funded two Research Assistants at HBS to assis microplastics, small mammal, and bat research
Provided annual grant to HBS for operational and maintenance support.
Provided Grant-In-Aid funding for six research HBS studying the rich biodiversity of the plateau.
Granted to Macon County School's STEM program, providing crucial support for educational initiatives, field trips, hikes, special presentations, essential science equipment in county schools, and a professional development day for teachers
Funding for the BatPack Citizen Science Project monitoring bat activity along the Appalachian Trail and to support the “Highlands Bat Blitz” in September, allowing 20 bat research biologists to come to the plateau and conduct bat research with Dr. Rada Petric, UNC Institute of the Environment’s Highlands Field Site Director.
Supported the MAPS bird banding project at HBS in partnership with Blue Ridge Bird Observatory.
Granted to help support the Needmore Game Land Bioblitz in collaboration with Mainspring Conservation Trust, Needmore and groups of scientists.
MANY THANKS TO OUR 2024 SUPPORTERS:
A. Friends' Foundation
Anne Abbott
Elisia Abrams
Bryding Adams & Bob Rathburn
Laura & Greg Alby
Alex Smith Garden Design LTD
Clare Allen
Lauren Allen
Mary Beth Allen
Morgan Allen
Nancy Allen
Judith & Richard Allison
Lynda Anderson & Kenneth Conover
Nancy Anderson
Lisa & Brad Armstrong
Jim Aschmeyer
Kim Bailes
Bob Bailey
Kathie & James Bailey
Margaret & Andrew Bailey
Colby Baker
Rebecca Baker
Melissa Ballantyne
Linda Barlow & Penny Connerley
Roger Barnette
Chelsea & Charlotte Bartenfeld
Jeb Bashaw
Lauren Basil
Diane & Robert Baxter
Betty Bellamy
Joni & Robert Benitez
Elizabeth & Rob Bennett
Patty Bennett-Uffelman
Alex Bernhardt
Tabby Bewley
Rita Billingsley
Nancy Billington
Betsy Bird
Kristene Blake
Debi & David Bock
Teri & Moses Bond
Marty & Dan Boone
Kristin G Bowen
Shannon & Joe Bowman
Martha & James Boyd
J Elizabeth Bradham
Alister Brady & Michael Lanzilotta
Anna Breaux
Vivian D Brewer
Karyn & Jack Brinson
Britton Foundation
Erin Bronk & Ricky Rawlins
Jill Broscious
Maureen Browne
Elizabeth & Richard Bruce
Cornelia & Ferber Buckley
Bug and Bean Fund
Megan B Burleson
William Bush & Bruce McAlpin
Alexis Butler
Virginia & Mike Campbell
Alex Campo
Patricia Carey
Tamra Carpenter & David Schankler
Janice & Andy Carter
Betsy Chewning
Sara & Matt Chrestman
John Christopher
Church of the Good Shepherd
Ruth & Tom Claiborne
Janet Clarke
Lucile & William Clarkson
Betsy Clement
Anne Clemons
Geri & Wade Coleman
Kathy Compton
Hillary Cone
Amy & Cecil Conlee
Richard Conrad
Ellen & Arthur Cooper
Barbara & Tom Corcoran
Leslie & Jim Costa
Kelly Covato
Cris Crain
Clair & Theodore Craver
Michael Crowe & Michael Burel
Nan & Hackett Cummins
KC Cunningham
Christy & Philip Curcuru
Barbara B Cusachs
Dan & Merrie Boone Foundation
Suzanne Dansby
Kim & Rich Daugherty
Dana & Tony Davis
Phyllis Davis
Rebecca de Alejo
Debbie Delany
Margaret Denny
Diane Dickey
Suzanne Dickinson
Vevie & Lawrence Dimmitt
Kathryn Dixson
Cathy Dolan & Richard Bierregaard
Lawrence Dorr
Rebekah Dorworth
Avary & Gerry Doubleday
Kimberleigh Dubois
Chris Duffy
Suzanne & Don Duggan
Kimberly Dunbar
Martha Dupuis
Regan Dupuy
Ashley Durham
Mike Eason
Morgan Eddy
Ruthie & Berryman Edwards
Sue Emanuelson
Estrada Family Giving Fund
Melinda & Jim Ethier
Lynn Ezell
Sasha Fair
Farmer Lee Foundation
Julie Farrow
Kristy Favalli
Vicki & Donny Ferguson
Kelley & Walter Ferguson
JT Fields & Glenn Murer
Jeffrey Fingerman
Ashton Finley
Jill Fitzhenry
Constance Fitzpatrick & Hugh Allen
Heather & Tim Flach
Sandy & Bill Flatau
Joyce Fleming & F. Carlton King
Fredericka M. Flynt
Leighton & Quentin Fogan
Frances Fondren-Bales
Cathy Reas Foster
Patti & Frank Foster
Susanna Frayser
Tina Freeman & Philip Woollam
Rachel Friday & Jeff Schenck
Clara Fruge
Ryan Fulcher
Monte & Palmer Gaillard
Joanna Gardner
Paula & Tim Gaskin
Lisa & Covert Geary
Richard Geiger
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Bobbie & Jonathan Golden
Patricia Goldsworthy-Bishop
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Anne & Dick Goodsell
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H Foundation
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W Kenneth Horwitz
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Indian River Community Foundation
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McQueen Johnson
Jones Family Fund
Cathy & Paul Jones
Cookie & Harrison Jones
William Jump III
Rosie & Ben Kay
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Jo Ann & James Kiley
Sandy Killion
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Kortschak Family Foundation
Mary & Steve Kraft
Charis Lacey
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James H. Landon
Frank M Langford
Judith Langford
Jackie & Gil Leebrick
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Gage LeQuire
Diane & Michael Levine
Carole S. Light
Shelley Lloyd
Nan & Brightman Logan
Ursula & Anthony Long
Jody & Wood Lovell
Lucy & Hans Luquire
Sharon Lyle
Paul Manos
Frank Moore
Helen Moore
Patricia & John Moorehouse
Sarah Morgan & Walter Wingfield
Elizabeth Morris
Susan Moss
Charlotte & John Muir
James Myers
Beth & Robert Nathan
Pamela Nellis
Tricia & Richard Nelson
Kathy & Thomas Neslage
Debra & David Nicholson
Mary Niemitz
Nicholas J. Niespodziani
Jacinda Norvell
Frances & Obie Oakley
Stephanie Haas & Jeffrey Hillman
Lynn & Drayton Hastie
Patty & Jim Hatcher
Spruill Hayes
Susan Henderson
Portia & Buddy Hendrick
Kathy & Pete Hendricks
Kate & Doug Hendrickson
Cathy Henson & Chris Carpenter
Sandra Herrin
Lori & Ed Heys
Charlotte & Patrick Hickey
Kendra & Richard Hildbold
Ellen & Bruce Hill
Jo & Jack Hill
Lindley Hines
Katherine Hodel
Sarah Marion
Elizabeth & David Martin
Heath Massey & John Mitchener
Becky Matheny
Fran & Bill Matthews
Gigi Matthews
Melanie & Tom Mauldin
Lila T McAlpin
Jennifer & Forrest McConnell III
Paula & Harry McDonald
Karen M McDougal
Julie McDougald
Ada McIver
Ann & Hughes Milam
Kathleen & Jim Milby
David Millie
Laura & Leo Montgomery
Old Edwards Inn and Spa
Ruthie Oliver
Vernon Oneal
Christine Owens
Robin Owens
Julie & Preston Paine
Charlene & Tony Palmisano
Jennifer Panders
Emma Pasternack
Amy E. Patterson
Cookie Patterson
Karen K Patterson
Bonnie & Richard Patzke
Wallace Patzke
Barbara Payne
Joan Payne
Margaret (Pegsie) Payne
Susan Perkins & Kent Wittman
Jose Pizarro
Pledgeling Foundation
Leslie & David Pohl
Penny Pollock
Sue & Jeff Porter
Betsy Powell
Karen & George Powell
Renee Prescott
Karen & John Price
Sally & Gene Price
Mary Ellen Pruitt
Margaret & William Puckett
Kim & Sue Ratliff
Mary Ann & Larry Ray
Stephanie & Bill Reeves
Helen & Russell L Regnery
Emilie & Bruce Reid
Marion R. Reid
Elizabeth & Stephen Reynolds
Lisa Richards
Diane & Jim Riddle
Nedra Rindom
Catherine & James Ritch
Jeanne & Mike Robertson
Ellen Robinson
Tracy Rodriguez
Lauren Roether
Ashley & Bill Rogers
Meredith Ross
Carey Rosser
Greg Rothman
G.M. Rowe
Goldman Sachs
Louise & Clifton Saik
Margaret Saik
Georgina Sanger & Bowdy Train
Cheryl Sargent
Elizabeth Sargent
Cary Saurage
Steven Sawyer
Shannon Sbar
Miguelita Scanio
Eric Schaub
Adele & Nicholas Scielzo
Catharine Seay
Holly Shields
Nancy & F Tredway Shurling
Helene & Ricky Siegel
Mary & Guy Silva
Justine Simoni
Mary Meade & Chuck Sipple
Amanda Skier
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Kelly Smith
Susan & Robert Smith
Tim Soslow
Lorine & Jim Spencer
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Martha Stibbs
Rosemary & Bill Stiefel
Nancy Stock
Esther & Jim Stokes
Jennie Stowers
Katrina Street
Marianne & Bob Strickland
Ann Sullivan
Ellie Summerlin
Summit Charter School Foundation, Inc
Linder & John Suthers
Jonnie & James Swann
Dorothea C. Swanson
Gail Taber
Susan & Charley Tarver
Carol & Martin Teem
Lora & Bill Terry
The Bell Family Foundation
The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta
The Community Foundation for the Central Savannah River Area
The Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, Inc.
The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina
The Jordan Foundation, Inc
The Raymond E. & Ellen F. Crane Foundation
The Rich Foundation
The Task Force for Global Health
Larry Thoele
Pat Thomans & Ken Boote
Peter Thriffiley
Cherie Tibbetts
TIF Foundation Fund
Judy & Terry Tindel
Mary Todd & James Davis
Keller & William Torrey
Lucy Trawick
Cynthia & Robert Trescott
Kathy Trice
Corbin & Robert Tucker
Mary Vail
Lee Ann Van Amburgh
Dawn & Bruce Van Fleet
Deborah & Jerel Verner
Amy & Jim Vopal
Kathy & Bestor Ward
Gayle Watkins & Andy Chmar
Sabrina Watkins & James Watson
Jane S. Webb
Ann & Tommy Webster
Emily Wesley
Tricia & Paul Wheeler
Megan Wichelhaus
Zoe & Quinn Wiggans
Hilary & Chris Wilkes
Jen Williams
Susan & Bryan Williamson
Betty Lieu Wong
Carla & Leonard Wood
Rick Wooten
Margaret & Barry Worst
Dancy & Charles Wynne
Sheryl M & Jimmy R Youell
George Young
Ashley Yurkowsky
Courtney Zahner
Marissa Zwerner
IN HONOR OF...........DONOR(S)
Lynda Anderson & Ken Conover.......Kathryn Dixson
Dr. Amy Patterson....................................Ann & Hughes Milam
Carol Stewart Drayton & Lynn Hastie
Canty Worley III
Tamra Carpenter
David Schankler
IN MEMORY OF.... DONOR(S)
Paula Blake......................................... Kristene Blake
Patricia Hughs Burke......................
Nancy Allen
James & Kathie Bailey
Melissa Ballantyne
Roger Barnette
Betty Bellamy
Ferber & Cornelia Buckley
Anne Clemons
Lawrence Dorr
Walter & Kelley Ferguson
William Gutermuth
Susan Henderson
Sandra Herrin
Patrick & Charlotte Hickey
Bruce and Ellen Hill
Jo Law Durham..................................
Nancy Billington
Richard Conrad
Heather and Tim Flach
Angela Gott
Shelley Lloyd
Helen Moore
Elizabeth Morris
Kay and Ned Holmes
W. Kenneth Horwitz
William Jump III
Mary & Steve Kraft
James Myers
Tricia & Richard Nelson
Preston & Julie Paine
Leslie and David Pohl
Sue & Jeff Porter
William & Margaret Puckett
Jeanne & Mike Robertson
G M Rowe
Lee Ann Van Amburgh
Bryan and Susan Williamson
David & Debra Nicholson
Margaret (Pegsie) Payne
Mary Ellen Pruitt
Greg Rothman
Barry & Margaret Worst
Paul & Tricia Wheeler
Wayne W Killion..............................Sandy Killion
C. Lynn Lewis.................................... Ashley Durham
Beth Moore.........................................
Bob Bailey
Jill Broscious
Graham & Betty George
Jo and Jack Hill
Kortschak Family Foundation
Pamela Nellis
Thomas & Kathy Neslage
Charlene & Tony Palmisano
Joyce Shurtleff Parks
Wallace Patzke
Joan Payne
Lisa Richards
Diane & Jim Riddle
Ellen Robinson
Kathy Trice
Bruce & Dawn Van Fleet
Jen Williams
Susan Moss
Paul Sanger......................................... Frances & Obie Oakley
Alfred Kennedy & Bill Kenny
Georgina Sanger & Bowdy Train
Martha Stibbs
Carole Short
Jeffrey Stoller
Betsy Powell
Lauren Basil
Claude Sullivan.................................Dick & Anne Goodsell
2024 SOURCE OF FUNDS
2024 USE OF FUNDS
There are a variety of ways through which you can support our mission & make an impact:
Donate or set up a recurring donation online at highlandsbiological org
Mail a donation to:
P.O. Box 580
Highlands, NC 28741
Call our office to make a contribution
Send a stock gift
Contribute through a donor-advised fund
Introduce your family & friends to the Nature Center & Botanical Garden
Volunteer at the Nature Center or in the Botanical Garden
For additional giving opportunities or more information, please call 828.526.2221
The Highlands Nature Center & Highlands Botanical Garden are part of the Highlands Biological Station, a multi-campus center of Western Carolina University.
info@highlandsbiological.org
highlandsbiological.org
828.526.2221 P O
