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
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
Cullasaja Women's Outreach
Nan & Hackett Cummins
KC Cunningham
Christy & Philip Curcuru
Barbara B Cusachs
Cullasaja Women's Outreach
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
Betty & Graham George
Cynthia Gibson
Bobbie & Jonathan Golden
Patricia Goldsworthy-Bishop
Sonya Gomel
Anne & Dick Goodsell
Kathy Gootee
Angela Gott
Mary Gray
Barrett Green
Amanda & Henry Gregory
Meredith Griffin
Barbara Gross
Julia & Bill Grumbles
William Gutermuth
H Foundation
Debby Hall
Ruthie & Bob Harrell
Victoria & Rufus Harris
Katherine Hodel
Sally & Bill Hoffmann
Kathleen & Chris Hohlstein
Florence & Tom Holmes
Kay & Ned Holmes
Kelly Holmes
Leah & Bill Horton
W. Kenneth Horwitz
Lila & Slocum Howland
Eric Hull & Bryan Baldwin
Jean & Ron Hunnicutt
Indian River Community Foundation
Deborah Jamison & Michele Burns
Marianne & Ben Jenkins
Carol Jean & Timothy Johnson
McQueen Johnson
Jones Family Fund
Cathy & Paul Jones
Cookie & Harrison Jones
William Jump III
Rosie & Ben Kay
Alfred Kennedy & Bill Kenny
Jo Ann & James Kiley
Sandy Killion
Caren Kilpatrick
James Kimmel
Kortschak Family Foundation
Mary & Steve Kraft
Charis Lacey
Louise Ladson
Elizabeth & Jim Landis
James H Landon
Frank M Langford
Judith Langford
Jackie & Gil Leebrick
Luke Lemoine
Mario Leon
Amanda & Whitaker Leonhardt
Gage LeQuire
Diane & Michael Levine
Carole S. Light
Shelley Lloyd
Nan & Brightman Logan
Ursula & Anthony Long
Jody & Wood Lovell
Lucy & Hans Luquire
Laura & Leo Montgomery
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
Lindy & Robbie Harrison
Catherine Harrison Cobb
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
Sharon Lyle
Paul Manos
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
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
2024 SOURCE OF FUNDS
2024 USE OF FUNDS
