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Dear Friends and Supporters,
Throughout my nearly five years with the Highlands Biological Foundation (HBF), I've witnessed remarkable growth – in programming, funding initiatives, outreach endeavors, and unwavering community support To me, 2023 stands out as one of HBF’s most impactful years yet
From fulfilling our three-year commitment to UNC-Chapel Hill’s Highlands Field Site Program, nurturing budding environmentalists, to the various programs and funding endeavors whose impacts ripple through our community – the momentum has been nothing short of extraordinary.
In 2023, HBF welcomed an unprecedented number of nature campers, hosted nearly twice as many Nature Center Night programs, and expanded outreach programming even during our busiest season. I've seen HBF's mission at work and watched our vision come alive as people of all ages visit the Nature Center, attend programs, and create lasting memories, raising awareness and instilling a deep appreciation for nature in each individual
Your commitment has been the driving force behind our successes. In 2023, you ignited curiosity in 246 future naturalists attending camps, prompted numerous community members to learn about and explore our incredibly biodiverse region, and equipped yet another cohort of 15 field site students with skills propelling them into environmental fields for future research and conservation efforts.
Thank you for your help in cultivating a profound appreciation for our natural world in everyone touched by HBF I am inspired by the potential that lies ahead. With your ongoing support, year brimming with positive change, growth, and impact
WINTER GARY | INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | HBF
HBF BOARD OF DIRECTORS
JohnMitchener President
WilliamClarkson VicePresident
AmyPatterson Treasurer
DavidMartin Secretary
JennieStowers Past-President
Lisa Armstrong
Linda Barlow
Lisa Dailey
Monte Gaillard
Lindy Harrison
Tom Holmes
Cathy Jones
JamesLandon
FrankLangford
DrewLanham
MelanieMauldin
JamesMilby
FrancesOakley
WilliamReeves
VernonSkiles
AlexSmith
CarolStewart
MarthaStibbs
JonnieSwann
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“I wouldn’t have known that this is what I loved doing if it weren’t for these opportunities ”
Kristina Hefferle
2022
HFS Student
“Attending Highlands Field Site was the best decision I could have made to gain real-world resume experience and confirm I had chosen the right career path.”
Hallie Turner
2022 HFS Student
“My time in Highlands has been extraordinary, and the experience will stick with me forever ”
Elise Trexler
2023 HFS Student
In 2023, HBF completed a three-year commitment to UNC-Chapel Hill’s Highlands Field Site at the Highlands Biological Station (HBS), granting a total of $300,000 to this program
“Field sites provide a deeper form of learning than traditional classrooms, a way for students to explore, retain, and experiment with all aspects of their field of study These experiences better equip the students for the next steps of their journey, making them more competitive candidates for potential internships, jobs, or graduate school.” said Dr. Rada Petric, Highlands Field Site Director.
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Students have been empowered through the field site program since 2021, thanks to you!
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Students have returned as HBS Research Assistants thanks to funding from HBF, with more to come!
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Invested in UNC-Chapel Hill's Highlands Field Site program featuring 8 research projects in 2023. Students studied wetlands, salamanders, bats, small mammals, microplastics, & more.
"Grants-in-Aid" awarded to 8 visiting scholars pursuing research at HBS.
Supported the BatPack citizen science project, led by Dr. Rada Petric, which collects data on bat populations along the Appalachian Trail. 2023 marked BatPack’s first official season, covering more than 100 miles of trail from Georgia to Virginia!
Supported Macon County School’s STEM (science, technology, engineering, & mathematics) program, funding vital educational initiatives by enabling field trips, hikes, & special presentations, & providing essential science equipment in county schools.
Invested in the Highlands School to support their greenhouse project.
Supported the MAPS bird banding project at HBS in partnership with Blue Ridge Bird Observatory.
Granted to HBS to provide financial assistance to individuals taking academic courses.
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MANY THANKS TO OUR 2023 SUPPORTERS:
A. Friends' Foundation
Anne Abbott
Bryding Adams & Bob Rathburn
Laura & Greg Alby
Alex Smith Garden Design LTD
Candi Allen
Morgan Allen
Tricia & H Inman Allen
Judith & Richard Allison
Lynda Anderson & Kenneth Conover
Lisa & Brad Armstrong
Cara Arthur
Allison Aubuchon
Robin Austin
Rebekah Axson
Bryan Baldwin & Eric Hull
Desirae Balsamo
Linda Barlow & Penny Connerley
Sam Bartenfeld
Margie Bauer & Jim Parker
Brooke Bavinger
Kelly Bell
Glenda & Griffin Bell
Joni & Robert Benitez
Sarah & Howard Benz
Danielle Berry & Mark Squillante
Vickie Betts
Katy Betz
Tabby & Jimmy Bewley
April Biagioni
Cathy Dolan & Richard Bierregaard
Becky & Bennett Blakeney
Marion Blount
Debi & David Bock
Teri & Moses Bond
Dan & Marty Boone
Pat Thomans & Ken Boote
Katherine & Glenn Bosio
Nicole Boutin
Carroll Ann Bowers
Shannon & Joe Bowman
Christie Boyd
Martha & James Boyd
J Elizabeth Bradham
Alister Brady & Michael Lanzilotta
Anna Breaux
Vivian Brewer
Karyn & Jack Brinson
Britton Foundation
Erin Bronk & Ricky Rawlins
Maureen & Kevin Browne
Elizabeth & Richard Bruce
Clinton Burgess
Megan Burleson
Jim Burns
Michele Burns & Deborah Jamison
Elizabeth Buttimer
Caitlin Carnley
Tamra Carpenter & David Schankler
Jess Cathell
James Chance
Ranney Cheshire
Greg Chesney
Kathy Chew
Laura Chmar
Sara Chrestman
Laurie Churchill
Ruth & Tom Claiborne
Terrell & Joe Clark
Janet & Scott Clarke
Jeanne Clarke
Lucile & William Clarkson
Paula Coe
Glenn Coghlan
Gary Coleman
Geri & Wade Coleman
Hillary Cone
Amy & Cecil Conlee
Elizabeth Cook
Carolyn Cooley
Jean Copeland
Barbara & Tom Corcoran
Leslie & Jim Costa
Jody Council
Valerie Cox
Cullasaja Women's Outreach
Jessica Cummings
Nan & Hackett Cummins
KC Cunningham
Christy & Philip Curcuru
Curtis & Edith Munson Foundation
Barbara Cusachs
Elizabeth Dailey
Lauren Dalton
Marcy & John Dalton
Dan & Merrie Boone Foundation
Suzanne Dansby
Kim & Rich Daugherty
Brittany David
Christy Davidson
Mary Todd & James Davis
Phyllis Davis
Natalie Day
Rebecca de Alejo
Katy & Bryan Dearth
Debbie Delany & Blye Hunsinger
Rita DeLoach
Margaret & Dallas Denny
Matt Desloge
Laurie Detweiler
Diane Dickey
Suzanne Dickinson
Vevie & Lawrence Dimmitt
Zibby Doob
Avary & Gerry Doubleday
Maggie Douglas
Will Douglas
Erin Douglass
Chris Duffy
Suzanne & Don Duggan
Katherine Dumas
Martha & Michael Dupuis
Regan Dupuy
Suzanne Dye
Kelly Edwards
Ruthie & Berryman Edwards
Millie & Miles Elmore
Melinda & Jim Ethier
Lynn Ezell
Sasha Fair
Emily Farber
Farmer Lee Foundation
Julie Farrow
Pam Fenstermaker
Vicki & Donny Ferguson
JT Fields & Glenn Murer
Charles Fienning
Ashton Finley
Kimberly & Jim Fiscus
Jill Fitzhenry
Constance & Hugh Allen Fitzpatrick
Flat Mountain Farm
Sandy & Bill Flatau
Joyce Fleming & F. Carlton King
Ann & Kyle Flynn
Fredericka Flynt
Leighton & Quentin Fogan
Frances Fondren-Bales
Alexa Foreman
Cathy Reas Foster
Patti & Frank Foster
Laure Frank
Rachel Fraser & Jim Ward
Tina Freeman & Philip Woollam
Rachel Friday & Jeff Schenck
Jones Family Fund
Leigh & Anne Furrh
Monte & Palmer Gaillard
Dan Gallic
Michelle Garcia Davidson
Joanna Gardner
Paula & Tim Gaskin
Jane & Tom Ghegan
Cynthia Gibson
Bobbie & Jonathan Golden
Anne & Dick Goodsell
Shannon Grayson
Mary Katherine & Tom Greene
Amanda & Henry Gregory
Julia & Bill Grumbles
Mary Guy Gunn
Kingsley Guy
H Foundation
Stephanie Haas & Jeffrey Hillman
Debby Hall
Cindy & Thomas Harris
Laura & Steve Harris
Victoria & Rufus Harris
Lindy & Robbie Harrison
Jennifer Hart
Lynn & Drayton Hastie
R.B. Haynes
Portia & Buddy Hendrick
Kathy & Pete Hendricks
Kate & Doug Hendrickson
Cathy Henson & Chris Carpenter
Ann Herbert
Sean Herman
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Ed & Lori Heys
Lee-Catherine Hicks
Highlands Aerial Park, LLC
Highlands Chamber of Commerce
Mollie Hilliard
Cecil & James Hines
Helen Jordan Hobbs
William Hodges
Kay Hodges
Mary Katherine Hodgson
Kathleen & Chris Hohlstein
Virginia Ann & Cal Holman
Florence & Tom Holmes
Kelly Holmes
Celeste Holstein
Sandra Hourihan
Sarah Howard
Faye Howell
W Barrett Howell
Lila & Slocum Howland
Amy Hubbard
Maudie & Bill Huff
Jean & Ron Hunnicutt
Martha Hunter
Patty & Brock Hutchins
Indian River Community Foundation
Kim Ingram
Mason Ingram
Rene & Mike Iverson
R Michael Iverson
Nancy Jamison
Marianne & Ben Jenkins
Jane Jerry
Van Joffrion
Carol Jean & Timothy Johnson
Amy Jones
Cookie & Harrison Jones
Susan Jones
Cathy & Paul Jones
William Jordan
Stephen Julka & Bryan Lewis
Rosie & Ben Kay
Bonnie Keller
Carol & Stiles Kellett
Alfred Kennedy & Bill Kenny
Kimberley Keser
Jo Ann & James Kiley
Sandy Killion
Suzanne & Thad King
Linda Kirkman
Mike & Patty Kistner
Joy & Price Kloess
Charis Lacey
Louise Ladson
James Landon
Cindy Langenfeld
Frank Langford
Laurel Garden Club
William Lax
Aimee League
Jackie & Gil Leebrick
Diane Lennox & Paul Manos
Amanda Leonhardt
Gage & Mark LeQuire
Ashley Letson
Diane & Michael Levine
Rachel Lewicki
Carole Light
Sarah Linn
Susanna Lione
Deana Litowitz
Meghan Loftis
Courtney Long
Elizabeth Loring
Lucy & Hans Luquire
Michelle Mabry
Gordon MacDonald
Susannah Maddux
Judith & William Maner
Leslie Manning
Charlotte & Bob Margolin
Elizabeth & David Martin
Jessica Martin
Sophia Martinez
Heath Massey & John Mitchener
Melissa Mathews
Gigi Matthews
Joan E Towles Matthews
Kim & George Matthews
Alexis Mattingly
Melanie & Tom Mauldin
Lesley & David McAdams
McAdams Foundation
Bruce McAlpin
Cecile McCaull
Mary Anna McClendon
Libbo & Gwaltney McCollum
Jennifer & Forrest McConnell III
Kelly McDaniel
Paula & Harry McDonald
Karen McDougal
Julie McDougald
Kim & Bob McEver
Bonny McGarity
Lynne & Ralph McGrath
Ada McIver
Becky & Will McKee
Diane & Ray McPhail
Wendy Meredith
Catherine Milam
Ann & Hughes Milam
Kathleen & Jim Milby
Erica Militello
David Millie
Johnette & Stephen Mintz
Brucie Mintz
Stephanie & Steve Miskew
Janet Misner
Ann Mitchell
Cannon & Rick Montague
Laura & Leo Montgomery
Kelli & Jim Moody
Beth Moore
Helen Moore
Susan Moore
David Moore & Darren Whatley
Patricia & John Moorehouse
Jan Moriarty
Janet Mozley
Charlotte & John Muir
Dawn & Doug Mullins
Susan & Alex Nading
Beth & Robert Nathan
Butchie & Alan Neely
Robert Neuman
Nancy & Lyle Nichols
Nicholas Niespodziani
Virginia & John Noland
North Georgia Community Foundation
Jacinda & Jim Norvell
Vernon O’Neal
Frances & Obie Oakley
Megan O'Connor
Henry O'Connor
William Oglesby
Old Edwards Inn and Spa
Ruthie & Franko Oliver
Candy Olson
Steve & Aimee Owens
Robin Owens
Emma Pasternack
Amy Patterson
Cookie Patterson
Karen Patterson
Margaret Payne
Peachtree Hills
Ronald Petersen
Jackie Petrone
Rachel Phillips
Eric Pierson
Lauren Pilkington-Rich
Penny Pollock
Karen & George Powell
Betsy Powell
Sally & Gene Price
Tammy & Abel Putnam
Derek Rasmussen
Stephanie & Bill Reeves
Helen & Russell Regnery
Emilie & Bruce Reid
Brian Renfro
Elizabeth & Stephen Reynolds
Katie Rice
Nedra Rindom
Ashley & Bill Rogers
Cheryl & Hugh Sargent
Cary Saurage
Steven Sawyer
Miguelita Scanio
May Schmitt
Lindsey & Ryan Schoultz
Adele & Nicholas Scielzo
Brianna & Erik Selness
Margaret & Ran Shaffner
Susan Sheehan
Erica Sherrill
Holly Shields
Shiraz Oriental Rug Gallery
Kelli Shively
Wyn & Bill Shoptaw
Nancy & F Tredway Shurling
Margaret Shutze
Helene & Ricky Siegel
Mary & Guy Silva
Justine Simoni
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Mary Meade Sipple
Mike Sivewright
Miriam & Vernon Skiles
Sky Valley Garden Club
Kim & Alex Smith
Kathy & Bob Smith
Kelly Smith
Drew Solesbee
Tim Soslow
Megan Spencer
Joan & Stan Starnes
Kenneth Stein
Lori Stenger
Victoria Stephens
Carol & Rusty Stewart
Martha & Hal Stibbs
Rosemary & Bill Stiefel
Esther & Jim Stokes
Jennie Stowers
Katrina Street
Marianne & Bob Strickland
Elizabeth Stuart
Ann Sullivan
Ellie Summerlin
Laura Summers
Jonnie & James Swann
Dorothea Swanson
Susan Swanson
Helen Tapp
Susan & Charley Tarver
John Teel
Cathy Temple
Lora Terry
The Bell Family Foundation
Keller & William Torrey
Jane & Tom Tracy
Lucy & Steve Trawick
Cynthia & Robert Trescott
Corbin & Robert Tucker
Kelly Turnbull
Mary Vail
Terry & Wes Vawter
Deborah & Jerel Verner
Karen Vizzina
Kay Wade
Kathy & Bestor Ward
Susan & Glenn Warren
The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta
The Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga
The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina
The Jordan Foundation, Inc.
The Raymond E. & Ellen F. Crane Foundation
TIF Foundation Fund
Judy & Terry Tindel
John Bennet Waters
Gayle Watkins & Andy Chmar
Meridith Watson
Paige Watson
Dale Webb
Jane Webb
Kevin Wenzel
Lyda White & Art Steineker
Jennifer Whitfield
Zoe & Quinn Wiggans
Wild Azalea Garden Club
Debbie Grossman & Lisa Wilker
Hilary & Chris Wilkes
Kim Williams
Lydia & Charlie Williams
Maria Williams
Emily Williams
Stuart Winborne
Sarah Morgan & Walter Wingfield
Lynne Winship
Susan Perkins & Kent Wittman
Helen Witty
Carla & Leonard Wood
Woodlands Garden of Decatur
Sarah Woodley
Brenda Woodward
Lu & James Worrell
Simonne Wortham
Dancy & Charles Wynne
Haley Yauk
Richard Yow
Becky & Field Yow
Ashley Yurkowsky
Courtney Zahner
Marissa Zwerner
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IN HONOR OF.......
DONOR(S)
Sonya Carpenter...............................Sky Valley Garden Club
Amy Conlee........................................Susan & Alex Nading
Monte & Palmer Gaillard..............Millie & Miles Elmore
Charlotte Muir Debi & David Bock
Monte & Palmer Gaillard
Jane Jerry
Leslie Manning
Mia & Ava Pasternack Emma Pasternack
Dr Amy Patterson
Margaret & Ran Shaffner
Frances & Lamar Plunkett.............Elizabeth Buttimer
Carol Stewart......................................Drayton & Lynn Hastie
Dr. Malvina Trussell........................William Hodges
Olivia & Jackson Wavra................. Joni & Robert Benitez
Shirley & Michael Wilson Kim Williams
IN MEMORY OF.....
Mary Carney....................................... Cara Arthur
Sylvia Fair.............................................Sasha Fair
Margaret Foreman Alexa Foreman
Joe Hollis...............................................Karen Vizzina
Edmund Frank Holmes.................. Courtney Long DONOR(S)
Vincent “Barry” Barrett Jones.......Cary Saurage
Marie Ann Van Huss Marion........Susanna Lione
Kelli Shively
Cookie Patterson
Tim Patterson Monte & Palmer Gaillard
Jennie Stowers
Paul Sanger Lucile & William Clarkson
Faye Howell
W Barrett Howell
Alfred Kennedy & Bill Kenny
Frances & Obie Oakley
Martha & Hal Stibbs
Jennie Stowers
Donald Shure......................................Elizabeth & Richard Bruce
Jo Watson Strong...............................Jody Council
Claude Sullivan
Anne & Dick Goodsell
Peggy Coleman Thomas.................Jeanne Clarke
Bill Yurkowsky...................................Ashley Yurkowsky
THANK YOU TO 2023 ANONYM DONORS
If your name has been mistakenly omitted or you would like to change how your name is listed, please contact us so that we may update our records. 10
2023 SOURCE OF FUNDS
2023 USE OF FUNDS
Individual,Business,Foundation 47.1% FundraisingEvents 22.2% Grants 88% ERC* 8.5% Other 2.1% Education&Outreach 39.1% Fundraising 17.1% Operations 15.8% HighlandsFieldSiteProgram 131% HBSImprovements 7.5% HBF-SupportedResearchPrograms 68% ResearchScholarships 0.6%
11 Program Services 5.1% Nature Center Retail 6 2%
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
P O Box 580
Highlands, NC 28741
828.526.2221
