At United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County, we are deeply embedded in the fabric of our community. Every day, we have the privilege of working alongside individuals and organizations that go above and beyond, offering their time, resources, and creativity to support youth and families in meaningful ways.

Some of these partners have been with us for years, continuing to inspire us with their dedication and impact. That commitment becomes especially clear when our community faces adversity. One of the most significant challenges in recent memory was the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. The physical destruction was evident, but the emotional toll was just as profound.

We knew students and families would need additional support in the aftermath, and we also recognized the need to stand firmly beside our partners—especially those whose work is essential to student success.

One of those steadfast partners is the Christine W. Avery Learning Center (CWA). CWA has long been a critical part of our network, working to provide equitable, high-quality education to the youngest scholars in Buncombe County. In the face of crisis, their commitment only grew stronger, and we are proud to continue partnering with them to help students thrive—no matter the circumstances.

That is why, within a week of the storm, UWABC issued a $54,000 check to the Christine W. Avery Learning Center. CWA has been working with UWABC for several years now, dedicated to providing top-quality early childhood education and advancing our Bold Community Goal. We know that achieving this goal is a cradle-to-career endeavor—and in 2025, we’re facing challenges unlike any we’ve seen before. Students have spent more time out of the classroom over the past three years than ever before. The impacts of COVID-19 are still showing up in our schools and learning environments, and now, students in Western North Carolina face another month of lost learning, compounded by the trauma of a natural disaster.

Jasmine Bright, Chief Operations Officer at CWA, commented on why it is so important to act quickly in recovery especially around our students, “When young children lose their routine, it affects everything — learning, security, even their sense of joy. Getting our classrooms back up and running was about more than replacing furniture. It was about restoring stability for our kids and their families.”

From Recovery to Resilience

Christine Avery Learning Center is a cornerstone of our local education ecosystem. As the largest and only infant-serving early childhood center in Buncombe County, its impact is far-reaching. It collaborates with 32 local nonprofits, leads Spanish immersion programs, hosts college interns, and creates workforce development pipelines—all in service of helping children thrive from their earliest years.

They are also long-time members of the United for Youth partnership and serve on its leadership team, modeling what it means to invest in children’s long-term success. Their classrooms are safe, engaging, and structured with enhanced teacher-student ratios. It’s no surprise that many of their children are reading by age 4 or 5.

That dedication to high-quality early learning made it all the more urgent to support the recovery of their Swannanoa site after the storm. Of the 270 children served across their three locations, 45 were directly impacted by the flooding. Families suddenly lost access to consistent childcare and early education, and many were forced to relocate, adding stress and instability to already challenging circumstances.

Although the building was spared catastrophic structural damage, the floodwaters destroyed every piece of furniture, toys, flooring, electrical components, and walls. Staff couldn’t even access the site for several days. When they finally did, what they found was devastating.

“It was stressful because we didn’t even know if all of our teachers were safe, and we couldn’t reach our building,” Jasmine recalled. “When we finally arrived, the flood waters had destroyed the floors, and mildew had begun to grow on the walls and furniture.”

The road back wasn’t simple. Early childhood centers must meet strict state standards to maintain their 4-star accreditation, which means that replacing items with secondhand materials simply wasn’t an option. That’s where the support from UWABC came in—funding that allowed CWA to purchase all-new, up-to-code furniture for each age group, from infants to age five.

It took nearly six months, but by February, the Swannanoa site was fully operational again. And when we visited in March, it was full of life—children playing, learning, singing, reading, and simply being kids. With fresh drywall, safe new furnishings, and joy restored to the classroom, it was a beautiful contrast to the destruction seen just months earlier.

Check Out CWA's New Furniture: Funded by UWABC

But recovery isn’t the end of the story—it’s a step along the way. At UWABC, we believe in standing with our partners not just during crises, but every day, in all seasons. Because reaching our Bold Community Goal means walking alongside children and families at every stage—from the earliest steps to the brightest futures.

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From Floodwaters to Foundations: CWA’s Recovery and the United for Youth Vision

From Recovery to Resilience

“It was stressful because we didn’t even know if all of our teachers were safe, and we couldn’t reach our building,” Jasmine recalled. “When we finally arrived, the flood waters had destroyed the floors, and mildew had begun to grow on the walls and furniture.”

Check Out CWA's New Furniture: Funded by UWABC

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