Hurricane Helene had a devastating impact on the community of Asheville and its surrounding areas. The effects of the storm are felt both individually and collectively, with harm to people, homes, small businesses, and the arts. Economic recovery in particular, will take quite a while.

For 37 years, Womansong of Asheville has been singing for joy, social justice and community in the Western North Carolina region. Because of extensive storm damage to members’ homes, major roads, utilities and other infrastructure, we were forced to suspend our “Crowded Table” concert series this fall. Without ticket revenue and business sponsorships for our performances, our budget deficit is now approximately $13,000. Money raised will go directly toward support of our artistic staff, rental fees for our rehearsal space, for planned community activities centering gender diversity in music, and to create a smooth path forward for our spring concert series in 2025. Additionally, the loss of our concert series reduced fundraising for our philanthropy, the “New Start Fund”, which provides scholarships and important rapid response grants for essential needs to women of WNC. We estimate this loss at $5,000.

As roads have reopened and water, power, and internet have slowly returned to the region, we have started leading small sing-alongs throughout the community both for the encouragement of our neighbors as well as to heal our own spirits. However, our revenue loss remains a concern as we plan for next year’s season. Your financial gifts will help us to keep “putting one foot in front of the other” (lyrics from one of our favorite songs) until we are able to perform our next ticketed concert series in May 2025.

Thank you for considering a donation to our musical village and to our mission of singing for joy, social justice and community.

Learn more about Womansong here
Learn more about New Start Fund here

We are a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization, and donations are tax deductible to the greatest extent of the law.

This campaign is being organized by Joanne Fox, Womansong Development Committee Chair.