The New Hanover Community Endowment on Tuesday announced a $1 million grant to help local nonprofits replenish disaster relief supplies following recent storms.

The money will go to the United Way of the Cape Fear Area and will be allocated to members of the New Hanover Disaster Coalition to help ensure “effective disaster recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastation and local impacts from earlier storms at Carolina Beach,” according to a news release from the endowment.

In mid-September, Potential Tropical Cyclone No. 8 caused flooding in parts of New Hanover and Brunswick counties, damaging homes and businesses in Carolina Beach and taking out roadways in Brunswick County. Just over a week later, Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic destruction across parts of western North Carolina, leaving more than 100 dead and thousands without electricity.

“As a community affected by hurricanes, we know disasters most impact those with the fewest resources, highlighting the need for preparation. The United Way and Disaster Coalition have supported our neighbors, but their disaster supplies are running low,” endowment President and CEO Dan Winslow stated in the release. “They need to focus on recovery rather than fundraising for emergency supplies. We are committed to replenishing these supplies, ensuring they can concentrate on assisting with recovery while preparing for future emergencies.”

The endowment was formed from the sale of the county-owned New Hanover Regional Medical Center to Novant Health in 2021, creating a more than $1 billion fund from the bulk of the sale proceeds. This is the endowment’s first funding award under the leadership of Winslow, who began his role on Oct. 1.

The New Hanover Disaster Coalition is a group of nonprofits and community organizations focused on disaster relief and preparedness. Following Hurricane Helene, several coalition partners, including the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, the New Hanover County Resiliency Task Force and the United Way of the Cape Fear Area, have redirected resources to support recovery efforts in western North Carolina.

The grant funding from the endowment helps the nonprofits continue ongoing relief efforts while staying ready for future local emergencies.

“This support allows our network to continue its response for western North Carolina service providers and those affected by Helene, without impeding our ability to respond to future needs here,” Janel Washington, director of New Hanover Disaster Coalition, stated in the release. 

“Our community has stepped up to help our neighbors in the western part of the state, and the New Hanover Community Endowment grant will allow our partners to continue to be generous without compromising our ability to respond locally,” Tommy Taylor, CEO of the United Way of Cape Fear Area, added in the release.

As part of the grant process, a detailed report on fund allocation will be required within six months, and the grant agreement will be available on the endowment’s website in the next 30 days.

For more on responses to recent storms, read the next issue of the Greater Wilmington Business Journal on Friday.