What does the Annual Fund do?

In 2022-2023 it funded:

• 58,500 students, visitors, and families participating in, enjoying, engaging with programs over 12 months in a county with a population of 30,000.
• 7,600 visitors attending WinterFest Arts Tour 2023, a cooperative venture with Hardman Farm State Historic Site, Helen Arts & Heritage Center and Unicoi State Park & Lodge. The economic impact of the event returned $383,000 in revenues and taxes to the White County community.
• Simple Breakfast, a monthly breakfast for folks to gather around a plate of pancakes for nourishment and fellowship. This free monthly meal has become financially self-sustaining and hosts 30 to 100 people.
• A day-long celebration of Juneteenth that brought over 300 participants together to talk, learn, eat and celebrate together. Over $1,000 was raised to assist in the restoration of the Bean Creek Missionary Baptist Church cemetery.
• A summer Youth Theatre Camp for 18 local children, a Sautee Stars production of The Little Mermaid JR to SRO audiences, and a variety of youth classes ranging from yoga to face mugs.
• A four-part series of educational programs entitled "Preserving What Is Essential: Natural and Historical Resources and Our Local Economy", which was attended by local officials and concerned citizens.
• A volunteer management software program for use in tracking SNC's nearly 200 volunteers who contribute over 10,000 hours each year.
• A new live music series, the Hwy 255 Blues Club, which brought regional talent to the stage in the Historic Gym. Folks enjoyed the nightclub-like atmosphere and great music.
• Biannual native plant sales that draw native plant and gardening enthusiasts like bees to a flower. These sales raise funds to support the work of the Environmental Stewardship program as well as improve our environment by the planting of native plants.
• Spring @ Sautee, which is a dream come true for many in the local contra dance community. This first full weekend of called dancing to live music included regional talent, classes, hospitality, and dancers from all over the southeast.
• Exhibitions of extraordinary work by Roger Corn and Clint Alderman in the Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia and in the Jim Thomas Invitation Gallery.