PIVOTPoint WNC

11/13/2025

PIVOTPoint WNC November 2025 Newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/pivotpointwnc/pivotpoint-wnc-november-newsletter-10137397

11/06/2025

A recent outing to Catawba Falls with students from Marion High School and our partners at the YMCA of Western North Carolina reminded us why this work matters.

Crossing a stream might seem simple, but for these students, it became a chance to slow down, problem-solve together, and learn what it means to navigate uncertainty as a group. Step by step, they built trust — not just in each other, but in themselves.

The climb to the top was tough, but the view carried more than beauty. It offered perspective — the kind that comes when effort, curiosity, and courage meet.

These are the moments where learning takes root and growth becomes real.

How will you show up today?

11/04/2025

Folks showed up and made a BIG impact. - https://mailchi.mp/pivotpointwnc/dinner-and-a-sunset-pre-conference-social-10137398

10/29/2025

The Table: Small Table. Big Impact.

Monday night reminded us how powerful it is when community and connection meet purpose. Our annual fundraising dinner brought together friends, partners, and families who’ve experienced PIVOTPoint’s programs firsthand.

We heard directly from parents who shared what this work has meant for their children — and for them. The room was filled with gratitude, reflection, and a deep sense of shared investment in what’s possible when we make space for growth and belonging.

Guests also took part in an activity exploring the “masks” we wear — not just what we keep private, but what we protect because it matters. It was a reminder that curiosity and compassion open doors that critique never could.

How will you show up today?

10/24/2025

We’re so grateful to our friends at Making Whole for their ongoing partnership and for contributing this stunning handcrafted piece to The Table: Small Table. Big Impact. 2025 silent auction.

This collaboration is just one of the many ways the team at Making Whole continues to show up — for PIVOTPoint, for their apprentices, and for the greater community we’re all building together.

Wanna get involved with the silent auction?? Bidding is now open and will close on Monday, October 27 at 9:00 p.m. EDT.
👉 Visit: https://givebutter.com/c/the_table_2025/auction
👉 Click the ‘Auction’ tab at the top of the page
👉 Click ‘Register to Bid’ and follow the prompts

To learn more about our shared work and the impact of The Apprenticeship program, click here: 👉 https://secure.givelively.org/donate/pivotpoint-wnc/the-apprenticeship

Let the bidding begin!

“Calm After the Storm” is a work of art constructed by former and current Making Whole apprentices. The primary materials are Maple and charred ash. The pewter accent was cast from a leaf that fell from a tree in my front yard that — almost impossibly — survived Hurricane Helene.

All proceeds from the purchase of this sculpture will support PIVOTPoint WNC - an Asheville based nonprofit specializing in therapeutic adventure work for young adults. Bidding is now open and will close on Monday, October 27 at 9:00 p.m. EDT.

👉 Visit: https://givebutter.com/c/the_table_2025/auction

👉 Click the ‘Auction’ tab at the top of the page

👉 Click ‘Register to Bid’ and follow the prompts

10/17/2025

🍂 Reflection. Growth. Resilience.

Yesterday’s hike at Bearwallow Mountain with CHS was another reminder of what this work is all about. Together, we continued building trust – strengthening group norms, giving and receiving feedback, and learning how to share more openly in the safe space we’re creating each week.

For some students, that means reconnecting with the quiet joy of nature. For others, it’s learning what it feels like to belong in it for the first time. Each step – every conversation, every laugh on the trail – helps till the soil of self-awareness, pruning what no longer serves so that new strengths can take root. 🌱

Our community has shown remarkable resilience this past year. These students may not always believe it, but they are absolute heroes – leading with courage, vulnerability, and heart.

Learn more about our after-school prevention programs and how you can help us keep this work growing by following the link in the comments.

How will you show up today?

10/13/2025

🌿 When accountability meets connection 🥾

A recent story in The Washington Post shared how Morse High School in Bath, Maine replaced traditional detention with hikes led by a school counselor. Instead of sitting in silence, students walk a few miles outdoors – talking, reflecting, and reconnecting.

The outcome? Fewer detentions, calmer classrooms, and a stronger sense of belonging. It’s a simple but powerful reminder that environment matters – and that restorative approaches can transform how young people respond to challenges.

At PIVOTPoint WNC, throughout Buncombe County and beyond, we see this every day. Our prevention and diversion work with teenagers is built on the same foundation:
👉 Meeting students where they are
👉 Using experiential education and the outdoors to build self-awareness and resilience
👉 Turning moments of consequence into opportunities for connection and growth

Programs like the one in Maine affirm what we already know – that when we shift from punishment to presence, young people rise to meet us.

Association for Experiential Education
United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County
Outdoor Business Alliance
Buncombe County Schools
Dogwood Health Trust
WNC Bridge Foundation
The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina
All Kinds of Therapy

How will you show up today?

“People seem really different in a good way at the end,” said Leslie Trundy, a Maine high school counselor and avid hiker.

05/15/2025

We’re thrilled to welcome Hunter Subaru as a Double Eagle Sponsor for this year’s Daniel Summerlin Impact Invitational!

Founded in 1940, the Hunter Automotive Group has spent over 75 years giving back to the community that raised them. That legacy continues today through Tom and Randy Hunter, whose family has supported countless local causes – from the Salvation Army and YMCA to the Boys and Girls Club. Their commitment to service runs deep – and we’re honored to have them standing alongside us this year.

Support from sponsors like Hunter Subaru plays a vital role in making this event possible.

We’re proud to partner with businesses who don’t just talk about community – they show up for it. Thank you, Hunter Subaru.

How will you show up today?

05/10/2025

Casablanca Cigar Bar is setting up a pop-up shop at this year’s Daniel Summerlin Impact Invitational!!

After being hit hard by Tropical Storm Helene and losing nearly half their inventory, Casablanca’s steady comeback is a prime example of the grit and perseverance that defines WNC. We see it every day in our community. We see it every day in the folks we’re lucky enough to support.

We’re honored to highlight Casablanca’s strength and resilience as part of this event.

Thank you for showing up and standing strong—with us and with our community.

How will you show up today?

04/08/2025

We’re honored to once again have Quam & Huie Educational Consultants as a returning hole sponsor for this year’s Daniel Summerlin Impact Invitational on May 20!

As leaders in student-centered educational consulting, John Huie and Associates and their team bring decades of experience helping young people and their families navigate complex transitions with clarity, compassion, and care. Their continued support of PIVOTPoint WNC’s work means the world to us—and to the youth and families we serve.

Thank you for walking alongside us in this work and showing up another year!

If you’d like to support PIVOTPoint WNC and be a part of The Daniel Summerlin Impact Invitational on May 20, 2025, click here: https://secure.givelively.org/event/pivotpoint-wnc/the-daniel-summerlin-impact-invitational/the-daniel-summerlin-impact-invitational-2025

How will you show up today?

04/04/2025

We’re grateful for the continued support of as a Birdie Sponsor for The Daniel Summerlin Impact Invitational!

Their continued involvement in our mission supports the youth in our community.

Now more than ever, the need for prevention and diversion programs for youth is paramount. We are honored to have Pine Gate Renewables alongside us!

How will you show up today?

12/30/2024