In 2022, the General Federation of Women’s Club (GFWC) of North Carolina selected the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail as a special fundraising and engagement project for their organization. Kim Fulcher, the president, who held the office for two years, was supported by project chairman, Jennifer Brighton. Friends of the MST staff met with the leadership early on to create a meaningful partnership with the 75 clubs across the state, made up of over 2,000 women.
Over the course of the two-year partnership, the clubwomen planned and led hikes, gathered to learn about the MST, supported our work at events, became trail angels, supplied hikers with trail goodies, grew the MST community and enjoyed every mile along the way! We so enjoyed seeing them on the trail across the state and are thrilled that many of them are still enjoying the benefits they found on the trail during their two-year mission.
“GFWC of North Carolina members unite through community service, making a meaningful difference every day. The Mountains-to-Sea Trail has truly connected our clubwomen across the state and the excitement for this project was contagious,” Fulcher shared. “We hope that our projects and programs during these two years have created a lasting impact – service that strengthens communities, preserves natural resources, and leaves a legacy for generations ”
One of the key goals of the two-year program was to raise funds for Friends of the MST. The initial goal was set at $11,750 and the GFWC of NC overachieved by more than doubling their goal, raising over $25,000. This funding is dedicated to building new trailhead kiosks and other signage along the trail, helping others to learn more about the trail and to navigate it safely.
In early August of this year, Kim Fulcher joined Friends’ staff and board to install one of the more prominent kiosks their donation has supported. Friends of the MST installed a kiosk outside Raleigh where Falls Lake ends and the Neuse River begins, which is also where Segments 10 and 11 of the MST meet.
We are appreciative of the commitment of the many women who make up the GFWC of NC and look forward to installing many more kiosks on their behalf!
– Betsy Brown, Associate Director, Friends of the MST
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- Friends of the MST’s Executive Director Brent Laurenz and GFWC of NC’s Past President Kim Fulcher install new kiosk panel at Falls Lake
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- Friends’ Trail Resource Manager Jim Grode does the manual labor
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- Kim Fulcher shows the dedication plaques that are installed on all the kiosks funded by GFWCs of NC
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- Falls Lake Task Force Leader Jeff Brewer, Friend’s Board President Larry Humbert, Brent Laurenz, Kim Fulcher, Friends’ Associate Director Betsy Brown, Friends’ Board Member Martha PittmanB
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- Finished kiosk
