A message from Eric

On resilience, roots, and what we’re building together
An excerpt from our 2025 Annual Report

Dear Friends and Supporters,
Western North Carolina has shaped everything about me. I grew up in the mountains of Granite Falls, and have spent much of my adult life returning to them to write, to think, and to be near the people and places that made me who I am. When Hurricane Helene struck in September 2024, those mountains were at the center of unmatched devastation. My wife, Katherine, and I were determined to stand with the communities impacted by the storm.

In May 2026, addressing the graduating class of the University of North Carolina, I spoke about what I call the Six Strings of Life: faith, family, a life partner, resilience, community, and individuality. The one I find myself returning to again and again, in life and in this work, is community. In moments of devastation, against all logic, communities come together at their strongest. This special kind of resilience was our guiding star when we formed Blue Haven, a Chief Cares Mission.

We believe that the most meaningful thing we can do for communities in need is make a long-term commitment to the people within them. Every small town in every state across this country has people who embody hope when things get tough. They are the steady hands, and the warm heart. They are the reason that Western North Carolina, or any community touched by disaster, endures. And they are vital to the future of the places they love.

These were the people I kept thinking about in the days and weeks after the storm. These are the people Blue Haven was built to serve. And by making it possible for them to stay rooted in their communities, we have created a model for rising up after disaster.
None of this happens without you. The donors, partners, volunteers, and supporters who believed in this before there was much to show for it — your generosity is the reason Blue Haven exists. Thank you for trusting us with your resources and your confidence. We take that trust seriously, and we intend to keep earning it.

Looking ahead, we are hopeful and determined. There’s more work to do, and I’m grateful to be doing it alongside you.

With gratitude,
Eric Church