JANUARY 28, 2010 ISSUE
HHC’s Christmas in the Mountains Volume 3 CD Sales Produce $27,000 to Fight Hunger in High Country
Morton Honored for Project Vision and Volunteerism
The Hunger and Health Coalition Executive Director Compton Fortuna and Christmas in the Mountains Volume 3 CD project coordinator Leslie Shavell gathered at High Country Press this week to celebrate the success of this holiday season’s CD sales and to honor the project’s visionary, Crae Morton of the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation and HHC volunteer. Morton spearheaded creation of the CD fundraiser three year ago. The project, to date, has raised $87,000 over three years to help fight hunger in the High Country. Photo by Ken Ketchie 
Approximately $27,000 was raised to fight hunger in the High Country through sales of The Hunger and Health Coalition’s Christmas in the Mountains Volume 3 CD.You’re not going to find any depressing news about the economic depression in this story.
Amid what is now called the Great Recession, The Hunger and Health Coalition (HHC) scored a big win against hunger in the High Country through sales of its Christmas in the Mountains Volume 3 CD. This week, HHC Executive Director Compton Fortuna and CD project coordinator Leslie Shavell gathered at High Country Press to celebrate the success of this holiday season’s CD sales and to honor the project’s visionary, Crae Morton of the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation and HHC volunteer.
With proceeds still coming in, Shavell and Fortuna said that approximately $27,000 was raised through sales of the Christmas in the Mountains Volume 3 CD. That amount, according to Fortuna, translates into roughly 60,000 to 70,000 pounds of food that the HHC can purchase to feed hungry people in the High Country.
“Our goal was $30,000, but I’m very happy with the proceeds, especially considering the economic downturn,” said Shavell.
Since first producing the CD three years ago, HHC has raised almost $90,000 to fight hunger in the High Country. According to Shavell, sales from the first CD provided $20,000 and sales from the second CD provided $40,000. When combined with this year’s expected total, the project has produced $87,000 since its inception, representing the largest annual fundraiser for HHC.
If you ask Shavell and Fortuna where the kudos should be extended for the success of the project, their answer is quick and precise—Morton. To honor Morton’s volunteerism and vision for the project, Shavell and Fortuna presented Morton with a plaque this week during a surprise gathering at High Country Press.
“I’m honored, but I’m just one man,” said a surprised and modest Morton, as he was presented with the plaque.
“No, Crae,” answered Fortuna. “You could have just written a check, but instead you gave of your time and you gave us a gift that will last forever.”
“We give you this award because without your idea, we wouldn’t be here,” said Shavell. “[Morton] started this whole program.”
The Christmas in the Mountains CDs are created annually with help from Morton, Shavell, Fortuna, countless HHC volunteers, local musicians and Scott Wynne of the ASU Hayes School of Music. Wynne is the director of the ASU Gilley Recording Studio and serves as head engineer and producer of the CD.
“Scott is smart, talented, energetic and he loves music and loves to help,” explained Morton. “He is a true professional in the industry that we are lucky to have in Boone.”
Artists who donated music to this holiday season’s CD include Amantha Mill, Todd Wright, Jeff Little & Friends, Diana and Sarvis Ridge, Strictly Clean & Decent, Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church Choir, Bob and Ellie, Sharon Mitchell, Ruth and Steve Smith, Helen White, Joe Shannon, The Kinston Trio and Jessica Presnell.
The CDs are sold annually at more than 70 locations across the High Country for $10. Back copies of the CDs are available on eBay.
“I remember the vision of what it could be and it seemed impossible to me when Crae first brought it up,” said Fortuna. “But Crae knew how to do it and pulled it all together and it’s been amazing.”
Shavell added, “In this organization, everyone has a job and everyone does their job—that’s why we are here today.”
This holiday season, HHC learned just how popular the CD has become. Residents and visitors alike regularly call HHC requesting the CD, and many retail locations ran out of the CD ahead of schedule.
“People are looking for it now because they know it’s a quality, local product,” said Shavell. “That’s a sign we’re doing things right.”
Requests for the CD and its retail popularity also speak to its visibility and widening exposure.
“Our goal going in was to, of course, raise money but it was also to increase the visibility of The Hunger and Health Coalition’s work during the holiday season,” explained Morton. “When shopping, people see the CD at all these locations, and even if they don’t buy it, it puts [the idea of helping the hungry] into their heads. There’s a residual effect that may inspire future gifts. Fifty percent of our goal was to have a presence.”
“This is so far reaching—you can’t even measure the exposure this project has created,” added Shavell.
Work on the Christmas in the Mountains Volume 4 CD begins this month. If local musicians would like to donate music to the project and/or if local residents would like to make a financial donation to the project and/or to HHC, call Fortuna at 828-262-1628.
On a closing note, Shavell shared that when she first came to volunteer with HHC in 2005, the organization served roughly 2,400 families. Today, thanks to the tireless efforts of its staff and volunteers such as Morton, HHC serves 6,800 families or 17,000 local residents—that’s larger than the population of the Town of Boone.
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