CTNC’s 2025 Conservation Celebration

Rainbows in the Mountains: Connecting, Celebrating, and Uplifting CTNC’s Mission Together

This year’s Conservation Celebration was an inspiring evening made possible by our remarkable supporters, board members, and staff. Held at the picturesque Gideon Ridge Inn in Blowing Rock, NC, the event raised more than $70,000 in sponsorships to support CTNC’s mission.

Special thanks to our hosts Cobb and Cindy Milner, owners of Gideon Ridge Inn, who generously donated their warm and remarkable Inn to host 85 of our closest friends. Once again, we were treated to amazing heavy hors d’oeuvres and drinks thanks to Chef Hunter Womble and his team. We are very appreciative of the time and effort they dedicate to making this evening a night we all look forward to returning to year after year.

We were fortunate to have conservation partners from the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NCDNR) present at the event. Secretary Pam Cashwell and Chief Deputy Secretary Maggie Thompson expressed their dedication to protecting North Carolina’s natural resources and underlined the importance of partnerships to safeguard the state that we all call home. CTNC is grateful for Secretary Cashwell, Chief Deputy Secretary Thompson, and Special Assistant Holly Nelson taking the time to join us in Blowing Rock and sharing their drive for conservation.

We were grateful and excited to be joined by members of our conservation network spanning across the state, including George Ivey, Director at the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, Scott Elliot, Deputy Director for Engagement at the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina (GROW NC), Will Morgan, Lobbyist with The Raleigh Group, and Toby Hampson, North Carolina Court of Appeals Judge.

“Like you, I’ve watched North Carolina grow and change. I’ve also watched our climate change and our communities struggle to adapt. Of course, we want to welcome some of that growth and some of that change. But for me, knowing that there is an organization like the Conservation Trust for NC, working every day to protect these special places, does my heart good.”

Bill Leslie, Board President

We’re thankful to everyone who joined us to celebrate conservation, and we look forward to gathering with even more of our community next year. CTNC extends a heartfelt thank you to our sponsors, your generosity makes this work possible.

2025 Conservation Celebration Sponsors

Conservation Champion

Kent Davis & Carlos Garcia-Velez

John & Ashley Wilson

Ray Owens & Sally Higgins

Kathy Hamilton Stamper & Lucian Stamper

Dodd Haynes & Clara Martinez Haynes

North Carolina Appraisal Company

Walter & Jean Wilkinson

Alex & Anne Bernhardt

Drs. Elizabeth & Robert Iwaoka

Duane & Betti Kirkman

Charles & Lynne Mauney

Caroline & John Noor

Cynthia “Suki” Payne

Charlie & Deatra Sellers

Kathy & John Singleton