“We are incredibly appreciative of the amount of support we have received from the community and we hope everyone can join us at O’Malley’s to enjoy good food, good friends, and a worthy cause!” said Amy Reams, Personal Lines Agent at Stanberry Insurance Agency.

Relay For Life is a fun-filled, overnight event that mobilizes communities throughout the country to celebrate survivors, remember loved ones, commit to fight back through healthy lifestyle changes, and raise money for the fight against cancer.

“The funds raised through our Relay For Life events enable us to continue our investment in the fight against cancer through research, education, advocacy and patient services,” added Linda Proctor, a Stanberry employee and cancer survivor. “Thanks to the generosity of our volunteers and donors, the money raised by Relay For Life participants goes directly to the American Cancer Society’s lifesaving research and programs.”

For more information contact Stanberry Insurance at 828-586-8926. Information about how to form a team or become involved in Relay For Life is available from the American Cancer Society on the Web at www.RelayForLife.org.

The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. Founded in 1913 and with national headquarters in Atlanta, the Society has 13 regional Divisions and local offices in 3,400 communities, involving millions of volunteers across the United States.

UPDATE:

Photo by Nick Breedlove NickBreedlove.com

As published in They Sylva Herald, the total donation by O’Malley’s of Sylva was $300.00.

Thank you to all that came out to support the cause and have a good time with us. A very big thank you to Lynn Stanberry and her staff for a fantastic night of food, fun and fund-raising!

Spring travel in the mountains offers stunning flowers bursting with color, as well as countless ways to experience a healthy getaway to rejuvenate and shed those extra winter pounds. A few calories burning activities could include a hike to Devil’s Courthouse on the Blue Ridge Parkway or sightseeing in a quaint village like Dillsboro. Scenic drives are a wonderful way to experience the majesty from the highest peak east of the Mississippi, to see flowers actually go from buds to blooms, or drive to an authentic spa town with hot spring waters.

If flowers are your passion, think about checking out the 25^th Annual Festival of Flowers at Biltmore Estate. More than 100,000 tulips will kick off the start of the festival which begins in April and runs through May. The stunning floral display sprawls across the estate and celebrates the 25^th anniversary of the festival. Expect live music daily in the garden house and conservatory, with daily seminars offered. The restaurants feature special menu items, drinks and desserts, with the Winery offering a commemorative Festival of Flowers wine, wine programs, and children’s activities on the weekends.

The 2010 French Broad River Festival is an annual festival has grown steadily from a one night benefit party on the banks of the French Broad to an all weekend family festival featuring some of the best music in the area and a number of outdoor events in celebration of this beautiful river and setting. The 13th annual festival is set for April 30 – May 2, 2019 where the French Broad River meets the Appalachian Trail at the beautiful Hot Springs Campground & Spa (www.camp.nchotsprings.com ). Festival begins at 4:00 on Friday, April 30 and ends Sunday, May 2. Visit our website www.frenchbroadriverfestival.com for details or call 828-253-1240. Proceeds from the festival will be donated to American Whitewater and the new Hot Springs Community Learning Center.

Saturdays in Waynesville beginning at the end of May kick off the BLOCK PARTY or Downtown is Alive at Night with live music and dancing. Eats and treats are offered on the street and restaurants are open. A children’s area near Fun Things, Etc is available to keep the kid’s entertained. On Saturday night’s downtown Waynesville is the place to be.

With 53 miles of track, 2 tunnels and 25 bridges, the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad offers a variety of excursions that explore the amazing landscape of Western North Carolina. With the romance and mystique of an era gone by, guests on-board the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad will enjoy scenic train journeys across fertile valleys and through river gorges in a spectacular region near The Great Smoky Mountains.

There is plenty to do in the mountains of Western North Carolina during the spring months depending on your tastes. You will find something to entertain yourself no matter what you are interested in. We hope you’ll visit us in the beautiful mountains.

With tables of clothing, toys, house wares, shoes and other accessories, the folks began lining up to purchase their items with all proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society.

Among the donated items were delicious baked good such as breads, muffins, brownies, cookies and Rice Krispy Treats donated by the staff. These baked items were a number one with the crowd who enjoyed having a little homemade treat.

The weather was very pleasing with a slightly overcast sky earlier in the day but turning into a brilliant spring day full of sunshine. The weather was absolutely perfect for attending the various yard sales and car washes set up throughout the community on Saturday.

The Stanberry Insurance Relay Team raised a grand total of $462 which will benefit the Relay event in June.

“We were very pleased with the overall success of the yard sale and look forward to contributing this money to a good cause,” said team captain, Heather Hyatt.

Relay for Life will be held at the Jackson County Recreation Center on June 4 beginning at 6:00 pm. For more information on this event and participation, visit our Relay page.

Update…04/21/2010

We have reached 76% of our goal of  $1,000 by getting donations in the amount of $758.36 including the yard sale  & luminaries as well as the individual donations made on our behalf! Way to  go team! Now if we can just earn $250 more our team will have reached it’s goal.  Email your friends and family—the smallest donations can make a big difference!

Stanberry Insurance contributed $500.00 to the relief fund that ultimately was a donation to the American Red Cross in the amount of $234,782.00!

“We’re grateful for the generosity of community partners like Erie Insurance,” said Pam Masi, executive director of the Erie Chapter of the American Red Cross.  “With your help we’re making an immediate difference in Haiti.”

Photo by: Mark Haskett

Providing insurance may be the Stanberry family’s specialty, but the company’s owners have yet other forté — serving their community.
“We want to make it a better place in our own little way,” said Scott Stanberry, who co-owns the business with his brother Kevin.
The Stanberrys have found multiple avenues to staying involved in Jackson County, from coaching Little League baseball to collecting cans for food drives to consistently being a lead donor in local walks to end cancer.
Kevin and Scott say they are just eager to give back to the community they’ve called home for decades.
“We’re from here so we definitely stay involved and try to help out,” said Kevin.
The Stanberrys’ commitment to the community is evident to anyone who drives past their Sylva office. Instead of using the marquis outside for promotional purposes, the company opts instead to display community-focused messages.
Recently, the marquis invited passersby to drop off teddy bears for children in need. This free advertising helped build up a pile of teddy bears in a big cardboard box inside the Sylva office.
Every year, Stanberry Insurance employees take part in a charitable Christmas project, with the latest one involving collecting food to give away in backpacks to hungry children.
Stanberry Insurance also regularly contributes to local nonprofits and sponsors local sports teams. Athletes in elementary school all the way to those at Western Carolina University receive financial support from the company.
Having a commitment to the community while simultaneously operating a successful business is a skill Kevin and Scott learned while growing up. Their father would wake up each day at 5 a.m. to get work done and still have time to coach Little League baseball and make it to Kevin and Scott’s baseball and basketball games.
Kevin and Scott have learned well from their parents, expanding the business to two new locations in Waynesville and Highlands since taking over. When their father and mother opened Stanberry Insurance in 1980, they only had one other employee. Now, the number of employees has swollen to 30.
Though everybody at work isn’t a Stanberry, a family atmosphere still persists at the office.
“We have people who worked for our parents that still work for us,” said Kevin.
But it’s not just the employees that want to stick around.
“This is home,” said Kevin. “I don’t think of ever living anywhere else.”

Published in Our Town 2010 • Vol. 5

Distributed by the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce