Charity Dining Event

On Sept. 25, 2019, Paoletti’s Restaurant in Highlands hosted its 4th ‘Peaceful Journey’ charity dining event to benefit Hospice House Foundation of WNC (HHFWNC).  Rachel Friday and Jeff Schenck, Highlands residents and dedicated supporters of HHFWNC, were Honorary Chairs of ‘Peaceful Journey IV’, which raised $60,000 thanks to event patrons who gave generously from their hearts.  The evening was captured professionally by Franklin photographer Tom Pantaleo, while fifty dining patrons indulged on an epicurean 4-course menu with wine pairings especially selected for the event’s passionate plea for support.  Local entertainer Cy Timmons led a live auction including five lots of wine and a luxurious 6-night hotel package in France donated by Highlands resident, Mario Leon and MJL Select. The event also included a cash call to help furnish the patient suites of SECU Hospice House, now under construction in Franklin.  Photos from the event may be viewed on hhfwnc.org. Special recognition to event planning committee members: Michele Alderson, President of HHFWNC, Elise Boren, Kathy Cotton, Arthur Paoletti, and Carolyn Timmons. All four ‘Peaceful Journey’ dining events, philanthropically hosted by Paoletti’s Restaurant and supported by the community, have raised a combined net total of $420,000.  HHFWNC is a 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to raise funds for a hospice inpatient facility for the far western region of North Carolina and northeast Georgia. Currently, the closest Hospice Houses are over an hour’s drive for most people. SECU Hospice House in Franklin will become the only free-standing inpatient hospice facility in North Carolina west of Asheville.  To date, HHFWNC has raised $3,950,000, 88% of its $4.5 million Campaign goal and construction is 30% complete.