ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Gov. Josh Stein will honor North Carolinians who helped their communities recover from Tropical Storm Helene during the 2025 North Carolina Awards on Thursday night at the historic Grove Park Inn in Asheville.
In addition to recognizing six North Carolina Award recipients, Stein will celebrate eight “Helene Heroes,” whose relief efforts following the devastating storm exemplified service and resilience. Proceeds from the event will support Helene recovery, with nearly $200,000 raised so far through the North Carolina Community Foundation.
“In the face of incredible loss, thousands of Helene Heroes stepped up to serve their neighbors in ways large and small and to rebuild their communities,” Stein said in a news release. “I’m honored to recognize some of these inspirational Helene Heroes — North Carolinians whose resilience, service and creativity embody the best of our state. Tonight, we honor their leadership by reaffirming our commitment to helping them recover and thrive.”
The Helene Heroes being recognized include:
Claire Neal, CEO of MANNA FoodBank: The food bank’s operations were devastated by Helene. Neal and her team quickly established emergency distribution hubs at the Western North Carolina Farmers Market, distributing 9.2 million pounds of food in the first five months after the storm.
Matt Martinka and Nathan Curlee, Duke Energy: The Asheville-area lineman and apprentice hiked nearly two miles through storm-damaged terrain to restore power to the Asheville VA Medical Center.
Amanda Watts, Burnsville Field Hospital: The Yancey County nurse helped set up a field hospital at the Burnsville Fire Department to provide care for residents affected by the storm.
Pastor David Lewkowicz and DeLaina Lewkowicz, The Bridge Church: In Hendersonville, the church partnered with Mercy Chefs to serve thousands of hot meals to families whose homes were damaged or destroyed.
Katherine and Eric Church, Chief Cares: The singer-songwriter and his wife raised millions through their nonprofit to build homes for residents who lost theirs during the hurricane. Eric Church was also a 2022 NC Awards winner.
The North Carolina Award, established by the General Assembly in 1961, recognizes contributions to the state and nation in fine arts, literature, public service and science. More than 300 people have received the award, including William Friday, James Taylor, Maya Angelou, Etta Baker, Lee Smith, Selma Burke, Branford Marsalis and Eric Church.