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
Thomas R. Statnick
Blue Ridge Leaders
Chip Anderson
Faye & John Cooper
Kent Davis & Carlos Garcia-Velez
Cobb & Cindy Milner
Susan & Tom Ross
John & Ashley Wilson
Patron Sponsors
Anna Neal Blanchard
Ray Owens & Sally Higgins
Kathy Hamilton Stamper & Lucian Stamper
Julia Truelove
Joe & Tina Vrabel
Host Sponsors
Dan & Linda Brown
Sarah Guidi
Dodd Haynes & Clara Martinez Haynes
Mary Anne Howard
Bill & Cindy Leslie
North Carolina Appraisal Company
Megg & Robert Rader
Henry & Nancy Unger
Walter & Jean Wilkinson
Tom & Betty Yarboro
Andrew Zavaleta
Supporter Sponsors
Alex & Anne Bernhardt
Juliana Henderson
Drs. Elizabeth & Robert Iwaoka
Marc & Sandy Kadyk
Duane & Betti Kirkman
Mast General Store
Charles & Lynne Mauney
Charlie McGoogan
Caroline & John Noor
Cynthia “Suki” Payne
Ebony L. Perkins
Charlie & Deatra Sellers
Kathy & John Singleton
Aidan & Lisa Waite
Judy & Bill Watson