Honoring Our Community Champions

It’s Smart Start Month and we want to honor champions throughout our region.

We are grateful that Governor Stein, once again, declared September 2026 Smart Start

Month. In honor of Smart Start month, Region A Partnership for Children (RAPC) will honor

Champions for Children with a deep commitment to service for children and youth.

RAPC is requesting nominations for Champions for Children who serve children and reside

in Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain Counties, and the

Qualla Boundary.

Nominations for Champions for Children will include the following

information:

•  The name and contact information for the Champion

•  The County of Residence

•  How the Champion serves Children and Youth, including volunteer service

•  What makes the individual an extraordinary Champion for Children.

Region A Partnership for Children will award to the 8 chosen Champions, 1 from each

county and the Boundary, with the opportunity to designate a grant to their chosen nonprofit agency serving children and youth. Grants will be provided by the RAPC endowment, the Carolina Mountain Trust for Children and Youth.

Champions Nominations should be emailed to Jody Miller at jmiller@rapc.org by September 30, 2026.