The Eblen-Kimmel Charities

A Bit of History

The Eblen-Kimmel Charities is a non-profit organization whose outreach extends throughout the counties of western North Carolina and through its numerous programs has helped thousands upon thousands of families each year with medical and emergency assistance.

Founded in 1991 in Asheville, NC by Joe Eblen, President of the Biltmore Oil Company, as the Eblen Foudation we has become one of North Carolina’s most innovative and effective social enterprises. Within its first decade, the Eblen Foundation has grown from assisting 300 families with one program during its first year to assisting tens of thousands of families with nearly 60 programs yearly throughout western North Carolina.

The work of the Eblen Foundation began with a golf tournament in 1990 to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis. After the second year of the tournament, a member of the golf committee received a phone call from a father who had a young daughter who had Cystic Fibrosis. He and his wife needed to take her to Duke University Hospital the following day and had no money to do so. He had called most of the large organizations in our area, but since this concerned father and his wife both worked and had insurance, they were denied any help.

Even though the parents were employed they still did not have the funds to make the trip and pay for the gas, food, and lodging they would need. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation was contacted and they explained that their funds were used for research. Upon explaining this to the father he said, “Research is important, but what do I do about tomorrow if I can’t take my daughter to the hospital?” Joe Eblen, through Biltmore Oil Company, had been sponsoring the tournament and when contacted, he paid for the family’s expenses out of his own pocket. Shortly there after, when meeting with the golf committee he questioned the wisdom of sending money away when there were families in need in our own community.

After researching many organizations in western North Carolina, and not finding one that would meet the needs of families regardless of income, he asked, “Why not just set up our own?”From that a yard sale was held and $400 was raised and the Eblen Foundation  was created.

In the fall of 2007, the Eblen-Charities and the Kimmel Foundation, founded by renowned philanthropists Joe and Cynthia Kimmel to create the Eblen-Kimmel Charitable Group to enhance and expand the outreach of these two dynamic groups to touch even more lives in our community.

A Few Facts

• The Eblen Foundation was established in 1992 and in 2007 combined their efforts with the Kimmel Foundation to form the Eblen-Kimmel Charitable Group
  
•  Each year tens of thousands of children, adults, and families are assisted through our numerous programs, partnerships, and outreach
  
• Twenty-five percent of all children in Buncombe County enrolled in Health Choice for Children are paid for by our Children’s Healthcare Initiative in partnership with Mission Health Systems
• Brad Johnson, quarterback of the Super Bowl XXXVII Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, serves as the Honorary Chairman of the Eblen–Kimmel Charities
  
• Brad Daugherty, University of North Carolina, Cleveland Cavalier basketball star, and NASCAR analyst serves as the Honorary Chairman of the Eblen-Kimmel Center for Social Enterprise
• Our programs are open to all children, adults, and families living with illnesses and disabilities regardless of income
• The families we serve guide our outreach as when we receive calls and are asked, “What you do, we respond, “What do you need?”
• All money raised remains in western North Carolina
  
• We remain the top referral agency of the United Way and other local assistance agencies
  
• Each year the our Food for Thought program distributes tens of thousands of snacks to area schools and after school programs and buys breakfast and lunch for any child who cannot afford to purchase the meals on their own 
• Each year more than 2,000 sealants are placed on area second graders each year through our Dental Sealant Partnership
• Each year tens of thousands of gallons of oil are given out through the Eblen-Kimmel Energy Project (the equivalent of more than ten tankers). 

In mid-November of 2007, two men of good will and vision in western North Carolina came together in friendship and purpose and created a unique partnership that serves to benefit families in times of need throughout our community. This unprecedented philanthropic joint venture brings the resources of the Kimmel Foundation, Eblen Charities, and the Eblen Center for Social Enterprise together to expand and enhance the outreach and programs of both organizations.

“I am just following Joe Eblen in his wonderful work,” states Joe Kimmel, founder of the Kimmel Foundation, and CEO of Kimmel and Associates, “We have the same goals and hopes. I am so blessed to be in this relationship with him.”

“We are proud and honored to be with Joe and Cynthia in this new partnership,” says Joe Eblen, founder of the Eblen Charities and the Eblen Center, “One thing we have learned throughout our years at the Eblen Charities, is how much can be done by working with friends who have the same heart for our community and those in need. Joe and Cynthia are just those friends.”

Through the convergence of these two groups, a new energy and focus is established to provide help to tens of thousands of children, adults, and families as well as the creation of other innovative programs and partnerships that have far reaching effects to countless aspects in our community and beyond.