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Our Community

Giving Back

Old Edwards Hospitality has been part of the Highlands community for a long time, and we hope to be here much longer. We are proud to live and work on the Plateau, and we know that a strong community is the backbone of a strong company. Our organization and employees look for ways to give back each year.

     

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Some initiatives that we’ve focused on in recent years are:

Making a smaller footprint on the environment by implementing sustainable practices that keep our environment cleaner—both locally and beyond.	Supporting local schools and students through scholarships and providing supplies—like iPads for students—as well as our employees coaching sports teams and volunteering in needed positions.	Fostering economic growth by supporting local  businesses, festivals and other organizations—like the Chamber of Commerce-- that help bring visitors to the area.
Supporting the Highlands-Cashiers Humane Society with donations. While most of our hotel rooms are pet-free due to potential allergies for our guests, we LOVE animals! Our employees have adopted some of the very best dogs and cats in the world!	Supporting many local non-profit organizations through fundraisers, donations of funds, equipment, meeting spaces as well as auction items and volunteer hours.	Feeding and supporting those in need within the community through the Food Pantry, Literacy Council, Friendship Center as well as the Town of Highlands government.
Recycling discarded soap bars and plastic bottles through Clean the World.	Donating time to sit on local boards,  to proctor at the schools and coach sports  teams, and mentor local as well as international individuals who want to learn skills appropriate for a career in hospitality.	Removing litter from roadsides each year when crews of employees participate in the annual Plateau Pick-up event. This year we gathered over 75 bags of trash!

           We are also:

• Bringing happier holidays to local families and children through our annual food and toy drive for the Highlands Food Pantry and the regional chapter of Toys for Tots, where our employees donate thousands of food items and toys.
• Consulting with Waste Reduction Partners to improve energy management.
• Printing brochures for the Highlands Greenway Project.
• Funding scholarships for local graduating seniors.
• Hosting appreciation dinners for our local firefighters, police, and teachers during the holidays.
• Subsidizing daycare costs for working parents unable to meet the higher cost of living on the Plateau. 
• Hosting a Stop-and-Adopt event for the Highland-Cashiers Humane Society.
• Partnering with Western Carolina University's Natural Resource Conservation and Management Program for a research project focused on uncovering new approaches to green hospitality.
• Donating space, supplies, and time to several non-profit causes and fundraisers like The Bascom Benefit Gala, Highlands Rotary Club Craft Beer Night, Highlands Food & Wine Festival, Highlands Chamber of Commerce Spring Fling and Autumn Ovation, and recently for free COVID testing for the community.

If you are interested in working with a company that cares about the community and strives to help make Highlands a great place to live, please click over to our Careers page to learn about employment opportunities with The Old Edwards Hospitality Group.