WCMS Awarded Multiyear Grant from The Leon Levine Foundation
Asheville, NC – The Western Carolina Medical Society (WCMS) is proud to share that The Leon Levine Foundation has awarded the organization a multiyear grant of $150,000 to support WCMS’ mission of improving healthcare access for underserved communities across Western North Carolina.
This generous funding will allow WCMS to strengthen and expand its core initiatives, including Project Access®, which connects low-income, uninsured individuals with essential medical care. Project Access currently operates in Buncombe and Madison County, working in tandem with local medical providers and clinics to provide access to free, specialty healthcare. Additionally, Project Access utilizes the area’s largest interpreting network, WCMS Interpreter Network (WIN), to ensure patients receive care in their home language. Project Access celebrates 30 years of moving medical mountains this year.
“We are deeply thankful to The Leon Levine Foundation for their ongoing partnership in ensuring all our neighbors receive the care they need,” said Karen Wallace-Meigs, Executive Director of WCMS. “This grant will ensure Project Access continues to be a life-saving service for people who would otherwise suffer unnecessarily.”
About The Leon Levine Foundation
Established in 1980 by Leon Levine, founder and former chairman of Family Dollar Stores, Inc., The Leon Levine Foundation empowers underserved Carolinians to be self-sufficient and strengthens Jewish communities. Based in Charlotte, N.C., the Foundation creates impact through grants and investments across North and South Carolina, supporting both long-standing community partners and focused strategic initiatives. The Foundation is on a time-bound mission to strengthen children and families, build strong futures for hardworking adults, and cultivate vibrant Jewish communities. Guided by Mr. Levine’s vision, the Foundation’s philanthropy is anchored in four enduring areas of impact: education, healthcare, human services, and Jewish values.
About The Western Carolina Medical Society
The Western Carolina Medical Society has a membership of more than 700 physicians and physician assistants. Its mission is to advocate for healthy communities, increase access to affordable healthcare, fight health inequities, and promote wellness in WNC.
Throughout its history, WCMS has been at the forefront of working collaboratively with area organizations to address the health challenges facing our community’s residents. In 2026, WCMS launched free prenatal classes for Spanish-speaking Buncombe County residents, a diabetes intervention program with fresh, farm-grown food, and expanded the WNC-Colorectal Cancer Screening Initiative to far western counties.
For more information about the Western Carolina Medical Society, contact Niki Duff, Director of Development & Communications at niki@mywcms.org or visit www.mywcms.org.
