Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Here at Ashvegas, I have a good time tracking celebrity sightings. Sometimes I poke fun at the superstars. Mostly I’m just awestruck and a little jealous.
And when it comes to actress and model Andie MacDowell, some might even call me obsessed.
The truth is that it’s all in good fun. But I want to get serious here for a moment and talk about just how much MacDowell has given back to Asheville and its residents since she moved here. It’s a gift of her time and energy and passion, and for far too long, it’s been under-appreciated. I might go so far as to say it’s been taken for granted.
But MacDowell has brought her energy to bear on a number of community projects that are truly making a difference.
She has been outspoken about her love of animals and has helped raise untold thousands of dollars for Asheville’s Humane Society. Most recently, MacDowell lent her endorsement to a $2.5 million dollar campaign to build a new adoption and education center in Asheville.
MacDowell has been tireless in her work to support various efforts to battle breast cancer and raise awareness about ovarian cancer. Her appearances and such are too numerous to mention, but it’s clear that the issue is dear to her heart.
Most recently, MacDowell is this year’s honorary spokeswoman for the WNC AIDS Project’s World AIDS Day initiative here in Asheville. (Full disclosure: I’m a member of the WNCAP board.) Once again, MacDowell is lending her star power to help raise awareness about a deadly virus that still kills. This year is the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day, and WNCAP is bringing 20 sections of the AIDS Memorial Quilt to Pack Place starting Nov. 24. There will be a candlelight vigil, as well as the exhibit. Just a couple of days ago, MacDowell showed up at a downtown restaurant to help boost this event.
All of this is to say, Andie, we love you. Asheville loves you. You are one of our most under-appreciated assets. This is a long overdue thank-you for everything you’ve done to help make our community a better place.
I love few things in life, 2 at the top of my list are Ashville, NC and Andie MacDowell. I’ve loved Andie’s work and what she has done for the Asheville area. We should all respect her community work and choosing to live locally, when she could be anywhere in the world. Andie keep up the wonderful work and if you’re still single, I’d love to do coffee or dinner at the Biltmore one evening. 🙂
With Andie’s love of pets, I would like to contact her regarding my company, PetTravelCenter.com, to discuss safe pet travel opportunities. We’re based near Winston-Salem, NC. Is there a publicist’s email address or phone number you know of so I can get a message to her? Much obliged!
Tom James
President
PetTravelCenter.com
http://www.PetTravelCenter.com
Let’s try this again. Does Andie even live in Asheville anymore? Perhaps she still maintains a multi-million dollar condo downtown. Hmm, if that’s true your readers should be aware of it. Otherwise, Andie moved to the gated compound of ‘Balsam Preserve’ (Chaffin/Light,Inc.) awhile back. There she stays in abject faux-green luxury behind the heavy security (they bought and paid for the chairman of the Jackson County commissioners!) of a major polluter of a once pristine area of the Smokies. I wonder if Andie thinks much of environmental causes west of the Balsams? I mean, why bother? After all we’uns is just a bunch of ignorant kissin’ cuzins rite?
i met her that day at the nature center to check out the groundhogs shadow— she is just the sweetest person! love her!
Here! Here! We are so lucky to have Ms. MacDowell in our community!
I have always admired her work as an actress but, after moving to Asheville and learning of her involvement in such great causes, I’ve come to respect her as well.
Thank you for your post!
Small Footprints
http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com