NORTH CAROLINA (WBTV) - North Carolina natives Eric Church and Stephen Curry were recognized on the TIME100 Philanthropy 2025.
The list highlights 100 global leaders in philanthropy who are shaping the future of giving.
The country superstar spends nearly half of each year living in Avery County, an area devastated by September's storm.
"The mountains have meant so much to me creatively," he said. "That's the place my soul rests, where I go to heal myself and let the world calm down."
Helene ripped through the area, bringing flooding, mudslides, and 100 mph winds. The storm killed over 100 North Carolinians, making it the deadliest hurricane to strike the country's mainland since Katrina in 2005.
Amid the storm, Church immediately mobilized his influence and fan base to help his community.
"Usually, the fundamental thing they've always had was neighbors helping neighbors," Church said. "But they all needed help."
Church, along with fellow country singer, Huntersville native, and former App State student Luke Combs, organized the incredible Concert for Carolina.
The show, a benefit concert for Helene victims, was a six-hour event at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. Over 80,000 people attended, raising $24.5 million for relief efforts.
Church also expedited the release of a new single, "Darkest Hour," and donated all royalties to those impacted by Helene.
"I think it's the most fulfilling part of music: to use music to actually help people," Church said.
Church didn't stop there, though. The singer recently joined North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein and more community partners on Friday, April 11, to break ground on the new area known as Blue Haven.
The Avery County development will have 40-45 modern e-built homes and is expected to be available to people and families impacted by Hurricane Helene.
"Dignity and community are key to the long-term success of the blueprint," Church said. "This is a generational shift in response to a generational disaster like Helene."
Stephen Curry and his wife Ayesha were honored with a spot in this year's list thanks to a massive donation to their "Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation."
The Charlotte natives pledged $25 million to the foundation in August to narrow the literacy gap in Oakland's underserved communities.
Steph and Ayesha's donation came as COVID-19 emergency relief funds were running out for Oakland schools, so the couple funded high-dosage tutoring. That type of learning is generally defined as one-on-one or small group tutoring.
"We quickly realized that the literacy rates in all of these schools were plummeting, and they were plummeting from a place that was already depressingly low," said Ayesha.
The tutoring happens three times a week for some 10,000 elementary school students in their adopted hometown.
"With just a little bit of one-on-one tutoring, you're able to have these kids jump leaps and bounds," Ayesha continued. "They're also being instilled with so much confidence now that is shifting to every other subject matter within the school day. It's such a beautiful thing."
The Curry's foundation has raised and invested over $75 million in initiatives since its 2019 launch.