Where Generosity Becomes Good Medicine

The room was already buzzing when my longtime friend Bob Rodman stepped forward and took the microphone. In front of him sat an extraordinary collection of auction offerings—fine jewelry, a prized bourbon collection, and family adventures stretching all the way to Bryce Canyon. My two original paintings waited beneath the lights as Bob worked the crowd with the warmth, humor, and persistence of someone who understood that every raised hand represented far more than a winning bid.

It represented a community taking care of its own.  The historic Hound Ears Open began in 1970 as a tribute to Grover Robbins, one of the three brothers who founded Hound Ears Club near Boone. Over the years, the tournament and auction have raised more than $2.5 million in support of the Appalachian Regional Health Care Foundation and its work to strengthen healthcare throughout North Carolina's High Country.

That is an impressive number, but numbers alone rarely tell the whole story. The real story is found in the people who continue to show up.

Someone has to care enough to lead.
This year’s festivities were beautifully coordinated by Libba Gaither and Mac Parrott. Following the golf tournament, guests gathered for cocktails and dinner before leaning into an energetic live auction.

Events like this may look effortless from the outside, but they never are. Behind every welcoming smile and perfectly timed moment are people who have invested countless hours, invited others into the cause, and cared enough to make the evening matter.

Bob and Anne Rodman are relatively new to Hound Ears, yet they have already immersed themselves in both the community and its way of life. Bob didn’t simply serve as auctioneer. He brought his enthusiasm, relationships, and personality to the room. He reminded us that joining a community means more than occupying a place within it. It means finding a way to contribute.

Someone has to offer what they have.
For this year’s auction, I created two original paintings celebrating the character of Hound Ears. “Hound Ears No. 5” captures the magnificent new fifth hole, while “Hound Ears Rocks” portrays the distinctive formations that gave the resort its name.

As an artist, I never quite know where a painting’s journey will lead. It begins alone in the studio, but its meaning often expands when someone else discovers a connection to it.

David and Debbie Sapp, along with their son Mac, purchased “Hound Ears Rocks.” I especially enjoyed learning that David once painted in watercolors himself. Perhaps he saw not only a familiar landmark in the painting, but also something of his own creative journey.

Anthony and Jeannie Sedberry purchased “Hound Ears No. 5." By the following morning, Joy and I stopped by and hung it in their dining room. That quick trip from auction floor to a family home felt like the perfect final brushstroke.

By evening's end both paintings had found new homes, becoming part of a larger story of generosity and a community willing to invest in the well-being of its neighbors.

Someone has to answer the invitation.
Local healthcare is one of those things we may not think about until we need it. Yet it remains a bedrock of every thriving community—caring for our families, supporting our neighbors, and standing ready during some of life’s most vulnerable moments.

The generosity surrounding the Hound Ears Open is especially meaningful because those who have been blessed are choosing to lean into a cause that serves the entire region. They aren’t simply giving back. They are helping ensure that excellent care remains close to home.

A strong community is not created by one generous person, one successful auction, or even one beautiful evening. It is created when organizers, volunteers, donors, bidders, and friends each bring what they have and trust that, together, it will be enough to make a difference.

That evening, every raised hand told the same story: We are fortunate to be part of this community. And we are willing to help take care of it.