The Charlotte-based Leon Levine Foundation committed $5 million this week to Hurricane Helene relief efforts in the devastated North Carolina mountains — the latest big donation from a foundation, company or individual based in or with a strong presence in Charlotte.

“This is a time our broader community must come together to help those in need,” Tom Lawrence, Leon Levine Foundation president and CEO, said in a statement.

Helene killed at least 143 people in the Southeast, CNN reported Tuesday afternoon. Authorities confirmed 57 deaths in Buncombe County, home of Asheville, Sheriff Quentin Miller said Tuesday. The storm erased downtown Chimney Rock and other areas of the mountains and left thousands homeless..

An initial $1 million went to the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina to help in 18 counties, Lawrence said. The foundation also has accelerated payments of scheduled 2025 grants and given more grants to its nonprofit partners in the mountains, he said.

Leon Levine, founder of the first Family Dollar store in Charlotte, established the foundation in 1980.

Other big donations to help Helene victims

On Tuesday, American Airlines, which has a hub at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, announced that AAdvantage members have donated more than $2 million to American Red Cross Helene relief.

And wireless provider Spectrum committed $1 million to Helene relief in the Carolinas, Florida and Georgia.

The Connecticut-based company will donate $50,000 each to the NC Disaster Relief Fund, OneSC Fund and Volunteer Florida Foundation, the company announced Tuesday.

Spectrum will give an additional $100,000 to local organizations in areas hardest hit by Helene, including in and around Asheville; Spartanburg, South Carolina; Georgia and the west Florida coast. Spectrum is giving $750,000 in free public service announcements to the organizations.

Last Saturday, the foundation headed by the owners of the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC committed to an initial donation to Helene relief in the Carolinas. The David and Nicole Tepper Foundation, and the Teppers’ two local sports organizations, announced an initial pledge of $3 million.

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