For nearly two decades, Heather LaGarde has been at the heart of revitalization in Saxaphaw.  With career roots in event design, strategic planning, and global leadership, she is now the founder and owner of the award-winning Haw River Ballroom, co-owner of Cup 22 Coffeehouse, and producer of Saturdays in Saxaphaw, a long-running music and farmers’ market series. Under her leadership, she has found creative ways to champion the preservation of historic spaces, support local artisans, create jobs for this rural area of Alamance County, and has been an integral part in making Saxaphaw a tourist destination, bringing in visitors from across the region. Through these efforts, she has successfully worked to transform the village into a vibrant cultural hub.

Heather also serves on numerous community boards, such as the Culture Mill, Paperhand Puppet Intervention, and the Saxaphaw Rivermill Community Association.  Through these roles, she has forged important partnerships that connect arts, businesses, environmental stewardship, and community life. She is also a long-standing partner of the Hawbridge School, demonstrating a deep commitment to education, youth empowerment, and community collaboration through her generosity and leadership. High school graduations, proms and other milestone school events are hosted at the Haw River Ballroom, providing unforgettable experiences for students and families. 

This past July, when Tropical Depression Chantal stalled out over Alamance County, it left the community of Saxaphaw with historic levels of flooding and tremendous amount of devastation, especially for local business owners.  Heather jumped in immediately, using her connections and masterful facilitation skills.  She hosted a meeting for the entire community in less than 24 hours after the storm and opened the Haw River Ballroom as a hub for donations and volunteer coordination. Under her leadership, teams worked to clean and salvage iconic Saxaphaw businesses and landmarks, such as Paperhand Puppet’s studio and Saxaphaw Island Park. She worked tirelessly to convert a disaster into a moment of resilience and community, which will serve the community well moving forward. Heather’s work has not only strengthened the cultural and economic fabric of Alamance County, but has inspired many others to lead, create, and give back.  We are so thankful to have her as a change agent in our community, and we are thrilled to honor her this year as a recipient of the Founder’s Award!