The Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park (FOS) celebrated a record breaking fifth annual “Friends at The Swag Weekend” fund-raising event April 26-29, an event that has raised more than $450,000 since 1997.

The event is hosted by The Rev. Dan Matthews and Mrs. Deener Matthews, owners of The Swag Inn. This year saw the most participants ever plus a record breaking $25,080 auction on Saturday night.

Participants give a donation of $5,000 or more to spend the weekend enjoying hikes, programs and The Swag’s hospitality. The award-winning Swag Country Inn is located on the boundary of the park, off Hemphill Road, in Haywood County at an elevation of 5,000 feet.

This year’s event had as honorary hosts the Archbishop of Canterbury and his wife. The Most Reverend and Right Honorable George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Eileen Carey attended, and Dan Matthews said the honor of having the archbishop was impossible to describe.

“He is such a giant of a man, it’s hard to imagine the hat he wears,” said Matthews.

The archbishop is the spiritual leader of more than 85 million Anglicans around the world. “For him to give us an entire weekend is almost indescribable,” Matthews said.

During the Sunday morning devotional, the archbishop applauded the generosity of the guests and the hard work of the FOS. He told the group that the measure of a person’s worth was what that person could give.

Deener Matthews said this year’s auction was especially precious. She said people truly donated treasures. Principal Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Leon Jones, who is an FOS board member, donated a basket containing jewelry, arts and crafts all created by Cherokee artists and artisans. According to Matthews, the archbishop joined the giving by offering a pen and ink drawing of Lambeth Palace dating back to the 1800s.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Superintendent Superintendent Mike Tollefson said it was an honor to share Cataloochee Valley with the archbishop. It just reinforced the spirituality of the Smokies, according to Tollefson.

“The spiritual values of the Great Smoky Mountains transcends denominations,” he said.

Stephen Woody, vice-president of FOS, echoing the archbishop’s sentiments about giving, said the fact that people gave up their homes to help establish the park and that volunteers continue to give are part of the unique value of the GSMNP.

FOS president Gary Wade continued his tradition of giving away dead animals at the event. Wade presented the Matthews with a stuffed fox and raccoon. Wade said the gifts are given tongue-in-cheek, but he always makes sure beforehand they will be appreciated.

Wade said the fund-raising event is an integral part of the FOS budget, and the Matthews help by donating the use of the inn for a weekend every year.

The Matthews, who began using the Swag as a place for church retreats before turning it into an inn, said the fund-raising weekend is simply a way of fulfilling the fundamental mission of The Swag.

“It has always been intended to be used as a service to others,” Matthews said.

Deener Matthews said the couple was committed to the annual event.

“As long as I’m walking. It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to open up to a group like this that is so committed to good stewardship of the park,” she said.

Dan Matthews agreed: “To be able to have our guests walk into the park is such a blessing. To give back to the park, it’s almost an embarrassment that we don’t give more. The park is a treasure.”

In honor of the archbishop, attendees of the fundraiser were given English oaks to take home and plant in remembrance of the fund-raising weekend.

 

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The Smoky Mountain News