With a flair for the dramatic, Brian Robinson is someone you want on your side, regardless of the cause at hand. Brian, an actor, was raised by his parents along with three brothers. His father never talked about being adopted and never searched for his birth parents. In fact, it was Brian’s mother who told him and his brothers that their father was adopted. Brian always assumed his father was ashamed of his origin.
Coming to Henderson County
Brian has lived in Henderson County for the last three years. However, he has been a part of the community since 1993 when he first worked at Flat Rock Playhouse, a local professional theater. After a 12 year absence, Brian returned to Henderson County yearly from 2005 to 2015, when he decided to put down roots in Flat Rock.
After his father’s death nine years ago, Brian wanted to honor his father’s memory. Combining his love of children and the knowledge about his father’s adoption made sense to Brian and sent him searching for a way to impact the lives of children.
Meeting Crossnore
In 2017, Brian visited the Avery campus of Crossnore School & Children’s Home and met Brett Loftis, Chief Executive Officer. This visit allowed Brian to experience the feeling of home in our cottages and to feel the love that surrounds our children. “I knew immediately that this was the place I wanted to support,” said Brian. “Crossnore is in a different league.”
As he continued his research, Brian learned that the needs of the children in foster care in North Carolina are overwhelming and outstrip the current services available across the state. Brian says that he selfishly wanted to expand Crossnore’s footprint into Henderson and surrounding counties, often an underserved area of North Carolina. Working with Tanya Blackford and other leaders in Hendersonville, Brian was part of a group that brainstormed about services that Crossnore could offer in the community.
Important work
When asked why he has been such a big supporter and advocate of Crossnore’s work in Henderson County, Brian listed three reasons. He said, “I don’t think there’s any more important work than what Crossnore does in taking care of the most vulnerable people in society, children. Secondly, it is important because the need is unmeetable without people in the community pitching in. And finally, Crossnore is nationally renown for their work. We are blessed to have them in our state.”
In turn, Crossnore is indeed blessed by Brian’s engagement and support in his community.
