Donor Spotlight: Mary Buttitta

A retired psychotherapist with a lifelong passion for nature, Mary Buttitta (pictured above, right) has always sought balance in nature. Fifteen years ago, she and her partner, Anne (pictured above, left), traded the mountains of Vermont for the rugged beauty of Asheville. An avid hiker and backpacker, Mary quickly fell in love with the Appalachian Mountains and felt drawn to make them home.

For Mary, MountainTrue is more than an organization; it is a community-driven force that “gets the work done.” She was deeply moved by MountainTrue’s response to Hurricane Helene, where the team partnered with local groups like RiverLink to clean up our rivers, streams, and roadways. Beyond disaster relief, Mary deeply values MountainTrue Action Alerts, noting how they make it easy for everyone to speak up and defend our forests and rivers.

The spirit of stewardship runs deep in Mary’s life. Her parents were early role models, practicing “reuse, reduce, and recycle” long before it became a widespread movement. They instilled in Mary a lifelong dedication to caring for our resources and giving back to those in need.

This commitment to community proved vital during the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Mary and Anne were able to open their home to neighbors, sharing electricity, water, and warm meals thanks to their home’s solar power and battery backup system. While the storm presented unprecedented challenges, Mary cherishes the resilience and deepened community bonds that emerged, viewing those connections as a true gift.

That sense of belonging is exactly why Mary remains a dedicated monthly donor. “It feels so good to be a part of something bigger,” she says. “It feels wonderful to know that these awesome people are doing the work I can’t.”