Family Strong
Since our founding, Pharr has been a family-owned company with a family-centered culture. This drives our commitment to support the wellbeing of our companies’ diverse communities.
Our Communities
McAdenville, North Carolina
Situated along the South Fork River, just west of Charlotte, NC, lies McAdenville. Overflowing with opportunities for business, living and visiting, the town celebrates its rich history while embracing the promise and advantages of today’s time.
The moment you enter McAdenville, you will see a town that is built on community, where the living is easy, neighbors become friends and memories last a lifetime. At first glance, McAdenville may seem like an ordinary small town in America, but what separates McAdenville from the rest is the sense of pride in its unique history and faith in its future. From the new restaurant and shops joining the picturesque Historic Downtown, to the river access and trails, there has never been a better time to visit McAdenville.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
The City of Myrtle Beach is a residential and vacation community at the heart of South Carolina’s Grand Strand coast. Our 30,000 permanent residents and millions of visitors enjoy wide beaches, warm weather and an incredible range of entertainment and activities. Myrtle Beach was incorporated in 1938 and became a city in 1957, when the permanent population first topped 5,000. The name “Myrtle Beach” comes from the wax myrtle, an abundant local shrub, and was chosen in a name-the-town contest in 1900.
Community Initiatives
From time and energy donated by our employees to financial support provided by our companies, Pharr is dedicated to a variety of local and national organizations that make a direct, positive impact on people’s lives.
Girls on the RunCarolina Thread TrailEducation InitiativesBotanical GardenGaston YMCAGaston CollegeAmerican Heart Asoc.Christmas TownMake A DifferenceSt. Jude’s Hospital
Girls on the Run Gaston
Girls on the Run Gaston embodies everything Pharr looks for in a community partner, they inspire girls to recognize their inner strength and celebrate what makes them one of a kind. Pharr is proud to be a sponsor of their annual Let the Good Times Run Fundraising Gala!
Carolina Thread Trails
Together with the Carolina Thread Trails, Belmont Land is helping to connect the 15 surrounding counties via trails. Currently, you can access the trails at the South Fork Blueway in McAdenville that features four paddle launch sites! Pharr and Belmont Land has been a part of this adventure since the start, Bill Carstarphen, Pharr CEO along with his wife Carol Carstarphen were the spear headed the initiatives for the initials trails in Gaston County. They are still serving as the representatives for Gaston County.
Education Initiatives
Helping our local community is and has been extremely important to Pharr and making sure the students who attend school here are getting the best education they can is no exception! Throughout the year, Pharr partners with McAdenville Elementary School, donating school supplies at the start of the year, participating in their annual book drive and being the Corporate Sponsor for Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader, an event that pairs businesses with elementary schools in a fun game show format, where proceeds go toward the Ron. L Ensley grants for teachers to fund innovative classroom lessons and projects.
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is the Carolinas’ Garden for all season, providing guest a chance to reconnect with nature. Pharr’s connection with the Garden goes back to the beginning, when one of Pharr’s Founders, Daniel J. Stowe shared his love with gardening with his community opening the gardens in 1991. Today, Pharr CEO, Bill Carstarphen serves as the Garden’s Vice Chairman.
Greater Gaston County YMCA
In the mid-2000’s Pharr and the Town of McAdenville began looking for ways to elevate the McAdenville Community Center and the Youth Recreational Programs. Being long time members of the Gaston County YMCA, the Carstarphen’s knew what they stood for and that their mission statement aligned well with our goals. In 2008 the Pharr Family YMCA opened its doors and marked the start of a great relationship between the Town of McAdenville, Pharr a Family of Companies and the Greater Gaston County YMCA!
Gaston County Community College
Pharr partners with Gaston College on continuing education for our employees as well as events to help promote the future of the textile industry to high school students in Gaston County.
The American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. Founded by six cardiologists in 1924, the organization now includes more than 22.5 million volunteers and supporters. The AHA funds innovative research, fights for stronger public health policies, and provides critical tools and information to save and improve lives. Pharr is proud to annually participate in and contribute to their initiatives.
Christmas Town U.S.A. ®
It all started in 1956, when the McAdenville Men’s Club along with Mr. W. J. Pharr, Pharr’s founder and president at the time, conceived the idea of using red, white and green lights to decorate the trees around the McAdenville Community Center.
For Christmas 2020, lighting will be limited to the historic business district as well as residents’ homes, December 1 – 26, 5:30PM – 10PM nightly. More details to come in November, including Plan Your Visit to Christmas Town U.S.A. information.
United Way Make A Difference Day
Make A Difference Day is the most encompassing national day of helping others — a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors. Make A Difference Day is an annual event that takes place on the fourth Saturday of every October.
This year, Phenix Flooring partnered with Brown Industries to collectively donate $10,000 to United Way of Northwest Georgia to fund projects taking place on Make a Difference Day. Employees from Phenix Flooring visited the Boys and Girls Club of Northwest GA on Oct 21 to help make over all improvements to facility.
St. Jude’s Research Hospital
Strand Hospitality has teamed up with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, raising money to help find cures for children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. Each year our properties are challenged to work together to raise funds for this wonderful organization. The totals are revealed at Strand’s Annual Conference in Myrtle Beach, SC.