HEALTHCARE FOR ALL
We want you to get the care you deserve
We are a nonprofit providing accessible, compassionate, preventive healthcare through free acupuncture, herbal medicine, and community wellness programs across Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. Our mission is simple and deeply rooted: to remove barriers to care so every person has the opportunity to feel supported, balanced, and seen.
This work is guided by a belief in equity, dignity, and whole-person healing.
Our Mission
Acupuncture Impact Foundation exists to expand access to free acupuncture, herbal support, and preventive care for individuals who otherwise go without treatment. Through Zero-Cost Sundays, community outreach, campus support, and our growing mobile clinic initiative, we bring healing directly into the communities that need it most.
We believe that preventive care should not depend on income, insurance, identity, or geography. Every body deserves access to support.
Who we Serve
Our programs support people who face barriers to receiving care, including individuals living with chronic pain, stress, anxiety, trauma, sleep issues, financial limitations, mobility challenges, and lack of transportation. We serve communities across Asheville, Swannanoa, Greenville, and surrounding rural areas in both states.
We also provide grounding support for students navigating burnout and academic stress, LGBTQ+ communities at festivals and events, and neighborhoods with limited access to integrative healthcare.
Everyone is welcome here.
Our Story
Acupuncture Impact Foundation was created by Ashley and Marlene Kuper-Mechanic, who believe deeply in the power of community care and accessible healing. Ashley brings over a decade of experience as an acupuncturist and herbalist, with a commitment to serving diverse communities through classical East Asian medicine. Marlene’s background in hospitality ensures that every interaction with AIF feels warm, welcoming, and grounded in dignity.
Together, they envisioned a nonprofit where people receive care that feels safe, inclusive, and deeply supportive, regardless of their financial situation. What began as a small outreach effort has grown into a multi-state mission fueled entirely by community generosity.
Our Approach
We practice whole-person, relationship-centered healing grounded in classical Chinese medicine. Treatment sessions focus on calming the nervous system, easing pain, regulating sleep and digestion, and supporting emotional wellbeing. We also integrate herbal medicine to strengthen long-term wellness and preventive care.
Our approach is rooted in accessibility and inclusion. Every treatment is delivered with the same level of clinical attention and compassion, whether someone comes through our nonprofit programs or our for-profit clinics.
About Acupuncture Impact Foundation
Meet the team
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Marlene Mechanic, Executive Director
Marlene Mechanic is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Acupuncture Impact Foundation.
Marlene (she/her/they) comes from a long line of of hospitality professionals and being of service and giving exceptional service have always been at the forefront of her professional and private life.
As a queer and Jewish individual, she has always understood the importance of standing up for justice and equality. From an early age, she witnessed the power of community and the impact that advocacy can have on shaping a more inclusive world.
Her journey in the field of holistic healthcare has been deeply intertwined with her commitment to social justice.In her role as Executive Director at Acupuncture Impact Foundation, she is honored to lead a dedicated team in their mission to make acupuncture and holistic healing accessible to everyone.
Beyond their work at the organization, Marlene is actively involved in various community affiliations. These connections allow them to stay engaged with the diverse needs and experiences of the communities they serve. Through dialogue, collaboration, and advocacy, She is committed to amplifying the voices of those who are often marginalized and ensuring that their healthcare needs are met with dignity and respect. Marlene is inspired by the resilience of individuals who have faced adversity, and it fuels their determination to create a more just and inclusive society. She will continue to break down barriers, challenge norms, and pave the way for a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
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Ashley Kuper, Development Director
Ashley Kuper is the Co-Founder and Operations Coordinator of AIF. Ashley (she/her/they) has over two decades of experience in the field of alternative health care. She is nationally board certified by the NCCAOM and state licensed by the NCALB. Her clinical experience includes co-creating and successfully establishing multiple acupuncture and herbal medicine clinics in Buncombe county as well as in Greenville, SC and she currently practices full-time group practice in Swannanoa.
As a first-generation American, Ashley understands firsthand the challenges faced by families navigating the complexities of undocumented status and healthcare. This experience ignited their passion for making quality healthcare a fundamental right for all, regardless of our background or circumstances. Through the transformative power of acupuncture and herbal medicine, Ashley is dedicated to pioneering a movement towards inclusive healthcare. Through partnerships with local communities and healthcare providers, she aims to bridge the gap in accessibility and empower individuals to take charge of their well-being.
She is driven by the vision of a world where healthcare is not a burden, but a source of empowerment and vitality and will continue to advocate for a future where everyone has equal access to the transformative benefits of holistic medicine.
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Dr. Janette Engelbrecht, Clinic Director
Dr. Engelbrecht is a seasoned healthcare professional whose journey has led her from conventional Western cancer care to the field of holistic medicine. As a board-certified doctor of Chinese Medicine, Janette (she/her) has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to advancing the principles of acupuncture and natural healing.
Dr. Engelbrecht's educational background includes serving as adjunct faculty at both the Center for Massage & Natural Healing in Asheville, NC, and Bay College in Iron Mountain, MI, where she has contributed to the growth and development of aspiring practitioners in the field of massage.
Currently, Dr. Engelbrecht holds didactic and clinical faculty positions at Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts in Asheville, NC. She is also a contributing author for an ethics textbook for acupuncturists set to be published internationally in 2024. In addition to her institutional affiliations, Janette maintains her clinical practice at East Acupuncture Wellness Boutique.
Dr. Engelbrecht embodies a passion for holistic healing, ethics, and education. She is dedicated to advancing the organization's mission of providing care to the underserved individuals of Asheville’s local community by promoting the benefits of acupuncture and natural healing.
Board Of Directors
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Cat Chakales
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Laura Mastroianni
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Linda Kinney
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Ashley Kuper