The Outer Banks Community Foundation awarded $67,400 in Community Enrichment Grants on March 13, supporting arts, children, animals, historic preservation, people battling cancer, and more. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, local nonprofits have funding for projects that will positively impact residents and visitors across the Outer Banks.
The Chicamacomico Historical Association was awarded $25,000 to expand their protected historic site through the purchase of adjacent land. The additional acreage will ensure the continued preservation, integrity, and beauty of the site, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Chicamacomico is the most complete remaining Life-Saving Station in the United States, and enjoys more than 10,000 visits each year.
Coastal Family Church was awarded $5,000 for After Prom OBX, an annual event that promises to “rock the socks off” students with free food, music, scholarships, dorm packages, cash prizes, gift certificates, and much more. After Prom, a non-religious event that is open to any high school prom-goer from Dare County, encourages students to “make good choices on prom night, while making memories with their friends.” The event is in its twelfth year; in 2019, nearly 500 students participated in After Prom.
The Don and Catharine Bryan Cultural Series received $7,500 for a residency program for Dare County schools by Latin Ballet of Virginia. Based in Richmond, Latin Ballet’s mission to “create and strengthen connections to Hispanic/Latin American cultures through innovative, immersive, dance-inspired education and performance that effect positive and sustainable change in people’s lives.” The residency in the Dare County Schools will include classroom workshops, master classes, a Latin Cultural Event, and a public performance.
Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation was awarded $3,600 for a new website and a new laptop for their volunteers. The Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation is an all-volunteer organization that raises and disburses funds to financially assist those on Hatteras Island who are fighting cancer. Since 2000, the HI Cancer Foundation has gifted more than $945,000 to deserving individuals.
Roanoke Island Historical Association (RIHA) received $5,000 for new audio equipment for the SoundStage, a facility that is used by RIHA for Children’s Theatre Performances, Youth Theatre Arts Camps, Theatre Academy for Teens, and more. The space is also used in the off-season by other community groups, like the Dare County Arts Council and Theatre of Dare, among others.
Network for Endangered Sea Turtles (NEST) was awarded $8,800 for two ATVs to increase volunteer beach patrols to find, monitor, and care for sea turtle nests. NEST was established in 1995 and has nearly 300 active volunteers that patrol the beaches for sea turtles from Oregon Inlet to the Virginia State Line. They estimate that tens of thousands of sea turtles and hatchlings have been rescued by their group.
NC Coastal Federation received $7,500 for their Restaurant-to-Reef Oyster Shell Recycling Program. Established in 1982, the NC Coast Federation will use our grant to purchase large storage bins to collect oyster shells from restaurants. The shells will then be used in shoreline and offshore reef restoration in Dare and Hyde counties.
Outer Banks Children’s Museum was awarded $5,000 for signage, educational materials, and exhibit artwork for a new children’s museum in Kitty Hawk. The new museum plans to open in Spring 2020. It will feature several themed, hands-on learning exhibits, including a classroom/event room, outdoor garden, mining exhibit, and water table features.
The Outer Banks Community Foundation is now accepting applications for its Community Enrichment, Special Focus, and COVID-19 Rapid Response Grant Programs. You can find more information about all of these programs, and how to apply, at www.obcf.org/grants.
