OBCF Celebrates David Stick Legacy Society Members At Annual Luncheon

Holiday merriment and community goodwill were on full display at the Outer Banks Community Foundation’s David Stick Legacy Luncheon, which was held on Tuesday, December 9 at Basnight’s Lone Cedar Cafe.

The David Stick Legacy Society Luncheon is an annual event celebrating donors who have made planned gifts to the Outer Banks Community Foundation (OBCF). 

The luncheon’s 46 attendees were welcomed with a special holiday performance by students from Wilbur Gardens and Outer Banks Montessori Collective. The students have been receiving music lessons since the beginning of the school year, thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation to the Collective Education Foundation, which is a new nonprofit that supports small community-based educational programs on the Outer Banks and beyond.

“It was an honor to be invited to perform at the Community Foundation’s Legacy Luncheon in front of such an inspiring group of people who have helped countless individuals and organizations like ours over the years,” said Executive Director of the Collective Education Foundation Kim Cowen. “At our schools, community outreach projects are a part of our curriculum, cultivating compassion and charitable mindsets in our children- so this was a day to remember. We love the work that we do, and when others believe in us and support our mission, it’s empowering, and it motivates us to grow, to support more families, and to continue our work in the community. In that way, their legacies truly have a ripple effect.”

During the luncheon, OBCF President and CEO Chris Sawin introduced Jane Webster and Macey Chovaz, who are part of a community project called Everyone’s Playground OBX, an inclusive, accessible space for students of all abilities, which will be built at Kitty Hawk Elementary School this summer. 

“Everyone’s Playground OBX is deeply grateful for the early support of the Outer Banks Community Foundation,” said Macey Chovaz. “We always believed in our vision, but having such a respected organization share that belief helped others take notice, too. From being a grant recipient to now having an established fund with OBCF, we’re filled with hope that inclusive, universally designed spaces like Everyone’s Playground OBX will soon become the norm—not the exception—in our community. When we prioritize inclusive spaces, we build a society where everyone, regardless of ability, can experience joy, connection, and belonging.”

Sawin also shared that 2025 has been a year of positive growth for the Community Foundation, highlighting that the Legacy Society members are the backbone of philanthropy on the Outer Banks. 

The David Stick Legacy Society honors individuals who have named the Outer Banks Community Foundation as the beneficiary of any type of planned or deferred gift. 

Planned giving offers a meaningful way to leave a lasting legacy in your community. By including charitable contributions to the Community Foundation in estate plans, individuals can support causes they care about and help sustain vital programs for future generations.

For more information about planned giving, visit www.OBCF.org or contact the staff at 252-423-3003.

About the Outer Banks Community Foundation: The Outer Banks Community Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization committed to fostering philanthropy and supporting local causes. Through its charitable funds and grant programs, the Foundation strives to enrich the quality of life for residents of the Outer Banks.