Community Foundation Awards $50,000 Focus Grant To Relief Foundation

By: Tatum Clements 

An automobile accident, a life-changing medical diagnosis, a house fire… The sudden and unexpected nature of a tragedy can be extremely difficult to navigate both emotionally and financially. 

On the Outer Banks, that’s where local nonprofit the Outer Banks Relief Foundation (OBRF) comes in with a mission “to ease financial burdens when tragedy strikes,” providing relief by covering essential household expenses for families facing unexpected tragedy, and helping them remain stable and in their homes. 

But what happens when tragedy strikes on Ocracoke Island/Hyde County? And, are those areas technically part of the Outer Banks? 

Those are two questions that the staff and board members at the Relief Foundation have continuously asked themselves over the last few years. 

“I have a distinct memory of someone who lived and worked on Ocracoke coming up to Nags Head for medical treatment and needing assistance from the Relief Foundation, but we could not help him because Ocracoke was outside of our service area,” said Outer Banks Relief Foundation Executive Director Patty McKenna. “That was eight years ago, and situations like that stick with you.” 

This spring, the Relief Foundation decided to take a leap and apply for a Focus Grant through the Outer Banks Community Foundation (OBCF) to expand its service area to include Ocracoke/Hyde County. Focus Grants are designed to address some of the region’s most pressing needs, including healthcare access, affordable housing, and child care solutions. 

“We wanted to expand our services to include Ocracoke/Hyde County, and bring critical support to these underserved neighboring communities, but we needed funding to do so,” said Outer Banks Relief Foundation Managing Director Melissa Cox.

The Community Foundation recently awarded the $50,000 Focus Grant to the Outer Banks Relief Foundation, enabling them to provide financial relief to Ocracoke/Hyde County families facing unexpected personal tragedy.  

“This year’s grant cycle required us to thoughtfully weigh priorities and determine how to make the greatest impact with limited funds,” said OBCF Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Programs Nandy Stuart. “We received eight requests totaling more than $318,000, reflecting both the depth of need and the strength of our nonprofit community. Our selection committee did an outstanding job bringing care and insight to the review process, and we’re proud that their work led to the selection of the Outer Banks Relief Foundation as this year’s Focus Grant recipient—an inspiring step forward in expanding critical healthcare access to Ocracoke and Hyde County.”

Since the Relief Foundation was founded in 2005, the nonprofit has served anyone who lives or works in Dare County and the Currituck County beach towns of Corolla and Carova. And now, thanks to the support of the Focus Grant, it can include Ocracoke Island/Hyde County, too. 

“Money was always the reason for not including Ocracoke/Hyde, and the Focus Grant takes away that boundary,” said McKenna. “I speak for everyone at the Relief Foundation when I say that we hate to say no to people facing personal tragedy and to draw boundaries based on invisible county lines, so this is a beautiful opportunity to expand our service area.” 

With Ocracoke Island and Hyde County now included in the Relief Foundation’s service area, McKenna and Cox both say they are ready to hit the road and jump on the ferry to connect with residents on the Hyde mainland and on Ocracoke Island. 

“We have a lot to learn about Ocracoke Island and Hyde County, and we look forward to listening and learning how we can best reach the residents and gain their trust,” said McKenna. “We will be doing what we did when we first started the Relief Foundation – going to the doctor’s offices, schools, and fire departments to connect with people and letting them know that this resource is now available.”

Hyde County, which spans from the mainland to Ocracoke Island, is the second-largest county in the state by area, but the second-least populated. 

“It sounds daunting to take on another county, but with just over 4,500 residents in Hyde this feels doable,” said Cox. “Also, we know that Hyde is an economically distressed county, so while our program will remain the same, we hope the impact of the Relief Foundation helping people who have experienced personal tragedy will be greater there.”

Hyde County’s economy is primarily driven by agriculture, commercial seafood, and tourism, with deep ties to the Outer Banks. 

“This is a natural next step because these people are part of our community,” added Cox. “They contribute to the seafood in our restaurants, our economy, and so much more. We are all connected, and it’s time to break down these false barriers and provide relief to the residents of Ocracoke/Hyde during times of tragedy.”

The Relief Foundation provides relief to families by making direct payments, ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, to mortgage companies, landlords, utility providers, and auto lenders, helping to ensure that someone’s basic needs are covered while they focus on healing and/or recovery. And, thanks to modern technology, the Relief Foundation is able to help clients over the phone and/or via email, so there is no need for someone from Ocracoke/Hyde to travel to the OBRF office in Nags Head to get assistance, removing the geographical barrier. 

Outside of financial help, OBRF also works hand in hand with local nonprofits, churches, and national organizations to ensure that families in crisis receive the care and resources that they need.

“The Relief Foundation will provide invaluable assistance to Hyde County and Ocracoke Island residents facing personal tragedy,” said Hyde County Commissioner and OBCF Board Director Randal Mathews. “We’re extremely grateful for their efforts to expand to Hyde. The grant funding from the Community Foundation makes this possible so I’m grateful for the coordinated effort from both foundations.”

The Relief Foundation and the Community Foundation have a long history of working together for the common good of the Outer Banks. 

McKenna and Cox both noted that so many grants have restrictions that would not allow the Relief Foundation to fill this need, but that the Community Foundation applauded them for thinking outside the box. 

“When I met with Nandy at OBCF to let her know we were thinking about applying for the Focus Grant, part of her help through the process was talking about the value of collaboration,” said Cox. “She was excited to see that we had already brainstormed ways to reach out to other organizations and entities in Ocracoke/Hyde, and she encouraged us to continue. We are excited to make a positive impact for families in Hyde County, thanks to OBCF, and our goal is for that impact to grow and grow and grow as a result of more collaboration.”

McKenna echoed the same sentiments. “We are lucky to have an innovative Community Foundation, willing to take risks and bold steps,” she said.  

The Focus Grant will help provide years of relief to the residents of Ocracoke/Hyde when they need it most. 

“This money is for things that haven’t happened yet, but the unexpected is inevitable,” said Cox. “A year or two from now, we will report back on how we provided economic stability during a tough time. When we are able to help multiple families in the months and years to come, we will see the benefits of the Focus Grant.” 

Another facet of the Focus Grant initiative is the potential for multi-year awards, and with big goals on the horizon the Relief Foundation understands the need for continued support.

“Our plan is to gain a comfort level in expanding our service area while learning how to do that well,” said McKenna. “I hope we learn what it is like to expand our service area with respect to the particulars of the Hyde County people, and then eventually expand to mainland Currituck. I look forward to more collaborative efforts among nonprofits in the community and more regional collaboration.”

With the Community Foundation and the Relief Foundation both focusing on the nonprofits working together, the benefits truly are endless. 

“You never know the unexpected benefits of growth,” said McKenna. 

The Outer Banks Community Foundation’s next grant application deadline is Friday, July 31 for Community Enrichment Grants, which are open to all types of projects with no restrictions on scope or focus, with funding requests up to $10,000. Nonprofits are encouraged to visit the Community Foundation’s website for detailed guidelines, eligibility criteria, and the application portal. Early submissions are encouraged to allow time for review and feedback.

For more information or assistance with the grant application process, visit OBCF.org/grants 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.