New Fund for Hatteras Island Will Help Local Charities

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A local family has established a new, perpetual charitable fund to aid benevolent projects on Hatteras Island for generations to come.

Founded in partnership with the Outer Banks Community Foundation, the new Hatteras Fund will help meet urgent charitable needs across Hatteras Island, with particular emphasis on health care, food assistance, housing, disaster relief, education, and other essential services.

The local family, which has asked to remain unnamed in any public announcement, has made a generous, three-year pledge to contribute the initial monies for the fund. Hatteras residents — and anyone else who loves Hatteras Island — are invited to contribute as well.

“We are honored to steward this wonderful new charitable fund for Hatteras Island,” said Lorelei Costa, the Community Foundation’s executive director. “Hatteras has long been a special focus for the Community Foundation, going back to our very first grant in 1983, which helped the Outer Banks Hotline establish toll-free service for the island.”

That special focus has continued. In 2015 the Community Foundation awarded over $48,000 in grants and academic scholarships to Hatteras Island, including to the nonprofit Hatteras Village Medical Center for a new defibrillator/pacemaker, to the Frisco Native American Museum for a new longhouse exhibit, and to the Community Care Clinic of Dare for their free weekly Hatteras clinic.

“The Hatteras Fund will give us even more resources to award grants to the nonprofits making the biggest difference for the people of Hatteras Island,” said Ms. Costa.

“Best of all, the fund will be managed as a permanent endowment, so that the fund principal will always remain invested, with just the earnings spent each year for Hatteras grants. That means that the Hatteras Fund will be awarding grants to help Hatteras for generations to come.”

Anyone can contribute to the Hatteras Fund to aid benevolent causes on Hatteras Island. Donations can be made securely online at www.obcf.org/donate (please select “Hatteras Fund” from the list) or by mailing a check to the Outer Banks Community Foundation, 13 Skyline Road, Southern Shores, NC 27949 with “Hatteras Fund” in the memo line.