Our EPIC Project Cultivates Joy Through Community
Night one of the EPIC Vacation. Pictured (L-R) Front row: Dianne’s son Travis, her grandson Evan, and Travis’ fiancé Mallory. Back row: Outer Banks Boil Company COO Kirk Lamb, EPIC Collective Community Outreach Kristen Slayton, Dianne’s fiancée Walt, EPIC Vacation recipient Dianne Young, Our EPIC Project President Denise Khouri, and Matt Khouri, Founder and CEO Outer Banks Boil Company and Vice President of Our EPIC Project. Photo courtesy of Our EPIC Project.
A beautiful vacation home in Corolla with all the bells and whistles, a sunset sail, a spa day, delicious meals, a tour to see wild horses, and putt putt, coupled with plenty of time at the pool and the beach… Sounds like an epic family vacation, right?
That is exactly what Dianne Young and her family from Gambrills, Maryland, experienced on their recent EPIC Outer Banks Family Vacation Retreat, which was made possible by Our EPIC Project.
Our EPIC Project, an acronym for Emitting Positive Impact Collectively, was founded to strengthen, support and share the local beach communities that the Outer Banks Boil Company serves. To advance their charitable work, they created Our EPIC Fund at the Outer Banks Community Foundation.
Each year, the folks at Our EPIC Project partner with friends and local businesses to give one deserving family an EPIC Outer Banks Family Vacation Retreat.
After sorting through numerous heartfelt submissions filled with stories about individuals and families who need and deserve a vacation, the team at Our EPIC Project selected Dianne Young and her family for this year’s EPIC vacation, which took place the week of August 10-17.
“We are so honored to be able to provide this opportunity to Dianne and her family,” said Our EPIC Project President Denise Khouri. “When we first spoke with Dianne during our selection process, her voice conveyed a heaviness of heart that we knew we could lift with an EPIC summer vacation retreat.”
The Young family arrived in Corolla on Saturday, August 10, where they were greeted by members of the EPIC Project and a welcome dinner courtesy of Outer Banks Boil Company.
Dianne Young’s family on the beach in Corolla for their EPIC Family Vacation. Photo courtesy of Dianne Young.
For the next week, Dianne and her family enjoyed an EPIC vacation in a 5-bedroom house in Corolla equipped with a private pool, hot tub, elevator, and other unique amenities. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were provided every day for the Young family by local restaurants. Their EPIC vacation also included fun-filled days of making memories at the beach and activities such as a 4×4 beach tour to see the wild horses, a round of mini golf, watersports, a visit to the Corolla Lighthouse, and a walk around the historic Whalehead Club.
EPIC Outer Banks Family Vacation Retreat recipient Dianne Young in Corolla. Photo courtesy of Our Epic Project.
“I sure needed this vacation,” said Dianne. “I was hurting badly from my multiple sclerosis, and everything, especially the spa day, helped me so much. The house was absolutely amazing, and all of the food was delicious. We saw a whole family of wild horses, and we went go-karting and fishing together. EPIC also organized a family beach portrait photography session for us, so we could have photos to remember this trip forever. Everyone was so kind and wonderful to us. My family loved every minute of this vacation. My grandson said, ‘This is the best thing ever!’ Thank you so much, EPIC!”
An integral part of EPIC’s mission is to share all of the wonderful and unique things the Outer Banks community has to offer through their annual EPIC vacation.
“Turning seven days into a lifetime of memories, relaxation, healing and hope for this EPIC family has been a true pleasure,” added Denise. “It was an EPIC week for all of us. When we said our farewells on check-out day the smile in Dianne’s voice matched the smile on her face. We had accomplished our mission. We would like to thank all of our sponsors, local businesses, and EPIC Collective members who made this dream a reality for Dianne and her family.”
Matt and Denise Khouri from Our EPIC Project presenting a check to Outer Banks Community Foundation President and CEO Chris Sawin for Our EPIC Project Fund, which is a donor-advised fund managed by OBCF. Photo courtesy of Our EPIC Project.
Our EPIC Project Fund is a donor-advised fund managed by the Outer Banks Community Foundation for grants to nonprofits with a preference for projects supporting mental health needs on the Outer Banks.
“All of our funds have a unique name, history, legacy, and purpose,” said Outer Banks Community Foundation Chief Operating Officer, Nandy Stuart. “Although each fund is different, they all share the same broad goal of improving lives and enriching our local community.”
Outside of organizing EPIC vacations, Our EPIC Project also hosts an annual fundraising golf tournament called EPIC Round on the Sound, they support young entrepreneurs, and they are dedicated to supporting mental health issues for people living and working in high-demand vacation destinations, like the Outer Banks.
“Living and working at the beach is a dream for many,” said co-founder of Our EPIC Project and Founder of Outer Banks Boil Company, Matt Khouri. ”The truth is that living and working in these communities comes with a host of issues that can impact one’s mental health. Seasonality can be manic; anxiety and stress dominate the high season, depression and isolation in the low season. There is a lack of mental health resources here on the Outer Banks, and we want to help be part of the solution to that problem.”
To continue their efforts in creating a healthier and happier community, Our EPIC Project is hosting an Adult Mental Health First Aid Training Program in Corolla on Thursday, October 10, 2024. The program will teach people how to recognize signs of mental health or substance use challenges in adults, how to offer and provide initial help and how to guide a person toward appropriate care if necessary.
“We want to empower the folks in our community to look out for each other and provide resources that help us do just that,” added Matt.
The Mental Health First Aid Training is free, but pre-registration is required and limited spots are available. For more information about this program or Our EPIC Project, visit OurEpicProject.com.
It has never been easier for you to make a real impact in our community. At the Outer Banks Community Foundation, there are countless ways to get involved in philanthropy, and one of the simplest and most effective is by creating a donor-advised fund. Start your journey today and make a lasting difference in the lives of those around us.
For more information about creating a fund, please visit OBCF.org.
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.
