Recent Grants from Memorial Funds Support Key Community Needs
Memorial funds established at the Outer Banks Community Foundation years ago factored prominently in recent grant awards to local nonprofits and will help people living with cancer, assist children and adults with special needs, and support other important, charitable programs in our community.
The Fred Murray Memorial Fund and the Warren Cameron Judge III Endowment Fund for the Outer Banks Relief Foundation were behind grants of more than $7,500 to the Outer Banks Relief Foundation to support that group’s work. Much of the money will go to families battling cancer. Fred Murray, a long time Manteo resident, died of cancer, and the family established a fund in his memory to help others fight this serious illness. Warren Judge, a hotelier, restauranteur, and community leader, was a key supporter of the Relief Foundation; the Warren Cameron Judge III Endowment Fund for the Outer Banks Relief Foundation fund honors his years of service to the people of Dare County, from Duck to Hatteras and Nags Head to East Lake.
Annually the Community Foundation awards grants from three funds that support individuals with special needs in Dare and Currituck counties: the Pauline Wright Endowment for Educational and Developmental Needs in Currituck, the Pauline Wright Endowment for Dare County Individuals with Special Needs, and the David Aycock Loy Memorial Fund were behind recent grant awards of over $17,000 to groups that work with people who are differently abled. The Currituck Schools Exceptional Children’s Program received a grant of $7,000 to provide adaptive sensory and communications tools for their students. MANE & TAILL Therapeutic Horsemanship Academy was awarded funding to provide nearly $7,000 in scholarships for instruction in horsemanship, equine assisted therapies, and horseback riding for Dare County children and young adults in a safe, positive environment. The Monarch Beach Club has been awarded $3,500 to support that group’s transportation needs.
When making grants this year the Community Foundation also drew on the Aycock Brown Memorial Fund, the D. Victor & Catherine D. Meekins Memorial Fund, the Martin Kellogg Memorial Fund, the Milton A. Jewell Grant Fund, the Moncie L. Daniels & Belva Midgett Daniels Memorial Fund, the Charles H. & Dorothy S. Luedemann Arts Fund, the Franklin Y. Hundley Education Fund, and the Ruth Pitt Performing Arts Fund. Each of these endowed funds will support the local causes and concerns that were special to their namesakes, well into the future.
The Community Foundation manages more than 200 funds, and anyone may contribute to any established fund by simply going to obcf.org/donate and selecting a fund from a drop-down list, or by including a fund name with a check or other type of donation. Funds can be established with as little as a $1,000 initial investment. There is minimal paperwork involved, and several fund types to choose from, depending on interests and level of involvement desired. Funds can be named for a cause, a person, a group, or a saying (i.e., “All God’s Creatures” fund, or “Just for Today and Tomorrow” fund). The Community Foundation can accept a variety of assets, including gifts from IRAs, beneficiary designations, property, stock, and more. If you are interested in learning about how funds might help you honor a loved one, or create your own legacy, call the Community Foundation at 252-261-8839.
Photo caption: MANE & TAILL was founded in 2010 when Sam Iulo, a special education teacher, noticed that one of her students with autism was able to express himself when engaging with her horses. In summer 2021, MANE & TAILL is offering individual and small group instruction, and programs to school and community groups. Pictured are Elijah and Cowboy, 2020 program participants. (Photo courtesy of MANE & TAILL)
