Giving Circle Announces $8,500 in Grants

Outer Banks Giving for Good Giving Circle is pleased to announce its charitable gifts for 2015, beginning with its largest single donation to date, a $5,000 gift to Food for Thought, fueling brainpower for kids by providing healthy weekend meals to those in need. Several of the Giving for Good families recently got together to create and present the check to members of the Food for Thought Board of Directors.

In addition, the Circle looked beyond the Outer Banks to assist with the global issue of clean water, making a $1,000 gift to Water is Life, in particular to support funding for its “drinkable book.” Checks were also delivered in the amount of $500 each to Mustang Outreach Program, Dune Dawgs Rescue, The Nature Conservancy’s Nags Head Woods Preserve, Go Far, and the NC Lions Club VIP Fishing Tournament.

Giving for Good meets twice a year, and is currently composed of 33 families who pool their resources in order to provide optimal impact. Each family has an opportunity to suggest a charity to the group, and the group votes on which to support, then determines how the funds are to be distributed. Many member families in the Circle have children, who are an integral part of the decision-making. The Circle families also participate in volunteer activities throughout the year.

“It’s exciting to be part of such a dynamic process, in which children and adults are working together, and learning from each other, to recognize needs, speak passionately about them, and provide funding to support what they feel is important,” says Janet Owen, the coordinator for the group. “We look forward to seeing these children grow into future philanthropic leaders in our community.”

Giving for Good is grateful for the support of the Outer Banks Community Foundation, which acts as the fiscal sponsor for the group. Additionally, a portion of each family’s gift goes into an endowment managed by the Community Foundation for future funding of the Circle. New families are always welcome. For information, contact the Outer Banks Community Foundation at 252-261-8839 or visit www.facebook.com/obxgivingforgood.