The Outer Banks Community Foundation celebrates the success of 2025 at annual meeting

By Tatum Clements

Positive stories, the impact of generosity, moments of reflection, and discussions of the future were all a part of the Outer Banks Community Foundation’s (OBCF) Annual Meeting, which hosted 160+ civic leaders, nonprofit professionals, and donors at Jennette’s Pier on Tuesday, March 10.

“It’s inspiring to see so many people in the Outer Banks using their resources and talents to empower others and make a real impact,” said OBCF President and CEO Chris Sawin. “Their dedication is what makes this community strong.”

The meeting began with Rev. Desirée Adams from Ocracoke United Methodist Church delivering an uplifting message of turning visions into reality, followed by Amy Montgomery, Executive Director of Operations at Outer Banks Health, discussing their new ThriveOBX initiative, which is a community movement grounded in the proven connection between well-being and longevity.

Outer Banks Health is sponsoring all of OBCF’s 2026 events, and this year the Community Foundation is embracing Outer Banks Health’s Thrive5, starting with “nourish” at the Annual Meeting’s lunch, which was crafted by Chef Wes Stepp of Red Sky Catering.

During lunch, meeting attendees heard from community members and nonprofits, who have benefitted from the Community Foundation’s grant and scholarship programs.

OBCF Grants Committee Chair Frank Hester introduced Surfing For Autism co-founder Eileen Lowery, who spoke about the nonprofit’s newest initiative called Sandbar Social, which supports neurodivergent people searching for belonging as they become adults. The Sandbar Social program was supported by a Community Enrichment Grant in 2025.

“More than 60% of the neurodivergent people who attend our Sandbar Social events are not our surfing event participants, proving that we are reaching new members of the community,” said Lowery. “At each Sandbar Social, confidence is growing, and friendships are forming. The Community Foundation’s support demonstrates that our community is stronger when everyone is included.”

Jessica Canning, a Sandbar Social participant, also shared her sentiments at the Annual Meeting.

“It’s nice to have a place where I can connect and have fun,” she said.

OBCF’s Scholarship Committee Chair Ray Meiggs introduced OBCF scholarship recipient Willow Rea Temple, who was awarded the Charles and Dorothy S. Ludemann Arts Scholarship, Duck Woods Ladies Tennis Association Scholarship, Kiwanis Leo Sheetz Scholarship, and the North Banks Rotary Scholarship, to support her college education at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW).

“Willow’s story is a reminder that when we invest in our kids, they make our community more beautiful,” said Meiggs.

Temple spoke about choosing to pursue a creative path and how the Community Foundation’s support helped her achieve her dream of being a working artist.

“I always knew that I wanted to be an artist, but growing up I had a lot of nay-sayers telling me that I’d be poor forever if that was my chosen career path,” said Temple. “I first learned about the Community Foundation when I was encouraged to apply for scholarships in high school. Having OBCF’s support helped make college accessible for me and showed me that a creative career is possible when your community has your back.”

Each year, the Community Foundation names its Champion Award and the Bob Muller Volunteer Award recipients at the Annual Meeting.

Dare County Board of Commissioners Chairman Bob Woodard recognized Roxanna Ballinger and Wally Overman as the recipients of the annual Champion Award for their tireless work with the Saving Lives Task Force, a local nonprofit that combats substance abuse disorder and addiction.

“Wally, you and Roxanna, your work is making a difference in our community,” said Woodard. “A champion gives their all and sees every challenge as an opportunity to make things around them better.”

Overman and Ballinger graciously accepted the award, both noting that “the fight against substance abuse is never-ending.”

“Thank you for this honor,” said Ballinger. “It brings me happiness and joy. I’m very proud of the work of the Saving Lives Task Force over the years.”

Overman celebrated the Saving Lives Task Force’s support and success, while reminding the audience that they must stay vigilant in their work and inviting them to be a part of it.

“The Saving Lives Task Force has an open door policy,” he said. “New ideas are always welcome.”

OBCF’s Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Programs Nandy Stuart recognized Kathy Seawell as the recipient of the annual Bob Muller Volunteer Award for her time, attention to detail, and her kind heart.

“For over seven years, Kathy has selflessly committed her time and talent as a member of our scholarship selection committee,” said Stuart. “Year after year, she stepped into a process that is both inspiring and demanding- reading applications, weighing criteria, helping ensure decisions are made with integrity, and staying focused on what matters most: supporting students and families across our community.”

At the meeting, Mark Martin, Randal Matthews, and Melinda Van Buren were welcomed as new members of OBCF’s Board of Directors, and Jeff Dowdy, Packy Regan, and Ruth Toth were recognized as OBCF’s outgoing directors.

The meeting concluded with OBCF’s 2026 Vice Chair Tess Judge speaking about the accomplishments of 2025 and looking forward to 2026.

“Community is people helping each other,” said Judge. “Together we can solve problems that one person can’t on their own. The people here don’t just talk about community, they practice it.”