THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 17, 1995 TAG: 9509140186
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 45 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CATHERINE KOZAK
LENGTH: Long : 110 lines
THINK OF THIS region's stage of growth as similar to a gangly teenager: It's growing in leaps, challenging the status quo, stretching the resources and making the old-timers uneasy.
As the benevolent caretaker that has watched the Outer Banks' population double in 13 years, the Outer Banks Community Foundation this week is spearheading a five-year drive to pad its kitty in anticipation of continued growing pains.
When it was founded by local author and historian David Stick in 1982, the organization supported a region that was ``a far, far different thing'' from what it is today, says Peggy Birkemeier, the foundation's executive director.
There was one grocery store, no day care, no youth organization, no Girl Scouts and perhaps only 50 children in Southern Shores when she arrived there two years before the foundation was formed.
``And, there was no line of traffic in and out in the summer,'' she adds.
A public charity established to help meet local needs, the foundation has served as a safety net, filling in the gaps unmet by family, church or government.
And for the most part, it has stayed on top of demand - until recently.
``We are seeing a tremendous change in the (need from) non-profits,'' Birkemeier says. ``I know that the money available from government is restrictive.''
In 1994, the foundation could provide only one-third of the $115,000 requested from the community, she says, although the 1995 demand has so far not been as heavy.
Since 1983, more than 115 grants totaling $255,000 have been awarded to non-profit groups. Most of the money has been used for local environmental, historical, social, cultural and educational causes. Funds have also been provided for disasters such as Hurricane Emily, which caused heavy damage in parts of Hatteras.
The Outer Banks community, despite the lack of industry and large corporations, has donated generously to the foundation, Birkemeier says. But the needs of the non-profits serving the area are growing.
It isn't that community needs have changed, explains Edward Greene, a founding member. ``There's just more of them.''
Birkemeier says the new fund drive - billed as the ``Anchor Group'' - aims to increase the undesignated funds available to non-profits by $250,000.
Non-member individuals and businesses will be encouraged to contribute $2,500 to the fund, either in one shot or over five years. Current foundation life members could become Anchor Group members by considering their initial $500 gift as the first of five pledge payments.
Donors are also welcome to make charitable gifts, in the form of cash, property or stocks, for uses they choose. Donations can be made immediately or as part of a will. Larger gifts can also be used to provide donors or their beneficiaries a lifetime income, with the remainder going to the foundation later. All gifts are tax-deductible.
Out of current assets of more that $1 million, only about $600,000 is available from undesignated - unrestricted - endowments. Operated under IRS rules and governed by a board of directors, the foundation is permitted to allot funds out of investment income only.
In addition to outright grants, the organization also helps community members in grantmaking, serves as a consultant to non-profit groups, acts as a philanthropy assistant to donors, provides emergency assistance and contributes community leadership to the region.
The foundation has moved from behind the scenes into the community in the last two years, resulting in what members hope is a lasting impact on the quality of life in the region.
In April 1994, the foundation convened its third State of the Child Conference, organized to evaluate the needs of the county's children.
A significant outcome of the conference, Birkemeier says, was the establishment of the non-profit Dare County Partnership for Children and Youth, which is studying ways to provide a beach-area youth center and a foster care home for at-risk children.
The conference on children made clear that the foundation needed more public input to meet the future needs of the community, organizers said. So this March, they held a forum called ``Creating the Vision for 2020.''
About 45 participants hammered out 12 goals, topped by the preservation of the environment, expansion of educational opportunities and management of regional growth.
Development of transportation, youth and health care services, historic preservation and affordable housing were also high on the participants' lists.
In response, the foundation has started funds earmarked for youth, the environment and education.
Several participants also raised the need to promote more tolerant attitudes toward others, Birkemeier notes.
``A lot of changes are occuring on the Outer Banks,'' she says. ``We have a lot of newcomers, and they have different ideas of governance, of management, of development. It's a question of a healthy community listening to each other and responding to each other as the community changes.''
Saying he plans to will ``a good part of my worldly possessions'' to the organization, Greene says it would be hard to guess how the community would fare without the foundation. But he knows the Outer Banks is certainly better off with it.
``I'm just very proud that . . . in some way I've contributed to the success of this project,'' he says. ``I think it's one of the best things Dare County has going for it.'' MEMO: For more information on the Outer Banks Community Foundation, call
261-8839.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo by CATHERINE KOZAK
Children play at the Roanoke Island Presbyterian Church Teen Day
Care Center, which is funded in part by the Outer Banks Community
Foundation.
by CNB