Big Rock Honored with First-Ever “Partner in Education” Community Impact Award
The award recognizes nearly four decades of investment in Carteret County students, teachers, and schools
MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. (November 17, 2025) — The Big Rock Foundation is honored to receive the first-ever Community Impact Award: Partner in Education from the Carteret Education Foundation, recognizing Big Rock’s long-standing commitment to supporting local schools and strengthening education throughout Carteret County.
For nearly 40 years, Big Rock has invested in Carteret County’s educators and students through grants, programs, and partnerships that enrich learning opportunities and elevate the classroom experience. To date, Big Rock has contributed approximately $2.2 million toward projects and programs that enhance the educational experience for students and teachers in Carteret County. The Foundation’s impact includes initiatives such as the Big Rock Teaching Fellows Program, Professional Development & Teaching Housing Funds, and direct contributions to individual schools for projects like playground construction, outdoor learning spaces, band uniforms, and athletic facility improvements.
Tommy Bennett, Chairman of the Charity Committee and Vice President of Big Rock, added a personal reflection:
“My mother has a needlepoint that says, ‘To whom much is given, much is required,’” Bennett shared. “We’ve been blessed with a lot in this community… and that blessing comes with responsibility. This is our home, and we need to take care of it.”
The Partner in Education Award celebrates that ongoing commitment, and serves as a reminder of what collective generosity can achieve. “Our hope,” Bennett added, “is that Big Rock’s example will inspire others to find their own ways to give back to Carteret County — because every contribution, big or small, makes a difference.”
Big Rock was honored to be recognized alongside such distinguished and altruistic leaders in education. The Individual Impact Award was presented to Bucky and Wendy Oliver, longtime champions of literacy initiatives and workforce development; the Alumni Impact Award recognized Brad Piner, an East Carteret High School graduate who has faithfully guided the Foundation’s financial growth for more than 15 years; and the Employee Impact Award honored the late Rosalie Reeves Dowdy, a beloved West Carteret High English teacher whose 43-year career — and the $200,000 gift made in her honor — helped spark the Foundation’s earliest major investments in local schools.
About The Big Rock Foundation
The Big Rock Foundation is the charitable arm of the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, dedicated to conservation, innovation, and charitable giving. Since 1986, the Foundation has contributed nearly $12 million dollars to organizations across Eastern North Carolina, with a strong focus on education, healthcare, and community development.
About The Carteret Education Foundation
The Carteret Education Foundation is a nonprofit organization working to strengthen public education in Carteret County by supporting teachers, funding classroom and school-wide initiatives, and providing resources that enrich the student learning experience.
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