MOREHEAD CITY, NORTH CAROLINA – November 29, 2022 — For the second year in a row, the Big Rock Foundation has contributed $1 million to charity! Following a record-breaking tournament season with industry record payouts, the real winners this year are Big Rock charities.
“With the phenomenal success of the tournaments, we are blessed to be able to make such a significant impact on our community through tournament participation, sponsor support, and retail sales.” stated Madison Struyk, Executive Director.
Recipients gathered at Big Rock Landing for a Giving Tuesday ceremony, announcing the grand contribution. “As I look around, I see the fabric of our great community. First responders, teachers, healthcare workers, and the great organizations that makeup Morehead City” commented Tournament President, Emery Ivey.
The Big Rock Foundation continued to support Carteret County Schools this year with a contribution of $376,000 to various schools. The Carteret County School System has received over $1.3 million in funding over the past 35 years.
The Big Rock Foundation designates $140,000 to a group of core charities and encourages other organizations to apply for grants for higher-impact projects.
Determining who will receive funding is a difficult task. “We run out of money before we run out of good causes”, explained Foundation Director, Crystal Hesmer. “We continue to seek further outside funding through private donations to enable the foundation to give even more to the community.”
The volunteer based, 18-member Big Rock Board of Directors, dedicate their time and efforts to ensure the tournament is able to make charitable contributions annually. The board president appoints a charity committee each year to carefully review all requests for funding. The entire process is driven by the fit between Big Rock’s five-point mission statement and the destination of the year’s charitable funds. The 2022 Tournament Charity Committee consisted of Tommy Bennett- Chairman, Curtis Strange, Joy Bell, Billy Kornegay, Emery Ivey, and Caroline Petrilli.
To donate, please visit https://www.thebigrock.com/charities/ or shop to support at The Big Rock Store, www.thebigrockstore.com. For further information, contact Foundation Director, Crystal Hesmer at crystal@thebigrock.com.
BIG ROCK CORE CHARITIES
-Broad Street Clinic, $7,500
-Crystal Coast Hospice House, $7,500
-East Carolina Boys Scout Council, $7,500
-The History Place, $7,500
-Hope Mission, $7,500
-Martha’s Mission, $7,500
-North Carolina State University Research, $10,000
-North Carolina Symphony-Carteret County, $17,000
-Station Club/Easter Seals UPC, $7,500
-The Big Rock Kids Billfish Tournament – Boys and Girls Club, $35,000
-The Keli Wagner Lady Angler Tournament – Carteret Healthcare, $25,000
2022 BIG ROCK DONATIONS
-Arts Council of Carteret County, $10,000
-Beaufort Elementary School, $50,000
-Beaufort Middle School, $65,000
-Bogue Sound Elementary School, $78,000
-Bridge Down East, $60,000
-Carteret Preschool, $20,000
-Croatan High School Track and Field, $18,000
-Crystal Coast Cancer Rehabilitation, $10,000
-Delta Health Foundation, $10,000
-East Carteret High School Band, $50,000
-Gramercy Christian School, $30,000
-Hope is Alive Ministries, $50,000
-Mile of Hope Foundation, $5,000
-Military Appreciation Day, $10,000
-Misplaced Mutts, $5,000
-Morehead City Fire/EMS, $12,000
-Morehead City Little League, $47,000
-Morehead City Primary Schools, $55,000
-Newport Middle School, $40,000
-Tag-A-Giant- Tag Bluefin Tuna, $65,000
-The History Place, $143,000