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OBX Rod & Custom organizers present more than $65,000 in local donations; $250,000 donated in seven years
Summary
Garage Band Charities’ OBX Rod & Custom Festival leaders presented donation checks to local nonprofits, including a $30,000 check to the Children & Youth Partnership of Dare County. Organizers said the 2025 event had 1,204 registered vehicles and estimated about $65,000 in charitable proceeds this year, with roughly $250,000 donated since 2019.
Organizers of the OBX Rod & Custom Festival presented a series of checks to local nonprofits at the Dare County Board of Commissioners meeting on July 4 and thanked the county and public-safety partners for their support in staging the event.
Mike (organizer), Richard Quigley and Sarah Sampson of Garage Band Charities said the 2025 festival drew 1,204 registered vehicles and — after bills and continuing accounting — would return about $65,000 to local charities this year. Across seven years, they estimated total donations to county and regional nonprofits would exceed $250,000.
Presentations and amounts announced at the meeting included:
- A $30,000 donation to Children and Youth Partnership of Dare County, presented by Sarah Sampson. - A $6,000 gift to the Elizabeth City State University Virginia Simmons Tillett endowment. - A $1,500 donation to the Elizabeth City State University athletic department.
Organizers said the festival supports a range of needs each year, from food programs and holiday toy drives to scholarships and disaster relief for families affected by fires and other emergencies. They listed recipients that included Mount Olivet United Methodist Church Food Pantry, Hyde County Joy Fund, Hatteras United Methodist Toy Fund, and other local education and outreach programs.
Commissioners praised the event’s community impact and thanked the organizers and public-safety agencies — including local police departments and the Sheriff’s Office — that supported the festival.
Why it matters: The festival provides recurring philanthropic support for local nonprofits and programs that serve children, families and neighbors in Dare County and neighboring counties.
What’s next: Organizers said they will continue to distribute remaining checks and plan for next year’s event; the group noted that contributions and recipient lists can vary year to year.
Direct quotes in this article are attributed to the on-record presenters who spoke to the board.
