OBX Rod & Custom Festival organizers present roughly $65,000 in pledges for local charities; $30,000 check given to Children & Youth Partnership

Representatives of GarageBand Charities and the OBX Rod & Custom Festival presented donation checks to local organizations and told commissioners the event’s philanthropic work has returned roughly $250,000 to local causes over seven years.

Michael Tillett, Richard Quigley and Sarah Hale (identified in the meeting) described the festival’s growth and charitable focus. Quigley said the 2025 event saw 1,204 registered dealers and that net charitable dollars for the current year were expected at about $65,000 once final bills are paid. “This year’s charity number should be right around $65,000 back into the local charities,” Quigley said.

Organizers presented specific checks during the meeting: a $6,000 gift to the Elizabeth City State University Virginia Simmons Tillett endowment, $1,500 to Elizabeth City State University’s athletics department, and a $30,000 check to the Children and Youth Partnership of Dare County. Quigley and Tillett said the festival distributes funds across many recipients, including food pantries, scholarships and holiday toy drives; they listed multiple recipient organizations by name.

Commissioners praised the festival’s growth and charitable impact. Chair Woodard and others noted the event’s economic and social contributions to the community.

Why it matters: The festival’s donations support local nonprofits that provide food, youth services, scholarships and disaster assistance. The presentation also highlighted the festival’s role as one of the region’s larger car‑culture fundraisers.

What’s next: Organizers said they will finalize remaining checks as bills clear and continue partnership with county departments for future events.

Speakers and amounts are reported as presented at the meeting.