Black’s Tire Service Inc. raised a record $125,618 for the Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina to beat its record year-ago of donation of $109,110.
The tire dealer got an early start on its fundraising for 2016. Days after the 2015 golf tournament Black’s Tire owner and president Ricky Benton was named Modern Tire Dealer’s 2015 Tire Dealer of the Year. MTD and Benton’s suppliers donated $10,500 to a charity of his choice.
That money started another year of fundraising for the Boys and Girls Homes, an organization that provides support to children who come from broken families. Black’s Tire has donated more than a half-million dollars to the charity since its first golf tournament in 2002.
In 2002, Black’s Tire owners Ricky and Dianne Benton held their first golf tournament for the benefit of Boys and Girls Homes. The tournament was part of a busy weekend for the Bentons who were also fielding an entry in the Hooter’s ProCup auto race, operating a hospitality tent for the race attendees, and serving as a major host and sponsor for the event at Myrtle Beach Speedway. That first golf tournament netted $6,000 for the charitable organization.
Smaller tournaments had been held during previous ProCup stops at the track to help the families of some of the tour’s race drivers. Ricky and Dianne wanted to re-establish the connection Black’s Tire Service had with Boys and Girls Homes. It began when Black’s Tire founder W. Crowell Black joined the board establishing the Homes in the early 1950s and turned the golf outing into a charity tournament to benefit the Homes. Since 2002, (excluding 2011 when there wasn’t a local race event to associate with), Black’s Tire has held a golf tournament to raise funds to assist Boys and Girls Homes with its financial needs.
The 2016 event was held Friday, Sept. 16 at Aberdeen Golf and Country Club near Myrtle Beach, S.C., and for the third year was part of a weekend that included “Black’s Tire Family Day.” Approximately 140 golfers participated in the tournament that raised a record $125,618. In addition, a silent auction produced $5,000 to be used for scholarships to assist the Homes high school seniors that will be attending college.
While addressing the golfers and attendees at the 2016 tournament, Ricky Benton said, “The children at Boys and Girls Homes didn’t ask to go there. But they are there because they need the help of loving and caring people. This tournament is intended to help provide that and it doesn’t happen without your support.”
Boys and Girls Homes President and CEO Gary Faircloth said, “I want to thank you on behalf of all the children and staff of Boys and Girls Homes. I especially thank Ricky and Dianne, their children Rick Jr., Ryan, and Jeremy, and the entire Black’s Tire Service Family. Our kids need the support of caring folks like you and we appreciate you very much.”
Black’s Tire Service, formed in 1929, is an independently owned and operated family business with headquarters in Whiteville, N.C., and 37 combination commercial/retail outlets and four wholesale locations in North and South Carolina. Black’s Tire Service employs more than 500 persons and is one of the largest tire distributors in the Carolinas. Black’s is No. 29 on the Modern Tire Dealer 100 list of the nation’s largest independent tire dealers.
For more information, visit www.blackstire.com or telephone 910-642-4123.
Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina, formed in 1954, is a private, not for profit organization dedicated to providing a comprehensive array of residential and community-based services to meet the needs of vulnerable children by addressing their physical, emotional, social, educational and spiritual development. The Homes offer residential and community-based programs (including adoption) to children birth through college age.
For more information, visit www.boysandgirlshomes.org/ or telephone 910-646-3083.
