Black’s Tire Service Inc. is hosting its annual charity golf tournament Sept. 16 to benefit the Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina, and hoping to beat its record donation from a year ago: $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.
Benton’s son, Rick Benton, says, “I don’t know how we’re going to do it, but our goal is still to surpass what we did last year.”
One new thing this year is a lineup of silent auction items. The proceeds from tickets for the silent auction will build a scholarship fund for selected children from the Boys and Girls Homes to help them advance their education after high school.
“It’s going to help the kids that are working hard. We’re trying to find unique ways to help them even when they get out of school,” says Rick Benton.
The woman with the plan is Amy Noble. The Bentons call her the company cheerleader. In addition to organizing the charity golf tournament Sept. 16 at Aberdeen Country Club in Longs, S.C., near Myrtle Beach, Noble is in charge of the Black’s Tire Family Day on Sept. 17.
Since 2014 Black’s Tire has combined its golf tournament with a family day. Every Black’s Tire employee is invited, along with his or her family. The company also invites many of its business partners to the event as well. “They feel like part of the family,” Rick Benton says.
The family day is held on the grounds of the Boys and Girls Homes and resembles a miniature state fair. Children from the Boys and Girls Homes attend as special guests. There’s food and games and music, as well as a tire changing competition. Last year one of the company’s wholesale tire customers won the contest.
Noble’s been known to bring in a dunking booth and tell Ricky Benton and his sons to take turns. “I was one of the lucky ones for the dunking booth last year,” Rick Benton says.
