The 14th Annual Surfin’ Turkey 5K is returning to Hatteras Village on Thanksgiving Day, and organizers with the Hatteras Island Youth Education Fund (HIYEF) are hoping that 2025’s event will be one of the biggest fundraisers yet.
The Surfin’ Turkey 5K is the only fundraising event for 2025 hosted by the HIYEF, which supports the educational needs of students on Hatteras Island by providing equipment, materials, and experiences that would otherwise not be available through public funding.
Since it was established in 2011, HIYEF has awarded more than $600,000 to Cape Hatteras Elementary and Cape Hatteras Secondary Schools, and has funded hundreds of different initiatives.
“At this point, we have become a staple within the schools to back teachers for projects that do not get public funding,” said Kelly Williams, Grant Coordinator for HIYEF.
In the last fall grant cycle, HIYEF awarded just under $20,000 to fund 15 grant requests, which included two separate grants to provide start-up funding for a new AP Chemistry class and a Forensics class, multiple field trips, math and science competitions, and a “Travel the World” STEM night. (The full list of sponsored endeavors is listed below.)
But there are concerns that these funds are not unlimited, and with the rising costs of trips, supplies, and other needs, the HIYEF needs continual generosity from the Outer Banks community to keep going strong.
“Basically, we need donations just to maintain the integrity of the fund, so we can keep it renewable and sustainable,” said Williams.
This is why this year’s Surfin’ Turkey 5K is so important.
The annual 5K provides a substantial portion of the nonprofit organization’s annual donations, but it’s also become a Turkey Day tradition for the residents, visitors and sponsors who participate every year.
The event, (which includes both the Surfin’ Turkey 5K and the Puppy Drum Fun Run), features a number of enticements for participants, including a goody bag, T-shirt, and post-race celebration. Costumes are encouraged, and folks can walk, jog, or run at their leisure through the scenic course that winds through the heart of historic Hatteras Village.
Online registration is currently open, and the Surfin’ Turkey 5K begins at 8:00 a.m. while the Puppy Drum Fun Run launches at 9:00 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning.
“We hope to receive as many as donations as possible this year so we can keep helping the kids and teachers in our own community,” said Williams. ““We are pretty established at this point, and we want to continue to be able to give as much as we can into our schools.”
Grants awarded in the fall of 2025:
Cape Hatteras Secondary School:
- Randy Ratliff- Food for Veterans Breakfast
- Evan Ferguson- Senior Field Trip
- Jessica Polk- Learning Arcade
- Andrew Gazda- Hands on History
- Mayce Allen- Hatching Chickens Cross Curricular Project
- Natasha Farrow- Math Rockstars Competition
- Jessica Polk- Science Olympiad
- Evan Ferguson- Career Readiness Tour ECU
- Lisa Bradley- New Forensics Class Materials
- Lisa Bradley- New AP Chemistry Class Materials
Cape Hatteras Elementary School:
- Erin Burd- Books for Sign Language
- Kristina McEwen- Gelli Plates for Print Making
- Kristin Gray- Travel the World STEM night
- Kristina Tracky- Sea2Sound Field Trip
- Jen Augustson- One School One Book
For more information on the charity event, visit the Hatteras Island Youth Education Fund’s website at https://www.hatterasyouth.com/surfin-turkey-5k.
The post Surfin’ Turkey 5K returns to Hatteras on Thanksgiving Day, and help is needed to keep the HIYEF event – and donations – going strong appeared first on Island Free Press.
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