John Sanborn of Nags Head is the 2022-2023 President of the Virginia State Aerie of the Fraternal Order of Eagles (FOE). The Outer Banks Chapter, Aerie 4506, falls under the Virginia Aeries. At the time of this article and at the direction of John, the FOE State Chapter has collectively raised just over $25,000.00 for Outer Banks Hotline since June. John visits each chapter in Virginia (28 Aeries) to speak to the members about Hotline’s mission, urging them to donate to support its work.
Locally, the Outer Banks Fraternal Order of Eagles will host a Mardi Gras Ball fundraiser to benefit Outer Banks Hotline on Saturday, February 11 from 7pm to 11pm at the Comfort Inn South in Nags Head. Music and dancing, Cajun and domestic cuisine, beer, wine and rail liquor drinks as well as non-alcoholic beverages will be served. Guests are encouraged to dress in Mardi Gras attire. Tickets are $50 each and sponsorship opportunities are available.
“I enjoy helping people and have been a lifetime clubber. There’s a lot of caring people in the Eagles. When I moved to the Outer Banks and was looking at new clubs to join, I liked the charity work the FOE does year in and year out, and the fact that if we collect $100, we give $100. We always give 100%.” Aside from the Mardi Gras Ball Fundraiser, a Bowling Tournament will be held locally in March. John hopes to raise $60,000 by the end of his term on May 31, 2023. There is also GoFundMe account set up for FOE link is https://gofund.me/7b2ad6f7
The FOE is an international philanthropic organization, and one hundred percent of monies raised provides grants to support various causes. Each year, more than $10 million is donated through the Aeries to local community fundraisers, charities and various causes. Each FOE State president picks a cause annually, and the Aerie raises money throughout the year to support it. John Sandborn vetted a number of different local non-profits and chose Outer Banks Hotline as its 2022-2023 charity of the year. Outer Banks Hotline, a 501 c.3 nonprofit organization, is Dare County’s only crisis intervention and prevention center serving survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. Hotline also provides community outreach to prevent interpersonal violence to schools, hospitals, businesses and clubs. John believes that the work Hotline does and the services it provides is an important need in Dare County.
John, a retired construction business owner from Virginia, is a long time member of the Loyal Order of Moose as well as the American Legion and the Marine Corp League. When John and his wife retired to the Outer Banks in 2005, he joined the FOE. Outer Banks Aerie 4506 is the only FOE in North Carolina, thus it is held by the Virginia State Aerie. John served on the executive board locally before being elected as a trustee of the state in 2015. Since that time, John has served on the FOE state board in numerous capacities. His term ends May 31, 2023.
Outer Banks Aerie 4506 has 400 members made up of men and women, and the Women’s Auxiliary carries an additional 100 members; whereas the Virginia Aeries have twenty thousand members, fifteen thousand men and five thousand women. For Mardi Gras Ball sponsorship opportunities and tickets, contact FOE member Leslie DeLigio, at 252-202-1574 or via email at lsdeligio@gmail.com. The Outer Banks Hotline administration office also has tickets available. Call Hotline directly at 252-473-5121 for more information regarding the services it provides to promote a safe and compassionate community