While Roanoke Rapids native Mark King could have simply kept the money, he donated it to the club which provides after school activities for children.
“It keeps the lights on,” said Kim Taresco, director of the Boys & Girls Club on Jackson Street. “I think it’s wonderful. That’s a lot of money. To give it to someone else is wonderful.”
King, who went to Roanoke Rapids High School with Taresco, has been a long time friend to the club. Taresco said. “He’s helped out in various ways, random acts of kindness.”
The events which led to King winning the $10,000 began with the Big Rock Blue Marlin Fishing Tournament, King, now a software developer in Raleigh, said Monday night.
Within that tournament Gregory Poole Marine - Cat had a social media voting contest for contestants fishing on a boat powered by a Cat engine.
King didn’t plan on entering the photo contest but when he reeled in and photographed a 120-pound shark during the tournament the photo contest was on.
“We saw we had 46 likes,” he said, while the leading photo had 153.
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King’s sister, Melody Reid, entered the photo in the contest. “She was the reason for the victory surge at the end of the contest.”
Then there were the members of the Facebook group Roanoke Rapids High School Gang, made up of alumni and friends, who began sharing the photo.
The likes and shares grew. “People started clicking,” said Cindy Garris Boone, administrative assistant at the high school who is co-administrator of the page with Paul Johnson.
By the contest’s end, the photo of King and his brother-in-law Robert Reid had garnered 427 votes and was the winner of $10,000, which King had decided he would donate to the Boys & Girls Club.
“When I realized I could win the thing I sent out 100 emails to win this for Kim and the Boys & Girls Club,” King said. “The Roanoke Rapids High School group took over from there. When it started going viral it was really heartwarming. We kept posting all over the place. My sister worked effortlessly to win this thing. Friday around lunchtime it a was battle.”
There was never a doubt where the money would go. “If I put effort or equity into something, I like to see results. The guidance and structure Kim provides to the kids reaps positive results to the community now and for years to come,” he said.
