LAKE WACCAMAW, N.C. — The Boys & Girls Homes of North Carolina has named its arena/exhibition center in Lake Waccamaw the "Benton BTS Arena & Exhibition Center" in honor of Black's Tire & Auto and the Benton family, the dealership's owners.
The newly erected sign at the arena will be lighted for the first time Aug. 17, prior to the start of the State Farm Rodeo, according to B&GH President Gary Faircloth.
Black's Tire has been an avid supporter of the non-profit for years, raising more than $1 million through an annual charity golf tournament to support the services provided for the children in the care of B&GH. The 2018 event is scheduled for Sept. 21, Black's Tire said.
"We wanted to bring a quality rodeo back to the arena," Mr. Faircloth said, "and the entertainment aspect is an important part of the rodeo experience. This will also provide us an opportunity to highlight the contributions of Black's Tire Service and the Benton family to our efforts of helping hurting children."
The Thomas Litton Rodeo is a Southern Rodeo Association-sanctioned event and will include top riders participating in bull riding, calf roping, saddle bronc riding, team roping, barrel racing, steer wrestling, breakaway roping and bareback riding.
All proceeds will benefit the children of Boys & Girls Homes of North Carolina.
The Black's Tire family said it is "humbly grateful" for the honor.
B&GH of North Carolina offers adoption, family and therapeutic foster care, as well as residential care on the campus at Lake Waccamaw. The campus features a SACS-accredited public charter school with a middle and high school curriculum, vocational education, recreation facilities, farm, chapel and cottage life.
The 29,150-sq.-ft. Benton BTS arena has seating capacity for 1,800 and 125 stalls for horses, according to B&GH.
Black's Tire is headed by Ricky and Diane Benton, who purchased the Whiteville, N.C.-based dealership in 1996.