How It Began
A Local Vision with Coastal Impact
When Barbara McKenzie and Jay Tervo became owners of the historic Inlet Inn in Beaufort, North Carolina, they knew their work would extend beyond the walls of the hotel. As passionate stewards of both hospitality and the natural beauty that surrounds it, they set out to create a way for local businesses — starting with their own — to give back to the environment that sustains the coastal way of life.
Inspired by a similar initiative called Pennies for Preservation in St. Simons, Georgia, Barbara and Jay saw the potential for a conservation-driven model that could thrive in Beaufort and beyond. “I know we can do that here,” Barbara said — and that idea took root.
Coins for Conservation (C4C) was born from that vision: a business-led initiative designed to support trusted nonprofit partners working to preserve North Carolina’s barrier islands, estuaries, waterways, and wildlife. It’s a homegrown expression of the Blue Economy — the understanding that our region’s economic health is deeply tied to the health of our natural surroundings.
Since launching in 2022, Coins for Conservation has grown from a single hotel program to a coastal-wide movement, raising more than $75,000 for conservation causes — with a remarkable 97% guest participation rate at the Inlet Inn alone.
A Business-Led Conservation Model
C4C is built on a simple idea: when local businesses and their patrons care for the coast together, we all benefit. By adding a small voluntary donation — often just a few dollars at checkout — businesses create a direct funding stream for nonprofit “eco-partners” doing boots-on-the-ground conservation work.
From sea turtle rescue to water quality monitoring, habitat restoration, and environmental education, Coins for Conservation ensures that every dollar goes straight to the cause — no middlemen, no administrative fees. Just real impact for our shared environment.
The Mission Moving Forward
As Coins for Conservation continues to grow, its purpose remains the same:
To inspire business owners and their customers to become active participants in protecting the coast. To support environmental nonprofits with steady, local funding. And to show every visitor that here in coastal North Carolina, conservation matters.
Because safeguarding this place — its wild shorelines, its iconic wildlife, its pristine waters — isn’t just the work of scientists and nonprofits. It’s everyone’s business.
