From the CEO and President
If there is one constant thus far in 2022, it's change - and growth! Our new CFM team is fully in order. Our new operating platform, Community Suite by Foundant, is operational and proving itself to our donors and staff. And we are at the final stage of wrapping up our coordinated effort with the Mississippi Development Authority to administer CARES Act grants to nonprofits who saw their work disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We've distributed more than $2.4 million to nonprofits and food pantries to help them continue serving people, which underscores the importance of community foundations and the work we do to support the charitable sector.
It's also scholarship season at CFM and we're delighted to be able to help get students to higher education through the generosity of donors who celebrate learning at all levels and want to help young people move up the ladder to success. Creating opportunity can result in "brain gain" instead of "brain drain" for our state and we love having a role in these stories.
Since our last newsletter, Sophie McNeil Wolf has joined us as our Director of Communications. We hope you have already noticed our digital presence increase! If you have not already, be sure to plug in with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn to stay up-to-date in between newsletters.
This is just a snapshot of what has been keeping us busy - and making the work count. We thank all of you for your continued support of our work and our community.
Jane Alexander
CEO & President
Community Foundation for Mississippi
|
|
The Friends of the Planetarium Receives the Largest Give from Shackelford Fund at CFM |
|
The Community Foundation for Mississippi recently announced the largest gift to date from the John and Lucy Shackelford Fund with a gift of $1 million to The Friends of the Planetarium to support the ongoing renovation of the Planetarium. This gift also includes a quarter matching gift from former Jackson Mayor Kane Ditto.
The project is a keystone initiative of Jackson’s Bicentennial in its continuing efforts to deliver a renewed and revitalized planetarium to the capital city, state of Mississippi and her visitors. The facility, which first opened in 1979, is the only public planetarium in the State of Mississippi.
|
|
Quarterly Board Meeting Honors Shackelford Fund and Jon Turner
The CFM Board of Trustees recently had a fantastic quarterly board meeting at the Mississippi Museum of Art! Before the meeting began, members had a chance to take a driving tour of the many sites touched by the John F. and Lucy Shackelford Charitable Fund in downtown Jackson, including Refill Jackson Initiative, Museum of Mississippi History, The Oaks House Museum, Museum Trail, Thalia Mara Hall, Mississippi Book Festival, Smith Park, the Planetarium and more.
We also had the opportunity to honor Jon Turner, who stewarded the Shackelford Fund during his time as Board President at CFM into new projects and ideas to revitalize downtown Jackson. It was Jon's foresight that encouraged the designation of this fund to support meaningful investment and enhancement in the downtown cityscape. We feel very fortunate that CFM has benefitted from his vision, guidance and leadership.
|
|
In the Community: Kinetic by Windstream Nominate a Teacher Classroom Grant |
|
The Community Foundation for Mississippi was excited to recently facilitate and administer a $1,000 Nominate a Teacher Classroom Grant for Kinetic by Windstream (Go Kinetic Home) to purchase classroom supplies! Nastasshia Thompson, a teacher at J.E. Johnson Elementary in Prentiss, received the grant for Mississippi. She is pictured here with Cynthia Buchanan (left), CFM's Vice President for Operations, and Greg Higgins (right) with Kinetic by Windstream. Congratulations, Nastasshia! |
|
Robert E. Luckett Scholarship Fund at CFM Recognizes 2022 Recipients |
|
“(Robert) was all about inclusion, particularly those that had the least, helping them have opportunities,” Jeanne said. “He had a break and opportunities when he had nothing. That is what the scholarship is all about.”
See how the Robert E. Luckett Scholarship Fund at the Community Foundation for Mississippi is continuing to honor his legacy of encouraging Richland High School students to further their education and pursue a college education.
|
|
 |
The Leland R. Speed Scholarship for JROTC Top Cadets is awarded each year for the Jackson Public Schools JROTC Overall Top Cadet and the Murrah High School JROTC Top Cadet. Congratulations to Cadet Elizabeth Hawkins and Cadet Brandon Brown! The two were honored at Murrah High School’s Senior Showcase and Award Ceremony on May 19. |
|
|
|
The Rick Ross Madison Avenue Upper Elementary Scholarship is awarded to outstanding Madison Central High School seniors who have attended Madison County schools throughout their K-12 career, including Madison Avenue Upper Elementary. Congratulations to Cooper McMillin and Camille Boles for receiving the 2022 award! |
|
|
|
|
|
Welcome to the CFM Family!
|
The Community Foundation for Mississippi is excited to announce the hiring of Sophie McNeil Wolf as Director of Communications. Wolf will oversee content development for the non-profit organization, as well as implement an integrated communications strategy and enhance brand development.
|
|
New Funds at the Community Foundation for Mississippi |
|
Get Social!
We want to keep in touch with you. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn for news and updates. Let us know you stopped by our social networks by liking a post, leaving a comment or sharing our news on your social networks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
