Coalition formed to fight hunger
T upelo/Lee County Community Foundation, along with United Way, have formed the Tupelo Lee Hunger Coalition to work together in finding solutions to food insecurity in Lee County.
Cathy Robertson, CREATE Grants Committee Chairman, presented two checks to Estella Greer, Mid-South Food Bank Preside nt. The Food Bank received a $10,000 donation for general operating expenses and a $50,000 donation toward its capital campaign.
Some members of the Tupelo Lee County Hunger Coalition pictured with Estella Greer, Mid-South Food Bank President from L to R: Melinda Tidwell, Scott Reed, Juanita Floyd, Mike Clayborne, Estella Greer, Dr. Sam Pace, and Dr. Doug Clark.


To learn more about the coalition and the recent press conference, check out Daily Journal and Our Opinion Column.
SOAR presents nearly $20,000 in grants
The Starkville Oktibbeha Achieving Results (SOAR) Community Foundation hosted a celebration tea at the Claiborne at Adelaide where SOAR Board members presented $19,907 to twelve local organizations and programs.
SOAR Community Foundation board members Charles Weatherly and Suzanne Dressel present a grant of $1,000 to Joe Ray Underwood from the Starkville-MSU Symphony for the Carnegie Foundation’s Link Up program. This is one of 12 grants SOAR gave to local organizations at its celebration tea. (Photo by Sarah Raines, SDN). Learn more about all awardees here.
Heart for the Hungry Children
Local attorney Nicole McLaughlin with the "Lee County Hunger Assistance Program" spends the morning stocking shelves at a new food pantry located at Shannon Elementary School. The group's mission is to assist with solving hunger among Lee County children. McLaughlin says one way of doing so is to provide easy access to a food pantry for children. It is stocked with non-perishable products that are easy to prepare/open. The pantry is also stocked with toiletries.

School officials will determine the greatest need among students who will be able to take items home for after-school snacks, dinner meals and meals on the weekend. While the Lee County Hunger Assistance Program is off to a good start, McLaughlin emphasizes that more support is needed. The group is in need of monetary donations and food items.

For more information, please contact McLaughlin Law Firm in Tupelo or to make a tax deductible donation through CREATE, click here . 
Summer of 1969
We are so proud of Juanita on her first published book, Summer of 1969. Please join her at her upcoming book signing at Reed's Gumtree Bookstore in Downtown Tupelo on Wednesday, September 6th from 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM and 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM.
Anonymous Donation of $25,000 to SMCCF
The South Monroe County Community Fund graciously accepted a donation of $25,000 from an anonymous donor during its August meeting. The funds will target specific entities with needs.
From left, South Monroe County Community Fund board member Jim Edwards, CREATE Foundation President Mike Clayborne and SMCCF board members Helen Evans, Susan Honeycutt, Nan Corbell, Kathy Seymour, Bradley Lipsey, Dwight McComb, Leon Manning and Marty Hansen pose during the nonprofit’s August meeting, which revealed the news of an anonymous donation of $25,000. (Photo Courtesy of Ray Van Dusen Monroe Journal)
New Face at CREATE
Welcome to the team, Dana!
Help us welcome Dana Peters to the CREATE team.

Dana joins us after retiring a career with 30 years of experience in banking and finance. Dana lives in Plantersville with her husband, Hilton, and is a member at Auburn Baptist Church. She enjoys traveling and is a member of the Corvette Club of Northeast Mississippi.

We are thrilled to have Dana join our team and are looking forward to utilizing her talents!
New Funds Established
ENDOWMENT FUND
·     Thacker Mountain Radio Endowment Fund

SPECIAL PROJECT FUNDS
·     Robins Field Initiative/Elizabeth C. Ford
Charitable giving through CREATE is a very effective way to give to organizations and people in need. CREATE has the knowledge and ability to quickly process donations to almost any existing charity. Plus with online secure access to your donor advised account, you can transact this business from anywhere, anytime, and know you have good records of what you have done. I serve on the CREATE board because I was asked and considered it a wonderful opportunity to be inspired to help others more. If you have the heart to give to help others, there is no better way to achieve that end than through CREATE. 

                                 - Randy Long
OUR MISSION

CREATE Foundation is committed to improving the quality of life for the people of Northeast Mississippi through:
  • Building permanent community endowment assets
  • Encouraging philanthropy and managing charitable funds contributed by individuals, families, organizations and corporations
  • Strengthening the regional community development capacity
  • Taking a leadership role on key community issues and impacting the region through gifts and targeted grant-making