offi ces change PEOPLE WHO CARE BOARD OF DIRECTORS The directors of the Community Foundation are volunteer community leaders who lead the Foundation toward excellence. They bring wisdom and insight to their work of setting strategic direction and policy and ensuring accountability. They share their diverse experience in a wide range of geography Scott Burnham Hollis Scott Coopwood and work. Every director is a donor to the Chairman Vice Chairman DeSoto Bolivar Community Foundation demonstrating that Attorney Owner Hollis Legal Solutions, PLLC Coopwood Publishing Group their commitment includes sharing their financial resources. The quality of their leadership is often a key reason for donor confidence in the Community Foundation. Each director is elected for a three-year term and may serve two consecutive terms in leading this 501.c.3 charitable corporation. FOUNDATION STAFF Joe Azar Bob Bowen Secretary Treasurer TOM PITTMAN Panola Tate Branch Manager Retired Partner President & CEO Southern Beverage Distributors, LLC Arthur Andersen & Co. PEGGY LINTON Community Development Director CAROL SMITH Accounting & Office Manager DONNA GOLDMAN Accounting Assistant & The Box Project Director ANNA DICKERSON Community Education & Volunteer Northwest Mississippi Director Kim Moss Brown Kevin Doddridge BRENDA SMITH Lefl ore DeSoto Web-Based Volunteer Recruitment Specialist Community Volunteer GM/CEO Greenwood Mentoring Group NorthCentral MS Electric Power Association 2 offices change Wayne Godwin Tom Gresham Lillian H. Hilson Manuel Killebrew DeSoto Sunflower DeSoto Quitman Retired Executive President and CEO Community and Economic President PBS Network Double Quick Development Specialist Board of Supervisors North Delta Planning and Development District Campbell Flowers Frank Mitchener Rev. Bartholomew Orr Josephine Rhymes Tallahatchie DeSoto Coahoma Melton President Pastor Tunica Executive Director Mitchener Planting Company Brown Missionary Baptist Church Community Volunteer Tri-County Workforce Alliance Sarah Sawyer Colie Sanford Danny Williams Tom Pittman Marshall DeSoto DeSoto President Executive Director President President Community Foundation Byhalia Chamber of Commerce Guaranty Bank & Trust - DeSoto Managing Member Of Northwest Mississippi County Williams, Pitts, & Beard, PLLC 3 PEOPLE WHO CARE Browns build foundation for community Bill and Mary Lee Brown have built a using many of the levers at the Commu- nitydistinguished Foundation philanthropy to invest in profilecauses bythat matter to them. Bill and Mary Lee (pic- tured with son Will) are embracing the great legacy of civic-minded service and community giving from their parents. “By leading through example, our parents instilled in us a commitment to serve our community and fellow man in every way we reasonably can. We hope to inspire our own children with the same philanthropic spirit to use their time, talents and gifts to help others,” said Bill. Mary Lee, Will, & Bill Brown Bill’s mother, Annie Ruth Brown, was In one great exhibit of their philan- thropic engagement, Bill and Mary Lee historian of DeSoto County. She was Brown gave real property to the Com- extremelyaffectionately instrumental known as inthe the unofficial estab- “We hope to inspire munity Foundation where the proceeds lishment and opening of the DeSoto were directed to a donor advised fund County Museum. She spoke to one of the our own children for ongoing involvement in charitable projects. Foundation’s donors after it was found- with the same They have also given appreciated stock edvery in first2002. gatherings In talking of to the that Community group of like-minded community leaders, she philanthropic spirit their interests like work at the First Unitedto the Community Methodist Church Foundation of Hernando. to benefit ing the organization because it would to use their time, In regard to their giving the Browns “providehighlighted a foundation” the benefits upon of support- which they talents and gifts to said, “A very important aspect of giving could build the community. through the Community Foundation help others…” is the ability to establish donations in Walker, Brown & Brown, which has perpetuity honoring those we love. supported Mary Lee’s the father Community established Foundation’s the firm Often smaller charities and projects work by annually sponsoring the Crystal in Hernando, which recaps the rich Ball gala. Mary Lee is also a former chair history of the county area. To serve their museum are overlooked but through the of the Foundation’s volunteer board of personal charitable commitments, they Communitywith historical Foundation significance we suchcan high- as our directors, which enables a group of civic began a Donor Advised current giving light these worthy causes and remind leaders to govern the organization to fund to do a wide variety of things from the public that DeSoto County is blessed supporting local arts programs for area with a unique sense of community.” Bill and Mary Lee have engaged their youth to maintaining equipment for The Browns furnish a great example charitablebenefit the commitment community. by using many of the many different ways people who ways the foundation has to offer for Through the Bill and Mary Lee Brown care can use the Community Foundation giving. They started an endowment to Endowment,local fire department they present staff. sustained of Northwest Mississippi to connect support the DeSoto County Museum giving for the many causes they serve. with causes that matter. $35,600,586 Donations for 2015 $1,562,354 from 1,185 donors total donations to current funds and endowments 44 PEOPLE WHO CARE Crystal Ball gala MAJOR SPONSORS OF THE CRYSTAL BALL Clear Channel Outdoor Community Stars iHeartMedia Commercial Appeal/DeSoto Appeall The Community Foundation celebrated a Star of Hope as well as Community Stars from our region at the 2016 Crystal Ball, which drew a sold-out AT&T 1,000 guests. Community Stars included the Arc of Blue Cross Blue Shield of MS Northwest Mississippi, Lucy Janoush of Cleveland, Brown Missionary Baptist Church Edward Pidgeon of Hernando, and Tallahatchie City of Southaven General Hospital of Charleston. Bradford Cobb, a CLICK Magazine Tunica native and manager for entertainers like Delta Magazine Katy Perry, was honored as the Star of Hope. DeSoto Times Tribune The Crystal Ball is a festive event with dancing, Entergy dinner, and auctions with such items as a movie FedEx premier, an international vacation, and celebrity First Tennessee Bank dinners. It has been the only fundraiser for the Gold Strike Casino Community Foundation’s operational needs. Lipscomb Pitts Insurance The 17th annual gala will be themed “Le Cirque Mid-South Maternal Fetal Medicine Supper Drugs Katy Perry with her manager the Southaven Arena, and continue the tradition of Sycamore bank Magnifique” and will occur January 21, 2017 in celebrating people who care. and Star of Hope Bradford Cobb Schulz Xtruded Products DELTA CONVERSATION The Community Founda- tion began a new tradition Conversation kicked off within 2016. distinguished The first Delta journal- ist and commentator Tom Brokaw and NBC News Chairman Andy Lack. Gracious sponsors and a sell-out crowd at the GRAMMY Museum ® Mississippi helped the dialogue on health, politics and current af- event to make a new start in the beneficial of this event was the establishment of the Tomfairs Brokawin the Delta. Endowment One of the for lasting Delta Healthbenefits at Iconic newsman Tom Brokaw gives a personal perspective on the Community Foundation, which Tom Bro- cancer and health in the Delta while discussing his latest book “A kaw has generously matched with a $5,000 Lucky Life Interrupted: A Memoir of Hope”. donation. Title Sponsors: Baxter Healthcare Corporation, Double Quick/Gresham Petroleum, Guaranty Bank &Trust, Maddox Foundation, 2nd Chance Mississippi 5 PEOPLE WHO CARE GIFTS IN MEMORY & HONOR SEPTEMBER 1, 2015 - AUGUST 31, 2016 4CORDS FUND In memory of Marvin J. Goldman JANE PENNINGTON by Rebecca A. Beard In memory of Dennis W. Cooper by Darrell and Barbara Ballard HENDERSON ENDOWMENT Ned Dewhirst by Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan McAlister Dorothy France In memory of Jane Henderson Mr. and Mrs Roy Grindsta Julia Flanagan Jimmy and Peggy Linton by Terrell H. Alford The Pace Group, John M. Lovorn, Jr. Michele Johnson Tom and Cyndi Pittman L. Vernon (Ed) Edwards Paul and Kathy Morris Tom and Cyndi Pittman Carol L. Smith Charlie Emerson In memory of Albertine Singer Tucker Carol L. Smith Robert B. Pool by Maddox Foundation Cassie Smith and Charlie Shearon BRENDA BALLARD MEMORIAL FUND In memory of Bobby Stewart JOSH OSE SCHOLARSHIP FUND UNKNOWN CHILD HOLOCAUST PENNIES BANKS FAMILY K6 EDUCATION by Mr. and Mrs. James F. Eldred In memory of Josh Ose FOUNDATION FUND ENDOWMENT In memory of Ruth Mullins by Rebecca A. Beard In memory of Diana Lucas In honor of by Mr. and Mrs. James F. Eldred by Mr. and Mrs. Taylor Buntin, III Mr. and Mrs. Rick Block In memory of Mr. and Mrs. Winn Brown, Sr. MICHAEL E. SHAHEEN, JR. ENDOWMENT Mr. and Mrs. John T. Lawrence, III Elizabeth Caldwell In memory of Michael E. Shaheen WARREN E. PITTMAN ENDOWMENT Mr. Daniel W. LeBlond Mrs. Rebecca Dearden by Richard Wells FOR CHRISTIAN OUTREACH Miss Elizabeth I. LeBlond Elizabeth Emerson Polly A. Dammann Trust In memory of Rev. Warren Pittman Miss Kathleen M. LeBlond Mr. Thomas Farris by Mark Abrams Drs. Lawrence T. and Pauline C. LeBlond Mr. Je Frazier MR. & MRS. PAUL BURCH FUND Bill and Lynda Austin Mr. and Mrs. Lewis M. LeBlond Delma McKinney In honor of Barbara Burch Geo rey Bartakovics Mr. and Mrs. Minor B. LeBlond John Underwood by Denise Blassingame Emma Bloomberg Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Fox Mr. & Mrs. Christopher G. McClorey by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gregory Nelson David E. Brevard Mr. and Mrs. Pat Morris Mr. and Mrs. Paul Burch Mr. and Mrs. John C. McClorey Mr. and Mrs. Tim Mote Marshall Cohen Miss Meriwether C. McClorey COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF NORTHWEST Mr. and Mrs. Rory Reardon Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, Inc. by Ellen and Dan LeBlond MISSISSIPPI ENDOWMENT Mr.