Local leaders to establish CREATE affiliate
Holly Springs leadership, including the Bank of Holly Springs, is working to establish a Marshall County affiliate to the CREATE Foundation.
CREATE’s Community Affiliate program brings together the best thinking leadership to meet community concerns.
The Bank of Holly Springs has committed to contributing $100,000 to get the affiliate started, according to Steve Gresham, president of the bank.
The original board members include Fred Carlisle, Gemma Beckley, Pat Woods, Carrie Skelton, Tim Liddy and Gresham.
CREATE will match up to $100,000 giving $1 for every $2 the local affiliate raises.
P.K. Thomas, director of development with CREATE, said the Foundation extended its endowment-building efforts in 1997 by establishing the Community Affiliates Program.
Anna Keirsey McLean contributed $750,000 and a special dividend from the Tupelo Daily Journal matched McLean’s contribution to set the Foundation on its way. CREATE contributions fund
current needs and special projects that benefit from local philanthropy.
CREATE provides a $100,000 challenge grant to each new Community Affiliate which must raise $200,000 in unrestricted endowed funds to receive the full grant, Thomas said.
“These endowed funds, raised and allocated by local people, provide permanent assets to address local community needs and issues,” Thomas said.
There are 15 Community Affiliates. Marshall County will become the 16th affiliate.
The local board, chosen from community leaders as shown above, manages its own independent grant cycle and makes local grants determined to be important in improving the quality of life in its county.
The goal of each affiliate is to support charitable activities in its own county.
Some projects CREATE Affiliates support include:
• food pantries
• school programs
• Teachers of Distinction awards
• and quality of life projects such as playgrounds and parks.
Fred Carlisle said the board of directors are trying to develop the project and has not had a full board meeting, as yet.
“It’s real early on,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for Marshall County. We are getting organized and want to make sure we follow the right steps and the right people. We are trying to get industry involved.”
Current assets of CREATE, founded in 1972, are over $150 million. Seventeen counties in northeast Mississippi are served, providing philanthrophic services to individuals, businesses and other nonprofits.
A contributor can establish its own named charitable fund or provide ongoing support to a favorite organization, choose a different nonprofit each year or distribute gifts during the lifetime, or leave a lasting legacy.
For additional information visit createfoundation.com.