CREATE(ING) A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI

About 8 years ago, Oktibbeha became the 16th and southernmost county in Mississippi’s oldest and largest community development foundation — CREATE.
Mike Clayborne, president and CEO of the Tupelo-based foundation, explained that the original organization was expanded on the petition of then MSU President Mac Portera.

CREATE is committed to improving the quality of life for the people of northeast Mississippi through:

• Building permanently endowed community assets
• Strengthening regional community development capacity
• Providing leadership on key community issues
• Managing charitable funds contributed by individuals, families, organizations, and corporations
• Addressing community opportunities through targeted grant-making

   Clayborne noted that the biggest change in the organization, founded in 1972, has been the broadening of its leadership structure from a sole Lee County base. A majority of its 28 member board of directors now hails from 13 counties.
   Net assets at the end of 2008 were just over $40 million, down from the previous year’s high of nearly $51 million. Clayborne explained that the precipitous drop tracked last fall’s worldwide economic nosedive.
   Core funding comes from Northeast Mississippi Journal Publishing stock transferred to CREATE upon founder George McLean’s death in 1983.
   In its first 31 years, contributions totaled nearly $27 million. From 2004 through 2008, contributions topped $32 million. A significant portion consisted of 2005’s addition of the Marchbanks Family Trust Endowment Fund.
   Clayborne encouraged Rotarians to consider scholarship and field of interest endowments. CREATE manages 107 such plans.
   He added, “We have the dual focus of charitable giving through endowment building and of regional economic development.”
   The Commission on the Future of Northeast Mississippi, established in 1995, hosts the annual “State of the Region” meeting. The body’s threefold purpose is to assess conditions, to determine the key issues, and to recommend regional strategies to address the issues.
   The commission encourages regional excellence through “effective leadership and collaboration based on inclusive, trusting relationships, safe, attractive communities yielding great places to live, an innovative economy yielding meaningful jobs, and excellent education at all levels.”
    SOAR (Starkville Oktibbeha Achieving Results) is one of 10 community affiliates. These groups manage local assets raised, endowed and allocated by a local board for local grants.
   CREATE provides affiliates with a $100,000 challenge grant, staff support, financial administration, publicity and marketing, an affiliate council, and support for local special projects.
   The Northeast Mississippi Youth Foundation is a special initiative to encourage young leaders to learn about giving back, community involvement,
teamwork and leadership. Cooper Kennard and Lindsay Linhares, 2009 Starkville High graduates, served as chair and secretary of the group this year.
   One of Rotary’s Four Avenues of Service is directed to the local community. Each year our Club funds about $30,000 of community assistance and youth projects. In May, local organizations have the opportunity to apply for support for the coming fiscal year. Throughout the year, the Club welcomes representatives of the groups and presents them with the funds. Last week, President Chip presented checks to four organizations.

• The Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum, represented by Director Joan Wilson received $250. Staffed by volunteers, the facility has seen a complete makeover in the past year.
• The Starkville Soccer Association, represented by Rotarian and Past-SSA President Rob Leach, received $1,000 toward the lighting of Rotary Field at the Starkville Sportsplex.
• Habitat for Humanity, represented by Executive Director Freddie Rasberry, received about $3,600 for a second Rotary Roof. Funds came from the silent auction at the Fall Social. Rasberry was particularly proud that two Habitat home kids graduated from college this year.
• Our $1,000 contribution to SOAR was presented to our speaker for the day, Mike Clayborne.