Gulf Coast Community Foundation

Gulf Coast Community Foundation GCCF helps donors chart their own pathways toward supporting the community they love.

💗 Thank you to everyone who joined us for the GivHer Circle’s The Art of the Ask last night at Neighbors Tap & Table !We...
09/03/2026

💗 Thank you to everyone who joined us for the GivHer Circle’s The Art of the Ask last night at Neighbors Tap & Table !

We had an enlightening evening with all of you, and we appreciate WXXV 25 being there to capture some special moments. 🔗 Watch the story using the link in the comments.

We're so grateful to panelists Angie Juzang, Dorothy Patrick Wilson, and Angelyn Scardino Treutel Zeringue, and moderator Katelyn Perry for sharing their experiences, advice, and wisdom. They were fantastic!

A special thank you to Neighbors Tap & Table for welcoming us into such a fun, community-minded space. It was the perfect setting for the evening!

📸 We’ll be sharing more from the evening, so stay tuned!

🌟 Black Philanthropy Month Spotlight: Taja CunninghamFor Taja, philanthropy is about helping where you can and using wha...
08/31/2026

🌟 Black Philanthropy Month Spotlight: Taja Cunningham

For Taja, philanthropy is about helping where you can and using what you have to make a difference.

It’s a lesson she first learned from her great-grandmother, Thelma Louise Caldwell, who showed her that giving doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes, it simply means showing up, sharing what you have, and caring for others when they need it.

Today, Taja carries that lesson with her as a GivHer Circle member and in her work with Girls ARE & Boys CAN, the organization she founded to help young people recognize their potential and connect them with opportunities, resources, and support.

“Watching youth who may have been unsure of themselves gain confidence, try something new, or realize that there are opportunities available to them makes all the time and effort worth it. More than anything, I want the next generation to understand that where they start does not have to determine where they finish.”

Generosity has a story, and we're honored to share Taja's as part of our Black Philanthropy Month celebration. 🔗 Read more of her story at the link in the comments.

Thank you for following along with us this month as we’ve shared the stories of philanthropists in our community. We’re especially grateful to those who opened up and shared what giving means to them, who inspired them, and why they continue to serve. Their stories remind us that generosity takes many forms—and every story matters.


Black Philanthropy Month

GCCF is seeking a Plan of Safe Care Coordinator for a nine-month project serving Harrison, Hancock, and Jackson counties...
08/31/2026

GCCF is seeking a Plan of Safe Care Coordinator for a nine-month project serving Harrison, Hancock, and Jackson counties.

The coordinator will work closely with families and a network of community partners —health care providers, substance use disorder service providers, child protection services, courts, and other local organizations, including GCCF — to help connect families with services and resources.

This role calls for someone who is collaborative, organized, compassionate, and skilled at building strong relationships across agencies and communities.

🔗 Learn more about the opportunity and qualifications at the link in the comments.

➡️ Apply by September 11 at 5 p.m.

🌟 Black Philanthropy Month Spotlight: Ellen L. CollinsEllen's work as executive director of the Mississippi Alliance of ...
08/28/2026

🌟 Black Philanthropy Month Spotlight: Ellen L. Collins

Ellen's work as executive director of the Mississippi Alliance of Nonprofits and Philanthropy gives her the opportunity to celebrate people across Mississippi who are using what they have to make life better for others.

The photo on Ellen’s spotlight graphic captures that work in action. She’s pictured with Temprance Williams-Bell, GivHer Circle member and the Alliance’s 2025 Emerging Philanthropist of the Year, and Lloyd Gray, executive director of The Phil Hardin Foundation in Meridian and vice chair of the Alliance’s Board of Directors.

For Ellen, the belief in giving began long before it became her profession. She first saw it in her grandfather, a farmer who freely shared his time and resources with others. Today, she carries that example with her, particularly in her passion for advocating for young children and ensuring their voices are heard.

“You don't have to be a person who gives away money to be philanthropic, you can be a person who gives of yourself. If you give of your time, talents, your treasure, your ties, or testimony, you are a philanthropist!”

Generosity has a story, and we're honored to share Ellen's as part of our Black Philanthropy Month celebration. 🔗 Read more of her story at the link in the comments.

Black Philanthropy Month

Our team had a great time at South Mississippi Living magazine's Women in Business Cover Reveal Party on August 26 at Is...
08/28/2026

Our team had a great time at South Mississippi Living magazine's Women in Business Cover Reveal Party on August 26 at Island View Casino Resort!

We’re also excited to be part of the September issue! Check out pages 76–77 for a feature on our GivHer Circle's Young Philanthropist Cohort.

Speaking of the GivHer Circle, member Angie Juzang is among the incredible women featured on this month’s cover! Congratulations to her and all the women featured in this special issue.

Investing in our youngest residents. 💚Today, we presented $22,900 in grants from the John T. and Lois R. “Sonny” Velkas ...
08/27/2026

Investing in our youngest residents. 💚

Today, we presented $22,900 in grants from the John T. and Lois R. “Sonny” Velkas Child Welfare Fund at GCCF to support children in Hancock and Harrison counties.

➡️ CASA of South Mississippi received $8,000 for the CASA Child Well-Being Project, which provided school bags and supplies to CASA children ages 5 and older for the current school year.
➡️ Hancock County School District received $8,400 to support Hope Squad, a national peer-to-peer su***de prevention program.
➡️ Make-A-Wish Mississippi - Southern Region - Gulfport received $6,500 to grant a life-changing wish for a child with a critical illness in Hancock or Harrison County.

We’re grateful for the generosity behind the Velkas Fund and for these organizations putting those dollars to work for children in our communities. 💚


Hope Squad

📸 Derek Fountain

🐾 Today, six South Mississippi animal-welfare agencies each received a $25,000 grant for the third year of FIXED for Lif...
08/27/2026

🐾 Today, six South Mississippi animal-welfare agencies each received a $25,000 grant for the third year of FIXED for Life, our no-cost spay and neuter program made possible through the Jack A. and Gertrude W. Wilson Animal Welfare Fund at GCCF.

Congratulations to Rise & Shine Animal Rescue in George County, Friends of the Animal Shelter in Hancock County, Humane Society of South Mississippi in Harrison County, Friends of Jackson County Animal Shelter pets, Pearl River County SPCA, and Stone County SPCA!

FIXED for Life services begin October 1 and will go through March 1, 2027. Each agency is handling all program details, so contact your county agency directly and follow its social media for more information, including applications and eligibility.

Last year, more than 1,400 cats and dogs were spayed or neutered through FIXED for Life. We're very proud of that, and we thank you for spaying and neutering your pets.

✨ GCCF received the Grit Award at today’s Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, Mississippi Anchor Awards! This award reco...
08/26/2026

✨ GCCF received the Grit Award at today’s Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, Mississippi Anchor Awards! This award recognizes an outstanding nonprofit organization, making it especially meaningful to our team. ✨

Grit really resonates with us. This work takes determination, heart, and a willingness to keep showing up for the people and places we serve. That spirit is at the heart of what we do every day.

Thank you to the Chamber and its Small Business Committee for recognizing the achievements of outstanding small businesses and nonprofits in the community. A special thank you to GCCF board members Christian Hartley, Mary Martha Henson, and Julie Gresham for celebrating with us. 💚

Congratulations to all the nominees and award recipients!


Tiffany D Bell Christen Hartley Duhé

🌟 Black Philanthropy Month Spotlight: Latasha D. McCullarFor Latasha, vice president of Operations at Blacklidge Emulsio...
08/25/2026

🌟 Black Philanthropy Month Spotlight: Latasha D. McCullar

For Latasha, vice president of Operations at Blacklidge Emulsions, Inc. and founder of the Josten J. Day Foundation, philanthropy is purpose in action.

Her approach to giving and serving has been shaped by her faith, her family, and her military career, all of which have taught her the importance of putting people first and serving with compassion. That commitment reaches across the many ways she serves children, families, and future leaders.

It's also deeply personal.

Through the Josten J. Day Scholarship, established in honor of her late son and awarded through Jackson State University, Latasha and her family are helping students pursue their educational goals while carrying Josten's legacy forward.

“I hope my legacy is one of purpose and service. I want future generations to inherit more than the programs we've built. I want them to inherit the belief that we all have a responsibility to make our communities better than we found them.”

Generosity has a story, and we're honored to share Latasha's as part of our Black Philanthropy Month celebration. 🔗 Read more of her story at the link in the comments.

Follow along throughout August as we celebrate the remarkable people whose generosity, leadership, and vision are strengthening South Mississippi.

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Tasya Mccullar Black Philanthropy Month

🌟 Black Philanthropy Month Spotlight: Alexis HigginsFor Alexis, content marketing coordinator at Memorial Health System,...
08/24/2026

🌟 Black Philanthropy Month Spotlight: Alexis Higgins

For Alexis, content marketing coordinator at Memorial Health System, philanthropy starts with a simple idea: loving people well with whatever you have to give.

As a GivHer Circle member and graduate of our 2026 Young Philanthropist Cohort, Alexis found a community of emerging leaders who helped broaden her view of what philanthropy can look like. That experience also strengthened a passion already close to her heart—helping young women and young adults feel seen, supported, and encouraged as they find their place in the world.

“I’ve seen how much one encouraging voice, one opportunity, or one person willing to invest in you can change the direction of someone’s life.”

Generosity has a story, and we're honored to share Alexis's as part of our Black Philanthropy Month celebration. 🔗 Read her story at the link in the comments.

Follow along throughout August as we celebrate the remarkable people whose generosity, leadership, and vision are strengthening South Mississippi.


Black Philanthropy Month

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11975 Seaway Road, Suite B-150
Gulfport, MS
39503

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