For good. For ever. SM

We are a tax-exempt public charity created by and for the people of Northwest Mississippi. Our mission is to Impact communities by connecting people who care with causes that matter

2000 Born out of a cooperative project to place an online computer in every DeSoto County classroom today One of nearly 700 community foundations in the United States Serving citizens across the region More than $6 million in assets Divided among more than 50 funds More than $2 million in local grants over the last three years And growing! 2002 Incorporated to serve 8 counties in Northwest MS: Coahoma, DeSoto, Marshall, Panola, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Tunica and Tate foundation facts A brief history

SERVING AN 8 COUNTY AREA 10% of the STATES Land Mass and People

Mississippis Economy and Education Highest poverty rate in the nation Lowest per capita income in the nation Each Mississippian had $9,570 less in income than the average American 53 percent of this difference is due SOLELY to lower levels of education »Miles to Go: Mississippi Southern Education Foundation (2006)

There is no better investment for the states future economic and social progress than beginning to provide state-supported Pre-K for all young children. Miles To Go: Mississippi, Southern Education Foundation (2006)

Developing the Workforce of 2025 begins NOW The childs brain is NOT a smaller version of an adult brain. Neurons are not yet fully insulated.Neurons are not yet fully insulated. Neurons are still moving into positions.Neurons are still moving into positions. Synapse development is exploding.Synapse development is exploding.

State Support for Early Childhood Education Programs Kentucky gives $18.1 million in state funds to serve at- risk four-year-olds Louisiana gives $43.8 million in state funds to serve at-risk children in certain parishes Oklahoma gives $64.1 million in state funds to serve all four-year-olds Tennessee has ADDED $25 million annually for pre-K since 2004 Mississippi gives $0 and is the ONLY SOUTHERN STATE WITHOUT A STATE PRE-K PROGRAM

Arkansas Pre-K beginning Entergy Arkansas commissioned a study in 2002 of costs and benefits of Pre-K Cost per child for two years of Pre-K would be $9,380 Return per child to the state would be $86,059 Business leaders teamed with child advocacy groups to secure state funding High-quality, voluntary pre-k system for all the state's three and four year olds would require a total of $226 million and return about $2 billion

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke in 2007 Although education and the acquisition of skills is a lifelong process, starting early in life is crucial. Recent research…has documented the high returns that early childhood programs can pay in terms of subsequent educational attainment and in lower rates of social problems, such as teenage pregnancy and welfare dependency.

FIRST REGIONAL LIBRARY EARLY CHILDHOOD RESOURCE & REFERRAL CENTER $200,000 CHALLENGE GRANT FROM THE PHIL HARDIN FOUNDATION To Create $1 million PERMANENT Endowment FOR Early Childhood Education The most promising and powerful place to improve education outcomes, Miles To Go: Mississippi Report

Young Children in 8 NW Miss. counties Children Ages 0 to 4 (est Census) 22,406 Number of Licensed Child Care Center Slots 12,065 Number of Licensed Child Care Centers147 (including 22 Head Start Programs) Public Libraries 20 Early Head Start Programs 4 Number of Schools w/ School District Funded Pre-K Programs 5

What is a Child Care Resource and Referral system? R&Rs bring the voices of children, families, and child care providers to the public

What We Do –Give parents referrals to local child care providers and family providers –Have information on state licensing requirements –Provide resources to child care providers/ family providers and families –Provide guidance by phone, in person, and in other ways, such as the internet, that are tailored to each individual family. –Provide trainings to child care providers/ family providers and families

First Regional Library Early Childhood R&R in 2007 Provided 30 training sessions for 625 child care workers from 137 centers in 17 counties Distributed 1,294 Born To Read bags to new mothers for their babies Created 75 Storytime kits for centers Offered Mother Reads program in jail Technical aid to 9 centers in Between the Lions statewide project

MADDOX FOUNDATION ENDOWMENT MATCHING GRANT $10 MILLION COMMITMENT

The Phil Hardin story The power of endowment funding

giving back people The power of endowment funding Meridian Bakery Owner Left it to foundation for education of all Mississippians Endowment established with $6.9 million in 1976 Foundation has given away 5% of it every year Background:

The growth of the Phil Hardin Foundation $42 Million giving back people Grants of More Than $42 Million $6.9 Million Endowment has Grown to $42 million! The power of endowment funding

To learn more about us, call (662) or contact us at For good. For ever. SM © 2002 Council on Foundations and Community Foundations of America