News Release

Reeves-Williams gift a big boost for foundation
 

Hernando, Jan 4, 2003 - SOUTHAVEN - Local charitable groups received a boost Friday when Jon Reeves and Bob Williams of Reeves-Williams homebuilders announced a donation valued at more than $200,000.

The Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi received the gift to aid in assisting local non-profit groups.

Reeves and Williams announced that they have donated a commercial lot on Stateline Road just west of Horn Lake Road to the foundation, which was formed one year ago. The lot is appraised at over $208,000.

Williams said the gift came as a result of a meeting with foundation vice president William Bailey.

"After that meeting, I drove past the property and realized that was the sort of thing we were talking about," Williams said. "We had an asset that could work to our benefit as well as the foundation. It was an opportunity to help the community."

Reeves said they are also hoping that the gift will spur other DeSoto County residents to make similar offers.

"We know there are a lot of people in the county who could make similar gifts and we want to encourage them to get involved," Reeves said.

Bailey said the land gift was something new for the organization and will give it a major boost toward achieving its goals.

"I think it is a very smart gift and it really shines a light on a whole new area of contributing to the community," Bailey said. "We also have the added benefit of a matching gift from the Maddox Foundation, so it doubles the impact."

The foundation has as its goal to stimulate the establishment of permanently endowed funds that will serve the citizens and non-profit organizations of Northwest Mississippi and to leverage philanthropic dollars from the area with funds from other sources such as private foundations, local, state and federal agencies.

The foundation seeks to serve interests in DeSoto and other northwest Mississippi counties.

Tom Pittman, president of the foundation, said the land donation was the first major gift received and would help the organization reach its goals.

"We are here to thank you for this gift, and we also want to let other people know about it," Pittman said.

Bailey said the funds derived from the gift would go into the foundation's general fund.

"With this gift we can now start looking at some major ways to benefit the community," Bailey said.

Bailey said most of the past year has been spent informing the community of the foundation's existence and goals for the future. The organization's Crystal Ball last week netted the organization more than $70,000.

Williams said he is hoping the gift will stimulate others to donate.

"We'll be happy to talk with anyone who would want to give land as a donation," Williams said.

Bailey said he is also available to talk with local groups or individuals who are interested in helping the community through the foundation. He can be reached at (901) 238-1066.