Gulfport, MS (May 21, 2024) – Elijah’s Closet, a nonprofit located in Biloxi, has been awarded the inaugural $20,000 GivHer Circle Grant from Gulf Coast Community Foundation. The award was presented at the Granting Success with the GivHer Circle breakfast held May 21 at the Knight Nonprofit Center in Gulfport.
Elijah’s Closet assists families with children in foster care and those at risk of entering the foster-care system. The GivHer Circle Grant will go toward the purchase of beds for children in need in the community.
“It is an honor to be the very first recipient of the GivHer Circle Grant and to be selected by a community of women who understand the power behind numbers,” said Nikki Williams, president, executive director and co-founder of Elijah’s Closet. “Elijah’s Closet is made up of imperfect humans who came together out of compassion and empathy for other imperfect humans to ensure that the next generation is a little less imperfect than we are.”
During the GivHer Circle Grant cycle, nonprofits from Hancock, Harrison, Pearl River, Jackson, Stone and George counties are eligible to apply for the GivHer Circle Grant, which is awarded from the GivHer Circle Fund, a fund with GCCF. The grant is made possible by GivHer Circle members.
The Granting Success event was also an opportunity for attendees to learn more about the GivHer Circle, connect with like-minded individuals and find out more about the work being done by nonprofits in South Mississippi. Guest speakers included Erin Rosetti, communications manager, Memorial Health System; Dorothy Shaw, retired director of Ethics and Compliance, Ingalls Shipbuilding; and Kathy Springer, chief executive officer, United Way of South Mississippi.
“Today’s event was truly inspiring and showcased the power of collective giving. It was incredible to witness so many passionate women unite for a common cause and to witness Elijah’s Closet receiving the first-ever GivHer Circle Grant,” said Tiffany D. Bell, GCCF’s director of Donor Relations. “Membership in the GivHer Circle allows us to achieve amazing things and make a lasting difference in South Mississippi.”
To find out more about the GivHer Circle and to join, visit GivHerCircle.org. To find out more about GCCF, visit mgccf.org.
PHOTO: From left are Tiffany D. Bell, director of Donor Relations, Gulf Coast Community Foundation (GCCF); Nikki Williams, president, executive director and co-founder of Elijah’s Closet; and Dr. Christen Duhé, president and executive director, GCCF.
About Elijah’s Closet
Elijah’s Closet is a nonprofit public charity that prides itself on reshaping foster care through the provision of free tangible goods to families with children in foster care and families with children susceptible of going into care. Over the last six years, through the financial and tangible support received by members of the community, near and far, the organization has been able to assist over 3,000 children and is currently assisting an average of 123 children a month. To learn more about the impact Elijah’s Closet is making and ways you can contribute, visit elijahscloset.org.
About The GivHer Circle
With the aim of attaining 100 members, the GivHer Circle endeavors to amplify the voices of women who are committed to igniting positive change across South Mississippi. Each member makes an annual tax-deductible donation that goes directly to the GivHer Circle Fund held at Gulf Coast Community Foundation. The charitable purpose of the fund is to support local nonprofit organizations within GCCF’s six-county service area of George, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River, and Stone counties. GivHer Circle members have the unique opportunity to identify, recommend and ultimately decide which deserving organizations will receive grant funding.GivHer Circle membership runs July 1 – June 30 each year. Visit GivHerCircle.org for more information.
About Gulf Coast Community Foundation
Gulf Coast Community Foundation is a nonprofit public charity that has been serving the people of South Mississippi since 1989. GCCF’s primary mission is to increase philanthropy by assisting donors in establishing endowments and legacy giving plans, making grants to worthy causes, and providing leadership in response to the community’s changing needs. Over the years, GCCF has been a leader in addressing the most pressing needs in the community, from disaster relief and recovery to supporting education and child welfare initiatives. To learn more about GCCF and the important work it does in the community, please visit mgccf.org