Hattiesburg celebrates National Community Foundation week

Hattiesburg, MS - The Pinebelt Community Foundation is celebrating Community Foundation week. The Pinebelt Community Foundation joined more than 750 foundations across America for the 26th annual Community Foundation week.

Representative Toby Barker was there to support, "It empowers the everyday ordinary citizen to give something bigger than themselves. They can give to any number of funds that already exist or they can start their own fund."

The goal of the Foundation is to tell the stories of live changed and communities that are influenced through a philanthropy's partnership with public community leaders and organizations.

Stephen Ramp, Senior Pastor or Westminister Presbyterian church says, "One it is a good discipline to save the money and put it aside. Second, we wanted to aspire other churches. We thought if we can do this as a church that's struggling with the aftermath of a tornado, other churches that were affected by that can go ahead and do likewise."

Community Foundations work to build permanent endowments that support non-profit organizations, churches, charitable projects, and to help donors leave positive legacies.

The National Community Foundation Week was launched in 1989 through a proclamation by former president George H.W. Bush.