Steve Cordle
ECB Publishing, Inc.
There are a lot of ways to honor someone. Honor can be as simple as a card or plaque thanking the recipient for a job well done or something longer lasting. A Foundation that helps with life's necessities, such as food and education, is a great way to honor someone when it is named after them. A Foundation can go on for years and help many people as it builds a lasting legacy. The Margaret Byrd Jones Foundation Inc. (MBJF) was formed in 2009 by her daughter, Leslie Longmire, as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and, in the early days, provided mentoring to young women and girls. Over the years, the foundation has added other projects to include:
• Back To School Giveaway
• Adopt a Family for the Holidays
• A Thankful Heart Project
• Shrink Less and Shine More Scholarship
• Lizzie B's Corner (Quarterly Newsletter)
The “A Thankful Heart Project” provides groceries for families in need (the most recent one was held on Sept. 12 in Monticello). During the holidays, MBJF operates an “Adopt A Family” program that has served many Jefferson County families.
In 2015, the foundation's board began the “Shrink Less and Shine More Scholarship” to "encourage deserving young women to never shrink themselves and always strive to reach their full potential." Although open to high school seniors across Florida, the first four scholarship recipients were from Jefferson County. According to the website, "the scholarship is up to $1000 and will be awarded annually to a graduating high school senior(s). The scholarship is to be used to assist with the payment of tuition, room and board, books and/or fees." During the five years that the scholarship has been awarded, 11 young women have been helped with the always rising college expenses. A panel made up of board members and volunteers choose the recipients. Once selected, recipients are notified by phone and email, with a request to respond within a specified period. Once awarded, the scholarship funds are made payable to the awardee's college or university. The deadline to apply is mid-March.
When it comes to charities, one concern donors and potential donors have is, how are the funds used? One of the best things about the MBJF is that the bulk of monetary donations supports the foundation's mission and not overhead. That is important, because, when donating to a nonprofit, donors like the assurance that the funds go toward the stated goal. MBJF President Leslie Longmire said in a phone interview that since they have no paid staff, overhead is exceptionally low, consequently, about 96 cents of every dollar donated to the Foundation goes to support the organization's mission. Like all charities, the arrival of COVID-19 has caused uncertainty about future operations. So far, MBJF has not been significantly affected, so they hope to continue with their programs, including the “Shrink Less and Shine More Scholarship.”
Financial support is always appreciated, but help in the form of volunteers is also needed for their various projects. As the website states, "volunteering is a rewarding way to get involved and help The Margaret Byrd Jones Foundation Inc. build strong nests in the communities we serve." If you would like to help the Margaret Byrd Jones Foundation, Inc. to carry out their mission, enhancing the lives of underserved young girls and providing services that enrich the lives of children and families in need within the community, visit their website for further information.
You must be logged in to post a comment.