Page 64 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2022

GIVING BACK
story by
Kelsey Sunderman-Foster
photos by
Nadiya Copeland
The Bacot McCarty Foundation stands behind its philosophy “Together we are Making a Difference,” and aims to serve the community and meet the needs of its members.
“Through our partnership with the hundreds of philanthropic supporters we have, we hope to continue to assist youth, education and cultural causes across
our region the best ways we can,” says Executive Director Todd Trenchard. “It is through our incredible volunteer base, which is led by our unparalleled board, that we hope to contribute in making our entire region a better place to live.”
According to Trenchard, the organization has been blessed to play a part in bringing the entire community together under a common cause: to put youth and education first. “We believe the future holds great promise because of the generosity of the leaders that our local community is helping us to reach and develop today,” said Trenchard.
The Foundation achieves its goal
of enhancing lives in our Gulf
Coast Region with a focus on youth, education, the arts, and other worthy
The Bacot McCarty Foundation rasised $200,000 for the local cummunity at the annual Renaissance the Runway event.
causes through fundraising efforts
such Renaissance the Runway. Now
in its sixth year and held at the Biloxi Civic Center, the charity fashion show featured 83 community leaders who modeled outfits from 15 local shops and boutiques. In addition, Renaissance
the Runway featured a silent auction
in which 100 percent of the proceeds support more than a dozen charitable causes. In total, this year’s event raised $200,000 that will go directly back into the South Mississippi community.
“It was the foundation’s largest and most complex endeavor ever and we could have never accomplished what
we did without the support of our
local community and the best group of volunteers anywhere on the Coast,” said
Trenchard. “Together they, along with the support of IP Casino Resort Spa and South Mississippi Living, pulled off what was truly the event of the season. Hats off to our staff who worked tirelessly
on this fundraiser and to all those who donated their time and services and helped us to raise over $200,000 for local causes across our region.”
228.217.5791 www.bacotmccarty.org
64 | December 2022
www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living