Page 28 - South Mississippi Living - April, 2016

COASTNOTES
SPIRIT OF THE GULF COAST story by Lynn Lofton photo by Michael Sunderman
John M. Hairston
John M. Hairston was named the Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce’s 2016 recipient of the Pat Santucci “Spirit
of the Gulf Coast” Award. Kimberly Nastasi, Chamber CEO, said, “Hairston exemplifies the spirit of the award as a true servant. He’s a leader on local, state and national levels and works tirelessly to ensure the Gulf Coast progresses.”
Hairston is president & chief executive officer at Hancock Holding Company, Hancock Bank, and Whitney Bank. Active in business, community, economic development, and educational initiatives, he was appointed to the Board of Mississippi Information Technology Services and the Mississippi
Gaming Commission. He serves as co- chairman of GoCoast 2020 Commission Tourism Committee and as a trustee
of the National World War II Museum. He is an active member of numerous banking organizations in Mississippi and Washington, D.C.
He’s a former chairman of the United Way Campaign and the American Heart Association Heart Walk. He serves on the MSU Bulldog Foundation Board and on the faculty of the LSU Graduate School of Banking.
A graduate of Gulfport High School, he graduated magna cum laude from Mississippi State University with a B.S. in chemical engineering.
IP PRESENTS CHECKS TO NON-PROFITS
story by Lynn Lofton photos courtesy of IP Casino Resort & Spa
IP Casino Resort & Spa recently presented more than $1 million to 37 non-profit organizations. Boyd Gaming executives Bill Boyd, Vincent Schwartz and Duncan McKenzie presented checks to the following organizations:
• Alzheimer’s Association
• American Heart Association
• American Red Cross
• Back Bay Mission
• Bacot-McCarty Foundation
• Biloxi Excel By Five
• Biloxi First
• Biloxi Little Theatre
• Biloxi-Ocean Springs Junior Auxiliary
• Boys and Girls Club of the Gulf Coast
• Boys and Girls Club of Jackson County
• CASA Harrison County
• CLIMB Community Development
Corporation
• DREAM Program
• Emerald Coast Poker Run
• League of Women Voters
• NAACP, Biloxi Branch
• Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art
• Pink Heart Funds
• Feed My Sheep
• Friends of Hiller Park
• Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra • Gulf Coast Women’s Center for
Non-Violence
• Lynn Meadows Discovery Center • Make-A-Wish Foundation
• March of Dimes
• Mental Health Association
• Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce • Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic
• Mississippi Senior Prom
• Mississippi Center for Autism and
Related Developmental Disabilities • Gulf Coast Community College
• St. Vincent de Paul Community
Pharmacy
• Salvation Army
• United Way of South Mississippi • United Services Organization
• YMCA Mississippi Gulf Coast
28 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • April 2016
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