Page 59 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2025

established in 1998 by the O’Keefe Foundation with a $1,000 contribution. By 2023, the cumulative annual payout was $65,272.
Through the generosity of donors, endowment funds at GCCF have supported a wide variety of causes, including the following: • Animal welfare agencies across the lower six counties (FIXED
for Life spay and neuter program, fixedforlife.org)
• Educational initiatives, such as teacher grants for PreK–12th
grade programs and scholarships for students
• Children’s programs, including meal initiatives and youth
development opportunities
• Housing and disaster relief, such as the Hurricane Zeta Roof
Repair Fund and Mississippi Disaster Relief Fund, both of which helped low-income families with home repairs and weatherization
Jerry L. Levens, second child of Mary and Gene Levens, tells the story of his family’s endowment. Due to limited resources, his parents did not have the opportunity to attend college, though they truly recognized the value of education. In a large family, with nine kids, close in age, spread out over 11 years, resources were quite restrictive. All nine were required to attend Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College for two years before being allowed to go to a senior college.
“My parents recognized the limitation for some families in pursuing higher education was often economics. It was this view that motivated our family to endow the Mary & Gene Levens Scholarship Fund in honor of our parents when our father died in 1999,” Levens said. “Since 2000, this scholarship fund has provided some economic support to approximately 50 students.”
The Levens family also wanted to recognize the contributions of teachers in the lives of students, and the fund was expanded to create the Mary & Gene Levens Excellence in Teaching Grant program. To date, the fund has made awards to five teachers. “The Community Foundation is very easy to work with in establishing a fund,” he added.
Lori West, CEO of the Humane Society of South Mississippi, lauds GCCF. “The continued support of our local community foundation affirms the vital role the Humane Society of
South Mississippi plays in the welfare of our region’s pets.
This partnership not only sustains our lifesaving work but also reflects a shared commitment to compassion and community. We are forever grateful for the trust and generosity that allows us to continue serving the most vulnerable animals of South Mississippi.”
Explore all GCCF funds at www.mgccf.org/all-funds. SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living | www.smliving.net
Jerry Levens and Christen Duhé
FIXED for Life
Leo W. Seal Innovative Teacher Grants
John T. and Lois R. “Sonny” Velkas Child Welfare Fund
11975 Seaway Rd., Ste. B-150, Gulfport 228.897.4841 • www.mgccf.org
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