The children and grandchildren of the late Clarence and Mary Lee Howard of Yazoo City recently established a non-profit organization to aid local families and children who are in need.
The Clarence and Mary Lee Howard Charity Foundation held a kick-off event in Yazoo City over the Fourth of July holiday weekend. During this event on July 2, the organization donated hundreds of school supplies, including laptop computers, backpacks, notebooks, ink pens, pencils and other supplies to local families and children. The Foundation also provided complimentary food and drinks, as well as live music and games to over 125 attendees.
Clemetine Howard-Hutchinson, who is the Executive Director of her family’s charity foundation, is a proud 1984 graduate of Yazoo City High School.
“The focus of the Clarence and Mary Lee Howard Charity Foundation can be summed up with the five words that make up our slogan, which is ‘Giving Back to Give Hope,’” Howard-Hutchinson said. “To whom much is given, much is expected and required.”
Howard-Hutchinson added that she and her siblings have been given so much unconditional love, support, and prayers throughout their lives from their local community of Yazoo City.
Howard-Hutchinson, who currently resides in San Francisco, California, is also a 1988 Honors Graduate of Mississippi Valley State University.
“The mission of our Foundation is to transform lives one child and one family at a time by providing educational enrichment programs, access to vocational job training programs, health and wellness outreach services and provide access to financial literacy programs to underserved communities with a special focus on the Mississippi Delta region,” she said.
Foundation Chairman Ulysses ‘Jack’ Howard, who resides in Maryland and is a 1980 graduate of Yazoo City High School and a 1985 graduate of Mississippi College, also returned to his hometown to promote the organization’s efforts.
“The goal of the Clarence and Mary Lee Howard Charity Foundation is to deliver relevant programs and services to children and families in the underserved Mississippi Delta region by forming partnerships and by building alliances with public and private organizations that will provide positive and uplifting opportunities and resources to strengthen the overall health, social and financial well-being of our local children and families,” Howard, also a U.S. Navy veteran, said. “Our goal is to reach back and give back to a community that gave so much support to my sisters, brother, and me when we were growing up in a poor working-class family in Yazoo City.”
Anyone who is interested in volunteering or partnering with the foundation can call 1-888-314-3644 or email clemclarke1@gmail.com.
