"It is the responsibility of the people of Mississippi to try to raise the level - economically, spiritually, and otherwise - of all the people of Mississippi. There's nobody else who's going to come in here and do it for us."

- George McLean
The McLean Award for Philanthropy
The McLean Award for Philanthropy is given to honor those individuals, families, and corporations that exemplify CREATE Founders George and Anna Keirsey McLean’s spirit in charitable giving. It recognizes the extraordinary leadership of people and organizations working to improve the quality of life in our community and our region.

Pictured: Elizabeth “Betsy” Brown, 2022 Recipient
Learn More
The McLean Award for Philanthropy
The McLean Award for Philanthropy is given to honor those individuals, families, and corporations that exemplify CREATE Founders George and Anna Keirsey McLean’s spirit in charitable giving. It recognizes the extraordinary leadership of people and organizations working to improve the quality of life in our community and our region.

Pictured: Hull Davis Family, 2022 Recipient
Learn More
The McLean Award for Philanthropy
The McLean Award for Philanthropy is given to honor those individuals, families, and corporations that exemplify CREATE Founders George and Anna Keirsey McLean’s spirit in charitable giving. It recognizes the extraordinary leadership of people and organizations working to improve the quality of life in our community and our region.

Pictured: Larry and Judy Kirk, 2022 Recipient
Learn More
The McLean Award for Philanthropy
The McLean Award for Philanthropy is given to honor those individuals, families, and corporations that exemplify CREATE Founders George and Anna Keirsey McLean’s spirit in charitable giving. It recognizes the extraordinary leadership of people and organizations working to improve the quality of life in our community and our region.

Pictured: Jack and Lisa Reed, 2022 Recipient
Learn More
The McLean Award for Philanthropy
The McLean Award for Philanthropy is given to honor those individuals, families, and corporations that exemplify CREATE Founders George and Anna Keirsey McLean’s spirit in charitable giving. It recognizes the extraordinary leadership of people and organizations working to improve the quality of life in our community and our region.

Pictured: Heywood and Sue Washburn, 2022 Recipient
Learn More
Jack Reed, Sr. Northeast Mississippi
Community Leadership Award
The Jack Reed, Sr. Northeast Mississippi Community Leadership Award is presented on an annual basis to an individual who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership in helping improve the quality of life in his or her community and in the northeast Mississippi region. This award is supported by an endowment at CREATE, which was funded by a special dividend from Journal, Inc.

Pictured: Bill Renick, 2022 Recipient
Learn More
James Hugh Ray Community Affiliate Award
To recognize the efforts of community affiliates, Journal, Inc. established the James Hugh Ray Community Affiliate Award. 2022 award went to Union County/New Albany Initiative to Excel (UNITE).

Pictured (L to R): Carol Riddell, Mike Kirk,
Cathy Garrett, and Bo Collins
Learn More
Toyota Wellspring Education Fund
The commitment of Toyota to establish a $50 million endowment over ten years at the CREATE Foundation is the most extraordinary gift to support public education in the history of our state.
Learn More
 
Explore the information you need for the impact you want.

Pictured: Sean and Janet Suggs
Learn More
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At CREATE, we believe the future of our region is tied to enhancing the ability of our people to pursue their goals and aspirations. We encourage you to explore the many ways the CREATE Foundation can help you accomplish your charitable giving.

The CREATE Foundation was established in 1972 by George and Anna Keirsey McLean to enhance the ability of people in northeast Mississippi to pursue their goals and aspirations. As CREATE celebrates its 50th anniversary, the organization is what McLeans wanted the CREATE Foundation to be: a vehicle for people and organizations to fulfill their charitable interests. Watch the video to learn more about CREATE and its impact on our region.

 
"It is the responsibility of the people of Mississippi to try to raise the level - economically, spiritually, and otherwise - of all the people of Mississippi. There's nobody else who's going to come in here and do it for us."

- George McLean
The McLean Award for Philanthropy
The McLean Award for Philanthropy is given to honor those individuals, families, and corporations that exemplify CREATE Founders George and Anna Keirsey McLean’s spirit in charitable giving. It recognizes the extraordinary leadership of people and organizations working to improve the quality of life in our community and our region.

Pictured: Elizabeth “Betsy” Brown, 2022 Recipient
Learn More
The McLean Award for Philanthropy
The McLean Award for Philanthropy is given to honor those individuals, families, and corporations that exemplify CREATE Founders George and Anna Keirsey McLean’s spirit in charitable giving. It recognizes the extraordinary leadership of people and organizations working to improve the quality of life in our community and our region.

Pictured: Hull Davis Family, 2022 Recipient
Learn More
The McLean Award for Philanthropy
The McLean Award for Philanthropy is given to honor those individuals, families, and corporations that exemplify CREATE Founders George and Anna Keirsey McLean’s spirit in charitable giving. It recognizes the extraordinary leadership of people and organizations working to improve the quality of life in our community and our region.

Pictured: Larry and Judy Kirk, 2022 Recipient
Learn More
The McLean Award for Philanthropy
The McLean Award for Philanthropy is given to honor those individuals, families, and corporations that exemplify CREATE Founders George and Anna Keirsey McLean’s spirit in charitable giving. It recognizes the extraordinary leadership of people and organizations working to improve the quality of life in our community and our region.

Pictured: Jack and Lisa Reed, 2022 Recipient
Learn More
The McLean Award for Philanthropy
The McLean Award for Philanthropy is given to honor those individuals, families, and corporations that exemplify CREATE Founders George and Anna Keirsey McLean’s spirit in charitable giving. It recognizes the extraordinary leadership of people and organizations working to improve the quality of life in our community and our region.

Pictured: Heywood and Sue Washburn, 2022 Recipient
Learn More
Jack Reed, Sr. Northeast Mississippi Community Leadership Award
The Jack Reed, Sr. Northeast Mississippi Community Leadership Award is presented on an annual basis to an individual who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership in helping improve the quality of life in his or her community and in the northeast Mississippi region. This award is supported by an endowment at CREATE, which was funded by a special dividend from Journal, Inc.

Pictured: Bill Renick, 2022 Recipient
Learn More
James Hugh Ray Community Affiliate Award
To recognize the efforts of community affiliates, Journal, Inc. established the James Hugh Ray Community Affiliate Award. 2022 award went to Union County/New Albany Initiative to Excel (UNITE).

Pictured (L to R): Carol Riddell, Mike Kirk, Cathy Garrett, and Bo Collins
Learn More
Toyota Wellspring Education Fund
The commitment of Toyota to establish a $50 million endowment over ten years at the CREATE Foundation is the most extraordinary gift to support public education in the history of our state.
Learn More
 
Explore the information you need for the impact you want.

Pictured: Sean and Janet Suggs
Learn More
Previous slide
Next slide
 
"It is the responsibility of the people of Mississippi to try to raise the level - economically, spiritually, and otherwise - of all the people of Mississippi. There's nobody else who's going to come in here and do it for us."

- George McLean
The McLean Award for Philanthropy
The McLean Award for Philanthropy is given to honor those individuals, families, and corporations that exemplify CREATE Founders George and Anna Keirsey McLean’s spirit in charitable giving. It recognizes the extraordinary leadership of people and organizations working to improve the quality of life in our community and our region.

Pictured: Elizabeth “Betsy” Brown, 2022 Recipient
Donate Now
The McLean Award for Philanthropy
The McLean Award for Philanthropy is given to honor those individuals, families, and corporations that exemplify CREATE Founders George and Anna Keirsey McLean’s spirit in charitable giving. It recognizes the extraordinary leadership of people and organizations working to improve the quality of life in our community and our region.

Pictured: Hull Davis Family, 2022 Recipient
Donate Now
The McLean Award for Philanthropy
The McLean Award for Philanthropy is given to honor those individuals, families, and corporations that exemplify CREATE Founders George and Anna Keirsey McLean’s spirit in charitable giving. It recognizes the extraordinary leadership of people and organizations working to improve the quality of life in our community and our region.

Pictured: Larry and Judy Kirk, 2022 Recipient
Donate Now
The McLean Award for Philanthropy
The McLean Award for Philanthropy is given to honor those individuals, families, and corporations that exemplify CREATE Founders George and Anna Keirsey McLean’s spirit in charitable giving. It recognizes the extraordinary leadership of people and organizations working to improve the quality of life in our community and our region.

Pictured: Jack and Lisa Reed, 2022 Recipient
Donate Now
The McLean Award for Philanthropy
The McLean Award for Philanthropy is given to honor those individuals, families, and corporations that exemplify CREATE Founders George and Anna Keirsey McLean’s spirit in charitable giving. It recognizes the extraordinary leadership of people and organizations working to improve the quality of life in our community and our region.

Pictured: Heywood and Sue Washburn, 2022 Recipient
Donate Now
Jack Reed, Sr. Northeast Mississippi Community Leadership Award
The Jack Reed, Sr. Northeast Mississippi Community Leadership Award is presented on an annual basis to an individual who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership in helping improve the quality of life in his or her community and in the northeast Mississippi region. This award is supported by an endowment at CREATE, which was funded by a special dividend from Journal, Inc.

Pictured: Bill Renick, 2022 Recipient
Learn More
James Hugh Ray Community Affiliate Award
To recognize the efforts of community affiliates, Journal, Inc. established the James Hugh Ray Community Affiliate Award. 2022 award went to Union County/New Albany Initiative to Excel (UNITE).

Pictured (L to R): Carol Riddell, Mike Kirk, Cathy Garrett, and Bo Collins
Donate Now
Toyota Wellspring Education Fund
The commitment of Toyota to establish a $50 million endowment over ten years at the CREATE Foundation is the most extraordinary gift to support public education in the history of our state.
Learn More
 
Explore the information you need for the impact you want.

Pictured: Sean and Janet Suggs
Learn More
Previous slide
Next slide

At CREATE, we believe the future of our region is tied to enhancing the ability of our people to pursue their goals and aspirations. We encourage you to explore the many ways the CREATE Foundation can help you accomplish your charitable giving.

The CREATE Foundation was established in 1972 by George and Anna Keirsey McClean to enhance the ability of people in northeast Mississippi to pursue their goals and aspirations. As CREATE celebrates its 50th anniversary, the organization is what McCleans wanted the CREATE Foundation to be: a vehicle for people and organizations to fulfill their charitable interests. Watch the video to learn more about CREATE and its impact on our region.

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Monthly

Newsletter

2021 Annual

Report

2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017

Community Affiliates

Community Affiliates are led by a local board made up of community leaders. The Affiliate manages its own independent grant cycle and makes local grants determined to be important in improving the quality of life in that county. CREATE's Community Affiliate program brings together the best thinking leadership to meet community concerns.

The Commission

CREATE Foundation has a distinguished history of highly effective community engagement as the leading regional community development organization in northeast Mississippi. Capitalizing on those strengths, in 1995, CREATE formed the Commission on the Future of Northeast Mississippi to strengthen regional unity and cooperation.

The Commission

Establishing your own named charitable fund does not require great wealth and it isn’t complicated. You can provide ongoing support to your favorite organizations, choose different nonprofit organizations each year during your lifetime, make your own choices, take advantage of our staff’s expertise to help you address the community’s most pressing challenges, and distribute gifts during your lifetime or leave a lasting legacy – or both!

Donors

Establishing your own named charitable fund does not require great wealth and it isn’t complicated. You can provide ongoing support to your favorite organizations, choose different nonprofit organizations each year during your lifetime, make your own choices, take advantage of our staff’s expertise to help you address the community’s most pressing challenges, and distribute gifts during your lifetime or leave a lasting legacy – or both!

A scholarship fund can be designated for any level of education, from preschool to postgraduate work. Donors may designate a particular field of study, select eligibility requirements, and define a fund’s advisory committee. Scholarships may be established as endowments or as “pass through” gifts.

The Imagine the Possibilities Career Expo is a great opportunity for students to take the first steps in planning for their future. Students from seventeen Northeast Mississippi Counties attend this inspiring event.

CREATE Foundation, Inc. can now accept online donations. Click on the button below to see more details and donate online. If you do not see the fund or organization listed, please type the name of the fund in the special instructions field on the following page. Payments will be processed through a secure PayPal account. If you would like to set up an automatic bank draft to donate on a monthly basis, please contact the CREATE office.
Your Act of Generosity, Our Longevity. Lasting impact from your generosity for charitable initiatives in Northeast Mississippi, while enjoying financial advantages of giving.

An endowment is a permanent fund of support for a specific purpose. The principal of your gift is invested, allowing you to build a strong foundation for your area of interest. Annual investment earnings of the endowment support the specified purpose.

Explore the many ways donors have influenced our region.

A scholarship fund can be designated for any level of education, from preschool to postgraduate work. Donors may designate a particular field of study, select eligibility requirements, and define a fund’s advisory committee. Scholarships may be established as endowments or as “pass through” gifts.
The Imagine the Possibilities Career Expo is a great opportunity for students to take the first steps in planning for their future. Students from seventeen Northeast Mississippi Counties attend this inspiring event.
Your Act of Generosity, Our Longevity. Lasting impact from your generosity for charitable initiatives in Northeast Mississippi, while enjoying financial advantages of giving.
CREATE Foundation, Inc. can now accept online donations. Click on the button below to see more details and donate online. If you do not see the fund or organization listed, please type the name of the fund in the special instructions field on the following page. Payments will be processed through a secure PayPal account. If you would like to set up an automatic bank draft to donate on a monthly basis, please contact the CREATE office.
An endowment is a permanent fund of support for a specific purpose. The principal of your gift is invested, allowing you to build a strong foundation for your area of interest. Annual investment earnings of the endowment support the specified purpose.
Explore the many ways donors have influenced our region.

Create's Impact on the Region in 2022

$15 Million

Contributions

$145 Million

Assets

$20 Million

Asset Growth

290

Endowment Funds

Over $700,000 equating to 35% of statewide gifts

Endow MS Gifts

$8.13 Million

Total Affiliate Balance

Why North Mississippians Give