left to right:   Susan Pucci of Harrah's Entertainment for Business of the Year;  Pearl Watts of Quitman County Development Organization, Inc. for Non-Profit of the Year;   Tom Pittman, Community Foundation President;   Danny Phillips for Man of the Year, and Joyce Haslip for Woman of the Year

 

 

JOYCE HASLIP – WOMAN OF THE YEAR

 

“Serving others’ is the motto of Joyce Haslip and she gives all the glory to God for allowing her to serve and make a difference.  She is the first alderwoman for Olive Branch and has served her city since 2005.   Her volunteer work with Olive Branch really began 30 years ago as a member of the Olive Branch City Beautiful Commission.  This led her to work with the annual Octoberfest, benefiting the Commission and providing needed funds for city projects, serving as Chairman for the past 15 years.  Joyce volunteered with DeSoto Sunrise Homes for 12 years impacting the lives of many young girls.  Volunteering has led her to become an Advisory Board member for Volunteer Northwest Mississippi.  Along with serving as a member of the Olive Branch Civitan Club, Joyce still has time to “serve others’” as a volunteer in her church working with ages from senior adults to the young lives in the nursery.   Joyce received the National Associations of Counties Points of Light award for her work in DeSoto County.

 

DANNY PHILLIPS – MAN OF THE YEAR

 

“Let’s Play Ball” is lived and breathed by the Man of the Year, Danny Phillips.  It all started 25 years ago when the Hernando Rotary Club introduced him to the Hernando Civic Center and the rest is history!  Danny has dedicated his time and talents as a volunteer in seeing that the Hernando Civic Center grows with the sport and the demand.  It now boasts 9 fields and is the home to the Dizzy Dean state and district tournaments.  In fact, Dizzy Dean has also become a volunteer fixture in Danny’s life.  He became a member of the national board in 1993 and a Commissioner from 1998 to present.  Since Dizzy Dean was introduced to DeSoto County, the economics have ‘bat 1000’ during baseball season with an estimated 12,250 players, coaches and fans bringing enthusiasm for the sport as well as thousands in tourist dollars.   We recognize Danny for his commitment to youth baseball and DeSoto County.

 

HARRAH’S ENTERTAINMENT –BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

 

Harrah’s Entertainment has a commitment to help make the communities in which they do business vibrant places to live and work.  Harrah’s employee volunteer arm, H.E.R.O. (Harrah’s Entertainment Reaching Out), is one outlet to make this commitment a reality.   In 2007 Harrah’s donated over $1 million in cash and in-kind donations throughout the Mid-South.   1,103 Harrah’s H.E.R.O.s  were able to volunteer a total of 4,974 man hours to events and causes throughout the Mid-South.  Harrah’s provided volunteers, in-kind and/or monetary donations for 26 organizations and/or events, all within the eight-county service area of the Community Foundation truly impacting communities by connecting people who care with causes that matter.  Nationally, Harrah's Entertainment was recently ranked among the top corporate donors in the country and the most generous cash giver as a percentage of pretax profits by BusinessWeek philanthropy Poll.

 

 

QUITMAN COUNTY DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION (MARKS)  – NON-PROFIT OF THE YEAR

 

Marks, MS, population 1,551, is rural in many aspects and one of the poorest areas in the state, but not in the area of achievements with its young people.  This is due, in part, to the work of the Quitman County Development Organization.  This organization devised a remarkable array of programs to raise the achievement level of young people and involve them directly in the social, economic and cultural life of their community.   The youth actually own and operate a Youth Credit Union with 1,200 members learning how to save, manage and invest money.   The Carl Brown Education Center, under QCDO’s management, is the hub of youth activity.  It houses a youth library, a gift shop, a computer learning center, an accelerated reading program, Raising a Reader Program and an after-school tutoring program.  The ‘Smart Talk Sweet Shop’ is a lesson in entrepreneurship, not only offering youth employment, but teaching job skills.   Marks is fortunate to have people who are interested in working with causes that matter.