By Todd Trenchard | Executive director, Bacot McCarty Foundation
The Bacot McCarty Foundation was established in 1978 and is a nonprofit organization that has become a mainstay for many educational, youth and cultural programs across the Gulf Coast. The foundation supports over 30 local nonprofit agencies across the region and administers scholarships through various funds.
The mission statement of the Bacot McCarty Foundation is “enhancing lives through youth, education and the arts.” We have a major partnership with the IP Casino Resort Spa that has allowed the foundation to extend its reach to more agencies and lives throughout the Gulf Coast. The IP now has given the foundation over $2 million, and the foundation presents some of the largest signature events in the region.
As a community service, a weekly television show called “Spotlight Gulf Coast” airs across South Mississippi several times each week on both WGUD-Channel 19 and WXXV NBC and Fox-25. The broadcast offers information about local events and what is happening in the local community, as well as affording nonprofits the opportunity to get volunteers, money and support for their causes. See our website at www.bacotmccarty.org for dates and times. We also have a Facebook page under The Bacot McCarty Foundation. The foundation’s signature event is the Jolly McCarty Memorial Golf Classic. This weekend extravaganza has raised millions of dollars for programs across South Mississippi and grown to become the largest golf tournament fundraiser in Jackson County history, as well as one of the signature events in our region. We also have founded and present Renaissance the Runway, which has become a tremendous fashion show success.
I helped to start the foundation 15 years ago and serve as the executive director. I serve on many boards and advisory councils throughout the region. Avery Loper is senior assistant and a senior at Resurrection High School. A very prominent coast-wide board of directors consisting of community and civic leaders enable the foundation to do many things for many causes.
Our office is located at 1502 Jackson Ave. in Pascagoula and may be reached at (228) 217-5791. The foundation’s email address is bacotmccarty@gmail.com.
The Bacot McCarty Foundation’s beneficiaries include:
- Rock U 2
- Dream Program
- One Coast Ambassador of the Year event and scholarship
- Lynn Meadows Discovery Center
- Ronald McDonald House of Mobile
- Robbie Maxwell Scholarship
- Boys and Girls Club of Jackson County
- Audubon Center
- Junior PGA Clinic
- YMCA and Special Olympics
- Pascagoula Family Interactive Center
- 2nd Chance Mississippi
- Leadership scholarships through Jackson County Chamber and MGCCC, and many others.