2012 Noah's Gift Grant Recipients
The first Noah's Gift grant winners pose with grant panel committee members following the Noah’s Gift Memorial 5K Run-Walk-Skate on Oct. 13. The event raised $15,000 and will help give extraordinary experiences to young people, with the intention of inspiring them to help others in the future. Front row, from left: grant winners Caroline Morris and Sarah Davis and committee member Glenda Gurley; back row, from left: committee members Krickett Schmidt, Hunter McLendon, Tim Dwinnell, and Lindsay Riggin. Not pictured, grant recipient Sherman Lovett.
Noah’s Gift grants three wishes at annual Run-Walk-Skate 5K event
The highlight of the Noah’s Gift Memorial 5K Run-Walk-Skate on Saturday, Oct. 13 was the fulfillment of three young people’s dreams: an aspiring med student, a philanthropic pharmacy student and a hockey player in training.
Grant winner Sarah Davis, 18, applied for a grant to help her update her modeling portfolio, with which she hopes to improve her self-confidence and get more jobs. A biomedical engineering/pre-med double major, Davis plans to become a pediatric oncologist; she hopes to apply any money she makes from modeling toward payment for medical school.
Davis, who knew 16-year-old Noah Costa personally prior to his death in November of 2010, said the grant holds extra-special meaning for her.
“Knowing that something in memory of Noah is being provided to help me help others is amazing,” Davis said. “He was amazing. He was my protector growing up and it means a lot to me that this grant will help me be the ‘protector’ of children with cancer. And by using this grant to help others, his name is being carried on through everything I and the other recipients do. “
The NG5K Grant Committee also selected pharmacy student Caroline Morris and hockey player Sherman Lovett as winners for this year’s grants process. The post-race party also featured other fun awards, a “raffle” donation drawing, contests and recognition.
Jen Hanlon won the award for Most Team Members Recruited sponsored by The Landers Center with 12 members from the Fillin’ Station Grille. Carol Ayers came in first for Most Money Raised by an Individual sponsored by The Landers Center with $1,480.
Bob and Shirley Seymour sponsored the Most Money Raised by a Team award, which was taken by Team Canada captained by Sue Shedden. Shedden’s friends and family not only assisted her in raising $1,275, but five of them also joined her in Hernando to run, walk and skate the race.
The Seymours also sponsored the Best Dressed Individual award, won by Carol Ayers, and the Best Dressed Team, whose honors the Fillin’ Station Grille took home.
Oldest Racer was Meredith Walker at 83, and Youngest Racer went to Nathan DeGray, age 7.
The Perseverance Award, a special award reserved for the last runners to cross the finish line, was sponsored by Quality DPM. The 2012 Perseverance Award was awarded to Jennifer Cavataio Amos. In the inaugural race last year, Quality DPM sponsored the entries of several of their employees, including that of Donna Blackfox, who claimed the award after walking her first 5K race ever in memory of her late husband.
The DeSoto Arts Council sponsored an Art Contest for children ages 7-12. Magnolia Heights student Keen Stinson, age 9, and Pleasant Hill Elementary School student Sarah Landmesser, age 7, each won a scholarship to attend the DeSoto Arts Council’s Kids Creative Arts Camp.
“Noah’s Gift 5K reflects a caring community,” said Tom Pittman, President of The Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi, which houses the Noah’s Gift Endowment Fund. “It was wonderful to see so many young volunteers as well as participants, united in their effort to provide extraordinary experiences for deserving young people. The Community Foundation is proud to hold this Endowment in memory of Noah and to add 25 percent to the total raised through this charitable event.”
Noah’s Gift is currently accepting grant requests to be awarded next fall. For more information on the grant application or upcoming Noah’s Gift events or the 2013 Run-Walk-Skate 5K, please contact The Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi at 662.449.5002 or [email protected].
Grant winner Sarah Davis, 18, applied for a grant to help her update her modeling portfolio, with which she hopes to improve her self-confidence and get more jobs. A biomedical engineering/pre-med double major, Davis plans to become a pediatric oncologist; she hopes to apply any money she makes from modeling toward payment for medical school.
Davis, who knew 16-year-old Noah Costa personally prior to his death in November of 2010, said the grant holds extra-special meaning for her.
“Knowing that something in memory of Noah is being provided to help me help others is amazing,” Davis said. “He was amazing. He was my protector growing up and it means a lot to me that this grant will help me be the ‘protector’ of children with cancer. And by using this grant to help others, his name is being carried on through everything I and the other recipients do. “
The NG5K Grant Committee also selected pharmacy student Caroline Morris and hockey player Sherman Lovett as winners for this year’s grants process. The post-race party also featured other fun awards, a “raffle” donation drawing, contests and recognition.
Jen Hanlon won the award for Most Team Members Recruited sponsored by The Landers Center with 12 members from the Fillin’ Station Grille. Carol Ayers came in first for Most Money Raised by an Individual sponsored by The Landers Center with $1,480.
Bob and Shirley Seymour sponsored the Most Money Raised by a Team award, which was taken by Team Canada captained by Sue Shedden. Shedden’s friends and family not only assisted her in raising $1,275, but five of them also joined her in Hernando to run, walk and skate the race.
The Seymours also sponsored the Best Dressed Individual award, won by Carol Ayers, and the Best Dressed Team, whose honors the Fillin’ Station Grille took home.
Oldest Racer was Meredith Walker at 83, and Youngest Racer went to Nathan DeGray, age 7.
The Perseverance Award, a special award reserved for the last runners to cross the finish line, was sponsored by Quality DPM. The 2012 Perseverance Award was awarded to Jennifer Cavataio Amos. In the inaugural race last year, Quality DPM sponsored the entries of several of their employees, including that of Donna Blackfox, who claimed the award after walking her first 5K race ever in memory of her late husband.
The DeSoto Arts Council sponsored an Art Contest for children ages 7-12. Magnolia Heights student Keen Stinson, age 9, and Pleasant Hill Elementary School student Sarah Landmesser, age 7, each won a scholarship to attend the DeSoto Arts Council’s Kids Creative Arts Camp.
“Noah’s Gift 5K reflects a caring community,” said Tom Pittman, President of The Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi, which houses the Noah’s Gift Endowment Fund. “It was wonderful to see so many young volunteers as well as participants, united in their effort to provide extraordinary experiences for deserving young people. The Community Foundation is proud to hold this Endowment in memory of Noah and to add 25 percent to the total raised through this charitable event.”
Noah’s Gift is currently accepting grant requests to be awarded next fall. For more information on the grant application or upcoming Noah’s Gift events or the 2013 Run-Walk-Skate 5K, please contact The Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi at 662.449.5002 or [email protected].
2012 Noah's Gift Memorial 5K
This fall, take part in the second "Noah's Gift Memorial 5K." Proceeds from the race go to "Noah's Gift" an endowed fund that allows deserving children to experience unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and activities.
Who: You!
What: Noah's Gift Memorial 5K
When: Saturday, October 13th, 2012
Time: 8:55 AM Skaters
9:00am Runners & Walkers
Where: Hernando, MS
Registration Fee: $20 per entrant
(Before October 6th)
Who: You!
What: Noah's Gift Memorial 5K
When: Saturday, October 13th, 2012
Time: 8:55 AM Skaters
9:00am Runners & Walkers
Where: Hernando, MS
Registration Fee: $20 per entrant
(Before October 6th)
Noah's Gift Memorial 5K Appreciation Event!
Thank you to all of the people who made our first Noah’s Gift 5K a success! The appreciation party was held on Tuesday, March 6th during the Mississippi RiverKings hockey game. Without all of our sponsors, volunteers, committee members, and most importantly, those of you who walked, ran, and skated the 5K, we would not have been able to make this event a success! We were able to raise over $15,000 for the Noah’s Gift Fund, which helps support young people in their pursuit of extraordinary experiences.
The Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi generously agreed to donate an additional $12,500 to the Noah’s Gift Fund if it reached a total of $50,000 by the end of March – we did it! Please contact the Community Foundation if you are interested in making a donation by calling 662.449.5002.
The Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi generously agreed to donate an additional $12,500 to the Noah’s Gift Fund if it reached a total of $50,000 by the end of March – we did it! Please contact the Community Foundation if you are interested in making a donation by calling 662.449.5002.
2011 Noah's Gift Memorial 5K
Last fall, you honored the memory of Noah Samuel Costa by taking part in the first "Noah's Gift Memorial 5K." Proceeds from the race went to "Noah's Gift", an endowed fund that allows deserving children to experience unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and activities.
Thank you for participating and we look forward to seeing you in 2012!