Stories of people powering thoughtful goodness in our community and those working hard every day to bring about positive, lasting change
Rooting for Food’s Future
The Samaritan Center in Mandeville has teamed up with Foundation fund holder Jinx Vidrine’s WOW Legacy Gardens with a mission to supply their Food Bank with freshly grown garden produce. Volunteers from eight local churches have stepped-up to take gardening classes from Joan Rizzuto, Master Gardener. The combination of her enthusiasm, the church youth groups doing the heavy work and the church seniors teaching and tending, makes this collaboration (ahem) bear fruit. The Food Bank is a lifeline to the community. Before COVID, the Northshore Food Bank assisted more 3,500 families and that number has now doubled and keeps growing. Most donated food is packaged, canned or in a jar, so these new sources of fresh fruits and vegetables will be a great addition.
Diamond Sampson - Greg Zelden Scholarship Recipient
There were many obstacles in her way, but hard work was not one of them. Diamond Sampson has wanted to go to occupational therapy school and become a dancer at Alabama State University for as long as she can remember. "I sat in the front row of every classroom. I lost many hours of sleep chasing excellence. The library became my second home. But because I made it, I walk Alabama State’s campus knowing I have a purpose!" she said. Is there anything that Diamond Sampson can’t do?! We are rooting for her success and because of the Greg Zelden Scholarship award through the Foundation, Diamond is literally shining in her chosen field as she made the President's List this semester with a 4.0 and now she is the winner of Miss St. Tammany Heritage/Miss Slidell. We are so proud of this firecracker.
Margaret Larsen - St. Tammany Cancer Fund Scholarship Recipient
"This scholarship has given me the opportunity to attend Rhodes College, enabling me to apply for and receive a fellowship at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. In the St. Jude lab, I am researching malignant rhabdoid tumors to help improve treatments for cancer patients. This is where I was treated for my cancer and I am so happy to be working in the institution that saved my life,” Margaret Larsen, recipient of the St. Tammany Cancer Fund Scholarship at the Foundation. We could not be more proud of Margaret and this amazing achievement all the while battling cancer herself. She is amazing and a true success story.
Ashley Short - Betty VamNorman Scholarship Recipient
I recently graduated from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. I graduated with Summa Cum Laude honors and as a University Medalist for maintaining all A’s throughout my college career. I am now working as a Brewery Engineer at Craft Kettle Brewing Equipment in New Orleans. I will be designing vessels and plant layouts for microbreweries and will be involved in several phases of projects. I am so excited for this opportunity, and I am so grateful to have had Mrs. Betty Van Norman’s continued support as I chase my dreams. Being awarded the Gene and Betty Van Norman Scholarship and knowing Mrs. Betty believed in my success motivated me and allowed me to exceed in my undergraduate studies. I would like to thank Northshore Community Foundation and Mrs. Betty for making all of this possible. I look forward to keeping in touch and visiting with Mrs. Betty soon.
Kari
Kari Ousterhout, a 2013 graduate of Mandeville High School and the recipient of the Skipper Award in Memory of Ivan Zenon Scholarship. Kari just graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham earning a Master of Science in Nursing and has passed the national boards and is pursuing a job as a Family Nurse Practitioner in Birmingham, AL.
The Skipper Award Scholarship in Memory of Ivan Zenon fund has since closed but in 2013 & 2014 the fund awarded a $10K scholarship to two Mandeville High School graduates to help their higher education dreams come true.
Becoming a nurse practitioner has been Kari’s ultimate dream for years. “I am truly grateful for the scholarship that allowed me to pursue a career path that I am so passionate about and look forward to improving the quality of life of others.”
Felicity
Thanks to New Heights Theraputic Riding Center, Grant's Gift Foundation and Northshore Community Foundation, sweet Felicity is able to get some much desired relief and relaxation.
New Heights is a premier therapeutic equestrian center dedicated to positively impacting lives through the healing power of the horse. They help people who have physical, cognitive, and emotional difficulties reach their full potential. New Heights has grown to be able to serve a wide variety of groups and individuals in our community.
CP Mitchell Memorial Park
CP Mitchell Memorial Park, located at 44101 Millie Rd in Hammond, LA, is one of several smaller parks originally built with funds made available through a partnership between Tangipahoa Parish and the State of Louisiana. Until Hurricane Katrina severely damaged these parks and properties in August 2005, these parks served the Hammond community. CP Mitchell Park received the most significant damage, and because the parks were no longer funded by any agency or private party it was never restored.
Bringing the park back to life
Chappapeela Sports Park’s executive director, Ryan Barker, became aware of the dire need of this area and decided to take the reins in helping bring CP Mitchell Park back to life. Determined to do everything necessary to provide the youth in our community every advantage possible, Ryan solicited the support of our parish council. Chappapeela Sports Park (also known as CSP) has now entered into a cooperative endeavor with the parish to make this dream a reality!
“We plan to bring Chappapeela’s high-quality sports programs, facilities, and staff directly to the neighborhood that CP Mitchell Park serves. We believe that. If they can’t come to us we will go to them.”
CSP is currently partnering with Southeastern Louisiana University’s sports management students to market and promote the reopening of CP Mitchell Park. Chappapeela’s staff and SLU student volunteers have spent months cleaning up and refurbishing the grounds and structures currently on site.
Noah
Noah is a sweet 4-year-old who is afflicted with Autism and feeding disability. He gets very anxious in social settings and is easily agitated. He must eat through a G-tube as he is not able to get nutrition orally. He has physical and occupational therapy multiple times a week and keeping him sitting in a chair can be a tall order. Thanks to the Grants Gift Foundation Fund, Noah was gifted a Rifton Activity Chair. It is easily raised and lowered and has a tray on which he can put toys, books and even food when he is ready for that. Being in a safe and comfortable mobile chair will make all the difference in the care and safety of this precious little boy. After only two weeks with the chair, Noah’s caregivers described his progress as amazing!
Grant’s Gift Foundation Fund is a Field of Interest Fund which enables donors to support specific areas of concern with these mission-based funds that give grants to support efforts as determined by the purpose of the Fund.