Donor Spotlight: Jamondre and the Jonah Maccabee Foundation

Photo Credit: Shevonne McDuffy-Oatis

At Mississippi River Network we appreciate all our supporters from major foundations to individuals working to make a difference. Our supporters and their stories are always inspiring, and we want to bring attention to two supporters who really touched our hearts recently.

First is Jamondre, who reached out to us in 2022 with this message, “Hi…I am a 5th grade scholar from Obama Magnet Elementary School in Jackson, MS. Recently, my parents gave me some money I had earned. Instead of taking the money, I told my mom that I wanted to donate my money to a charity. I thought about donating the money to a charity focusing on pollution since I have a project on pollution at Obama [school]. You guys are the first charity I have donated to. I hope the money I donated helps you in succeeding your goal!”

Jamondre also invited us to attend his presentation about the solutions to pollution, which was outstanding. He and his team talked about many solutions, including the importance of educating the mayor and other decision makers.

Another supporter that really touched us is the Jonah Maccabee foundation. This small family foundation is full of heart. Jonah Maccabee Dreskin was a fun-loving, gregarious, and exceedingly kind young man whose life was tragically cut short in 2009 soon after his nineteenth birthday. The Jonah Maccabee Foundation is one avenue that Jonah’s family and friends have chosen to remember and to honor the beauty of his life.  

Mississippi River Network was awarded a grant through their Fund for Racial Justice and they said this about the award, “Environmental issues and racial issues are linked, as minority communities often suffer most from exploitation of the land and other resources. The Jonah Maccabee Foundation’s support for the Mississippi River Network reflects Jonah’s profound love for people and the giant blue marble that gave him life and all of us as well.”   

You can learn more about this grant here, and here is more information about the Jonah Maccabee Foundation and about Jonah.

Hearing your stories is what inspires us to do the work we do. We know all our supporters have a unique story to share, and we welcome YOU to send us an email with yours. We’d love to lift up the amazing work you do in a future spotlight, and, of course your support of any amount is always appreciated!