Newly named executive director of the Greater PineBelt Community Foundation, Theresa Erickson, made her first speaking engagement in Laurel Wednesday.

Erickson, who spoke to the Laurel Kiwanis Club, spoke about the role the non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation plays in the community.

“There were over 700 community foundations across the country, but none here in our area,” Erickson said of the organization’s 1997 founding. “We wanted to put together a community foundation that benefits all of the Pine Belt area.”

Erickson said many in the Laurel area may not be familiar with the Greater PineBelt Community Foundation because it was volunteer driven for many years and most of its projects were around Hattiesburg.

Erickson said the Greater PineBelt Community Foundation works the same way foundations at Jones County Junior College or the University of Southern Mississippi work.

“If you want to give money to USM, you go through the Foundation,” she said. “We can enhance any community project that you want.”

Erickson said there are a number of funds donors may choose from including:

• Donor Advised Funds — This type of fund is a convenient and flexible tool for individuals, families, businesses or groups who want to be personally involved in recommending awards made to the foundation for approval.

• Donor Designated Funds —This allows the donor the opportunity to direct their gift to a specific charity or purpose. Examples may include ongoing funding for a senior center museum, church or virtually any nonprofit charitable organization. The donor identifies the recipient or recipients who will benefit through the gift. The foundation staff manages the annual distribution of the endowed funds.

• Field of Interest Funds — These funds are established to support particular interest areas, specific program initiatives, causes or geographic areas. Examples would be to support the arts or music.

• Scholarship Funds — Donors may be attracted to these funds that can be structured to benefit students at any education level or for specific institution.

• Organization Funds —Organizations may establish a permanent fund (endowment) to support a charitable cause as designated by the organization. The charitable intent may change from year to year as recommended by the organization to the foundation.

• Pass Through Funds —Donors or Donor Representatives will establish a fund for a specific project. This project must have a charitable intent. Typically multiple donors contribute to this fund.

• Unrestricted Funds — Unrestricted Funds are not specifically designated for use by a particular agency, cause or area of interest. The board has the ability to respond to pressing and often changing needs in the community.

“We’re here to enhance non-profit organizations,” Erickson said. “Why not help endow the organization so they don’t have to worry about fundraising every year?”

Erickson said there are a large number of active funds currently being designated to including many in the Hattiesburg area.

Other notable funds include:

• The Forrest/Perry County Adult Drug Court Fund

• Forrest/Perry County Community Services

• Richton Baseball Building Fund

Erickson said several were inspired by the children of Hattiesburg chef and restaurant owner Robert St. John — Angel Face Foundation (which gives area public school teachers and administrators discretionary funds to be used by under-resourced students for direct expenses such as school supplies, uniforms and field trips) and Dig A Well Fund (which sells bottled water in the U.S. to help bring clean and safe drinking water to developing nations).

“The power and impact (the Greater PineBelt Community Foundation) has on communities and people is just amazing,” she said. “The people that I work with are just amazing. The board members are the salt of the earth.”

Board members with ties to the City Beautiful including Skippy Haik, Laurel Leader-Call publisher, and Ralph Simmons, retired vice president, Sunbeam-Oster Corporation.

Erickson encouraged those at the meeting to start their own fund.

“Leave a legacy with whatever you’re passionate about,” she said. “There are amazing things you can do with your imagination.”

Erickson read the Kiwanis Club’s mission statement which states, “Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time.

“That’s awesome,” she added. “That’s what we’re about.”

The Greater PineBelt Community Foundation provided more than $345,000 through its various funds in 2009.

For more information about the group, visit www.pinebeltfoundation.com.