After many years of dedicated service, Ron Barnes, Dorothy Shaw and Virginia Shanteau Newton are retiring from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation Board of Directors. Their guidance, friendship and leadership have strengthened GCCF and left a lasting mark on our community. We are deeply grateful for their commitment to the Foundation and the people we serve. We celebrated their contributions at our Donor Appreciation Breakfast on October 10. Each of them has served more than 15 years on the Board, and they recently shared reflections on their service.
Ron Barnes
“One of the highlights of my career has been the time I spent working on the board of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation. I have so many fond memories of my time on the board and my term as chairman, and also serving on the Investment Committee and Grants Committee. Serving after Hurricane Katrina was the most memorable as we helped rebuild people’s homes and lives through the Coming Home Collaborative. In 2018, the Foundation helped Coast Electric set up the Operation Round Up program, where together we have helped improve the quality of life on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. I thank the staff and Board for always making me feel at home. I thank the community for supporting the Foundation over the years and being a catalyst for good.”
Virginia Shanteau Newton
“It has been an honor to be part of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation for 30+ years, serving as executive director of what was then a fledgling organization in 1994 and as a Board member since 2008. What a joy to be part of the exponential growth over the years, as GCCF assumed the role of convenor bringing community needs and donors together in South Mississippi. I’ll be forever grateful for the opportunity to serve in this remarkable endeavor, and pledge to remain committed to lifting our entire community with our excellent staff and Board.”
Dorothy Shaw
“The Foundation helps people and organizations in the community, putting resources in the right places to make a meaningful difference. When you hear about the exemplary work that this Foundation does, one cannot help but be totally amazed, impressed and encouraged by that work because you know that if you support the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, at the end of the day, you are supporting someone in need in your local community. Serving on this Board for more than 20 years has allowed me to do good things alongside the Foundation, even though the early years brought challenges. Over time, we found our rhythm, and being part of this work turned out to be one of the best things I’ve done. When I first joined the Board, I met people who became my silent mentors, teaching me by example, and I’ve tried to model that behavior in both my professional life and community involvement. Thank you to my fellow Board members, the GCCF staff and our wonderful community for making a lasting difference in the lives of so many.”