The Hattiesburg Public School District Foundation formed after the necessity of a gift from Cisco and the Cisco Foundation to benefit the Hattiesburg Public Schools after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.  The 21st Century Schools Mississippi Education Initiative was developed to assist communities impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Cisco intentionally designed the program to help lead a coalition of public, private, and nonprofit organizations to provide a holistic approach to rebuilding the educational systems with a “21st century” approach. That approach included technology in the form of smart boards, computer carts, and others in the classrooms.  Five school districts in the Hattiesburg area was selected by Cisco for modernizing 21st century schools that will begin in Mississippi and can be replicated around the country. This created a model school that incorporates the latest technology and educational programs to provide the very best learning opportunities for students and adult learners. Dr. Eddie Holloway a 1970 graduate of Hattiesburg’s Rowan High School was named the first president of the Foundation’s Board of Directors after an initial meeting was formed by then Superintendent Dr. Annie Wimbish.

Over the years, the foundation has hired three executive directors Joe Garvin, Dan Kibodeaux, and Michael Marks. These men helped to carry out the day to day activities of the foundation and help with fundraising initiatives. Garvin was a long time grant administrator at William Carey University was very instrumental in managing the Cisco grant process in the very beginning.  Kibodeaux, a former executive director of the United Way of Southeast Mississippi,  created a systematic approach for the foundation and guided the board by maintaining its 501C3 status and creating bylaws and guiding principles.  Marks, a former debate and theater coach at Hattiesburg High School and Mississippi Association of Educators president, while serving as the foundation’s secretary/chair, was named interim director after Kibodeaux’s retirement.   Kibodeaux is crediting with starting the  Foundation’s annual End of the Year program that serves as a fundraiser that recognizes the achievements of both the district and the foundation. Board Member, Jerome Brown, introduced the idea of a Hall of Fame to recognize the achievements of graduates of the Hattiesburg School District which now serves as our chief fund raiser.  Marks was chosen as the chairman of the inaugural Hall of Fame event and led to it being the most soft after event in the city.

Hattiesburg Public School District Foundation is a non-profit organization that was created to provide resources and support to administrators, teachers, and students of Hattiesburg Public Schools. The foundation fulfills its mission by providing scholarships to our students, rewarding our outstanding employees. and helping our teachers secure grants.