Endowment Created in Memory of 15-Year-Old

HATTIESBURG, Miss.–Fifteen-year-old Rebekah Elizabeth Harrison had a big heart that held a soft spot for The Children’s Center for Communication and Development at The University of Southern Mississippi.

Even though Rebekah, who everyone knew as “Beth”, passed away earlier this year, she continues to have an impact on the Children’s Center through an endowment set up in her name.

A few years ago her parents, Kevin and Wanda Harrison of Heritage Vision Center, decided they wanted to do something for a local charity.  The decision was sealed once Beth found out that it would involve children at the Children’s Center.

“There were two things that Beth held very dear to her heart.  One was sharing the love of Jesus with everyone she met.  The other was for these kids,” said her father, Kevin Harrison.  “One visit to the school was all it took for her to fall in love with the kids.  She had even bookmarked a couple of fundraising sites on her computer with ideas for her to raise additional money for the center.”

After Beth died, her parents asked that donations be made to the Children’s Center in her honor in lieu of flowers.  They received more than $12,000 in memorial gifts. 

Keith’s Superstores also sponsored a benefit concert in September featuring the renowned Christian musical group Avalon.  Held at the Forrest County Multi-Purpose Center, the concert added over $7,000 to the fund.

The Heritage Vision Center also contributed to the cause, donating $10 for every frame sold to the center and for every child’s pair of eyeglasses sold, an additional $10 was donated.  Each year, Heritage Vision Center donates a portion of its proceeds to the Children’s Center.

With all of these donations, the Rebekah Elizabeth Harrison Endowment was established with over $25,000.  Earnings from the endowment will be used to help with everyday expenses incurred by the center.

To celebrate the creation of the Rebekah Elizabeth Harrison Endowment, a check presentation ceremony was held at the Children’s Center on Nov. 13.  Kevin Harrison presented the final $1,500 donation, which finalized the endowment. 

“We wanted to provide a direction for Beth’s memorial gifts that would continue to honor her,” said center director Margaret Buttross Brinegar.  “She did so much for the center and through this endowment, she will continue to give.”

The Children’s Center for Communication and Development, a United Way agency, is an early intervention program serving infants, toddlers and preschoolers with disabilities.  As a clinical division of the Southern Miss Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, the center serves families and children while providing clinical training for university students.

For more information or to donate, please contact Margaret Buttross Brinegar at 601.266.5222 or mail a donation to The University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive #10026, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001 and write Fund #0346 in the memo line.  Contributions are also accepted online at www.usm.edu/foundation.

Kevin Harrison presents a check to Margaret Buttross Brinegar, Director of the Children's Center for Communication and Development and other members of the Children's Center Advisory Board. The check represents the last $1,500 of a $25,000 endowment fund that will provide support for the Children's Center.