One Coast Jam 2024 brought together community and state leaders, local celebrities and musicians for an evening of community spirit and support for those in need. Christen Duhe, president and CEO of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, explained exactly how the event served as a fundraiser.
“This is to support the Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s Better Way To Give fund. It’s kind of local celebrities like mayors and other people who perform here all night and the proceeds go to the Better Way To Give fund,” Duhe said. “This is a fund we set up a year ago to help fight panhandling. We want to tell people that maybe they can donate to panhandlers instead of giving to this fund. Last year the fund was used to buy hotel rooms for people, bus tickets, down payments on apartments. Basically we’re trying to reach out to people who are on the verge of homelessness or have just lost their homes and help them through that situation.”
These donations also benefit first responders and nonprofit organizations that can provide immediate assistance to those in need.
“Local law enforcement would reach into their own pockets and buy hotel rooms and food for people they met at night who had nowhere to go. So we helped them with that,” Duhe said.
James Pennington, executive director of the Back Bay Mission, explained how his nonprofit works with the Gulf Coast Community Foundation.
“For me, this is all about resources, and the principle that the more resources the better for people who are homeless, for people who are living in poverty,” Pennington said. “If we can prevent homelessness … that’s part of what we’re doing with this particular fund.”
Residents across the Gulf Coast enjoyed great food and music from nearly a dozen different artists and even saw musical performances from some politicians.
“The mayor of Gulfport is playing drums and the mayor of Biloxi is going to play piano and sing, which just amazes me,” Pennington said. “You know, we’re in this small community and these mayors are really dedicated, aren’t they?”
This is the second annual One Coast Jam following last year’s hugely successful event, and it looks like the One Coast Jam will hopefully continue for many years to come.
