The University of Mississippi Athletics
Hollywood Joins Mississippi Recovery Effort
9/23/2005 | Athletics
Sept. 23, 2005
JACKSON, Miss. - For the first time since Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Harrison County, a major national fundraising concert will originate from the State of Mississippi. The Gala Concert, called Mississippi Rising, will be led by native Mississippians Morgan Freeman, Archie Manning, John Grisham and Sela Ward, who are serving as National Co-Chairmen. The event will be performed in Oxford at the University of Mississippi's Tad Smith Coliseum on Saturday, October 1. Curtain time is 7 p.m.
Proceeds from the three-hour show will go to the Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund, which has been established to provide for the rebuilding of storm-ravaged Mississippi. Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, who has been directing the state's response to the tragedy, welcomed the assistance, "Mississippi Rising is going to be a tremendous boost not just in providing desperately needed funds for our recovery effort, but also in bringing national attention to our efforts as we transition from emergency relief to rebuilding Mississippi stronger, bigger and better."
"I'm thrilled to be a part of Mississippi Rising," said National Co-Chairman Sela Ward, "as it will raise much needed funds for the recovery efforts that lie ahead. Mississippi's gown may be torn and tattered but she will prevail!"
The October event is being organized by two native Mississippians, Sam Haskell, III and Lanny Griffith. Haskell, former Worldwide Head of Television for The William Morris Agency, has produced Stars Over Mississippi in Amory every two years to raise scholarship money in the name of his mother. Griffith is the Chief Executive Officer of Washington, DC-based lobbying firm Barbour Griffith & Rogers, LLC which was founded in 1991 by Haley Barbour.
While the list of entertainers continues to grow, a partial list of those confirmed in time for the formal announcement includes: Morgan Freeman, Ray Romano, Whoopi Goldberg, Jason Alexander, Sela Ward, Marilu Henner, Kathie Lee Gifford, Kathy Ireland, Lance Bass, Delta Burke, Gerald McRaney, Jean Smart, Debbie Allen, Doris Roberts, Mary Haskell, Gary Morris, Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis, Jr. and Steve Azar among others.
"We are so pleased to be able to host this event at Ole Miss," said Chancellor Robert Khayat. "Although our Oxford campus was largely spared by Katrina's destructive force, we are eager to do our part in rebuilding this remarkable State."
The costs of the entire event are being underwritten by a generous contribution to the Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund by United Health Foundation in Minnesota. Corporate Sponsorships are being solicited by a national finance team, and all proceeds will go to the Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund (www.mississippirecovery.com) or a similar fund in Louisiana administered by Foundations for Recovery named The Hurricane Katrina New Orleans Recovery Fund (www.foundationsforrecovery.org)