IP Mississippi Charities – the philanthropic arm of IP Casino Resort Spa in Biloxi – donated a half-million dollars to the city of Biloxi this afternoon to help purchase emergency vehicles destroyed in Hurricane Katrina.
W. Owen Nitz and Jeff Cooper of IP Mississippi Charities made the $500,000 presentation to Mayor A.J. Holloway and members of the Biloxi City Council during this afternoon’s council meeting.
“Since the storm,” the trustees said in a letter to Holloway, “the IP has consistently tried to be a responsible corporate citizen, realizing that its success in Biloxi derives in no small part not only from the citizens of the city but also from the leadership by you, the city council and city staff employees. It seems only fitting that we should show our appreciation by way of some action on our part.”
Holloway said Nitz and Cooper originally offered to make the donation in the immediate aftermath of Katrina.
“They wanted to know what the city needed at the time, but my feeling was let’s get everything we can from insurance, FEMA and MEMA so we would have a better idea of our needs. The best use of this money will be for capital projects – fire trucks, for instance – where there will be a gap between what a new fire truck costs vs. insurance, and FEMA and MEMA reimbursement.
“Regardless of what good use we make of this windfall, it’s great to see such a community-minded gesture like this. We’re very grateful and appreciative.”
To read the complete letter from IP Mississippi Charities to Mayor Holloway, click here.
