CREATE Foundation

CREATE Foundation

CREATE Foundation was founded in 1972 by George McLean, publisher of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. The McLean family built the endowment from proceeds of Journal Publishing Company, a regional newspaper business. The foundation operates as Mississippi's largest community foundation and maintains its headquarters in Tupelo. Assets support grantmaking in education, community development, and family services. The foundation holds commercial properties in Tupelo and participates in named endowments such as the Ed and Becky Meek Endowment and the Toyota Wellspring Education Fund. Geographic focus remains Northeast Mississippi with no disclosed activity outside the state. Mike Clayborne has led operations since 1996 while Mary Childs serves as board chair. The foundation completed the Center for Fiduciary Excellence certification process, becoming the first such entity worldwide to do so. It also convenes the Commission on the Future of Northeast Mississippi, a group of 56 regional leaders. No recent operational events from the last 24 months appear in available records.