{"id":99079,"date":"2020-07-10T13:09:54","date_gmt":"2020-07-10T18:09:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.olemiss.edu\/?p=99079"},"modified":"2020-07-13T11:00:09","modified_gmt":"2020-07-13T16:00:09","slug":"alumnus-wife-launch-nonprofit-to-aid-mississippi-small-businesses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web20.olemiss.edu\/news\/wordpress\/alumnus-wife-launch-nonprofit-to-aid-mississippi-small-businesses\/","title":{"rendered":"Alumnus, Wife Launch Nonprofit to Aid Mississippi Small Businesses"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Husband and wife philanthropists Marie (left) and Brian Sanderson, of Ocean Springs, have launched the Mississippi 30 Day Fund, a nonprofit effort financially assist small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Submitted photo<\/p><\/div>\n

OXFORD, Miss. \u2013 A University of Mississippi<\/a> alumnus and his wife \u2013 who met during Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts \u2013 are continuing to help the state’s small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

Brian and Marie Sanderson, of Ocean Springs, have launched the Mississippi 30 Day Fund. Small businesses in Mississippi can apply for as much as $3,000 through the new fund, which was created to provide immediate financial help to those battling through the pandemic.<\/p>\n

“These forgivable loans are designed to be quick, easy and free of red tape, as small business owners work to keep employees onboard and operations running in the near term,” said Brian Sanderson, a Pascagoula native who received his Bachelor of Business Administration and Juris Doctor from UM in 1995 and 1998, respectively.<\/p>\n

Eligible business owners should fill out a one-page form and submit a brief video \u2013 up to three minutes \u2013 about the business and its employees. Approval is designed to occur within several days, and approved businesses can expect an immediate transfer of funds.<\/p>\n

“We received contributions totaling just over $175,000 and are actively talking with foundations and other potential contributors,” said Marie Sanderson, a Jacksonian who earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing from Mississippi State University in 2001.<\/p>\n

“We’ve received almost 600 applications and have been able to award around 30 small businesses. Our ability to meet the obvious needs of small businesses is strictly dependent upon the contributions we are able to receive.”<\/p>\n

Businesses awarded funds are not required to repay them, but are asked to “pay it forward” to other Mississippians in need or by directing contributions to the fund.<\/p>\n

Eligibility requirements include:<\/p>\n