James 2:17 "So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead."
Mission Statement
To strengthen our community by promoting volunteerism, supporting charities, and connecting employers with job candidates.
History
In 1980, a group of college friends wanted to get together during the Thanksgiving Holiday, have a little fun, and help those who were less fortunate. The group selected 5 - 7 families each year and brought them canned goods and other food supplies. As the event grew, so did the number of families selected. Catholic Charities began to assist in finding families who needed help.
Starting in 2002, we took a different approach and began focusing on specific causes, helping both needy individuals and charitable organizations. Today, we have grown to an organization of friends volunteering their time, money, and resources in an effort to spread God's love.
This organization is now known as Friends for a Cause. The Squat & Gobble, our signature event, has raised over $500,000 to help the victims of human trafficking and domestic violence!
How We Help
FFC is an all-volunteer organization of people from all ages and denominations who provide information and direct support to charities, events, and people in Hinds, Madison, and Rankin Counties. We are classified as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Our Support includes:
Direct advertisement of events and charities
Fundraising
Contribution of volunteers
Maintaining a community job site
And much, much more!
All of our support is of no cost to you!
The events and functions are fun and a great way to serve the Lord, meet new people, and utilize our gifts to make a difference in our area. We believe that individuals and groups can make a difference, and we prove this every day. Faith can indeed move mountains!
Our Board of Directors
Tommy Turk, Director
Tommy is a long time Jacksonian, currently living in Madison. He is married to Ann and has three children and two grandchildren. He is passionate about the Lord and encourages others to discover the Gospel. Recruiting volunteers and making it simple to serve is one of Tommy’s personal goals. Tommy is the chief instructor of Reservoir Karate and has been training and teaching for more than 40 years. He is committed to long term health & performance, and inspires others to do the same.
Randy White
Randy White has provided IT services and operational support for multiple-unit, fast-growth companies for over 30 years. Before joining US Orthopaedic Partners, Randy supported investment group Freeman Spogli & Co with concepts based out of Salt Lake City and Roark Capita Group’s Focus Brands based out of Atlanta, GA. Randy is a resident of Madison County and holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Mississippi State University. He enjoys multiple outdoor activities: gardening, boating, running, mountain biking, and camping, to name a few.
Theresa Abadie, CFO
Theresa is a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. She is married to Greg Abadie, and they have four children. She served 9 years on the Catholic Charities Governance Council and is a Lifetime Member of the Junior Auxiliary of Madison County. She is a 3rd Degree Black Belt and instructor in Seibukan Shorin-Ryu at Reservoir Karate.
Sheila Pinter
Sheila is a longtime resident of Rankin County and a member of Pinelake Church where she serves regularly. She recently served for four years on the steering committee for the Make A Wish MS annual Evening of Wishes gala. She also serves on committees for the American Cancer Society in addition to Friends For A Cause. While she lived in St. George, UT she served five years on the Executive Council for the Jubilee of Trees fundraising event for the Dixie Regional Medical Center. Sheila has two daughters, both married, and five grandchildren.
Cy Hinds, Advisory Board
Cy Hinds has lived in the Central Mississippi area for 30 years. He has a 23-year old daughter who has just received her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. Cy is a member of Pinelake Baptist Church. He has led many small groups, worked on many Missions teams during Katrina Recovery, and regularly serves at Gateway Rescue Mission. In 2015 he was recognized as Volunteer of Year by FFC.
James Bell, Advisory Board
James Bell is a retired Judge who received the highest bar association approval ratings ever given to a Mississippi Circuit or County Judge. He is listed in Preeminent Lawyers and Outstanding Lawyers of America. He is devoted to his wife, Joanne. They live in Ridgeland, Mississippi and have four children.