October 6, 2020

Including You, a Peer-to-Peer Mentorship Organization Founded by 11-Year-Old NYC Student, Pairs Students from the Mississippi Delta and the Greater New York City Area

TUNICA, MS — Middle school students from the New York City area will begin virtual peer-to-peer mentorship with students in Tunica County this week, thanks to a new partnership between Family Biz Builder, Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi’s The Box Project, and Including You.

As a public-school student in New York City, 11-year-old Daisy Hampton witnessed stark inequality at school — inequality made more dramatic with the sudden shift to remote learning in March. She knew many of her classmates did not have access to computers or internet access at home and worried that they would not keep learning or stay connected to their classmates. She wanted to help these kids, as well as those with disabilities who were also feeling especially disconnected due to the pandemic. In response, Daisy sought to connect students facing disparities with older students for tutoring, mentorship, and friendship.

With this vision, Daisy founded Including You, a peer mentorship organization that pairs volunteer student mentors with younger students facing economic hardship, developmental or physical disabilities. Including You has provided internet-enabled devices to help students served by Family Biz Builder and looks to provide additional devices to any participating student without access to one. 

Daisy Hampton and her mom, Jennifer Hampton, had already been enjoying a relationship with a family they sponsored through The Box Project, a program managed by the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi. The Hamptons invited The Box Project and Family Biz Builder to partner with Including You to pair NYC students with student mentees from the Mississippi Delta region for mentorship. Family Biz Builder, a youth development nonprofit, provides Including You mentor training and matches IY mentors with mentees. 

“My vision for Including You was made possible this year because of our partnership with Family Biz Builders and The Box Project,” said Daisy Hampton, the 11-year-old founder of Including You and a new IY mentor. “We couldn’t have gotten to this point without them.” 

“I’m so inspired by Daisy and the mindset that she exhibits, leading the charge to help other young girls promote equity in education,” said Peggie Henderson, Executive Director of Family Biz Builder. “And I am thrilled that students from the Big Apple will expose the FBB mentees from the Mississippi Delta to other lifestyles.” 

“Daisy’s energy and commitment to supporting youth living in the Mississippi Delta are inspirational,” said Keith Fulcher, President of the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi. “She epitomizes our Community Foundation’s efforts to create a culture of philanthropy and service in our region and we’re very thankful to her and the Hampton family for setting the example.”

“We are thrilled to partner with Including You to provide encouragement, friendship, and education to students of the Mississippi Delta,” said Donna Goldman, Director of The Box Project. “This partnership truly highlights the Community Foundation’s mission of connecting people who care with causes that matter.” 

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About The Box Project:

The Box Project connects “sponsor” families or organizations from across the United States with families living in rural poverty, primarily in the Mississippi Delta. These connections fulfill The Box Project mission to encourage and enrich the lives of families and individuals living in rural poverty by establishing meaningful relationships, promoting education, and offering material aid. Inspired by a conversation between Coretta Scott King, Virginia Naeve and Clare Collins Harvey, The Box Project was founded in 1962 and in 2009 became a program of the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi, an independent 501(c)3 charitable organization. To learn more about how you can help families living in rural poverty visit www.boxproject.org.

About the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi:

The Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi manages 240 donor-established funds. Established in 2002 with a generous grant from the Maddox Foundation, the Community Foundation is an independent 501(c)3 charitable organization. The Foundation serves Bolivar, Coahoma, DeSoto, Leflore, Marshall, Panola, Quitman, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tate, and Tunica counties.  A board of 19 volunteer civic leaders governs the Community Foundation.  Learn more about the Community Foundation at www.cfnm.org or call 662.449.5002. Follow the Community Foundation on Facebook at facebook.com/CFNM315, Twitter at @CFNM_2002, YouTube at CFNM2002, and Instagram at CFNM2002.

About Including You:

Including You is a peer mentorship organization that pairs volunteer student mentors with younger students who experience disparities due to economic inequality or developmental or physical disabilities. Founded amid the COVID pandemic, inspired by her experience learning in a New York City classroom that integrated special-education students and general education students, 11-year-old Daisy Hampton founded Including You to reduce educational disparities. For more information, visit IncludingYou.org.