Funder Spotlight | The Walker Foundation

Meet the New Executive Director

Kelly Headley is the new Executive Director for The Walker Foundation.  Kelly joined the foundation in February of this year.  Kelly is a lifelong Mississippian, having grown up in Vicksburg and then made her home in the Jackson area with her family for the last 25 years.  For over the last decade, Kelly has been working in the non-profit world first as the Executive Director for The LeFleur East Foundation and then as the Director of Community Service at Jackson Preparatory School.  Kelly’s experience working in those two sectors of service, along with growing up with a brother that has cerebral palsy, gives her unique perspective that is a wonderful fit for her work with The Walker Foundation.  In 1972, The Walker Foundation was formed by Bill Walker with priorities of education, medical research, and cultural enrichment.  His goal was to “help people help themselves” and with few exceptions, he kept his giving close to home in Mississippi.  Today, The Walker Foundation’s mission is to seek to better the lives of Mississippians by supporting qualified organizations that showcase innovative practices in education, child and family development, spiritual growth, mental health, and conservation of our natural resources.  The focus is the development of the whole person, funding programs that teach life skills, with the goal of creating productive members of society.  Bill Walker’s memory and legacy live on through his family and through the meaningful work of The Walker Foundation that has touched countless lives for over half a century.