About
Our Story
The scholarship is named in honor of Mattie Arletha Jones-Hill who was born on May 9, 1909, in Natchez, Mississippi to the late Mattie Robinson and Alex Jones. Mattie was educated in the public school system of Natchez where she was a 1929 graduate of Broomfield High School. She moved to New Orleans in 1934 and successfully completed a bookkeeping and accounting program at Booker T. Washington High School in 1958. She became a member of St. John Institutional Missionary Baptist Church in 1934 and was a faithful member until her death on November 18, 1995. She was a member of the Metoka and Galeda Sunday School class and served as class treasurer. She was one of the founding members of the Gladiolas Social Club and held the offices of treasurer and recording secretary. She was also a member of the St. John’s Senior Citizen organization. She was active in her community and served as a Voting Poll volunteer.
“Educate our children, for they are our future.”
Mattie was devoted to her five sons and as a single mother worked very hard to ensure that they remained in school and become productive citizens. She was employed with the Moore family for over 40 years.
Betty Moore Heusel was the daughter of Gar and Topsie Moore. Mattie and Betty formed a unique bond, and they shared deep passions for their children, their faith, and their communities. Betty was an enthusiastic supporter of the Mattie Hill Scholarship Foundation since its inception in 1996, and until her passing in 2014. Her passion for the mission of the Foundation was the basis for the broader collaboration between the extended Hill and Moore-Heusel families to support the growth of the Scholarship Fund. In 2021, the Hill and Moore-Heusel families created the Betty Moore Heusel Graduate Scholarship, which will provide additional support to deserving Mattie Hill Scholars for post-graduate studies.
Mattie was a firm believer in educating our children. She spent many years giving financial support to children in her church and community, although she lived on a fixed income. She believed, as it is often said, “Educate our children, for they are our future.”
Founders
George, Robert, Charles, Thomas & John
We could think of no better way to honor our mother than to establish a scholarship fund in her memory. Since our mother was a devoted and committed church member of the St. John Institutional Missionary Baptist Church, we decided that the scholarship would be presented during the 11:00 a.m. service every fourth Sunday in July. With this scholarship, we hope to give back to the students in the New Orleans area. All we ask is that the recipients of this scholarship pay-it-forward one day and find a way to give back to the community. Mattie’s oldest son, George, passed away unexpectedly on January 25, 2019.
Foundation
The Mattie Jones Hill Memorial Scholarship Foundation (MJHMSF) was established in 1996 by her five sons and their families who wanted to keep her legacy alive by giving back to the community. With the generous help of numerous friends and family members, the MJHMSF has increased each year and provided assistance to New Orleans area high school students to pursue a college education.
As a tribute to the relationship between Mattie and Betty Moore-Heusel, the Moore-Heusel family created the Betty Moore-Heusel Graduate Scholarship. The award provides financial assistance to Mattie Hill Scholars to pursue graduate/professional education. The first scholarship was awarded in 2021. We are confident that the MJHMSF will continue to grow and expand its assistance to the young people in the New Orleans area.
Scholarship
Since its inception, 53 recipients have been awarded the Mattie Jones Hill Memorial Scholarship. We began by awarding one scholarship to a graduating high school senior to help defray the cost of obtaining a college degree. In 2006, the Mattie Jones Hill Memorial Scholarship Foundation Board of Directors decided to fund two scholarships instead of one in an effort to contribute to the rebuilding process of the City of New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The foundation members challenged themselves to raise enough funding to provide more than one scholarship per year and beginning in 2013 the challenge has been met. The members of the Foundation could think of no better way to contribute to the rebuilding process than to invest in its young people.
The foundation increased the number of awards to 2 in 2013, 3 in 2016, and 5 in 2021. Scholarship assistance was added for the second, third and fourth years in 2021. Also in 2021, the scholarship foundation created the Betty Moore-Heusel Memorial Graduate Scholarship for Mattie Hill Scholars to pursue graduate/professional education. The foundation has established two goals: 1) increase the amount of each award for the first year to $5,000; and, 2) raise $1.5 million to fully endow the scholarship program.
Endowment Fund
The Hill family in conjunction with the Board of Directors has made growing the endowment fund an on-going priority. No members of the Foundation are paid for their services. The Endowment is a non-profit charitable fund and 100% of donations received from non-family sources are used for scholarships. The MJHMSF is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization and is currently managed by TIAA. The goal for the endowment fund is $1.5 million.
Board of Directors
Thomas L. Hill
President
Monique Sanders
Vice President
Billye J. Hill
Secretary
Lamont Hill
Treasurer
Robert Hill, Jr.
Board Member
Robyn Johnson
Board Member
George Heusel
Board Member
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