Missy Elliott Donates $50k to Portsmouth Families Facing Eviction
Grammy Award-winning artist Missy Elliott has displayed her philanthropic spirit by making a substantial donation to assist families on the brink of eviction in her hometown of Portsmouth, Virginia. According to The Virginian-Pilot, Elliott contributed $50,000 to the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority (PRHA) on October 17.
The generous five-figure donation will be used to settle the overdue rent of 26 families, offering them a lifeline during challenging times.
Missy Elliott’s act of kindness coincided with the one-year anniversary of receiving a street and day named in her honour in Portsmouth. During the celebration, Elliott expressed her desire to give back and make the day a celebration not solely about herself but also about the community.
She said, “Instead of it being a celebration of Missy Elliott — you know, about me — I wanted to give back and let that be the celebration of Missy Elliott, just to show that I love everybody out here.”
Elliott conveyed her profound connection with her hometown, emphasizing the values and qualities she has inherited from her community. She said, “I love my city. I love my state. I love everything about it. Everything about Missy comes from here — the hospitality, the humility, the confidence.”
Missy Elliott’s mother, Patricia Elliott, also shared her thoughts about her daughter’s charitable act and emphasized the importance of giving back. She reflected, “So when you give, you give because you remember those days when you didn’t have. If each person would give when they get to the top, then, what a real beautiful world we would be in.”
In October 2022, Missy Elliott celebrated the renaming of McLean Street to Missy Elliott Boulevard, and she was honoured with a key to the city of Portsmouth. She shared her excitement on Instagram, writing, “ATTENTION MISSY ELLIOTT BLVD is on the Google Map #VA baybeeeeee#757 P-TOWN WAIT a WHOLE BLVD! God is good… I am not perfect & I’ve had ups & downs when some doubted me & thought I would give up I PRAYED & got back up every time. Hopefully, this will INSPIRE some1 else to KEEP PUSHING!”
Missy Elliott continues to shine as a role model and a source of inspiration, both through her music and her benevolent actions in her community.
