Oseola McCarty Youth Development Center

Oseola McCarty worked a lifetime ironing clothes and became a national icon of generosity after donating her life savings of $150,000 to the University of Southern Mississippi to established scholarships for needy youth.

She appeared on ABC,NBC, CNN, BET, MTV and the Oprah Winfrey Show as well as being interviewed by notable television reporters Bryant Gumble and Barbara Walters.

After her generous gift to USM, she was featured in Newsweek, The New York Times, People, Life, Ebony, Essence, and Jet magazines.

She was also the recipient of many awards such as the Presidential Citizens Medal, Wallenberg Humanitarian Award, and the UNESCO Avicenna Medal.