Missy Elliott has demonstrated her philanthropic spirit by making a substantial contribution to support families at risk of eviction in her hometown of Portsmouth, Virginia.
As reported by The Virginian-Pilot, the Grammy Award-winning artist generously donated $50,000 to the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority (PRHA) on October 17th.
Alisa Winston, the director of PRHA, expressed that Missy Elliott’s generous gift will be used to alleviate the rent arrears of 26 families.
Missy Elliott’s act of kindness coincided with the one-year anniversary of the city of Portsmouth naming a street and day in her honor. During the celebration, she expressed her desire to give back to her community.
“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,” she said. “Just know that P-Town is with me no matter where I go.”
She added, “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. If you mess with me, it’s a problem. We sweet, but don’t try us.”
Missy Elliott’s mother, Patricia Elliott, also commended her daughter’s charitable gesture, emphasizing the importance of giving back.
“So when you give, you give because you remember those days when you didn’t have,” she said. “If each person would give when they get to the top, then, what a real beautiful world we would be in.”
In October 2022, the “Work It” sensation celebrated the naming of “Missy Elliott BLVD” by sharing a joyous photo on Instagram, expressing gratitude and determination. The street sign symbolized her extraordinary accomplishments and the journey to success.
Missy Elliott was additionally honored with a key to the city of Portsmouth, marking the official renaming of McLean Street to Missy Elliott Boulevard.
“I’ve rode down that boulevard so many times, so make sure y’all don’t get no misdemeanors on my street,” she humorously remarked during the ceremony. “I have always been told to dream big. I couldn’t have dreamed this big. Though I have accomplished many things, I have won many awards, but this trumps all when you get the love from your home.”
