Hancock Bank donates to INFINITY

by Wally Northway

Published: April 8,2010

Tags: banking and finance, education, NASA

GULFPORT — Hancock Bank will give $500,000 toward completion of INFINITY at NASA Stennis Space Center in Hancock County. Bank officials presented the first $50,000 installment of the 10-year commitment April 6.

“Hancock Bank is honored to facilitate a project that further secures our Gulf Coast as an international center of opportunity. This chance to partner with many distinguished leaders of the INFINITY project aligns with Hancock Bank’s 111-year-old promise to help people achieve their goals and dreams,” said Hancock Bank CEO and COO John M. Hairston, a veteran Coast banker with a chemical engineering degree.

INFINITY will be a science education complex located on Interstate 10. Hancock earmarked the $500,000 donation for construction of the nucleus of INFINITY, a 72,000-square-foot glass building designed by Stantec Architecture of Vancouver, British Columbia. Including a state-of-the-art visitors center, multiple galleries and interactive exhibits designed by ESI Design of New York, the center will highlight Stennis’ mission, support Mississippi and Louisiana curriculum standards, foster greater interest in math and science, enhance science literacy for children and adults and help develop a future workforce prepared for a galaxy of high-tech careers.

The late Leo W. Seal, Jr., past chairman of Hancock Bank’s parent company, Hancock Holding Company, was one of many local business and civic leaders who envisioned INFINITY and secured business, community and government partnerships to create and fund the project.

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