Missy Elliott is celebrating her lifetime of success by paying it forward in her home state of Virginia. Last year, October 17 was declared "Missy Elliott Day" in the state. To celebrate the first anniversary of the holiday, Elliott donated $50,000 to the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority. During a ceremony earlier this month, PRHA executive director Alisa Winston said the money would be used to pay the past-due rents of 26 families, according to The Virginian Pilot. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Portsmouth, VA is $1,199, according to Zumper.

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Persons: Missy Elliott, Elliott, Alisa Winston Organizations: Housing Authority, Virginian Locations: Virginia, Portsmouth, Portsmouth , VA