The Learning Community is an in-depth training opportunity being offered to 10 CFO agency partners in its first year. In addition to day-long educational sessions, trainer Tiffany Applegate, co-founder of  X Factor Consulting, also works one-on-one with each participant to customize the material to their own organization’s needs.

The “Making a Difference” segment, produced by Mike Smith, profiled two of those participants, veteran non-profit leader Bonnie Keller of Ronald McDonald House, and a newer leader, Caitlin Kissee, the business affairs manager for the Springfield Ballet.

Springfield is just the second (and one of seven overall) cities to be selected as part of the Any Given Child initiative, which focuses on creating, establishing and sustaining parts programming in communities and schools, with a focus on youth. Other cities in the program include Sacramento, Calif., Portland, Ore., Sarasota, Fla., Tulsa, Okla., Las Vegas and most recently, Austin, Texas. Read our original event-recap post here.

Below is the full version of “Any Given Child-Springfield,” which shines a wonderful light on local arts organizations. Please take the time to watch it and share it with friends.

Any Given Child (2011) from Bryan Manning on Vimeo.

At the Moxie Cinema, Springfield’s arts scene was the star of the show when the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, the Springfield Regional Arts Council and Springfield Public Schools hosted the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Tuesday afternoon and premiered a short film highlighting the scene.

The guest of honor was Darrell Ayers, vice-president in charge of education for the Washington D.C.-based Kennedy Center. Springfield is just the second (and one of seven overall) cities to be selected as part of the Any Given Child initiative, which focuses on creating, establishing and sustaining parts programming in communities and schools, with a focus on youth. Other cities in the program include Sacramento, Calif., Portland, Ore., Sarasota, Fla., Tulsa, Okla., Las Vegas and most recently, Austin, Texas.

It’s auspicious company for Springfield, but deserved, Ayers said, because of the sheer number of active arts organizations in the community. Add to that Springfield’s strong school system and diverse demographics (not so much in ethnicity, but in socio-economic terms) and the opportunity to reach and help a wide variety of children was apparent. Now starts the implementation process; with the Kennedy Center’s backing, arts organizations and the public schools should be able to offer even more arts programs that will be available for years to come.

Hosted at Moxie Cinema, Springfield’s non-profit independent theatre with a fund at the CFO, the event premiered the short film “Any Given Child-Springfield”, made by local filmmakers and SPS alumni Bryan Manning and Clay Mason. The final version of the film will be finished soon; we’ll post the delightful film once it’s through the final editing process.

At 5 p.m. the premiere of a short film by local filmmakers Bryan Manning and Clay Mason – “Any Given Child-Springfield” – will be presented. The event is part of the Kennedy Center “Any Given Child” initiative, which focuses on assisting communities in strengthening and expanding arts education for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Springfield is just the second community selected nationally to participate in the program.

The premiere will be followed by a news conference with Darrell Ayers, vice president for education at the Kennedy Center. Members of various Springfield arts agencies including Springfield Ballet, The Community Foundation of the Ozarks Arts Programming Sustainability Initiative Panel, Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts, Moxie Cinema, MSU College of Arts and Letters, Southwest Missouri Museum Associates, Springfield Little Theatre, Springfield Public Schools, Springfield Regional Arts Council, SRO Lyric Theatre and Springfield Symphony Orchestra will also be in attendance.

“The Kennedy Center is excited about the future of arts education in Springfield, and looks forward to providing appropriate resources as part of the next steps in the new five-year plan,” Ayers said. “Springfield has such rich arts resources in the schools and community, it has very dedicated people, and now a wonderful new plan to ensure the arts for Any Given Child in Springfield.”

The event includes free movie popcorn and other refreshments.

Moxie Cinema is located at 431 S. Jefferson Ave., in the Wilhoit Plaza, with its entrance on Pershing Street. Parking is available on Pershing, or in the lot at Jefferson and Elm streets.

About Any Given Child (from kennedy-center.org)

The Any Given Child initiative, created by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, seeks to bring access, balance, and equity to each child’s arts education, using an affordable model that combines the resources of the school district, local arts groups, and the Kennedy Center. The program is designed for students in grades K-8.

Kennedy Center staff members work with community leaders and school administrators in a Community Team to develop a long-range plan for arts education that is tailor-made for their school district. The Team reviews existing arts resources in the school district and the education programs offered by local arts organizations and companies. Once there is a snapshot of the arts education resources, the Team develops a plan specific to the needs of that community.

Proposals will now be accepted for program opportunities for the CFO’s new fiscal year, which began July 1. Grants are available in three categories: Metropolitan Springfield; Ozarks Regional; and the Rural Schools Partnership. Applicants must have 501(c)3 or equivalent non-profit status to be eligible to apply. This year’s grant cycle represents an increase of $81,600 over the 2010-11 competitive grants.

Metropolitan Springfield:

The Metropolitan Springfield Grantmaking Program is organized into four areas of interest for the 2011-12 grant cycle, including three new cycles for Early Childhood, Community Innovation and Senior Services.

Community Response Challenge Grants – The Community Foundation will offer $125,000 in challenge grants of up to $12,500 each, which are intended to help support existing programs of Springfield area non-profits that address red-flag issues identified in the Community Focus Report for Springfield-Greene County. The 2011 Community Focus report will be published in early fall. Consideration for matching funding will be given to proposals that address identified red-flag concerns as listed in the Report.

The proposal deadline is 5 p.m., Oct. 14, 2011. Grants will be awarded in late October and successful applicants will have until Jan. 31, 2012 to raise 1:1 matching dollars for the challenge grants, which range up to $15,000 per award.

Early Childhood – A total of $50,000 will be available for grants ranging from $10,000 to $12,000 to support existing or innovative projects focused on services for children ages 2-5. Proposals should reference “best practices” for quality childcare and/or appropriate school readiness programming. Preference will be given to projects that address the “red-flag” issues identified in the Community Focus Report for early childhood development.

The application deadline is 5 p.m., Nov. 4, 2011 and awards will be announced on Nov. 22. No matching funds are required.

Community Innovation – A total of $50,000 is available in the Metropolitan Springfield Community Innovation Grant program, with a $10,000 to $12,000 range for proposal consideration.  Possible categories under the “Community Innovation” grant opportunity include environmental, sustainability or community development issues, as well as any other emerging community needs identified by the requesting agency.  Proposals should reference “best practices” for any of the program categories submitted or substantive supporting references for innovative program outcomes in comparable settings.

Proposal deadline is 5 p.m., March 9, 2012, and the grants will be awarded on March 27, 2012. No matching funds are required.

Senior Issues – CFO plans to partner with outside community agencies to offer programming assistance for senior citizens in Greene County with details to be announced after Jan. 1, 2012. Grants will be available for services and programs that will improve the health, nutrition and quality of life of persons aged 60 and older through this programming opportunity.

Arts Programming Sustainability Initiative Grants – A total of $17,000 is available for proposals that address the “Emerging” issues listed in the “Arts and Culture” section of the 2009 Community Focus Report for Springfield-Greene County or the 2011 Report due out this fall.

• Organizational support for emerging arts organizations
• Audience development
• Sustainable funding resources

There is no deadline for proposals; the funding is available until the limit is reached. No matching funds are required.

Ozarks Regional Grant Opportunities:

Coover Regional Poverty Grants – This program will award up to $127,500 in grants ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 to support new or innovative non-profit programs outside of Springfield-Greene County aimed at fighting rural poverty. These grants are made possible through the Louis L. and Julia Dorothy Coover Charitable Foundation Regional Grantmaking Program, which is a partnership between the CFO and Commerce Trust Company.

The application deadline is 5 p.m., Jan. 21, 2012. Grants will be awarded on Feb. 9. No matching funds are required.

Agency Partners Endowment-Building Grants – This $10,000 cycle for grants of $1,000 to $1,500 is offered to the nearly 400 non-profit agencies that partner with the Community Foundation. They are intended to support efforts to plan, develop and implement endowment-building programs. These can be used for projects such as promotional materials, fundraisers, information/education programs and other awareness efforts.

The application deadline is 5 p.m., Aug. 5, 2011 and the grants will be awarded at the annual Agency Partner luncheon on Aug. 23. No matching funds are required. Contact Bridget Dierks at bdierks@cfozarks.org for more information.

More information about the Metro Springfield and Coover Regional grant opportunities is available at www.cfozarks.org/grants, or by contacting  Randy Russell, Senior Program Officer, at rrussell@cfozarks.org or (417) 864-6199.

Rural Schools Partnership Grants:

The Rural Schools Partnership is a Community Foundation initiative to emphasize place-based learning in schools and communities across southern Missouri.  Member schools, teachers and students are invited to submit proposals as well as teachers and students.  More information about these grant opportunities is available at www.ruralschoolspartnership.org/grants.

Coover Place-Based Education Grants – These grants provide support for innovative ventures focused on the tenets of place-based education. Proposals that include matching funds or other leveraged resources are encouraged. The grants range from $10,000 to $20,000 for the eight to 15 projects awarded annually. This program is made possible through the Louis L. and Julia Dorothy Coover Charitable Foundation Regional Grantmaking of Commerce Trust Company.

The application deadline is March 2, 2012; grants will be awarded at the annual Rural Schools Partnership conference in Thomasville, Mo., in the spring. No matching funds are required.

Conservation Grants—These grants are intended to engage students in community-based conservation projects.  Grant awards will range from $1,000-$2,000 for a total pool of $10,000-$15,000, depending on the quality and quantity of proposals.  This grant round is open to ALL Rural Schools Partnership schools, including those that received a conservation-related grant in previous years or grant rounds.

The application deadline is 5 p.m., Oct. 21, 2011 with notifications by Nov. 1.  Funded projects should be completed by Spring  2012, and grant reports will be due by June 1, 2012. Photographs and/or video of the project will be required for the grant reports.  No matching funds are required.

Contact Julie Leeth with any questions concerning the Rural Schools Partnership grants at jleeth@cfozarks.org or (417) 864-6199. This grant round is made possible by the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, its Stewardship Ozarks Initiative, and the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation.

The success of the 2nd annual  ”Flights of Fancy” raised $3,455 for the “10 Weeks Festival” from guests who enjoyed seeing  a variety of Springfield performing groups and celebrating the annual Ozzie award winners.

The event hosted by the Springfield-Branson National Airport last Thursday drew more than 200 people to the Airport’s large front lobby area where performers and “cats” attracted quizzical looks from arriving and departing passengers.

The proceeds from the event will go toward the final tally for the “10 Weeks Festival,” a CFO Arts in Action initiative. The proceeds will be divided evenly between the Arts Education Endowment Fund and the Care to Learn program, which provides health, hunger and hygiene needs in Springfield Public Schools and other chapters.

An addition to this year’s Flights of Fancy event was the annual Ozzie Awards, sponsored by the Springfield Regional Arts Council to recognize major support of the arts in our community. This year’s awards were presented to Virginia Bussey, Lifetime Achievement Award; Sen. Roy Blunt, Leadership Award; CoxHealth, Corporate Award; and the SATO-48 film festival, Organization Award. State Sen. Bob Dixon and state Rep. Charlie Denison presented resolutions of support on behalf of the Missouri Senate and House for the Leadership Award to Sen. Blunt.

Some tickets still remain for the second “Flights of Fancy” celebration taking place at the Springfield-Branson National Airport on Thursday.

The event, which includes a great program of Springfield performers, the Springfield Regional Arts Council’s Ozzie Awards and other special presentations, takes place from 6 to 8:30 p.m. tomorrow.

All proceeds from the tax-deductible $25 ticket price benefit the “10 Weeks Festival” and are equally shared between the Foundation’s Arts Education Endowment and featured speaker Doug Pitt’s “Care to Learn” program.

The SRAC will honor Virginia Bussey as this year’s Individual Award Recipient. Other Ozzies will be presented to: SATO 48 for the Organizational Award; Cox Health Systems for the Corporate Award; and Sen. Roy Blunt for the Leadership Award.  As a special part of the awards ceremony, state Sen.  Bob Dixon will present a House and Senate Resolution for the 2011 Ozzie Award honorees as well as the Leadership Ozzie to Sharon Nahon, who will accept on behalf of Sen. Blunt.

A performance schedule for the evening is as follows:

• Springfield Little Theatre Young Artists, Lander’s Kids and Troupers in Training: 6-6:30
• Springfield Symphony-Borderline Wind Trio:  6:30-6:45
• Springfield Ballet: 6:45-7
• “Arts in Action”/”Care to Learn” and Springfield Regional Arts Council Ozzie Awards: 7-7:30
• SRO Lyric Theatre: 7:30-7:45
• Springfield Symphony-Borderline Wind Trio: 7:45-8
• Springfield Ballet: 8-8:15
• SRO Lyric Theatre: 8:15-8:30

Eight members of the Arts Council’s Registry artists will provide ongoing demonstrations, as well as interactions with costumed cast members of Springfield Little Theatre’s  production of “Cats,” sidewalk artist, Eric Vaughn, living artist “statues” and many other roving entertainers and performers.

Tickets are available online, or or may be purchased at the door. Guests may park in the lot on the east side of the Airport.

So, if you see creative young people wearing bright green t-shirts and carrying clear boxes, please consider donating to the third annual “10 Weeks Festival.”

The goal is to raise funds for both the arts education endowment and Care to Learn, a CFO partner that provides basic food, health and hygiene needs for kids in Springfield Public Schools and several other districts.

The 31st annual Artsfest on Historic Walnut Street takes place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, May 7-8. More than 140 artists from across the country will display their work, along with a number of performances throughout the day and other activities.

Tickets are $3 in advance at area McDonald’s or $5 at the gate. Proceeds benefit the Springfield Regional Arts Council, a CFO partner organization. For more information, visit www.springfieldartsfest.org.

The third annual “10 Weeks Festival” kicks off with Saturday’s Springfield Symphony performance where patrons at participating arts events will be asked to contribute a dollar or more to support the arts-education endowment fund and the Care to Learn program.

The Festival, organized through the CFO’s Arts Patronage Sustainability Initiative, has a goal to raise $10,000 in 10 weeks, which will be split evenly between the endowment fund and Care to Learn’s efforts to meet health, hunger and hygiene needs of children in Springfield Public Schools. The Arts in Education endowment fund is  designated for bringing local arts presenters directly into schools.

More information about the “10 Weeks Festival” is available at the re-launched “10 Weeks” website, now at: cfoartsinaction.org.

The CFO’s Arts in Action website was relaunched this week by Element Eleven of Nixa to include expanded information about all of the CFO’s arts-related programs, including the Stand Up for the Arts Legacy Society, the APSI panel, and the Cultural Investment Fund.

The Springfield-Branson National Airport will present the second “Flights of Fancy” event on Thursday, June 9, to cap the Festival and celebrate the arts in our community. All proceeds from that event will apply to the “10 Weeks Festival” totals. The 2010 “10 Weeks Festival” raised $11,373 for the endowment and Care to Learn. 

It also includes a summary of the CFO’s record scholarship activity, the Youth Empowerment Project, the major 2010 grant awards, the Arts in Action project over the past year and the 231 new funds established in FY10.

If you’d like a hard copy of the report, please send an e-mail to Louise Knauer or call (417) 864-6199.