Community Foundation of the Ozarks

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.

Volunteers for the CFO’s Arts in Action “10 Weeks Festival” will be on hand at Springfield’s annual Artsfest throughout the weekend to seek donations of $1 or more that are split between an arts-education endowment and the Care to Learn program.

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.