Community Foundation of the Ozarks

Our new year’s resolution: Every Friday, we want to share the news of new groups and individuals choosing to make philanthropic gifts and investments in their community. You can read more about types of funds available at CFO here. Click here for a full list of non-profit Agency Partners. For more information on fund types and how to get involved, contact Winter Skelton at wskelton@cfozarks.org.

Bixler Foundation – David and Julie Bixler established this family and community fund to assist with their personal giving.

Bluebird Gardens Charitable Fund – This corporate fund was estalsihed by Charlotte Wiggins, manager of Bluebird Gardens, to assist with the charitable giving. This is a component fund of the Meramec Regional Community Foundation.

Brell Family Charitable Fund – Dr. and Mrs. Brell established this fund as part of their estate plan. Upon their passing, it will distribute per their wishes with 20 percent staying at the CFO for children’s healthcare needs and to other child-related charities in Springfield/Greene County.

The Dustin Scholarship Fund – Bailey Simpson established this scholarship fund to assist students in the foster care system pursue a post-secondary education. Bailey is 16 and is a Central High School student. She plans to fundraise toward the $10,000 goal.

Healthy Half Pints Fund – This fund will begin a pilot program to provide kindergarteners and first graders at four elementary schools with an afternoon milk snack. A joint effort by CFO, Musgrave Foundation, North Point Church and the Pendleton Family Foundation.

Kansas City Chiefs Joplin Recovery Fund – This corporate fund allows the Kansas City Chiefs to make grants to organizations helping to support Joplin tornado recovery efforts. This is a component fund of the Community Foundation of Southwest Missouri.

LakeExpo.com Charitable Fund – Brent Simpson, owner of LakeExpo.com, established this corporate fund to help simplify his company’s charitable activities. This is a component fund of the Community Foundation of the Lake.

Rieder Family Fund – Larry & Kathie Rieder established this family and community fund to assist with their family’s giving. This is a component fund of the Stockton Community Foundation.

In an effort to help more Joplin tornado survivors return to permanent homes, the Community Foundation of Southwest Missouri today opens applications for a $2.5 million grant cycle with a priority on affordable housing proposals.

The CFSWMO, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, will give preference to proposals that will increase the availability of new or rehabilitated affordable housing located in Joplin or Duquesne.

The application form is available online at: www.formstack.com/forms/CFO-cfswmotornado. The application deadline is 5 p.m., Friday, Feb. 17, 2012. Applications for other proposals also will be accepted, with preference given to housing needs. The application process is open to 501(c)3 and other IRS-recognized non-profit and charitable groups, such as faith-based organizations.

This grant cycle is made possible by the generosity of donors to the Joplin Recovery Fund administered by the CFO and CFSWMO; the Lilly Endowment, Inc.; the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation; and a $500,000 grant awarded Wednesday evening by The Home Depot Foundation in conjunction with the re-opening of the Joplin store destroyed in the May 22, 2011 tornado.

“The survivors of the May tornado cannot continue their journey toward recovery if they are still living in government-provided trailers or doubling up with family or friends,” CFO President Brian Fogle said. “With thousands of homes destroyed on May 22, we recognize that affordable housing is one of the highest-priority needs and one where philanthropy can help address that particular gap in the housing market.”

This is the second grant cycle available for the Joplin Recovery Fund, which the CFO/CFSWMO opened on May 23 to accept donations for mid- to long-term recovery needs. Since then, $300,000 has been awarded to 18 non-profit agencies.

For more information about the Joplin Recovery Fund, and other funds established by private donors for Joplin’s relief and recovery efforts, visit: www.joplinrecoveryfund.org. Donations to the Joplin Recovery Fund can be made online at: www.cfozarks.org/donate; or by mail to: Community Foundation of the Ozarks, P.O. Box 8960, Springfield, MO, 65801.

Joplin residents celebrated another milestone on their journey toward recovery with a grand re-opening of the Home Depot store, one of the sites hardest hit on May 22 when the tornado claimed the lives of an employee and several customers and destroyed the store.

Just as the Atlanta-based retailer had resolved to rebuild its own store, it also reinforced its commitment to rebuilding Joplin with The Home Depot Foundation awarding a $500,000 grant to the Joplin Recovery Fund. That funding will be included in a new housing grant cycle to be announced Jan. 12  by the Community Foundation of Southwest Missouri, Inc., the CFO’s largest affiliate.

“On May 22, we had a disaster that struck this community and we are part of this community,” said Ann Marie Campbell, president of Home Depot’s Southern Division. “As leaders and managers, there is no script to deal with that size of disaster. It continues to be one of the toughest things we’ve had to deal with as a company.

“That’s why we’re here today because of the spirit of this community that says there is hope; there is resiliency,” she said.

CFSWMO board members and CFO staff associate Michelle Ducre accepted the ceremonial check for $500,000 before store manager Steve Cope led the “ribboncutting” – actually powersawing a long board functioning as a ribbon.

“Wow, a half million to our community along with the commitment to come back,” Ducre said, in thanking Home Depot.

With flourishes including cheerleaders, a drum corps, a Color Guard, Home Depot leaders treated customers a a drop of hundreds of balloons filled with slips of paper to redeem for gifts, cupcakes, and grand re-opening sales throughout the store.

But the tragedy won’t stay far from the minds of employees and customers; at the store’s front entrance is a fountain and a stone marker “in remembrance of the lives lost, and to a future of rebuilding in their memory.”