Community Foundation of the Ozarks

Stephen Reagan and John Cooper of the Harry Cooper Supply Company were presented with the Bridge Builder Award at the affiliate conference for their commitment to making possible the Harry Cooper Supply Company Campaign for the Ozarks. Mr. Reagan represented Harry Cooper, who was unable to attend. This regional effort will allow CFO to work with 37 rural community foundations to build and strengthen community-based philanthropy. Thanks to the Cooper’s generosity, local foundations will develop sensible and appropriate strategies for engaging local donors.

The Harry Cooper Supply Company and the Cooper family have been regional leaders in volunteerism, charitable giving and community involvement, a legacy that spans four generations. There’s a particular harmony to this as the Coopers established the very first funds with the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. John Cooper is currently a member of CFO’s board of directors.

“The Cooper family and Harry Cooper Supply Company are most deserving of this year’s Community Foundation of the Ozarks’ Bridge Builder award,” said Gary Funk CFO President. “Their generous support of the Harry Cooper Supply Company Campaign for the Ozarks will greatly enhance the ability of regional community foundations to make appropriate grants and promote local philanthropy.”

Above: Stephen Reagan (left) and John Cooper ( right center) of Harry Cooper Supply Company accept Bridge Builder awards from Sally Baird (left center), CFO board of directors chair-elect, and James Leon Combs (right), CFO board of directors secretary.

On Tuesday, March 11, 2008 the Dallas County Community Foundation announced that they have raised the $25,000 to be matched through the Harry Cooper Supply Company Campaign for the Ozarks. Gary Funk, president of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, presented a check for $25,000 at the event for the matching funds. The Buffalo Rotary Club established the Buffalo Rotary Club Davis and Mallory Memorial Fund, an unrestricted grantmaking fund, to meet the challenge.

The Harry Cooper Supply Company Campaign for the Ozarks is a dollar for dollar challenge grant in partnership with the Community Foundation of the Ozarks that is part of an overall regional effort to enhance community grantmaking endowments, establish administrative/operations endowments, and promote appropriate and best practices by community foundation board of directors. This initiative is made possible through the generosity of the Harry Cooper Supply Company.

Pictured above: Members of the Dallas County Community Foundation accept a check for the $25,000 in matching funds for the Harry Cooper Supply Company Campaign for the Ozarks.

Metropolitan National Bank has made three $1,000 donations to the Marshfield Area Community Foundation, the Nixa Community Foundation, and the Table Rock Lake Community Foundation. This gift qualifies for a $1,000 matching grant from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks’ Harry Cooper Supply Company Campaign for the Ozarks. This dollar for dollar challenge grant is part of an overall regional effort to enhance community grantmaking endowments, establish administrative/operations endowments, and promote appropriate and best practices by community foundation board of directors. Metropolitan National Bank has branches in Kimberling City, Marshfield and Nixa.

“Metropolitan National Bank appreciates what community foundations do for small communities. We have always been very interested in community activities, and we’re very aware of all the good things they do,” said Judy Pratt, VP and Branch Manager of the Nixa branch and Nixa Community Foundation treasurer. (more…)