Community Foundation of the Ozarks

The CFO's Julie Leeth (third from left) presents a ceremonial check for $11,100 to members of the Nixa Education Foundation.

The Nixa Education Foundation received $11,100 with a recent ceremonial check presentation successfully completing the Harry Cooper Supply Company Campaign for the Ozarks to build long-term education funding through philanthropy.

The Foundation raised $21,930 to receive the matching funds through the Cooper Phase II Challenge for members of the CFO’s Rural Schools Partnership during 2010. The total of $33,030 is designated for the Foundation’s Legacy Fund, which preserves and invests a core amount to create an annual distribution of funds to help stabilize the district’s revenue.

Nixa was among 26 southern Missouri rural schools to participate in the year-long challenge grant opportunity, which raised nearly $1 million from generous donors and the Harry Cooper Supply Company to build long-term sustainability for these districts. The other districts are: Alton, Aurora, Ava, Bolivar, Bradleyville, Cassville, Dallas County, Dora, Eminence, Fair Grove, Fairview, Gainesville, Hermann, Hollister, Houston, Lockwood, Logan-Rogersville, Monett, Reeds Spring, Seymour, Valle, Warsaw, Weaubleau, West Plains and Willard.

The Nixa Education Foundation held a number of activities to raise the funds for the matching-grant opportunity. Foundation President Becky Sawyer said the group had a $100 for 100 campaign for Nixa alumni involved while faculty and staff contribute through payroll deductions. She said students and parents made donations to honor people special to them, and students also created and sold Christmas cards to raise money.

“There’s no way we could have done it without the support of the entire community – faculty staff, students and alumni, and businesses,” Sawyer said. “Everyone had a piece in this and we want to thank everyone. It was truly a combined effort of many.

“We also appreciate the Harry Cooper Company and thank them for this opportunity,” she said. “If it had not been for making this grant available to us, I’m certain we would have $30,000 less in our endowment fund.”

A casual supper, tempting desserts, a large donation, a patriotic performance, and a moving presentation created all the ingredients for a successful 2010 Fall Harvest Festival for the Willard Children’s Charitable Foundation.

The WCCF held its annual festival Saturday evening at Willard High School where board members served up a hamburger and hot dog dinner to supporters and community members. Saving dessert for last with a live auction of tables full of donated cakes, pies, caramel apples and other treats, WCCF President Danette Proctor first accepted a check for $3,500 from Connie Gould, in memory of her husband, Bill, who died on Aug. 5. Well known and much admired, Bill Gould taught world history and civics at Willard High School for more than 25 years; he also coached boys’ basketball and boys’ baseball along with both boys’ and girls’ golf at various times.

The check was designated for Willard’s efforts to raise $20,000 for its educational endowment fund to receive a $10,000 match from the CFO’s Harry Cooper Supply Company Campaign for the Ozarks Phase II initiative. In appreciation for Mrs. Gould’s contribution, the WCCF has established a $1,000 William Gould Memorial Scholarship to be given annually.

After the Willard Intermediate Choir performed selections from its recent Veteran’s Day program, the group learned about the Transition House under construction next to the school. The ADA-accessible house of nearly 3,000 square feet will be used to teach life skills like cooking, laundry and budgeting to developmentally disabled students in the district. Teacher Steve Vaughn and the high school construction class are leading the effort, which is supported by numerous donations of supplies and other support from the community. This project received a $20,000 Coover place-based education grant from the CFO’s Rural Schools Partnership last spring through the Louis L. and Julia Dorothy Coover Charitable Foundation Regional Grantmaking Program.

In addition to a range of delicious desserts, the live auction also included donations of a wooden wishing well built by the construction class, a picnic table from Guy Morelock, and a tractor planter from Travis Duncan (its $130 winning bid will be used to buy pots and pans for the Transition House). Overall, the auction raised more than $3,000 to add to Willard’s Cooper Phase II effort.

Lockwood Superintendent Bill Rogers, left, and Lockwood Community Foundation leaders Fred and LaRue Lemons, right, accept a $10,000 Cooper Phase II check from Winter Skelton, of the CFO.

The Lockwood Community Foundation and Lockwood Public Schools worked to together to raise more than $20,000 for the Lockwood Community Foundation Academic Fund and garnered a $10,000 match from the Harry Cooper Supply Company Campaign for the Ozarks Phase II.

Lockwood superintendent Bill Rogers says reaching out to alumni was integral to the success of their effort. “We sent letters to all known alumni early on,” said Rogers, “and we made sure to write handwritten thank you notes to every person who made a contribution.” In all, 59 donors contributed $20,300 with gifts ranging in size from $5 to $5,000.

Winter Skelton, CFO development operations director, said Lockwood’s grassroots effort exemplifies the spirit of the Rural Schools Partnership program and the Cooper campaign. She added, “What we always hope to see is cooperation between the school and the community at large—cooperation that engages as many people as possible. When this occurs, good things happen!”

Fred Lemons, Lockwood Community Foundation, has shepherded his Foundation’s growth since its inception in 1999. “The entire community has rallied around us,” said Lemons. “So many businesses and caring individuals have made our growth possible.” Lemons is particularly excited that the Lockwood Community Foundation is approaching the $1 million milestone in total assets. “It wouldn’t surprise me if we hit a million by Christmas,” he predicted.