Community Foundation of the Ozarks

The Aurora Area Community Foundation honored donors at a special luncheon on Wednesday, February 27 at Bootleggers Restaurant in Aurora.

At the event, Randy Howard, Aurora Area Community Foundation president, announced that their organization has raised the $25,000 to be matched through the Harry Cooper Supply Company Campaign for the Ozarks. 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: Julie Leeth (second from right), CFO vice president, presents Randy Howard (left), Aurora Area Community Foundation president, with a check for the $25,000 in matching funds for the Harry Cooper Supply Company Campaign for the Ozarks. Also pictured are Aurora Area Community Foundation board members, Regina Leitle and Jim Ferguson.

Jack Hood, President of Hood-Rich, Inc., an architectural and engineering firm in Springfield, made five donations of $1,000 each to support the unrestricted grantmaking efforts of five Ozarks communities. The regional affiliate foundations receiving grants are: the Houston Community Foundation, the Stockton Community Foundation, the Taney County Community Foundation, the Willard Children’s Charitable Foundation, and the Willow Springs 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.

“Our firm has truly enjoyed working in these communities. We appreciate the opportunity to do business in the region, and the Cooper challenge program is a great way for Hood-Rich to give back to each community,” said Mr. Hood. Hood-Rich, Inc. has been providing architectural, engineering, surveying, and interior design services to the Missouri Ozarks since 1961.

Businesses of all sizes have worked with Community Foundation of the Ozarks or one of the 40 regional affiliate foundations to give something back to their community. Because donations to unrestricted grantmaking funds and operational endowments are being matched through the Harry Cooper Supply Company Campaign for the Ozarks through the end of the year, it’s a great time for Ozarks business to get involved. (more…)