Community Foundation of the Ozarks

Nixa Community Foundation recently awarded more than $36,000 in grants through its unrestricted, community grantmaking program. Grants were given at the Nixa Community Foundation annual banquet held on February 18, 2010.

Nixa Community Foundation was CFO’s first affiliate community foundation  with its establishment in 1993. Since then, Nixa Community Foundation has granted more than $625,000 to worthwhile programs and organizations serving the citizens of Nixa.

CAPTION: Grantees who received grant checks at the banquet pose for a group picture.

The Grantmakers’ Challenge for Children continues its final year of a five-year challenge.  At this time, more than $19.7 million from 34 different organizations and families has been granted or pledged to organizations which address children’s issues in Springfield and Greene County.

The challenge was created in 2006 as a direct response to the Community Focus Reports in 2004 and 2005, which stated that overcoming the pressing challenges related to the needs of our children would shape the future of Springfield and Greene County.  Red flag issues addressed in the reports suggested there were three main community needs with relation to children in the Springfield area:

• Education systems ill equipped to educate the growing numbers of impoverished children
• At risk children lacking appropriate health care
• Domestic instability and poverty in the home

The gifts listed in the Grantmakers Challenge for Children report that address the three red flags outlined in the 2004 Community Report Card are a testament to the positive community action which occurs in Springfield by thoughtful donors and organizations.

We look forward to continuing this final year of the Challenge.  To view the latest report (PDF format), please here.

United Way of the Ozarks recently received a $25,000 matching grant from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. This grant was part of a challenge grant commitment by CFO to match new leadership gifts ($500 or above) up to $25,000 for the 2009 United Way campaign.

To date, 79 donors are either first time contributors or increased their 2009 gift to the leadership level. This effort has raised $61,507 for the campaign.

CFO is pleased to partner with the United Way of the Ozarks to help mobilize resources to meet our community’s needs. For more information on the United Way of the Ozarks, please visit their website here.

Photo: Gary Funk, CFO president, presents $25,000 to Jennifer Kennally, president/CEO of the United Way of the Ozarks, and John Wilson, United Way board chairman, at a recent United Way board meeting.