Community Foundation of the Ozarks

The Community Foundation of the Ozarks hosted a celebration March 17th to recognize the agencies and funders who participated in the Community Response Challenge grants which raised more than $739,000 for ten local organizations.

In response to the challenging economic times and the persistence of “red flag” issues noted in the Community Focus 2009: A Report for Springfield and Greene County, the Community Foundation of the Ozarks and other local funders announced the Community Response Challenge Grants Initiative on October 30, 2009. The challenge made available $325,000 in 1:1 matching dollars to organizations providing direct services to meet the identified red flag issues of access to healthcare, child abuse and neglect, and hunger and homelessness.

The additional local funders included:  American Dehydrated Foods, Inc, the Thomas Carlson Fund, the Musgrave Foundation, the Roy W. Slusher Foundation, and the Turner Family Foundation.

Recipients included the following agencies:

For the access to healthcare category: Breast Care Foundation of the Ozarks, The Kitchen Clinic, Ronald McDonald House Tooth Truck mobile dental care.

For the child abuse and neglect category: Child Advocacy Center, Family Violence Center, Isabel’s House, The Victim Center.

For the hunger and homelessness category: Boys and Girls Town Emergency Foster Care program, Crosslines program of the Council of Churches, Ozarks Food Harvest.

“This past year has been a challenging one for our world, country, and community.” said Doug Thornsberry, co-chair of the grants review panel and a board member of CFO. “In many ways, our non-profits might have been the most profoundly impacted. The demand for the important services they provide has dramatically increased, but for most, the resources to meet the increased challenges have diminished. These groups are facing hardships and a double-whammy of the economy. The fact that the recipients raised nearly $100,000 over the original goal is remarkable in this environment.  It’s a reflection of the generosity of this community, and the good work of these ten non-profits.”

PHOTO: The Victim Center staff addresses the reception attendees regarding how the Community Response grant dollars are being used to further their mission.

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.