Community Foundation of the Ozarks

Stand Up for the Arts patrons and guests enjoyed a thank-you reception at Obelisk Home to kick off last weekend’s First Friday activities in downtown Springfield.

The CFO held the reception to thank the Legacy Society members who joined on behalf of Stand Up for the Arts during 2009-10. Arts supporters can make planned gifts through the CFO’s Legacy Society designated specifically for a favorite arts program.

Springfield Regional Arts Council Executive Director Leah Hamilton Jenkins, an accomplished vocalist accompanied by Harry Beckett, entertained the group with a selection of their favorite standards.

We’d like to thank Nathan Taylor and Jay Martin, owners of Obelisk Home, for providing their wholesale showroom as an enjoyable venue for the reception.

The Community Foundation of the Ozarks is pleased to announce that the Chad A. Fuqua Memorial Fund has been established with the Taney County Community Foundation. The Chad A. Fuqua Memorial Fund will provide grants for the development, maintenance and support of the City of Hollister, Missouri parks. This fund was established by Chad’s mother, LaVaughn M. Fuqua-Mathiesen, her husband, Bryan,  and donations from family, friends and the community.

Mrs. Fuqua-Mathiesen and Mr. Mathiesen have also made a planned gift that will leave a bequest to the Chad A. Fuqua Memorial Fund ensuring that the Hollister parks will remain an important part of the city. This planned gift recognizes Mrs. Fuqua-Mathiesen and Mr. Mathiesen as members of the Legacy Society.

In August 2008, at the age of 40, Chad Fuqua was struck and  killed while riding his motorcycle by an alleged drunk driver.   Prior to his untimely death, Fuqua served as Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Hollister for ten years.   Alderman and Park Board Member, Scott McCaulley, stated, “ I can’t think of a major event we have had in Hollister that didn’t have Chad’s mark on it.” City aldermen voted in September 2008 to re-name the Town Hall Square Park to the Chad A. Fuqua Memorial Park to honor his service to the community.

The Taney County Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. It is comprised of 37 funds with assets totaling approximately $2.8 million. In fiscal year 2009, the Taney County Community Foundation granted more than $125,000 back to the community. Please click here to learn more about the Taney County Community Foundation.

CFO would like to welcome and thank four new members to our Legacy Society for fiscal year 2010. Mr. and Mrs. Don Martin, Sr. (Springfield), Dr. Gloria Galanes (Springfield), Michelle Ducre (Carl Junction), and Steve Schneider, Jr. (Springfield) have made planned giving commitments to support the Community Foundation of the Ozarks or one of its affiliates.

Legacy Society membership is a tangible step toward building charitable assets for the future and sustaining the organizations that serve our communities and neighbors.

CFO’s board of directors understands the importance of planned giving. Because of this, garnering 25 new Legacy Society members in this fiscal year is an annual goal.

For more information on how to give back to your community, please visit this link.  To view a complete list of Legacy Society members, please click here.