Community Foundation of the Ozarks

Convoy of Hope has joined the Community Foundation of the Ozarks’ Agency Partner program by establishing the Convoy of Hope Haiti Relief Fund. This fund was established to encourage communities throughout the Missouri Ozarks to participate in relief efforts by utilizing the network of CFO’s 41 affiliate community foundations.

“We know there are many local and national efforts for Haiti relief efforts,” stated Gary Funk, president of CFO.  “We see this as an additional option to help facilitate the relief efforts provided by Convoy of Hope, and we hope our established relationships in the Ozarks will promote giving to the critical services they provide for relief and recovery. We have partnerships with more than 320 non-profits in the Ozarks, and welcome this great new relationship with Convoy in a time of need.”

Part of the Haiti relief effort is “Kits 4 Kids” which asks individuals, families and groups to assemble hygiene kits for children in Haiti. The Missouri Department of Education has encouraged schools across the state to participate with a goal of 100,000 completed kits. The kits include shampoo, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, hand towel and comb.

For more information on Convoy of Hope, Kits 4 Kids and the continued Haiti relief effort, please visit http://www.convoyofhope.org/.

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.