Community Foundation of the Ozarks

The Springfield Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) recently made grants to seven organizations in Springfield to support youth-oriented and youth-driven projects.  They made presentations to these organizations on December 8th.

The Springfield YEP is made up of students from each high school in Springfield (Bailey, Springfield Catholic, Central, Glendale, Greenwood, Hillcrest, Kickapoo, and Parkview).  To see a full list of the grants the students made, follow the link:

 Springfield YEP Presents Grants

Picture:  Students from the Springfield YEP tour the Kitchen, Inc. and present a check to the organization to purchase beds for children staying at the facility.

 Community Foundation of the Ozarks, in partnership with Drury University, hosted the 2009 Youth Philanthropy Conference of the Youth Empowerment Project. Nearly 200 students and sponsors from 27 southern Missouri schools attended the conference held at the Drury University Findlay Student Center.Drury President Todd Parnell gave the welcome and spoke on the importance of philanthropy. The keynote was given by Jennifer Moore, Senior News Producer at KSMU whose international experience as a journalist has given her a unique perspective and love for her Ozarks community. Dr. Gary Funk also spoke on youth-driven grant opportunities through the Community Foundation of the Ozarks’ Rural Schools Partnership. Additionally, students participated in small-group discussions about the importance of philanthropy in local communities and the purpose of a Youth Empowerment grantmaking project.The mission of the Youth Empowerment Project is to give youth the opportunity to positively impact their community. This is accomplished through education, service, grantmaking, and fundraising. Students involved in Youth Empowerment Project organizations raise funds through projects and events and then grant those funds to worthy youth-related causes in their community.  To learn more about creating a regional YEP, please contact Bridget Dierks.Pictured:  Students and Sponsors from the Monett Youth Empowerment Project

The Youth Empowerment Project in Ozark will host their annual YEPO Talent Show this Sunday, October 11th at 2:00 p.m.. This event will be a fun-filled afternoon in the Ozark High School auditorium, and the proceeds from this event support the YEPO grantmaking program, which gives many quality grants each year to youth-oriented projects in Ozark. Additionally, the YEPO students will be making grant presentations at the end of the talent show to four youth-oriented projects. These grants were made possible with last year’s YEPO Talent Show proceeds.

Admission to this event is $5. Plan on attending!

Photo: 2008 YEPO talent show winners