Community Foundation of the Ozarks

Johan Mostert, CFO Speaker Drury U from CF Ozarks on Vimeo.

Dr. Johan Mostert’s keynote address, which was given at the 2010 Youth Philanthropy Conference on October 14th, is available to watch online.  Dr. Mostert’s talk to Ozarks students focused on the importance of becoming social entrepreneurs by finding and addressing community needs in each small town. The conference drew together nearly 200 students and advisers involved in the CFO’s 31 Youth Empowerment Project chapters.

“Philanthropy is a love, it’s a commitment to humanity,” said Dr. Mostert, who was introduced by CFO President Brian Fogle.  “It is a sense of ‘I am here for the rest of the world.  I’m taking my life and I’m investing it to make it better for other people’.”

Dr. Mostert holds multiple graduate and terminal degrees and is currently a Professor of Community Psychology at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary.

“I want you challenge you to be social entrepreneurs,” Dr. Mostert said.  “Make a magnificent difference in the communities that you’re privileged to live in.”

The Monett YEP was one of the chapters that attended the annual conference at Drury University.

Nearly 200 students and advisors representing most of the 31 Youth Empowerment Project chapters across southern Missouri gathered for an annual conference at Drury University today, which featured inspirational words and ideas and the unveiling of the new YEP website.

The website - www.yepozarks.org – is now live, but development work on it continues as each YEP chapter will get more training to develop its own page and submit calendar items at a November webinar. In the meantime, its features include resources for students and advisors, photos of the chapters’ activities and basics like the tenets of YEP.

Johan Mostert, a professor of community psychology at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, gave the keynote remarks urging the YEP students to live the meaning of the word “philanthropy,” which translates from its Latin roots to essentially “loving humanity.”

“Love has to be put into action and that action is service,” said Dr. Mostert, a native of South Africa. “I want to challenge you to become social entrepreneurs and you’ll make a magnificent difference in your communities.”

A video of Dr. Mostert’s remarks will be posted soon on the new YEP website. Springfield Public Radio stationKSMU will air a report about the YEP as part of its “Making a Difference” series on Nov. 12.

CFO Executive Vice President Julie Leeth also encouraged the YEP students to consider applying for the upcoming Conco Community Arts and Student Wellness grants, which are due Friday, Oct. 29. Each program has $10,000 available for grants ranging from $500 to $1,500 for student-led arts and wellness projects.

During two sets of breakout sessions, the students from exchanged ideas on topics including fundraising, community service, soliciting grant applications and making grant selections. A number of creative fundraising ideas were discussed, ranging from wrestling in Gainesville to a middle-school prom in Seymour.

McAuley YEP students present a $1,400 check and supplies to Joplin Schools Angel Fund.

Joplin TV station KOAM aired a report about the McAuley High School Spring 2010 YEP check presentation during their May 26th broadcast.   The McAuley Youth Empowerment Project presented a $1,400 check to Joplin Public Schools during an assembly Wednesday with administration from both school systems present to participate in the event.  The students, along with YEP sponsor Jane Fethers, designated the funds to be given to the Joplin Public Schools Angel Fund.  The Angel fund provides emergency and basic needs for elementary students in Joplin.  In addition to the grant, McAuley students also presented items they had collected throughout the school year including toiletries, shoes, socks, and gently used clothing.

The McAuley YEP is part of a network of 30 YEPS throughout the Missouri Ozarks. Students work to positively impact the community through education, service, grantmaking, and fundraising.