Community Foundation of the Ozarks

The Louis and Dorothy Coover Regional Grantmaking Program, a partnership between Community Foundation of the Ozarks and Commerce Trust Company, awarded $109,475.00 to 8 agencies serving the Missouri Ozarks on November 17, 2009. This year’s Coover awards focused directly on solutions aimed at fighting rural poverty. The review panel received 35 applications representing $485,909.00 in requested funds.

The Coover Regional Grantmaking Program supports new and innovative programs that address regional needs, this year focusing on requests to help eliminate some of the effect of rural poverty throughout our region. Organizations with regional service areas that are primarily outside of metropolitan Springfield and Greene County are encouraged to apply. Mrs. Coover, a 30 year employee of Commerce Bank, established the Louis L. and Julia Dorothy Coover Charitable Foundation in 1992 to honor the memory of her husband.

Recipients of the 2009-2010 Coover Regional Awards are as follows:
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB of the OZARKS – $14,000.00
The granted funds from this proposal by the Boys and Girls Club of the Ozarks will allow additional children living in rural Taney & Stone Counties, ages 6-15 years, who fall at or below 125% of federal poverty guidelines, to have access to high-quality, day-long youth development programming opportunities & physical activities during the summer. It will provide approximately $20 in financial assistance per week for 10 weeks and allow up to 70 additional children to participate.

CABOOL DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, INC – $13,000.00
The organization receiving this grant seeks to make affordable primary health care available to 43,000 residents of a 4-county region in South Central Missouri and has partnered with a federally qualified Health Center to help realize that goal. Southern Missouri Community Health Center, in West Plains, will serve as a satellite organization for the Cabool area and provide medical, dental and mental health care for those in need. Funds from this request will provide necessary fees for application for additional resources; create a website to educate the region about the program and make a partial down-payment for office space, as well as operational supplies.

CARE TO LEARN – Ozark, Nixa, Bolivar School Systems – $15,000.00
This project is based on the very successful model started through Mr. Doug Pitt’s “Care to Learn Foundation”. All three districts are progressing differently in their process for implementing the programming, but all have a strong desire to work together and share knowledge and resources to provide for their students in need. Funding available through this programming will address emergency hunger, health, and hygiene needs of students in each district through food backpacks, food vouchers, clothing vouchers, hygiene items, and financial assistance for medical needs.

HOPE’S BRIDGE – $14,500.00
This organization is dedicated to the temporary care of children whose families are in crisis. This care is usually the only alternative to placing a child in state custody while appropriate arrangements are being made for families. Funding from this grant will provide for additional staff & operational needs and is intended to double the capacity to provide temporary care for the children; thus helping families remain intact while their needs are being met.

OZARKS RESOURCE GROUP – $13,950.00
This grant will provide opportunities and resources to strengthen family bonds and reduce the risk factors associated with teenage substance abuse thru the well-regarded, Guiding Good Choices program workshops. These workshops promote positive models for youth through thoughtful discussion, skill building exercises, positive choices and responsible parenting techniques. The programming and grant assistance will provide a centralized, safe location for parents to access when they need assistance through the Family Resource Center; and, help assist students in Hickory County to make healthy and responsible choices.

RIPLEY COUNTY CARING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP – $9,025.00
The funding being made available to this program will provide impoverished students with evening meals, while participating in the Ripley County CASASTART Program — a community-based, after school program that provides Doniphan R-1 students aged 8-13 the opportunity to work with tutors and mentors. It will be used to provide nutritious evening meals, weekend snacks and the necessary materials and supplies to participate successfully in the CASASTART Program.

SAMARITAN OUTREACH CENTER – $15,000.00
This Center provides emergency shelter and a viable means of support to homeless persons needing assistance in re-entering society. The services available for individuals who access the facility include referral and placements for employment, housing, transportation and educational opportunities. Additional programs that are available through the Center include mental health services, counseling and a broad range of children’s’ services.

THE SAMARITAN CENTER – $15,000.00
The Samaritan Center is the only food and clothing distribution center in Henry County and has provided services for clients in Henry, St. Clair and Benton County for 22 years. Through the Coover Program award, the Center will be able to increase its services to 100 additional families by providing 150,000 pounds of meat, fruits, and vegetables. This will increase their total service outreach to 800 families in the counties served. Total food available to each family will also increase by 33% as a result of the Coover award.

For additional information contact:
Randy Russell
Senior Program Officer (417-864-6199, ext. 14 or rrussell@cfozarks.org)