Community Foundation of the Ozarks

The Seymour Youth Empowerment Project recently provided two grants to benefit Seymour R-2 School District. They selected a grant to the Seymour 7th and 8th grade boys’ basketball team for the purchase of new uniforms. This will be the first time middle school students will wear new uniforms rather than castoff high school uniforms. Additionally, the YEP team selected a grant that will provide funding to begin an academic/quiz bowl team in the Seymour Middle School. This funding will provide items key to the creation of the team including buzzers and study materials.

The Seymour Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) continues to be a stellar example of the value of youth philanthropy in rural communities in the Ozarks. In addition to regular grantmaking to youth-oriented programs, the Seymour YEP continues to work diligently toward the establishment of a $10,000 endowment fund by youth-driven fundraising projects. This endowed fund will ensure the long-term sustainability of the program. Congratulations to the Seymour YEP for their excellent progress! The Community Foundation of the Ozarks and the Greater Area Seymour Foundation are proud to partner with this quality group of young philanthropists.

Photo: The Seymour YEP presents a check to the Seymour Middle School basketball team for the purchase of new uniforms.

By Gary Funk
President, Community Foundation of the Ozarks

The word husbandry comes to us like an ancient whisper. Notions of thrift, resourcefulness, stewardship, and simplicity may seem anachronistic, but in these days of unprecedented economic turbulence, they should have renewed relevance. Our region is blessed with individuals who steadfastly husband resources for the greater good. There is Mansfield’s Jean Coday, champion for the Laura Ingalls Wilder farm, keeping alive Ozarks’ history and important agrarian values. There is Springfield’s Judy Dasovich, selflessly fighting for the resources to keep The Kitchen Clinic going, serving people who fall through the cracks of a flawed healthcare system. There is Protem’s Tom Aley, dedicating his life and work to preserving Tumbling Creek Cave, while educating people on land use and water quality. And there is Forsyth’s Margie Berry, a tireless advocate for her local Boy’s and Girls’ Club, helping scores of children who have many needs.

At the Community Foundation of the Ozarks we are not sages; we possess no economic crystal ball. Still, we take seriously our role as a long-term steward of charitable funds. We are proud of our strong investment track record, and it is shepherded by a skilled investment advisory board. The Foundation’s approach to fund management is thoughtful, diversified, and appropriate. We will weather these tough times; we have before.

Recent headlines tend to define us in narrow economic terms. The community foundation movement, however, transcends the mere value of money, and is antidote to greed, materialism, and haste. Barn raisings are less about the utility of the barn and more about the value of people coming together. Building the Community Foundation of the Ozarks is such an endeavor.

There are many pundits who propose solutions for America’s economic struggles, and their suggestions vary as much as our nation’s geography. I am not qualified to add to this debate, but I do know that community building is an endeavor that requires more than the dollar bill. Compassion, sacrifice, and generosity comprise the authentic social fabric of our towns and rural places. These are inherently American traits, and it is our job to keep them at the forefront of community conversation. The Community Foundation of the Ozarks is committed to this task.

Thank you for your continued support of our organization.

Hickory County is gearing up for big fall packed with exciting events as part of a grassroots fundraising effort to support the Hickory County Community Improvement Foundation’s (HCCIF) goal to raise $25,000 for the Harry Cooper Supply Company Campaign for the Ozarks. This money will be matched dollar-for-dollar through the Cooper Campaign.

First on the agenda for Hickory County is the Hickory County Schools Give Big fundraiser. Led by their student councils, schools in Weaubleau, Wheatland, Hermitage and Skyline will compete against each other to see who can raise the most money for the HCCIF. On September 27, the Hickory County Health Department will host a four person scramble golf tournament. On October 11, aspiring entertainers and hobbyists will have the opportunity to participate in the “Got Talent?” Talent Show taking place at Hermitage High School. Following that event, the Hickory County Swap Meet will raise money for the campaign on October 25. Additional fundraisers being held include a bowling tournament, concert, Christmas family photographs, and others.

Of course, a plan of this magnitude requires plenty of dedication and cooperation. Leaders from the HCCIF are getting some help in the form of a volunteer to coordinate the larger fundraising campaign. Debbie Smith of the Hickory County Health Department, an important HCCIF partner, will oversee the effort.

“This kind of opportunity doesn’t come along every day, and we need to take advantage of it,” Smith told Hermitage’s newspaper, The Index, in a 9/3/08 front page profile outlining the work of the HCCIF and their Cooper fundraising efforts. “I realize that local businesses and citizens go above and beyond when it comes to supporting this community, but this is such a special situation that has the potential for long-term benefits for the entire community, so it’s very important for everyone to be involved.”

Read the full newspaper article here.