Community Foundation of the Ozarks

Bridget Dierks, left, will have a cherry blossom tree named in her honor at the Thomas W. Finnie Government Plaza in honor of her leadership on the Tree City USA Committee.

Bridget Dierks, the CFO’s Director of Non-Profit Services, was honored at today’s Choose Environmental Excellence luncheon for her outstanding service on the Tree City USA Committee.

She served on the committee for several years, including one as chair, and was instrumental in starting the Tree Tag Project to show the dollar value trees contribute to moderating temperatures (and utility costs), stormwater management and other factors. She also started the “This Tree Pays” website.

The annual luncheon took place at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce as part of Springfield’s Earth Day activities. Tree City USA was one of 11 groups to present awards. Tree City also honored retired forester Jerry Monterastelli for his efforts to help re-forest the city after the 2007 ice storm.

Every Friday, we share the news of new groups and individuals choosing to make philanthropic gifts and investments in their community. You can read more about types of funds available at CFO here. Click here for a full list of non-profit Agency Partners. For more information on fund types and how to get involved, contact Winter Skelton at wskelton@cfozarks.org.

Bob and Susan Beine Scholarship Fund – The OTC Foundation established this scholarship for students who demonstrate financial need and are residents of Christian or Greene County.

Care to Learn – Fordland Fund – This fund will support the hunger, hygiene and health issues of the Fordland school children.

Empire District Employee Assistance Fund – This benevolence fund will support the unmet emergency needs of current and future Empire District Electric employees resulting from such an incident as, but not limited to, fire, accident, tornado, or medical emergency. This is a component of the Community Foundation of Southwest Missouri.

Habitat Springfield Capacity Building Fund – Habitat for Humanity of Springfield has established this fund to assist with its current projects and programs.

Rick and Karen Hughlett Scholarship Fund – The OTC Foundation established this fund for students pursuing a degree in Automotive Technology or the Light Diesel programs.

Robert John Moore Donor Advised Fund
Jacqueline Joan (Moore) King Donor Advised Fund
Michele Ann (Moore) Krantz Donor Advised Fund
Dr. Deborah Jean Moore-Lai Donor Advised Fund
David James Moore Donor Advised Fund

James F. and Catherine A. Moore established these donor-advised funds for each of their children.

Teen Challenge International Neosho Mo Sustainability Fund – This fund will assist with Teen Challenge’s goal to help men whose lives have been affected by life controlling issues such as anger, rebellion and addiction. This is a component fund of the Neosho Area Community Foundation.

Habitat staff and volunteers, project sponsors and members of the Springfield Chamber's ambassadors group cut the ribbon on Habitat for Humanity Springfield's new ReCycle for Homes recycling center.

Tuesday afternoon was a cause for celebration at Habitat for Humanity Springfield’s ReStore on South Scenic Avenue. The long process of establishing the non-profit’s new recycling center is now complete, and they invited the public and key supporters to share in the ribbon cutting.

CFO helped with the establishment of the ReCycle for Homes recycling center with a $10,000 grant as part of the 2009-10 Metro Springfield Community Grantmaking Program. Other contributors included the BKD Foundation and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Solid Waste Management division.

The ReCycle for Homes recycling center will take cardboard, newspaper, plastics, aluminum and scrap metal from the general public, and serves as a welcome addition to the Springfield recycling scene since the closure of the city’s College Street facility.

Enhancing the appeal: All proceeds from the sale of the recyclable materials will go straight to Habitat’s mission of building homes for those who cannot afford them.While other national Habitat chapters do recycling projects, this is the first to directly benefit Habitat’s core mission with proceeds going directly to new homes, says Kristi Nelson, the Springfield Habitat marketing director. The Habitat for Humanity ReStore, which opened 13 years ago and shares land with the recycling center, funds the chapter’s overhead.

The ReCycle for Homes recycling center will be open Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and expects to keep 113 tons of aluminum and scrap metal and 71 tons of cardboard out of local landfills. Drop-off is free, though donations are accepted. The center does not accept glass, brush or yard waste at this time.

The center and ReStore are located at 2410 S. Scenic Ave. in Springfield.

Click here for Habitat for Humanity Springfield’s full press release on the grand opening

Click here for a gallery of photos from the ribbon cutting from the Springfield News-Leader.