A trusted resource for philanthropy serving the Lake of the Ozarks region.
Since our founding on Aug. 3, 2009, the Community Foundation of the Lake has distributed more than $3.3 million back to the community. We now hold assets totaling $4,216,803 as of June 30, 2024.
Stacy Pyrtle, President
Sept. 21, 2024 — The Community Foundation of the Lake is thrilled to announce its recent Champagne Campaign, “Bubbles Up” event, held on Sept. 21 at The Grove at Memory Lane Events, raised over $85,000 for local nonprofit organizations. This remarkable achievement was made possible through the generosity of Lake area business professionals and philanthropists.
Honorary Chairs, Chris “Pappo” and Melissa Galloway exemplify the mission of CFL every day with their continuing philanthropy to CFL and numerous Lake Area nonprofits, as well as leading economic development in the Lake communities. A highlight of the evening came when emcee Nathan Bechtold introduced Drew Hankinson. Attendees funded a Dream Factory project for the 16-year-old living with dwarfism. The funds raised during the live auction will help secure adaptive equipment, estimated between $6,000 and $10,000, allowing Drew to drive a car his parents are purchasing for him. Attendees contributed an impressive $11,500 for this cause alone. Additionally, helium-filled balloons were sold to support a grant for Central Missouri Foster Care & Adoption Association with a balloon release to end the evening.
Guests enjoyed a delicious dinner catered by Mama Cita’s Mexican Cantina and Pappo’s Pizzeria & Pub, accompanied by live music from Haley Powers. The event also featured numerous silent auction items donated by local businesses and individuals. Rick Bryant and his team from Bryant Auction had attendees raising their auction paddles with fervor for sought-after items like vacation packages and autographed memorabilia from Patrick Mahomes, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce along with a residential mural from the artists at The African Grey.
CFL Champagne Campaign Chair Beth Bankhead expressed her gratitude, stating, “The Lake Area Community amazes me with their ongoing generosity to those less fortunate. We had another record-breaking year at the 16th Annual Champagne Campaign. The funds raised will significantly impact our 2025 grant round for nonprofits in Camden, Miller, and Morgan counties.”
This year’s event was supported by many local businesses, with Diamond Sponsors including Scott’s Concrete, The Lynn and Peg Griswold Family Foundation, Lake Expo, Mama Cita’s, and Pappo’s Pizzeria & Pub, along with various gold, silver, and bronze sponsors. Media partners included LakeExpo.com and L O Profile magazine.
Since its inception in 2009, the Champagne Campaign has funded over $740,000 in grants to local organizations such as Wonderland Camp, the Children’s Learning Center, Share the Harvest, Lake Regional Health Systems, Kid’s Harbor, Citizens Against Domestic Violence, Heroes Outreach and many more. All proceeds from the campaign remain local, directly benefiting Camden, Miller and Morgan counties.
July 17, 2024 — The Community Foundation of the Ozarks recently presented the Stanley Ball Leadership Award to Stacy Pyrtle for her leadership with the Community Foundation of the Lake. In honor of Pyrtle, the Community Foundation of the Lake received a $2,500 award to supplement its annual grantmaking from the CFO and Central Trust Company, which manages the Stanley & Elaine Ball Foundation.
Pyrtle was chosen for her many contributions, including raising the profile of the Foundation within the business community, spearheading efforts behind the Magic Dragon Trail System, promoting capacity-building opportunities for nonprofits and grantees, and increasing participation, understanding and impact of the Community Foundation of the Lake’s volunteer board of directors.
“Stacy lives out her value of community involvement and cares deeply about our community and its citizens,” wrote Beth Bankhead, vice president of the Community Foundation of the Lake, in her nominating letter. “Stacy works tireless hours in a variety of roles to make civic betterment a reality. She has more energy than most, takes action to create progress at a rate matched by few, and acts on her guiding beliefs and values of community betterment.”
The Stanley Ball Leadership Award is named for the founding president of the Nixa Community Foundation, the CFO’s first affiliate. Ball embodied the strengths of business, civic, and philanthropic leaders to enhance his community — all qualities Pyrtle has shown in her role as president of the community Foundation of the Lake.
Beth Bankhead also received a Board Member of Excellence for her contributions to the Community Foundation of the Lake.
“Every community needs champions who selflessly dedicate their time, talent and treasure to improve the lives of others,” said Alice Wingo, vice president of affiliates for the CFO. “As our regional affiliate network has grown over the last 31 years, these exceptional leaders provide great examples for others to follow.”
Community Foundation of the Lake awarded $56,000 to 21 local nonprofits at the Convention & Visitors Bureau Annual Dinner on March 15.
The 2023 grantees are as follows:
CFL President, Jane Wright, stated, “I want to thank our loyal supporters without whom we could not continue to implement improvements on health issues, give attention to the arts, and support educational needs identified in our grant making program.”
April 27, 2023 — During the Rural Philanthropy Summit on April 25, the Community Foundation of the Ozarks selected the Community Foundation of Lake as an Affiliate of the Year. The award recognizes the CFL’s excellence in leadership in the CFO’s 53-member affiliate network and comes with a $3,000 prize grant. CFL President Jane Wright accepted the award.
The award recognizes the Community Foundation of the Lake’s consistent and proactive work in establishing partnerships in its community, which has garnered it more than $10,000 in donations this year for its charitable work.
The Ash Grove Area Community Foundation, Barton County Community Foundation, Cape Area Community Foundation and the Nevada/Vernon County Community Foundation were also recognized as Affiliates of the Year.
The affiliates were selected using several criteria — asset growth, new funds established, overall grantmaking and new Legacy Society members in the 2022 fiscal year that ended June 30, 2022 — along with examples of community leadership, collaboration and the promotion of planned giving.
In addition to grant prizes presented in honor of affiliate leaders, affiliate foundations received a total of $23,000 to supplement their annual grantmaking to the communities they serve. The awards mark 30 years of the CFO’s Affiliate Foundation program, which began in 1993 with the establishment of the Nixa Community Foundation.
“For 30 years, our regional affiliate foundations have done so much to improve the quality of life in many communities across our wide service area,” said Alice Wingo, the CFO’s vice president of affiliates. “Our foundation leaders work hard to build long-term, sustainable resources that will benefit all sectors of a community. With exemplary foundations and leaders like the ones honored today, these 53 towns, counties and regions have bright futures ahead.”
The awards capped off the Rural Philanthropy Summit, presented by the CFO and Philanthropy Missouri at the Oasis Convention Center. The event is believed to be the first statewide gathering of philanthropists and foundations focused on the development of rural communities.
