
Community Foundation of the Lake
A trusted resource for philanthropy serving the Lake of the Ozarks region.
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 $2.7 million back to the community. We now hold assets totaling $2,791,028 as of June 30, 2022.
Nov. 18, 2022 — The Community Foundation of the Lake will beautify the Magic Dragon Skills Park with a mass planting of 1,000 daffodil bulbs to bloom in spring 2023 to commemorate the spirit of philanthropy across the region.
The daffodil project is a joint effort between the CFL and the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2023 by providing 50,000 daffodil bulbs, which are being planted in more than 40 communities this fall.
The daffodils will be planted at the Magic Dragon Skills Park with support from the Magic Dragon trails volunteers. The CFO provided a $1,000 grant made possible by the Louis L. and Julia Dorothy Coover Charitable Foundation administered by the CFO in partnership with Commerce Trust.
Daffodils were selected for this anniversary project because they naturally spread and multiply over time as a symbol of the impact philanthropy and planned giving have on communities that support the CFO’s 53-member network of affiliate foundations.
“We are blessed with volunteers who have donated their time and talent to build the skills park, and then to donate more time to mass plant these daffodil bulbs in the rocky clay soil of the Ozarks,” CFL president Jane Wright said.“
The CFL has commemorated 13 years of philanthropy growing stronger every year, thanks to our generous supporters and community partnerships.” More information on the Magic Dragon Trails Initiative can be found at Magicdragontrails.com or at Communityfoundationofthelake.com.
Nov. 29, 2022 — The CFL is pleased to announce grants have been awarded in our fourth annual grant round earmarked for funding of horse and dog shelters, sanctuaries, and rescue facilities. This grant is available thanks to a field-of-interest fund created by the Karen Jean Rudek Trust.
Karen Rudek was a long-time resident of the area who loved her dogs and horses. Working with her estate planner, Karen set up this endowed fund under the Community Foundation of the Lake, where only the interest earned on the principle would be available for an annual grant. She bequeathed her estate to this fund upon her death to support horse and dog care in the local communities of Camden, Miller and Morgan counties. She entrusted stewardship of the fund to the CFL to ensure her long term wishes of animal care were met in perpetuity. The recipients of this generous award are:
• Missouri Forget Me Not Horse Rescue & Sanctuary
• Ivy Bend Animal Rescue
• Caring Hearts Dog & Cat Rescue
• Ozarks Kat & K9 Shelter
This annual grant making round will open again next fall and can be found on the CFL website.
Nov. 7, 2022 — The Community Foundation of the Lake is excited to announce that we received a $1,000 grant from the Osage Beach Walmart. This grant will go towards the annual grant round in January designated to assist our local nonprofits with specific or pressing needs. The CFL and Walmart share the same ambitious commitment to fund opportunities that build the educational, cultural, health and economic development of our community. We are grateful for this continued partnership with Walmart Giving.
April 27, 2022 — Stacy Pyrtle, a member of the Community Foundation of the Lake’s board of directors, received a Board Member Award of Excellence from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks.
She was one of five board leaders honored within the CFO’s network of regional affiliate foundations. The awards were presented on April 25 during the CFO’s Affiliate Appreciation Conference in Springfield.
“According to one of her nominators, Stacy is a force to be reckoned with,” said Alice Wingo, CFO Vice President of Affiliates. “Her drive, enthusiasm, and intellect are just a few characteristics that allow her to be extremely successful.”
In addition to chairing the Community Foundation of the Lake’s annual Champagne Campaign fundraising event, Stacy also heads up the CFL’s Trail Initiative Committee, working diligently since her first day on the Community Foundation of the Lake board to make their first economic development plan of building world-class trails in their area a huge success.
She created informational flyers, has applied for federal grant funding, and has raised more than $150,000 to date – including securing a matching grant of ARPA funds from Camden County. Stacy has also recruited a committee of like-minded trail enthusiasts in the community who have been successful in getting a master plan for the placement of trails.
“One cannot serve on a foundation board without first deeply loving one’s community,” CFO President Brian Fogle said. “That love is expressed through their excellent leadership and dedication that make their communities a better place to live for all their neighbors.”
John H. and Ruby M. Laurie Designated Fund
Dream Factory of Lake of the Ozarks Fund
Wonderland Camp Endowment Fund
Michael C. Vyrostek Memorial Musical Fund
Marvin and Lucile Silliman Family Foundation
Jessica and Malachi Brazil Fund
Local Area Needs Initiative (LANI) Fund
Children’s Learning Center Fund
Johnson Family Donor Advised Fund
Community Foundation of the Lake Administrative Fund
RE/MAX Lake of the Ozarks Charitable Foundation
Camden County Historical Society Designated Fund
John H. and Ruby M. Laurie Charitable Fund
Jim and Laura Simpson Family Foundation
Mark and Marsha Schoeneman Fund
Lake of the Ozarks Idiots Club Fund
Community Foundation of the Lake Capacity Fund
Community Foundation of the Lake Disaster Fund
Lois and Richard Gonseth Scholarship Fund
Lake Area Big Brothers Big Sisters Fund
Missouri Forget Me Not Horse Rescue/Sanctuary Fund
Lois and Richard Gonseth Designated Fund
Lake of the Ozarks Stop Human Trafficking Coalition Fund
Community Foundation of the Lake Endowment Fund
Lake of the Ozarks Developmental Center Foundation Fund
Medical Missions for Christ Clinic Fund