Feb. 5, 2026
Program's second year expands service area and funding
The Community Foundation of the Ozarks has granted $120,000 to improve access to nature and outdoor recreation opportunities across central and southern Missouri. The Everyone Outdoors Grants were presented today at the CFO’s headquarters in Springfield to 15 agencies:
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks: $5,200 to provide adventure kits and outdoor activities to matches in the Springfield area.
- CASA of Southwest Missouri: $10,000 to support 12 trips with 37 North Expeditions for children in foster care in the Springfield area.
- City of Osage Beach: $9,000 to connect Hatchery Ridge Trail to Osage Beach City Park.
- Clearwater R-1 School District: $10,000 to transform an unusable playground space to a paved, accessible play area at the elementary school in Piedmont.
- Cole Camp Community Betterment Association: $10,000 to develop a community trailhead and trail segment that provides safe access to the Rock Island Trail.
- Diversified Freedom for Disabilities/Fish-4-Tales: $8,000 to build an accessible deck platform that connects the activities pavilion to the water at Freedom Park in Rogersville.
- Elevate Branson (Jesus Was Homeless): $8,105 to improve a sensory-friendly natural playground and walking trail on its campus in Branson.
- Family Connection Center: $5,229 to complete the installation of a new playground at St. John’s Chapel in Springfield.
- The Gathering Tree Inc.: $7,500 to renovate a greenhouse into an accessible outdoor learning hub and garden in Springfield.
- James River Basin Partnership: $9,675 to support the “Connect With What You Protect” program that connects children, families and the community with recreation in the James River watershed.
- Jefferson County Library: $7,976 to support a StoryWalk installation at Kade’s Playground, an inclusive playground in Herculaneum.
- Mercy Health Foundation Southeast: $10,000 to purchase adaptive equipment for use by Camp Super Nova participants.
- Southwest Missouri Coalition of Charities: $5,000 to create a community garden that supports the nutritional needs of residents in Stotts City.
- SWI Industrial Solutions: $4,315 to expand the “Sunny Bunny Garden” program in Springfield.
- Village Education Foundation: $10,000 to establish the Forest City Outdoor Gear Closet that will provide families free access to outdoor equipment in St. James.
After first supporting Springfield-area projects in 2025, the Everyone Outdoors Grant Program was expanded across the CFO’s region with double the funding available this year.
“Everyone in our region should be able to access the abundant natural and recreational opportunities in the Ozarks,” said Winter Kinne, president and CEO of the CFO. “We’re grateful to these agencies for connecting more people to all the physical, mental and social benefits of the great outdoors.”
The Everyone Outdoors Grant Program selection committee comprised Eric Gibson, Julie Gray, Jason Hainline, Ashley Krug, Kelly Mills and Tyler Schuster.
