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Inclusive Communities Ten nonprofits received $120,000 in the CFO’s annual Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Grant Program. LEARN MORE
Dec. 18, 2020

$390,000 awarded to 39 nonprofit agencies serving Springfield and southwest Missouri

The Community Foundation of the Ozarks awarded $390,000 to 39 nonprofits today, including the Jerry Redfern Grants that honor the late manager of the Jeanette L. Musgrave Foundation.

The CFO now administers the Musgrave Foundation’s grantmaking program in partnership with U.S. Bank Wealth Management, which manages the Musgrave Foundation Charitable Trust.

Redfern, who was an attorney at Neale & Newman LLP, traditionally hosted a holiday season grant presentation, which expressed his appreciation of holiday traditions. The CFO Board of Directors and its staff felt it was fitting to name this inaugural grant round in Redfern’s honor and present the awards during the festive season, even though the pandemic necessitated holding the presentation via Zoom.

Jim Johnson, regional managing director with U.S. Bank Wealth Management, offered remarks about Redfern’s 17-year leadership of the Musgrave Foundation.

“Jerry had a big heart and was a generous giver of his time,” Johnson said, describing the honors Redfern received for his pro bono legal work during his more than 50-year legal career.

“He was so committed to following the stated goals of Mrs. Musgrave and how she wanted the funds to be helpful to so many organizations in this area,” Johnson said. “It is so much my pleasure today to be part of this recognition and honor for his many years of service to the Musgrave Foundation and beyond that to our community in general and so many others.”

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The late Springfield attorney Jerry Redfern managed the Jeanette L. Musgrave Foundation for many years. Grants totaling $200,000 to 33 agencies were awarded in his memory.

The Musgrave Foundation’s grantmaking is focused on four areas: Children and Senior Services; Healthcare and Education; Poverty, Hunger and Homelessness; and Arts and Community Betterment. During the presentation, one grant recipient from each sector commented on the work taking place in their area.

The CFO asked the existing Musgrave grant committee to continue with this fall’s selection process. They are: Chair Rob Baird; Thomas Slaight; Peggy Riggs, Ed.D; Thomas J. Carlson; and Ferba Lofton.

Since its inception, the Musgrave Foundation has awarded more than $15 million to Springfield-Greene County nonprofits with missions in its areas of focus. The foundation was created by Jeannette L. Musgrave, whose husband, Dr. Edward Musgrave, was a dentist whose family held oil leases in Oklahoma and Texas. Dr. Musgrave died in 1970. Mrs. Musgrave created the foundation in 1983; she lived to be 101.

“We’re celebrating two legacies here today. Mrs. Musgrave had the foresight and compassion to leave a permanent gift that will help our broader community in perpetuity,” CFO President Brian Fogle said. “Jerry Redfern championed that legacy and vision for many years … always with a smile and a twinkle in his eye. They are no longer with us, but both will live on in the good works that nonprofits do each and every day — especially in these challenging times.”

Jerry Redfern Grant Program

  • American Red Cross: $10,000
  • Boys and Girls Clubs of Springfield: $7,783
  • Care to Learn: $2,500
  • CASA of Southwest Missouri: $5,000
  • Cents of Pride: $10,000
  • Child Advocacy Center: $9,900
  • Council of Churches of the Ozarks: $10,000
  • Diaper Bank of the Ozarks: $7,500
  • The Doula Foundation: $2,000
  • The Drew Lewis Foundation: $5,000
  • East Grand Community Services: $500
  • The Gathering Tree Inc.: $3,500
  • Grace United Methodist Church: $10,000
  • Habitat for Humanity of Springfield: $5,000
  • Help Give Hope: $5,000
  • Isabel’s House: $5,000
  • The Kitchen Inc.: $5,000
  • Least of These Inc.: $5,000
  • Lost and Found Grief Center: $2,500
  • Newborns in Need: $3,000
  • Niangua R-V Schools: $10,000
  • Ozarks Food Harvest: $10,000
  • Ozarks Literacy Council: $10,000
  • Ozarks Public Broadcasting: $2,500
  • PFLAG Springfield: $6,000
  • The Salvation Army – Springfield: $7,500
  • Springfield Community Gardens: $5,000
  • Springfield Greene County Park Board – SPARC: $5,152
  • Springfield Public Schools – McGregor Elementary: $4,665
  • Springfield Regional Arts Council: $10,000
  • The Victim Center: $5,000
  • Victory Mission: $5,000
  • Women's Medical Respite: $5,000

Nursing Scholarship Grant Program

  • CoxHealth Foundation/Cox College of Nursing: $35,000
  • Drury University: $20,000
  • Mercy College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Southwest Baptist University: $35,000
  • OTC Foundation/Ozarks Technical Community College: $30,000

Ongoing Funding Commitments

  • Darr Family Foundation – Early Childhood Education: $20,000
  • The Northwest Project: $50,000

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