http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/communityf_826.mp3
At a grant awards ceremony Tuesday morning, the Community Foundation of the Ozarks announced that 16 agencies received grants totaling $180,000 through its Metropolitan Springfield Community Grantmaking Program. Mike Smith has the story:
Community Foundation of the Ozarks, March 14
At a grant awards ceremony this morning, the Community Foundation of the Ozarks announced that sixteen agencies received grants totaling $180,000 through its Metropolitan Springfield community grantmaking program. The grants ranged from $760 to $33,312.50 (see list attached).
All sixteen of the projects and/or programs directly connect to CFO's $1.5 million commitment to address children's "red flag" issues over the next five years in cooperation with the Grantmakers' Challenge for Children.
The areas of emphasis for the Spring 2006 grant round were Education and Community Development. The Community Foundation of the Ozarks defines education as "projects that support lifespan development and learning." Community Development is defined as "projects which provide a better quality of life for our community and/or grants which empower the marginalized and promote the inclusiveness of the community's diverse populations and cultures."
The Community Foundation of the Ozarks accepts grant applications three times a year. Each round of grants has areas of emphasis: Health and Social Services, Arts/Culture and Environment and Education and Community Development. More information is located at CFO' website, www.cfozarks.org.
The Community Foundation of the Ozarks supports asset development, community-based grantmaking, organizational collaboration and leadership initiatives throughout southern Missouri. CFO is comprised of 36 affiliate community foundations and over 850 charitable funds totaling approximately $98 million.
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Community Foundation of the Ozarks
901 St. Louis Street, Suite 701,
Springfield, MO
(417) 864-6199
Fax (417) 864-8344
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS
$2,000 ... to develop a new website that is user friendly and up-to-date which will help recruit more mentors to serve at-risk children.
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF SPRINGFIELD
$15,000 ... to provide funding for the Community Education Enrichment Project to continue to fulfill the needs of families at Campbell and McGregor Elementary Schools.
CENTER FOR DISPUTE RESOLUTION
$5,500 ... to provide funding for staff support, materials and supplies for the Family Conflict Support program.
COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES (CASA)
$7,500 ... to provide funds throughout a one year period for expenses for an online training program for staff members that will improve the educational outcomes for high risk children and youth.
THE DOULA FOUNDATION
$6,613.50 ... to provide funding for supplies, materials and support services for at-risk teen mothers attending Springfield Public Schools.
DRURY UNIVERSITY
$3,000 ... to provide funding for transportation, lunches and program costs for the Bailey Alternative School LE@D program. The program will teach students the practical skills high school graduates need.
FAMILY VIOLENCE CENTER
$8,000 ... to provide funding for a RAVE instructor, printing brochures and equipment for the "Walk in Her Shoes" program.
FOUNDATION FOR SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$33,312.50 ... to provide funds to purchase ELMO Visual Presenters and accessories for Title I schools.
JUNIOR LEAGUE OF SPRINGFIELD
$30,000 ... to provide funds to build a crisis nursery care facility.
MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY
$20,000 ... to provide funds for one year tuition, specialized orientation and support for special materials and events for six Hispanic students.
NORTH SPRINGFIELD BETTERMENT FOUNDATION
$3,000 - to provide funds for the "Attendance Program" and to purchase supplies and materials that support the Springfield R-12 district in increasing attendance at the fourteen elementary sites served in the northern part of Springfield.
OZARKS AREA COMMUNITY ACTION CORPORATION (OACAC) HEAD START
$27,314 ... to provide funding for screening materials and salary for professional supporters and crisis therapies that will promote positive mental health and social emotional development for children.
PLUGGED IN SKATEBOARDING OUTREACH
$760 ... to purchase informational booklets for volunteer youth workers, give-away items and food items that show teens the danger of tobacco use.
SPRINGFIELD-GREENE COUNTY PARK BOARD
$12,000 ... to provide funds for staff salary, bus transportation and meals for the PROJECT L.E.A.D. program that offers parents of at-risk youth, alternative child care.
UNITE OF SOUTHWEST MISSOURI
$2,000 ... to purchase a new computer system to report news and share information to African American families living in Springfield and Greene County.
WRITERS HALL OF FAME AND LAD
$4,000 ... to provide funds for the Write to Become program that will instill the love of writing in underprivileged youth by providing a way for them to write for real audiences.