CCF exceeds fundraising goal

The Cassville Community Foundation eight different grants to various community organizations last Thursday through the Foundation's grantmaking endowment fund. The grant amounts ranged from $200 to $250. Pictured in the front row, from left, are: Lisa Schlichtman, representing the Barry County Drug Court; Connie Schieler, representing the Cassville Branch Library; Cheri Shumaker, Trish McCracken and Gail Reed, representing Share Your Christmas and OACAC Barry County Neighborhood Center; Cappy Harris, Justin Gates and Judy Hayes, representing Habitat for Humanity of South Barry County; and Carol Taylor, representing the Cassville Girl Scout Troop. Back row: Foundation board members Susie Jacobs, Amy White, Phil Hutchens, Mike McCracken, Dan Angel, Dennis Baker, Jerry Marple and Landon Fletcher. Absent from the photo were representatives of Crowder College, Cassville Scout Troop 76 and Cassville Cub Scout Pack 76 who also received grants. The Cassville Community Foundation just this week completed a successful fundraising campaign, generating over $25,000 in local contributions from area businesses and individuals for its grantmaking endowment fund. The money raised locally will be matched dollar for dollar up to $25,000 through the Community Foundation of the Ozarks' Harry Cooper Challenge. Democrat Photo [Order this photo]

On Thursday, Landon Fletcher, chairman of the local Foundation's board of directors, announced that the organization's fundraising goal had been met and exceeded.

"Again, we want to thank everyone who contributed, both individuals and businesses," Fletcher said. "The response of the community has just been fantastic."

On Oct. 30, the Foundation held a public meeting to announce its fundraising goal of $25,000. The organization chose to launch the campaign to take advantage of the Community Foundation of the Ozark's Harry Cooper Challenge. Through that program, all money raised locally will be matched dollar for dollar up to $25,000 by Harry Cooper Supply in Springfield.

The Cassville Community Foundation was eligible to participate in the challenge as one of the Community Foundation of the Ozark's 40 regional affiliates.

With the match from Harry Cooper Supply, the Foundation will be adding $50,000 to its grantmaking endowment fund, which is used to award grants to Cassville-area non-profit organizations and their projects. According to Fletcher, that fund has grown from $33,982.80 to nearly $100,000.

Last week, the Foundation awarded eight more grants to local groups. Grants were presented to: Barry County Drug Court, $250; OACAC Barry County Neighborhood Center, $250; Barry County Regional Library-Cassville, $250; Crowder College, $250; Habitat for Humanity of South Barry County, $250; the Cassville Girl Scout Troop, $200; Cassville Scout Troop 76, $200; and Cassville Cub Scout Pack 76, $200.

The Foundation had previously awarded grants to the food pantry at the Cassville United Methodist Church and to the Cassville Primary and Intermediate School's Back Pack Program.

The Cassville Foundation Board includes Landon Fletcher, Susie Jacobs, Phil Hutchens, Mike McCracken, Dennis Baker, Angela Seymour, Gary Fields, Jerry Marple and Dan Angel. Amy White serves as the Foundation's secretary.