ADVERTISEMENT
It started out as an office conversation at The Law Firm of Neale & Newman. A staff member shared her concern that kids at her children’s school weren’t getting an afternoon snack boost; so few of them could afford the cost that the school just discontinued it altogether.
Attorney Jerry Redfern, who also administers The Musgrave Foundation, was surprised by what he heard and started researching the issue with Springfield Public Schools. Sure enough, there were several schools where at least 50 percent of the students qualify for free- or reduced-lunches, but they did not have an afternoon snack program.
The Musgrave Foundation is among a group of private and family foundations that participate in quarterly Funders Forum meetings convened by the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. Redfern presented the issue to this group, and several funders agreed to launch a spring-semester Healthy Half Pints pilot project for all-day kindergarten and first-grade students at Delaware, Sunshine, Mark Twain and McGregor elementaries.
It worked. Teachers reported that kids were more attentive and well-behaved when they had the milk break. Some of the kids were eating lunch as early as 10:30 a.m. before leaving school without a snack to go to a food-insecure home.
“When they have a full belly, they pay attention and learn better,” said David Taylor, spokesman for The Musgrave Foundation and Board President for Cents of Pride, a program where kids can redeem credits earned for positive behaviors at school stores stocked with donated items.
The program will continue this fall, thanks to a $25,000 matching grant for Healthy Half Pints from Cents of Pride, through its partnership with Musgrave, and continued support from members of the Funders Forum.
Sally Phillips, who represents the Pendleton Family Foundation at the Funders Forums, said she was touched by Jerry Redfern’s initial presentation. Joining with Musgrave, CFO, and North Point Church on the pilot effort, her family foundation agreed to support Sunshine Elementary, which she attended as a child.
“It just struck a chord with me to make sure these kids were taken care of,” said Phillips, noting that her daughter comes home from elementary school each day hungry for a snack.
She said her participation in the Funders Forum and the Junior League of Springfield has educated her on the wide variety of needs in Springfield that aren’t covered by traditional funding sources, like government support.
“I think it’s critical for philanthropy and family foundations to all come together and find different ways to support the needs in the community,” Phillips said.
Click here for the full 2012 Giving Guide.
