Ash Grove becomes 50th CFO affiliate

Community Foundation of the Ozarks' 50th regional affiliate has been established.

The Ash Grove Area Community Foundation raised $30,000 to start a permanent endowment through CFO, according to a news release. With the endowment, the affiliate qualifies for a $30,000 grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health, setting up $6,000 annually for five years to assist the community in areas including jobs, education and family income.

“We know that when a rural community establishes an affiliate foundation, the community grows stronger because of it,” CFO President and CEO Brian Fogle said in the release. “By establishing the Ash Grove Area Community Foundation, the community is making an investment in itself that will pay dividends for many years to come.”

The board's founding members, in alphabetical order, are:
• Pat Cook;
• Tyler Gunlock, president;
• Rachel Griffin, secretary;
• Austin Houp;
• Mike Roberts, treasurer;
• Ryan Squibb;
• Chris Thompson;
• Jason Whitesell, vice president; and
• Ronessa Williams.

To start the $30,000 endowment, the Ash Grove Area Community Foundation received gifts from 70 donors, according to the release. The final gifts for the endowment were delivered to CFO on May 29.

All of CFO’s affiliates are in Missouri, according to its website.