Bill and Virginia Darr give Crosslines $50K matching grant for foster kids

In time for Foster Care Awareness Month in May, Crosslines Community Outreach announced a $50,000 gift supporting a matching campaign. The donation was made by agribusiness leader and philanthropist Bill Darr along with wife Virginia Darr.

Crosslines says the Darrs are longtime donors to its Ambassadors for Children program. Their matching gift will leverage donations to benefit some 1,300 children across Greene, Christian and Taney counties, Crosslines officials said in a news release.

“We are so grateful for the generosity of the Darr family,” said Jaimie Trussell, CEO of Crosslines Community Outreach, in a statement given to Springfield Business Journal this morning. “They make hope possible for so many children and youth who could easily fall into hopelessness. We are honored by their investment and determined to make the most of this incredible matching opportunity.”

Crosslines has three priority areas for the donations gathered through the May campaign, said Katelyn Booth, director of marketing and communications:
• Providing new, name-brand clothing and shoes to support confidence and inclusion among peers
• Bunk beds and mattresses to help children get settled into new foster placements
• Registration support for sports leagues such as volleyball and baseball

AFC offers a boutique that provides children in foster care three outfits, a jacket or coat, socks, underwear, pajamas, comfort items and hygiene supplies twice each year, according to the release.

Crosslines officials say grants also meet critical needs such as beds and car seats. The program also helps cover sports equipment and registration fees. A Prom Closet provides access to milestone experiences like high school prom dances.

“When everything around a child is changing, having something of their own can bring a sense of steadiness,” Trussell said in the release. “It helps them feel safe, included, and cared for.”

Darr and his family are notable humanitarians in the Springfield area. Darr in 2019 sold his pet food ingredient providers American Dehydrated Foods and International Dehydrated Foods for $900 million, according to past SBJ coverage, and the family is the primary benefactor backing the Darr Family Foundation.

Since 2002, the foundation has given millions of dollars to local organizations serving children. In 2011, Darr received SBJ’s Lifetime Achievement in Business honor.