Cavner bolsters Greene County 100 Club with $50,000 pledge

A group of local businesspeople formed the nonprofit 100 Club last fall to provide financial assistance to families of police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty. Organizers hope to raise $500,000 during the next five years.

Cavner, head of The Nadia Cavner Group at BancorpSouth, told more than 1,000 people who attended her appreciation dinner Thursday night at University Plaza Convention Center that her family would match every dollar raised for the 100 Club in the next 30 days, up to $50,000. BancorpSouth Foundation also made a $10,000 contribution.

Law enforcement officials on stage with Cavner when she announced the contribution shook their heads in disbelief. A choked-up Springfield Police Chief Lynn Rowe had to regain his composure before addressing the audience.

Rowe said the 100 Club provides an immediate infusion of cash for family members who have to wait for insurance or pension funds to kick in after an officer or firefighter dies on the job. The 100 Club cuts a $5,000 check to the surviving spouse with no questions asked.

One such officer was Greene County Sheriff’s Deputy Gary McCormack, who was killed in October when his patrol car collided with a pickup driven by a volunteer firefighter responding to the same emergency. McCormack’s widow, Stephanie, also joined Cavner on stage. Deputy McCormack is also survived by two children.

Members of the 100 Club board who attended Cavner’s dinner were astonished by her contribution.

“We were shocked, and I think that Chief Rowe’s emotional response kind of said it all on behalf of all of us,” board member Ralph Graham said. “It was much larger than we had anticipated.”

Graham said the board is already working to identify potential donors and contact major employers about making a pledge. The standard pledge is $100 a year for five years, hence the organization’s name. The Club has raised about $130,000 to date, Graham said.

Donors should send contributions to the Greene County 100 Club, 321 E. Chestnut Expressway, Springfield, MO 65802. For more information, contact Graham at (417) 425-6038.