Cavner estate makes $1M donation to BCFO

Springfield financial adviser Nadia Cavner, husband Howard and daughter Maral made a million-dollar presentation Oct. 2 at Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks' Hooked on Dance 2009.

The Cavners announced a $1 million estate gift to BCFO's endowment. The gift, put into the Cavner family's estate plan, will help BCFO sustain future needs of Springfield-area families affected by breast cancer. BCFO offers financial and personal support to those dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. The organization has distributed about $1.1 million in direct financial assistance over the last decade.

Cavner, who has made financial and time donations to several area organizations, has been a supporter of the foundation's efforts for several years. BCFO Executive Director Crystal Webster said the Cavner family's latest gift will be a big boost to the foundation endowment, which sits at roughly $3 million before the Cavner gift.

"The board of directors of BCFO is overwhelmed by the generosity of the Cavner family," Webster said. "This gift to BCFO's endowment is a huge step toward the long-term sustainability of the foundation."

Eventually, Webster said the plan is to grow the endowment to such a size that the organization can sustain itself with the fund's growth and be less dependent on community and business donations.

"Years from now ... we will still be able to meet the needs of the community," Webster said.