CFO, Musgrave Foundation award $542K to 44 nonprofits

Late last week, the Community Foundation of the Ozarks Inc. and Jeannette L. Musgrave Foundation unveiled $542,5000 in grants awarded to 44 nonprofits.

Funding focused on a variety of causes: nursing scholarships and efforts to provide education for single parents, along with efforts to help children, low-income communities and unhoused people. They were presented at Dec. 11 event held at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield’s Risdal Family Teen Center, according to a news release.

Almost $293,000 of the funding was earmarked in the form of Jerry Redfern Grants, named for a longtime Musgrave Foundation manager, according to the release. A selection of 39 local agencies each received $7,500 to support operating expenses associated with Musgrave’s priorities. Myriad nonprofits were included in this award ,among them Care to Learn, Child Advocacy Center, Isabel’s House, Ozarks Public Television and Women’s Medical Respite.

Five other nonprofits each received $30,000 to fund nursing scholarships, according to the release. They include Cox College, Drury University, Missouri State University Foundation, Ozarks Technical Community College and Southwest Baptist University.

Ozarks Tech’s OTC Foundation also received a final $100,000 grant in a three-year, $300,000 cycle of funds awarded by Musgrave to support the Wingspan Initiative, an effort to support Ozarks Tech students who are single parents. Wingspan Initiative funding goes toward living expenses and child care, allowing for up to $10,000 per year for life expenses that would impede the parent’s ability to graduate on schedule.

“Jeannette L. Musgrave and Jerry Redfern established wonderful philanthropic legacies that we are honored to continue,” said Winter Kinne, president and CEO of the CFO, in the release. “Their love of the Springfield community is reflected in the important work supported by these grants.”