Education Matters: Initiative can create generation of giving

Recently the Community Foundation of the Ozarks publicly announced a new initiative I want to call to your attention. I realize that the topics of foundations and philanthropy are Jan Horton's beat, however, I want to tie this new initiative to our interest in children and their education.

Just as great storms are usually announced by a gentle breeze, great movements and great institutions are usually announced by modest beginnings.

Twenty-seven years ago, the Community Foundation of the Ozarks was an idea. There was no money for the first two years to give grants.

In the third year of operation the Foundation gave two grants. One was to the Dickerson Park Zoo in the amount of $9,186 and a $349 grant went to the city of Springfield to help restore the Old Calaboose.

As of today, the Foundation has given 2,502 grants totaling $7.8 million.

No record, regardless of how accurate, could possibly measure the encouragement and the motivation these grants have provided for the community.

As we enter a new decade, the board of the Foundation is pleased to announce an initiative that we believe will result in the Foundation having an even greater and more far-reaching influence in creating a culture of philanthropy throughout the Ozarks.

Starting with a goal of growing the Foundation from our current $35 million to at least $100 million by the end of the decade, the Foundation enters the future with exuberance. But this growth in dollars will not be as important to our area of the state compared to what the Foundation seeks to do through the Philanthropy Initiative.

One aspect of the Philanthropy Initiative will be the establishment of the Youth Philanthropy program that will give the youth in our community an opportunity to operate their own foundation closely tied to the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. The youth will have a board, will be given a grant to start the effort, will raise their own funding, receive requests and give out grants.

We on the board of the Community Foundation believe this may be one of the most significant efforts we can make. Why? The Youth Philanthropy program will have the result of giving our youth the opportunity to watch out for the needs of others, operate a foundation to help meet those needs, and create a culture of giving that we trust will last a lifetime.

This effort will begin modestly, but can and I believe will result in a literal storm of activity that will be good for all.

I hope the business and education communities will see the value of this project and will seek to be involved. Call the Community Foundation of the Ozarks at 864-6199 to learn more about the project and how you can help.

What shall we teach our youth? By example, we must pass on to our children and grandchildren the importance of service by developing a giving and caring heart. This will preserve a nation. This will keep us strong.

(Arthur L. Mallory, EdD, is a former president of Southwest Missouri State University and former commissioner of education who resides in Springfield. He currently serves as the chairman of the board for the Community Foundation of the Ozarks.)