Give Ozarks raises over $710K for nonprofits

Community Foundation of the Ozarks Inc.'s Give Ozarks online fundraiser yesterday raised more than $710,000 for area nonprofits.

CFO spokesperson Aaron Scott said the $710,628 total appearing on the fundraiser's website is a preliminary figure. He said CFO is calculating additional prizes from regional affiliates to arrive at the final total.

With a Rally for Recovery theme this year amid the coronavirus pandemic, the fundraiser through crowdfunding portal Cause Momentum benefitted 157 nonprofits, said Scott.

Springfield children’s health, hunger and hygiene nonprofit Care to Learn raised the most funds on the Cause Momentum platform, according to the website. The nonprofit had $25,913 in pledges.

Other nonprofits with Cause Momentum fundraising above $20,000 were Springfield Little Theatre, at $25,678; TrailSpring Inc., at $25,160; and The Summit Preparatory School, at $25,082.

Give Ozarks raised more than $3.6 million in donations, prizes and matching funds for the three years it was held 2015-17. CFO chose to pause the event after the 2017 fundraiser to avoid sponsor and donor fatigue. The organization announced late last year the event would return in 2021.