Group presents awards to those who give

On Nov. 16, the 10th annual Philanthropy Day celebration was held at Highland Springs Country Club, sponsored by the Ozarks Region Chapter of the National Society of Fund Raising Executives. Awards were made in nine categories.

Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year

Harry Cooper and other members of the Cooper Family have, over the past several years, made gifts of land, materials and cash donations to the Springfield-Greene County Park Board, enabling the state-of-the-art facility known as Cooper Park to be developed. Harry Cooper's latest gift is a pledge of $1.2 million for renovation of the soccer complex. The Cooper family has often led the way in philanthropy locally. The previous generation of Coopers established the first permanent endowment within the Community Foundation, setting an example for others.

Outstanding Executive Fund Raiser of the Year

Judy Martin has served as vice president for development and alumni relations at Drury College for 25 years, and through her leadership and skill during that period, $86 million has been received in gifts and $20 million has been committed in future gifts. Martin has also mentored others in the field and lent her expertise through presentations at professional seminars and meetings.

Outstanding Volunteer Fund Raiser of the Year

Paul Kirk has served as a volunteer for the Boy Scouts of America for more than 15 years, and is now vice president of development on the executive board and vice chairman of the capital campaign committee which has raised more than $4.5 million in the past four years.

Outstanding Philanthropic Organization of the Year

Cox Health Systems Auxiliary, via grass-roots fund-raising, has provided many gifts to Cox Health Systems, most recently the Childrens' Miracle Network Caremobile. Cox Auxiliary has raised $265,000 in the last four years and members have volunteered 118,496 hours of time to the hospitals and the community.

Outstanding Foundation of the Year

Springfield Public Schools Foundation is an organization separate from the Springfield Public Schools, but with the mission of benefiting its students through fund-raising and grant making. The foundation has been responsible for more than $606,000 in grants to students and schools and the $1.85 million anonymously donated for a natatorium.

Outstanding Corporation of the Year

This award was dually presented to Ramey/PriceCutter and Archimica Inc. (formerly Syntex). Ramey/PriceCutter's generosity has touched many causes, particularly those for children. Stepping in as the lead sponsor of the Nike Ozarks Open enabled this event to continue. The golf tournament funded 10 childrens' charities locally. Archimica Inc., rather than laying off workers during a slowdown at the company, continued to pay the employees who stayed on to volunteer 7,700 hours of service in the community. Archimica supports many charities in Springfield, and has sponsored Earth Day and cosponsored the Ozarks Regional Science and Engineering Fair.

Outstanding Small Business of the Year

Fin & Feathers Sports Shop Owner Rick Smith, in addition to personal gifts of more than $28,000 in toys and donations to hospitalized children, decided he wanted to do something more for hospitalized children and established Fishing for Miracles, a program to send each hospitalized child home with a new toy. Rick and his wife Debbie spearhead the campaign, which includes many benefits to pediatric wards, and take care of all the tasks associated with the program.

Outstanding Media Organization of the Year

Sunburst Media, through its network of five area radio stations, has supported the community with countless hours of public-service announcements for more than 25 charitable organizations.

And coming up is the Community Foundation's 10th annual Jewell Thompson Schweitzer Humanitarian of the Year Award. This year's recipient will be named at a luncheon on Dec. 1 and receive a cash grant of $3,000 for charity.

'Tis Privilege to Give in the Ozarks

Congratulations to:

?Springfield Skatepark Association, for capping off a three-year effort to raise funds with a $120,000 anonymous donation. Building should begin in December.

?United Way, for exceeding its 1999 campaign goal by 101 percent. More than $3 million dollars was raised in the organization's most ambitious campaign to date.

?Evangel University for the success of its Comprehensive Fundraising Campaign kickoff during its homecoming weekend. $11.4 million in lead gifts and pledges was achieved toward the goal of $36 million.

(Jan Horton is President and CEO of Community Foundation of the Ozarks. She is proud to be a lifelong volunteer, devotee of the arts, nature lover and environmentalist.)