Musgrave Foundation issues first grants since CFO transition

The Jeanette L. Musgrave Foundation issued its first funds since Community Foundation of the Ozarks assumed its grantmaking responsibilities in August.

The $390,000 grant round was named in honor of Jerry Redfern, the foundation's longtime manager who died this summer. The 84-year-old Neale & Newman LLP attorney traditionally hosted a holiday grant presentation, according to a news release.

“He was so committed to following the stated goals of Mrs. Musgrave and how she wanted the funds to be helpful to so many organizations in this area,” said Jim Johnson, regional managing director of U.S. Bank Wealth Management, the foundation's investment manager, in the release. "It is so much my pleasure today to be part of this recognition and honor for his many years of service to the Musgrave Foundation and beyond that to our community in general and so many others.”

Founded in 1983 by Jeannette Musgrave, the nonprofit has awarded more than $15 million to nonprofits focused on initiatives impacting children and senior services; health care and education; poverty, hunger and homelessness; and arts and community betterment, according to its website.

In the grant round announced Friday, the largest award of $50,000 went to The Northwest Project poverty initiative in Zone 1, according to the release.

The foundation also awarded $35,000 to the CoxHealth Foundation and Cox College; $35,000 to the Mercy College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Southwest Baptist University; $30,000 to Ozarks Technical Community College; and $20,000 apiece to the Darr Family Foundation and Drury University.

In alphabetical order, grants of under $20,000 were made to:
• American Red Cross, $10,000;
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Springfield, $7,783;
• Care to Learn, $2,500;
• CASA of Southwest Missouri, $5,000;
• Cents of Pride, $10,000;
• Child Advocacy Center, $9,900;
• Council of Churches of the Ozarks, $10,000;
• Diaper Bank of the Ozarks, $7,500;
• The Doula Foundation, $2,000;
• The Drew Lewis Foundation Inc., $5,000;
• East Grand Community Services, $500;
• Grace United Methodist Church, $10,000;
• Habitat for Humanity of Springfield, $5,000;
• Help Give Hope, $5,000;
• Isabel’s House, $5,000;
• Least of These Inc., $5,000;
• Lost and Found Grief Center, $2,500;
• Newborns in Need, $3,000;
• Niangua R-V Schools, $10,000;
• Ozarks Food Harvest, $10,000;
• Ozarks Literacy Council, $10,000;
• Ozarks Public Broadcasting, $2,500;
• PFLAG Springfield, $6,000;
• The Gathering Tree Inc., $3,500;
• The Kitchen Inc., $5,000;
• The Salvation Army – Springfield, $7,500;
• Springfield Community Gardens, $5,000;
• Springfield Greene County Park Board, $5,152;
• Springfield Public Schools – McGregor Elementary, $4,665;
• Springfield Regional Arts Council, $10,000;
• The Victim Center, $5,000;
• Victory Mission & Ministry, $5,000; and
• Women's Medical Respite, $5,000.