Nonprofit Employee of the Year: Kassie Fox

Kassie Fox says because of her job title – director of special projects – some people think she’s an event planner.

“I’m in an office of four,” she says. “The three of them are in fundraising, and I spend it.”

And nowhere is spending as rewarding as Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at CoxHealth, according to Fox.

Fox says her role is to manage the direct family assistance program, starting from the application through the distribution of funds.

“I have directly assisted thousands of local families here in the Ozarks with medical expenses associated with raising a sick or injured child,” she says.

Being an advocate for children’s health means ensuring that their needs are being met, Fox says. It involves understanding the issues they are facing and helping to find solutions.

“Special needs children are particularly vulnerable and most times cannot speak or advocate on their own behalf,” she says. “It is part of my job to walk alongside their parents to ensure that child gets the best care and services possible, regardless of cost.”

Fox says she tries to take over as many of the logistics as possible to get children what they need, from prescriptions to adaptive equipment to travel assistance. Her work includes helping parents navigate insurance and billing, finding quotes for equipment and handling payment processes. She also forges connections within the community to help meet needs not covered by Children’s Miracle Network, like rent, utilities or car payments.

Fox concedes that the work can be difficult.

“Not everything is happy,” she says. “We’ve had lots of sad stories and sad endings over the years, especially with people we’ve become close with.”

But Fox says she sees many more rewarding and fulfilling outcomes, and she can’t see herself working anywhere else.

“I’m probably a lifer in Springfield and with Children’s Miracle Network,” she says. “I cannot see myself doing anything other than what I’m doing right now. I could never be as fulfilled as I am right now.”

Her philosophy of life and work is simple: She wants to leave the world better than she found it.

“Whatever I find that allows me to do that, I’m going to hone in on that,” she says.

What is your elevator pitch for someone to support your cause?
“You would be very hard pressed to find somebody who has not been touched by our services. At some point, you’re going to know somebody who needs us, and we’re always going to be here, making an impact.” —Kassie Fox