Nonprofit of the Year Finalist | Large: Community Partnership of the Ozarks Inc.

For more than 25 years, Community Partnership of the Ozarks Inc. has served as a hub for collaborative problem-solving in the region.

CPO addresses wide-ranging community needs, such as child abuse and neglect, poverty, child care, health care, gun safety and homelessness, according to President and CEO Janet Dankert.

“Part of our work tends to be even harder because people don’t always understand the services that are provided to folks who are unsheltered,” Dankert says. “Bottom line: Everyone deserves dignity, respect and an opportunity to receive help, and that’s what we do.”

CPO has a broad focus, and this is apparent inside its O’Reilly Center for Hope, a community hub that opened in 2020 to serve homeless and low-income families.

The idea for the O’Reilly Center for Hope came out of Vision 2020, Springfield’s former comprehensive plan.

The center includes 17 partner agencies or services offering legal aid, mental health and addiction care, credit counseling, employment help, basic needs support and more.

“Four years into it, it’s still serving record numbers of people and still meeting the vision of what the community wanted,” Dankert says.

CPO is celebrating its 10th year of bringing mental health first aid to the community, with training for anyone who wants it through the Mental Health Awareness program.

Dankert says more than 10,000 people have been served in the decade.

“We’re proud that we brought that training to the community,” she says, noting that it’s an ongoing resource for individuals, businesses and nonprofits.

CPO also administers the Every Child Promise program, which aims to fuel success in early childhood education. Dankert says with Springfield Public Schools, Community Foundation of the Ozarks and United Way of the Ozarks, the program has opened preschool slots for children and increased school readiness.

“That’s something we worked really hard on with our partners,” Dankert says. “It’s an example of how as a community, we come together to look at what’s happening and find ways to really address issues.”

Among other initiatives CPO has helped launch since its inception are the Jordan Valley Community Health Center, Rare Breed Homeless Youth Drop-in Shelter, the Tooth Truck and the anti-poverty initiative Prosper Springfield.

What is the heart of your organization’s mission?
“We have the most dedicated, committed staff, volunteers and board. They love what we do and recognize the impact we make, and some of our board members have been on since the beginning.” —Janet Dankert