St. John's donates $60,000 to child aid groups

St. John's Clinic announced yesterday it presented checks totaling $60,000 to the Developmental Center of the Ozarks and the Child Advocacy Center.

The donations are part of the clinic's Force for Good campaign, which has distributed nearly $1 million to area nonprofits since its inception in 2003, according to a news release. Force for Good operates within St. John's Foundation for Community Health.

The Developmental Center, which provides in-home therapy for infants and small children, was awarded $40,000 to purchase a vehicle to help its more than 20 therapists reach rural areas served by the center, the release said.

The other $20,000 was given to the Child Advocacy Center to help its forensic interview services in southwest Missouri, Rolla, Joplin and southeast Kansas. The center investigates child abuse, the release said.