April 20, 2011

Over the past year, GO LEAD: Professional Development for the Nonprofit Sector at Missouri State University has enjoyed great growth and success. Enhancements to the two original GO LEAD core series, along with the addition of the Board Development series and one-day workshops, have brought a new energy to southwest Missouri’s nonprofit landscape.

The evolution of GO LEAD can be attributed to the many committed members of our nonprofit community who have dedicated countless hours to the success of the program. This program would not be possible without the presenters, participants, the GO LEAD Advisory Council members, and our staff. As a result, GO LEAD will award 73 participants with certificates of achievement for completing their respective series during the upcoming June 1st GO LEAD graduation ceremony.

The Greek Philosopher Heraclitus once said “The only constant in life is change.” While it is with bittersweet emotion that I announce my departure from Missouri State University at the end of the GO LEAD academic year; I am excited to share with you that I will be joining the leadership team at Sigma House of Springfield, Inc.

While I will no longer fill a staff position with GO LEAD, I look forward to transitioning to GO LEAD Advisory Council member and presenter. The 2011-2012 GO LEAD year promises to be even better as we add the Next Generation Leaders series and one-day workshops that will continue to address the needs of our nonprofit community.

Melissa Mace, director of GO LEAD: Professional Development for the Nonprofit Sector and executive director of Missouri Campus Compact, has played a vital role in the planning and execution of the 2010-2011 series, and will assume the more visible role of facilitator and community liaison in the new GO LEAD academic year. Melissa's resume includes over 15 years of nonprofit leadership experience in various fund development and management roles. In addition, she has served as one of my most valued mentors and I am proud to call her friend. I am leaving you in very capable hands.

Working with you over the past year has been an enjoyable and fulfilling experience, not one that will soon be forgotten. If you have learned from me but a fraction of what I have learned from you, then our time together has been well spent.

Carpe Diem,

Matthew E. Ennis
Program Specialist
GO LEAD: Professional Development for the Nonprofit Sector
Missouri State University

GO LEAD will award 73 participants with certificates of achievement for completing their respective series during the upcoming June 1st GO LEAD graduation ceremony.

Date: FEB. 16, 2011

Subject: SIGMA HOUSE RECEIVES $7,000 COOVER GRANT

Contact: LOUISE KNAUER OR JULIE LEETH, CFO, (417) 864-6199

Cutline Information: Commerce Trust Vice President Jill Reynolds (left) presents a $7,000 Coover Grant to Dawn Erickson of Sigma House.

The Community Foundation of the Ozarks, in partnership with Commerce Trust, awarded a $7,000 Coover Regional Grant to Sigma House of Springfield, to provide medical and dental care to clients in an 11-county region.

The grant was one of 12 awarded across southern Missouri through the Louis L. and Julia Dorothy Coover Regional Grantmaking Program aimed at fighting rural poverty. The Coover program awarded $105,000 for the 2011 grants, which were presented at Commerce Trust in Springfield on Feb. 15.

The grant will be used to establish an emergency medical fund to help clients involved in addiction treatment receive emergency medical or dental care when no other funding is available and to pay for prescription and over-the-counter medications for their medical or treatment needs.

Sigma House serves clients in Greene, Christian, Taney, Stone, Barry, Lawrence, Dade, Webster, Polk, Dallas, and Douglas counties at its two residential recovery center locations. The majority of clients are young unemployed adults whose treatment for addictions is covered by government programs, but unrelated medical or dental conditions are not covered.

Dawn Erickson of Sigma House explained how difficult it is to find funding for the needs that aren’t covered expenses of the program.

"Our staff has chipped in to help and even raided the pop machine," she said.

This year’s grant awards were focused on programs providing basic needs for kids, like food, medical, and dental care.

"We had many strong requests, but the review panel felt that our highest priority should be working to defeat the chronic problems across our region," said Jill Reynolds, vice president at Commerce Trust and secretary of the CFO Board of Directors. "All of these recipients honor the work Mrs. Coover wanted to support through her legacy gift."

Mrs. Coover was a 30-year employee at Commerce Bank who established the Louis L. and Julia Dorothy Coover Charitable Foundation in 1992 to honor her husband’s memory. Since this program began in 2003, the Coover Regional Grantmaking Program has awarded 194 grants worth $2.6 million to fight rural poverty. This year’s competitive grant cycle included more than $500,000 in requests.

The Community Foundation of the Ozarks is a public charitable organization with assets totaling $172 million as of Dec. 31, 2010, which represent some 1,800 funds, 42 affiliates, and about 380 non-profit agency partners and schools.

Community Foundation of the Ozarks
425 E. Trafficway
Springfield, MO, 65806
(417) 864-6199
Fax (417) 864-8344
www.cfozarks.org