Beautification Funds Awarded For Mabrey Park

The Ozark Foothills Regional Foundation (OFRF) operates as an affiliate of Community Foundation of the Ozarks (CFO).

The Ozark Foothills Regional Community Foundation (OFRCF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in the Ozark Foothills region by supporting local charitable efforts.

It works with donors, nonprofits, and community partners to provide grants, manage funds, and encourage philanthropy, helping address a variety of community needs such as education, health, and economic development.

Through these efforts, the OFRCF serves as a vital resource for fostering positive and lasting change in the region

OFRF serves five counties, Ripley, Carter, Butler, Wayne and Reynolds. The local affiliate was established only a few years ago, however cumulative funds have exceeded $3,000,000 with thousands granted out locally.

Russell French, OFRF board member said, “Being local and keeping it as local as we can is important to me.”

CFO serves Southern Missouri and its mission through resource development, community grantmaking, collaboration and public leadership. This has been a connecting passion to its purpose since 1973.

In the early 1970s, a group of estate-planning attorneys learned of a sizeable estate gift that had left the city of Springfield, Mo.

With no place locally to accept a general gift for community betterment, 11 founders, supported by then-Springfield Mayor Jim Payne and businesswoman Anne Drummond, created the region’s first public charitable foundation in 1973.

Today, the CFO is governed by community volunteers and run by a professional staff that serves a network of donors, regional affiliate foundations, nonprofit partners and professional advisors through approximately 3,700 charitable funds.

The OFRCF had a remarkable year in 2024, marked by financial growth, expanded donor engagement, and significant contributions to community projects.

The OFRCF’s market value of funds grew steadily throughout the year, starting at $2,041,075.51 in December 2023 and reaching $3,041,326.49 by October 2024—an increase of $1 million over the period.

The Ripley County Chamber of Commerce (RCCC) was able to work with the OFRCR to offer a grant within our community.

The Mabrey Park Association (MPA) was selected as the grant recipient for their efforts to provide the community with a family-friendly area to enjoy on the beautiful Current River.

RCCC board member Cody Young said, “The chamber was very proud of the efforts of the MPA board, and the RCCC was excited to provide this year’s grant to them as they continue to beautify the park.”

Members of the OFRC, RCCC and community leaders showed their support to the MPA board by presenting a check in the amount of $1,464 on Oct. 29 at Mabrey Park to assist with future beautification.