Table Rock Lake Community Foundation awards grants to ten entities

Table Rock Lake Community Foundation (TRLCF) has awarded a total of $28,187 to organizations that serve Stone and Southeast Barry Counties. These community-focused organizations and agencies include: Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks, Children’s Smile Center, Foster Adopt Connect, His House Foundation, Kimberling Area Library Association, Pathways Project Coalition of the Ozarks, Central Crossing Senior Center, Table Rock Career Center (EMT Program), Tri-Lakes Humane Society, Veterans and Military Coalition of the Ozarks.

The annual luncheon for this year’s grant recipients took place on Wednesday October 21. Silver Dollar City, which is a strong supporter of local charitable organizations, graciously hosted the event. “We want to say a big thank you to Silver Dollar City for, not only hosting our luncheon, but also for showing up for these organizations that seek to do good here in the Ozarks. We know (Silver Dollar City) is in our corner and that support is really incredible,” TRLCF Board President Eric Chavez said. During the luncheon, leaders of each organization that received a grant shared stories of what their organizations do to help people throughout Stone and Barry Counties.

“We appreciate that the leaders of these organizations share their stories with us at our luncheon each year, because it reminds us why we exist,” Nita Jane Ayres, who leads the TRLCF’s grant process, said. “We are grateful to play a small role in helping these organizations do what they do.” Table Rock Career Center’s EMT program is one of the ten entities that received a grant. Program Director Lacey Williams shared success stories of the program. She said its impact reaches well beyond the classroom and into the communities where the future EMTs serve.

“It’s not just about developing EMTs, but about developing a servant’s heart,” Williams said.

The Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks also received a grant. Executive Director Joe Daues said the money will help patients in Stone and Barry Counties get to and from medical appointments. “We pay the bills that are not medical for breast cancer patients and their families while they’re in treatment,” Daues explained, “We are going to use this (grant money) mostly for transportation.”

Miranda Rought serves as a board member for the Veterans & Military Coalition of the Ozarks, an organization that helps veterans, and their families, in obtaining benefits and services earned through military service. She said the grant funds will help support local heroes in the Ozarks.

“We are very grateful,” Rought said. “Thank you for believing in our mission.”

While each organization leader expresses gratitude to TRLCF for awarding them a grant, board members of TRLCF agree that it’s the organizations themselves that deserve all the praise. The ten organizations that received grants are the “boots on the ground” and continually strive to make the Ozarks the best it can be by helping others.

“All of these organizations are so invested into this community. We are just honored to be able to collaborate in this way with each and every one of them,” Chavez said.

Board members of the TRLCF include: Eric Chavez, Nita Jane Ayres, John Coonrod, Judy Reynolds, Chris Conti, Kadee Brosseau DeCourley, Connie Johnson, Matt Locke, Eric Simkins, and Vickie Smith.

TRLCF looks forward to accepting grant applications in 2027. Eligible applicants encompass a wide variety of worthy organizations in Stone and Southeast Barry Counties, with TRLCF considering grant proposals from non-profit, 501(c)3 organizations, schools, and governmental agencies. Applicants can apply for up to $3,000 for this grant. TRLCF will notify the public when the grant application opens via social media and local media outlets.

A major role of the Table Rock Lake Community Foundation is to establish endowed funds for the purpose of funding this community grant-making program, made possible by charitable donors who have established funding programs and have placed the decision-making action in the hands of community leaders serving on the TRLCF Board of Directors.