Carthage’s community generosity was on full display on Thursday, Oct. 25, when the Carthage Community Foundation, a coalition of 70 family and legacy endowments, gave out $31,007 to 14 organizations supporting Carthage and its residents.
The grants went to groups in Carthage and Joplin that help area residents in need, educational programs, arts and culture, community beautification and other community issues and events.
“We appreciate the agencies,” said Danny Lambeth, the president of the Community Foundation Board of Directors. “Without you guys, obviously, we have no one to give money too. And an event like this doesn’t happen unless you have really, really cool things to spend money on. We’re lucky to have the benefactors, we’re lucky to have the people that can use it and we want to keep this thing going. Congratulations to all of you and my thanks to all the good work you do in the community.”
The grants were divided into categories, health and human services grants, education and youth services grants, and arts, culture, history and community beautification grants.
The maximum grant awarded was $2,500, which went to seven of the agencies. The one grant that exceeded $2,500 was $5,000 as the fourth of a five-year pledge to the Joplin Regional Medical School, run by Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences.
Health and human services grants
• The Children’s Haven of Southwest Missouri in Joplin received $2,500 to enhance case management services for Carthage children and families.
• The Carthage Crisis Center received $2,500 for additional stainless steel rolling tables and other kitchen and communications upgrades.
“We’re so honored to be a regular recipient of your support,” said Crisis Center Director Jim Benton. “This morning I picked up two pallets of leftover food from Sam’s and used the forklift we bought with the spring grant. It was just great. All of our needs are met and it’s a real privilege to be part of this community and be supported by the Community Foundation.”
• The Community Clinic of Southwest Missouri in Joplin received $2,500 for prescription drug assistance for Carthage residents who use the facility.
• A new organization, the Diaper Bank of the Ozarks, received $500 and a donation of diapers from the group. Heather Collier, CCF coordinator, said plans to purchase 4,000 diapers that will be given to families in need through the Carthage Salvation Army.
Education and youth services grants
• The Fair Acres Family Y received $2,500 to support its water safety program to introduce every Carthage R-9 second grade student to basic swimming and water safety skills.
“From the moment those second graders enter our doors at the YMCA, there is such energy,” said Tericia Mixon, assistant executive director. “They start white-knuckled on the side of the pool and scared to death, and by the time they’re done, they’re jumping in and splashing and having a ball. But the best news is we’re preventing those drownings. It means so much and we’re so very grateful for the support of the Carthage Community Foundation to be able to continue this program and make a difference in our community.”
• The Carthage Family Literacy Council received $1,692 to distribute a book, called “Giraffes can’t Dance,” to every kindergartner in the Carthage school district.
“Carthage Family Literacy Council is committed to promoting reading to every child to help the community of Carthage become stronger and better prepared for the future,” said Council Member Jeannie Goolsby. “Thank you to the Carthage Community Foundation for providing us the opportunity to provide every kindergartner in Carthage R9 with this special new book.”
• The Carthage Tech Center/Career Readiness Center received $2,500 for its ACT Work Keys Testing program.
“I just want to say thank you to all of you for the time and commitment you give to this Foundation and this community,” said Rhonda Derryberry, with the CTC. “The money we’re getting is going to be used for assessments given to seniors. We have over 350 seniors that are going to take the ACT Work Keys assessment and they can earn a certificate for employment.”
• Bright Futures Carthage received $2,500 for a washer and dryer and buddy benches at Fairview Elementary School.
“We just want to say thank you for your support,” said Bright Futures Coordinator Kim Hoover. “These are a couple of things that have been on the wish list for Fairview for a little bit, so we’re really excited that we’re able to help provide these items that will go a long ways to educating our kids.”
• The Carthage R-9 Foundation received $1,800 to help send a group of Carthage High School advanced placement seniors to Independence, Missouri, to the Truman Library’s White House Decision Center.
Arts, culture, history & community beautification grants
• Stone’s Throw Dinner Theatre received $2,500 to help with stage lighting and sound upgrades.
“I can tell you this couldn’t come at a better time because at our last play, I did lights and sound and when I turned up the stage lights, there were about five of them that wouldn’t come on,” said Tom Brown, with the theatre. “Because the Community Foundation has been so kind to help us with other projects, we’re finally down to the lighting.”
• The Carthage Council on the Arts received $400 to purchase new banners for the Concerts in the Park series in Central Park.
“For years we’ve been operating off of one lonely little banner that’s pretty beat up to advertise the Concerts in the Park, which have now turned into major events,” said Council on the Arts President Robert Denning. “This money will be used for four new banners, they will be bright yellow with black lettering and they’ll show it off really well, they’ll be at all the entrances to the park plus an additional banner will be used to promote our events and other events. We thank you very much and we invite you to the Concerts in the park for the coming season.”
• The Joplin-based Heartland Opera Theatre received $1,615 to put on the Christmas play Amahl and the Night Visitors on Saturday, Dec. 15, at the First Methodist Church in Carthage.
