The Community Foundation of the Ozarks awarded $5,000 to the Dora R-3 School Foundation for successfully completing the Harry Cooper Supply Company Campaign for the Ozarks to build long-term education funding through philanthropy.
The Dora R-3 School Foundation and the school district raised $10,123 to receive the matching funds through the Cooper Phase II Challenge for members of the CFO’s Rural Schools Partnership during 2010.
The total of $15,123 is designated for the Foundation’s Endowment Fund, which preserves and invests a core amount to create an annual distribution of funds to help stabilize the district’s revenue. The Foundation is a component of the Ozark County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the CFO.
Dora was among 26 southern Missouri rural schools to participate in the year-long challenge grant opportunity, which raised nearly $1 million from generous donors and the Harry Cooper Supply Company to build long-term sustainability for these districts.
The other districts include: Alton, Aurora, Ava, Bolivar, Bradleyville, Cassville, Dallas County, Eminence, Fair Grove, Fairview, Gainesville, Hermann, Hollister, Houston, Lockwood, Logan-Rogersville, Monett, Nixa, Reeds Spring, Seymour, Valle, Warsaw, Weaubleau, West Plains and Willard.
“We were very pleased to participate in the Cooper Challenge and appreciate the opportunity to receive these matching funds, which will be used to benefit our students,” said Foundation President Terry Newton.
An initial grant is being made to art teacher Jennifer Shipley for an art center for her classroom, Newton said.
The Harry Cooper Supply Company Campaign for the Ozarks Phase II Challenge supports the goals of the Rural Schools Partnership, which include developing school foundations and philanthropic assets to maintain rural schools as anchors of their communities.
The first phase of the Cooper Challenge marked the principle that successful rural schools and communities are intertwined in creating economic development to benefit all of their residents.
