Eight counties | 36 cities | one region

ST. JAMES—Meramec Regional Community Foundation (MRCF) has established 54 funds that now value $1,388,682. That is a $279,781 increase from the 2016-17 fiscal year.

MRCF is an outgrowth of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) and is an affiliate of Community Foundation of the Ozarks (CFO) in Springfield. The regional affiliate was formed in 2010 with the purpose of providing a vehicle for giving, building local resources, enhancing quality of life in the region, advocating for charitable giving, investing for future generations and promoting local philanthropy. Its 12-member board includes representation from each of the eight Meramec counties and from MRPC. Vicki Lange of Osage County serves as president of MRCF.

In the past year, MRCF was able to award six community grants at $250 each, totaling $1,500. These grants helped with community parks improvements, clean up and beautification projects, volunteer recruitment for a local organization, an artist rendezvous event and renovations to an art classroom.

“MRCF provides our counties and cities with local tools to build unique sustainable funds to address and solve community problems,” Maria Bancroft, MRCF coordinator. “Charitable giving encourages others to give collaboratively to address local needs, develops a sense of responsibility and strengthens the quality of life for its residents.”

The foundation also awarded 18 scholarships in 2018. These scholarships were awarded to region’s graduating seniors and totaled $17,000. The foundation received 124 applications for 11 different scholarships during the process.

“We are excited about the growth of MRCF,” said Bonnie Prigge executive director of MRPC and an MRCF board member. “In eight short years, we have built a $1.4 million portfolio. We have seen a strong interest in scholarship funds to benefit the youth of our region, and because of the work we are doing now, we expect that to continue into the future. It is so important that we invest in our youth.”

For more information on any of the funds established or how to establish a fund with MRCF, contact Maria Bancroft or Bonnie Prigge at 573-265-2993 or via email at mbancroft@meramecregion.org or bprigge@meramecregion.org respectively.

CFO is a public foundation serving the Missouri Ozarks. The foundation’s mission is to enhance the quality of life in the region through resource development, community grant-making, collaborations and public leadership. Formed in 1973, CFO has since grown to include 49 affiliate community foundations and more than 3,700 charitable funds totaling approximately $300 million in assets, as of June 30, 2018.

MRPC, in addition to establishing the regional foundation, provides staff support to MRCF.

Formed in 1969, MRPC is a voluntary council of governments serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities. Washington County Presiding Commissioner Marvin Wright serves as chairman. A professional staff of 23 offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, housing assistance, transportation planning, environmental planning, ordinance codification, business loans and other services to member communities.

To keep up with the latest MRPC news and events, visit the MRPC website at www.meramecregion.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/meramecregion/.

-30-