Eight counties | 36 cities | one region

ST. JAMES­—On May 9, Missouri Rock Island Trail will be participating in Give Meramec, a one-day, online fundraising event for agency partners of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. Using the power of the Cause Momentum crowd-funding website, nonprofits from Meramec Region will have the chance to raise funds, compete for matches and prizes and be a part of a one-day, 24-hour period of giving across the state. Give Meramec is from midnight to midnight on May 9.

The Missouri Rock Island Trail is seeking funds to help add and develop 144 miles of trail to connect to the 47 miles that opened in December 2016. The trail, formerly the Rock Island rail line, will benefit 24 communities through which it passes by and will connect to the Katy Trail, creating 400 plus mile loop that will attract visitors from all over the world. In the Meramec Region, the Missouri Rock Island Trail runs through Gasconade, Maries and Osage counties.

Making a secure donation is simple. On May 9, donors can log onto givemeramec.giveozarks.org and search for these local nonprofits to complete a basic credit-card donation. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by the IRS.

Over the past two years, the region-wide online giving day, known as Give Ozarks, has raised more than $2 million for more than 150 nonprofits across the region. Thousands of donors made online gifts ranging from $5 to $10,000 to support nonprofits.

Give Meramec nonprofits will be eligible for a number of prizes, based on their success raising funds and also the number of supporters who make online donations on May 9.

Other organizations participating in Give Meramec include ABLE Senior Center, Assistance Association of Missouri Veterans Cemetery, CASA of South Central Missouri, The Community Partnership in Rolla, The Kaleidoscope Discovery Center, Ozark Actors Theatre, Pulaski County Route 66 Preservation, Riverways Pregnancy Resource Center, Rolla Nutrition Site, S.A.V.E. New Rolla Animal Shelter and the Washington County Community Partnership.

For more information about the organizations participating or how to donate, please visit givemeramec.giveozarks.org or call Meramec Regional Planning Commission’s (MRPC) Maria Bancroft at 573-265-2993.

The Meramec Regional Community Foundation (MRCF), chaired by Vicki Nelson, a Belle banker, is promoting Give Meramec. MRCF is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, which is hosting Give Ozarks, the larger day of giving which was localized to Give Meramec for the MRCF region. The event is sponsored by presenting sponsor BKD Wealth Advisors and platinum sponsors, The Commerce Trust Co./Coover Charitable Foundation, Edward Jones, the Musgrave Foundation and Ron and Janice Penney. The CFO is a regional public charitable foundation, founded in 1973, which includes 49 affiliate foundations and about 600 nonprofit partners and schools.

MRPC started MRCF in 2011 and provides the day-to-day operation. 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. A professional staff of 25, directed by the MRPC board, 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.orgor on Facebook at www.facebook.com/meramecregion/.