Eight counties | 36 cities | one region

a voluntary council of local governments
serving the missouri meramec area.

The Community Partnership in Rolla combines $20 for 20 years campaign with Give Meramec day of giving

For immediate release

For more information, contact

Maria Bancroft or Bonnie Prigge at (573) 265-2993

ST. JAMES— On May 9, seven non-profits in Phelps County 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.

One of those Phelps County non-profits is the Community Partnership in Rolla.

The Community Partnership launched its “$20 for 20 Years” campaign in conjunction with Give Meramec in honor of its 20th Anniversary.

“Please consider donating to the Community Partnership in Rolla, MO, in honor of its 20th Anniversary, May 23, 2017,” said Development Director Mark Long. “This donation will be used to help continue the important programs that we offer to individuals and families in this great community. These programs are free of charge and are crucial to many lives being changed for the better.”

The partnership’s programs are designed to connect individuals and families with the resources, training and support to lead happy, productive lives. Programs include:

  • Capable Kids and Families: provides support for families of children with special needs through a therapy equipment loan program, networking meetings, home visits, encouragement and family fun;
  • Early Care and Education: helps to educate and support child care providers, through on-site and group training seminars;
  • PLUS #1 (Parents Learning, Uniting, Succeeding): for pregnant and parenting youth ages 14-21, offering mentoring and support, parenting education, home visits and more;
  • Independent Living Program: works with foster youth within the 25th Judicial Circuit to overcome barriers and prepare for independence by providing educational support, resources, and life skills training.

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.

Several Phelps County nonprofits will be participating in a live Give Meramec event from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on May 9 at the Cedar Street Playhouse. Electronic giving stations will be available, and donations of cash and checks will be accepted. The free event will offer family friendly entertainment including music, dance, improv and more.

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.

For more information on the Community Partnership in Rolla, visit their website at www.thecommunitypartnership.org or follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thecommunitypartnership.

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