A trusted resource for philanthropy in Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Scott and Stoddard counties.
Founded in 2023, the Bootheel Regional Community Foundation brings philanthropic resources to donors, nonprofits and communities in the Bootheel. It serves as the charitable arm of the Bootheel Regional Planning & Economic Development Commission.
Melissa Combs, President
Sept. 26, 2024 — The Bootheel Regional Community Foundation announced a $105,000 gift from George W. Hale to establish the George W. Hale/EPHS Class of ’63 Scholarship Fund, an endowment that will forever benefit graduates of the East Prairie R-11 School District. The gift was announced today during an event at East Prairie High School.
The endowment will be held by the BRCF, a regional affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. The CFO will manage the endowment for long-term growth and to benefit students from East Prairie.
“The generous gift from Mr. Hale to benefit the East Prairie R-11 School District illustrates the value of community foundations and why the Bootheel Regional Community Foundation is a resource for philanthropic gifting,” said Jim Grebing, founding board member of the BRCF and executive director of the Bootheel Regional Planning & Economic Development Commission.“
As an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, we have access to resources and support to offer a variety of charitable fund options that can serve our communities in new ways and help ensure a better future for our region. There are a lot of generous people with ties to the Bootheel and the BRCF offers opportunities to leave a lasting legacy,” Grebing said.
Hale is a 1963 graduate of East Prairie High School and a lifelong supporter of the East Prairie community. He currently resides in Bonne Terre. At the age of 19, he moved to St. Louis to attend St. Louis Community College–Meramec and began working for White Castle System Inc., the restaurant chain’s parent company based in Columbus, Ohio.
Hale worked his way up into management, worked in cities throughout the country and eventually returned to St. Louis as regional director. In that role, he managed 65 restaurants, a warehouse and an office complex. When he retired in 2010, he had worked for White Castle System for 46 years and 8 months.
“In talking with other classmates who left for lack of opportunity in the area, I and other interested individuals want to assist in finding ways to help students today have a better opportunity to improve their lives,” Hale said.
The George W. Hale/EPHS Class of ’63 Scholarship will open for application on Jan. 1, 2025, and provide a $1,000 scholarship for the 2025–26 school year, with the scholarship renewable for up to three years. The scholarship will benefit economically disadvantaged students graduating from East Prairie High School who will pursue degrees from universities, community colleges and trade schools. Students can learn more about the CFO’s scholarship application process at cfozarks.org/applyforscholarships.
Hale hopes to increase the amount of this endowment to $500,000 over the next few years and encourages fellow classmates and other supporters to contribute. Community members can help build the endowment by giving at cfozarks.org/donate — enter “EPHS” into the search field to find the fund.
How Endowments Work
Nov. 14, 2023 — Two $1 million gifts from the estate of James L. Byrd III have established endowments that will forever benefit the City of Charleston and the Charleston R-1 School District. The new funds were announced today at the law office of Reginald E. Young, personal representative of the James L. (Jim) Byrd Estate.
The endowments will be held by the Bootheel Regional Community Foundation, the newest affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. The CFO will manage the funds for long-term growth and to benefit the Charleston community.
Prior to today’s announcement, gifts from Byrd’s estate also funded:
“The generous gifts from the estate of James L. Byrd to benefit the City of Charleston and the Charleston R-1 School District illustrate the value of community foundations and why the Bootheel Regional Community Foundation has been formed,” said Jim Grebing, founding board member of the BRCF and executive director of the Bootheel Regional Planning & Economic Development Commission. “As an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, we have access to resources and support to offer a variety of charitable fund options that can serve our communities in new ways and help ensure a better future for our region. There are a lot of generous people with ties to the Bootheel and the BRCF offers opportunities to leave a lasting legacy.”
Mr. Byrd died in 2020 at the age of 90. A lifelong resident of Charleston, he founded the South Missouri Broadcasting Company in 1954 and operated KCHR until his retirement. He served with the Missouri National Guard for 16 years and was a member of the United Methodist Church of Charleston. He loved trains, especially steam engines, Packard automobiles and radio broadcasting, and was an expert on each of these subjects. He was known for his generosity during his life, having donated pipe organs to the United Methodist Church of Charleston and the First Baptist Church of Charleston.
Sept. 13, 2023 — The Bootheel Regional Community Foundation officially joined the Community Foundation of the Ozarks as its 54th regional affiliate foundation. The BRCF was announced today during an event at the Bootheel Regional Planning & Economic Development Commission.
The BRCF will serve as the charitable arm of the commission and will provide philanthropic resources to donors, nonprofits and communities in Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Scott and Stoddard counties. It joins the Cape Area Community Foundation, Ozark Foothills Regional Community Foundation, Perry County Community Foundation and Ste. Genevieve County Community Foundation as CFO affiliates serving communities in southeast Missouri.
The CFO will provide administration, fund management, grantmaking support and other services for the BRCF. Based in Springfield with offices in Cape Girardeau and West Plains, the CFO supports a network of more than 50 regional affiliates across central and southern Missouri.
“Since our first affiliate was established 30 years ago, we’ve seen communities across central and southern Missouri grow stronger because they have a foundation,” said Brian Fogle, president and CEO of the CFO. “With the philanthropic resources provided by an affiliate foundation, the Bootheel can invest in itself and reap the rewards for generations to come.”
To meet one of the requirements for founding an affiliate of the CFO, Sam and June Hamra established a $30,000 community grantmaking endowment for the Bootheel last year. Born and raised in Steele, Sam Hamra founded Hamra Enterprises, which focuses on restaurant and real estate holdings in about a dozen states. He and June and their family also support philanthropic interests in Springfield and the region.
With the endowment established by the Hamras, the BRCF qualifies for a $30,000 matching grant from Missouri Foundation for Health. The grant will provide $6,000 for five years to support grantmaking to address issues related to public health, such as family income, education, jobs, neighborhoods and similar indicators.
Melissa Combs, director of economic development for Dunklin County, will serve as president of the founding board. The full board is composed of community members from each of the Bootheel Region’s counties, along with staff and board members of the planning commission:
Katelyn Lambert, assistant director and finance manager for the BRPC, will serve as treasurer of the BRCF.
“We are excited about the potential of the Bootheel Regional Community Foundation to open more opportunities for the planning commission to improve the quality of life for families in the six counties and 62 communities we serve,” Grebing said. “As an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, we will have access to resources and support to offer a variety of charitable fund options that can serve our communities in new ways and help ensure a strong future for the Bootheel.”
Prior to the creation of the BRCF, charitable funds established with the CFO have supported several causes in the Bootheel:
For more information or to donate to the BRCF, contact Jim Grebing at (573) 614-5178, ext. 109, or jgrebing@bootrpc.com.