A trusted resource for philanthropy serving the community of West Plains.
Since our founding on Mar. 31, 2004, Community Foundation of West Plains has distributed more than $2.7 million in grants to the community. We now hold assets totaling $15,431,761 as of June 30, 2023.
Josh Cotter, President
Oct. 24, 2024 — The Community Foundation of West Plains will host the third annual Whiskey and Bourbon Fest at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22, at the Historic Post Office in downtown West Plains.
Standard tickets are $50, “Speakeasy” tickets are $75 and “No Spirits” tickets are $20. Sponsorships are also available. All proceeds benefit the foundation’s grantmaking endowment, which provides grants to nonprofits serving the West Plains area. To purchase tickets or sponsorships, go to cfozarks.org/whiskey.
“Since launching the Whiskey and Bourbon Fest in 2022, we have doubled the amount granted to nonprofits in our annual grant cycle,” said Eric Gibson, past president of the Community Foundation of West Plains and event organizer. Last year, the foundation granted a total of $6,207 from its grantmaking endowment to the West Plains Senior Center, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, the Chaos Closet and Ozarks Action Inc.
“We will serve eight hard-to-find spirits that we did not sample in 2022 or 2023,” Gibson said. “With the special ‘Speakeasy’ ticket, attendees can sample two more top-shelf whiskeys.” To go along with the spirits, Colton’s Steakhouse will serve appetizers and provide a cash bar with beer and wine.
For more information, go to cfozarks.org/whiskey.
The Chaos Closet proves that a little care can make a big difference. The boutique-like stop off the square in West Plains provides clothing, essentials and a few extras for kids who reside in foster homes.
“Kids in foster care in Missouri get an annual clothing allowance, but it doesn’t provide everything that a kiddo is going to put on their body for an entire year,” says DeeDee Button, who founded the nonprofit with her husband, Ed.
The Buttons saw the need firsthand through kids they fostered. Efforts to save and pass along items grew from their home to a storage building and ultimately the colorful storefront that opened last year.
“I didn’t want kids to really associate coming in here with hand-me-downs,” DeeDee says of its cheery atmosphere. “I wanted it to feel like you had the dignity of going to a store, just without the exchange of money.”
Racks of clothing serve babies to teens. Larger items like beds are lent out, returned, sanitized and reused. Necessities like diapers and formula are found alongside other wares, like makeup and jewelry, that aren’t essential — but are important.
“This is the fun stuff to make them fit in with their peers a little more,” DeeDee says. “That’s all they want.”
Another item of need is new underwear. That mission is supported by the Community Foundation Of West Plains, which has granted funds to stock the closet’s shelves with all-new undergarments. In the process, DeeDee says, the CFO affiliate’s actions also raised awareness for the need — one that’s always there but not always top of mind.
“That funding has had this rippling effect out into the community, which is really great,” DeeDee says.
The Legacy Society is comprised of donors who have made a planned gift to the Community Foundation of West Plains. Click here to join or learn more information.
The application period for affiliate community grantmaking programs are open at various times through the year.
