Give Ozarks Day: Rally for Recovery

After an exciting 12 hours of generosity that culminated with a mad dash to the finish line, Give Ozarks Day: Rally for Recovery posted a final “Rally Tally” of $718,728. Nearly a thousand donations were made during the final hour, the highest volume of gifts for the day, as donors raced to help their favorite nonprofits claim the last $5,000 “Luck of the Draw” hourly prize.

The regionwide giving day event, presented by the Community Foundation of the Ozarks and Bass Pro Shops, was held March 24, a year after the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the region. Over the past 12 months, the nonprofit community has faced myriad challenges, from cancelled fundraising events to a spike in demand for services from people in need. Give Ozarks Day: Rally for Recovery gave 157 of the CFO’s nonprofit partners an opportunity to raise much-needed funds for operations and other projects.

Thanks to the generosity of Give Ozarks Day donors, the CFO’s total support for COVID-19 recovery efforts now exceeds $4 million since the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund opened a year ago.

Nearly 4,700 donors made a total of 9,187 gifts throughout the day, with an average of $54,011 given each hour. Metrics for the CFO’s social media, a critical component of giving day events, also spiked. The CFO’s hourly prize announcements, which were livestreamed on Facebook with help from Plotline Productions, the Ozarks Performing Arts League and media sponsors KY3/KSPR, have been viewed thousands of times. #GiveOzarks even trended on Twitter in Missouri throughout the day.

“The generosity of our community never ceases to amaze us,” said Brian Fogle, president and CEO of the CFO. “This incredible outpouring of support shows how much our region’s residents value the services nonprofits provide in their communities. With the average donation size of about $71, it also shows that everyone can participate in philanthropy and every gift matters.”

Give Ozarks Day: Rally for Recovery featured $60,000 in hourly “Luck of the Draw” prizes, chosen at random with additional chances from the number unique donor that supported an agency during each hour. The recipients are:

• 7–8 a.m., presented by Bass Pro Shops: Moxie Cinema, Springfield
• 8–9 a.m., presented by the Darr Family Foundation: Ozark Actors Theatre, Rolla
• 9–10 a.m., presented by Guaranty Bank: Building Bridges, Joplin
• 10–11 a.m., presented by the Coover Charitable Foundation and Commerce Trust Company: In Time of Need Foundation, Springfield
• 11 a.m. –12 p.m., presented by the Hatch Foundation: Help Give Hope, Springfield
• 12–1 p.m., presented by Burrell Behavioral Health: Children’s Smile Center, Ozark
• 1–2 p.m., presented by Central Bank and Central Trust: Harmony House, Springfield
• 2–3 p.m., presented by Legacy Bank and Trust: The Library Foundation of the Springfield-Greene County Library District
• 3–4 p.m., presented by Ollis/Akers/Arney: Tri-Lakes Humane Society, Reeds Spring
• 4–5 p.m., presented by Great Southern Bank: Generations Village, Springfield
• 5–6 p.m., presented by SFC Bank: Rescue On, Springfield
• 6–7 p.m., presented by Bass Pro Shops: Greater Ozarks Audubon Society, Springfield

The Summit Preparatory School in Springfield claimed $2,500 for “The Place to Be” bonus prize, presented by KY3/KSPR, for most unique donors during any of the 12 hours. The Summit received support from 80 donors during the 9–10 a.m. hour.

Included in the final tally are prizes from Carthage Community Foundation, the Joplin Regional Community Foundation and the Community Foundation of the Lake, regional affiliates of the CFO, which held local events in conjunction with Give Ozarks Day. Agency partners in Carthage also received generous support from the Marsh Family Foundation.

The CFO’s nonprofit agency partners are organizations with 501(c)3 or equivalent status that have established a fund with the CFO. Through fund management, endowments and a host of other services, the CFO’s Agency Partner Program helps build stronger organizations to better serve their communities. More than 600 agency partners across the region participate in the program.