The Arthritis Foundation

 

The Arthritis Foundation's has a mission to improve lives through leadership in the prevention, control and cure of arthritis and related diseases. This Springfield Difference Maker has a vision to create a world free of arthritis pain.  They are committed to raising awareness and reducing the unacceptable impact of arthritis.

Arthritis, which affects more than 50 million American adults and 300,000 children under the age of 18, is a chronic disease that has devastating consequences.  The Arthritis Foundation is leading the way to conquer this disease; it is the nation’s leading cause of disability. They raise awareness through increased education, outreach, research, advocacy, and other vital programs and services.

They have an aggressive goal to reduce the number of people suffering from arthritis-related physical activity limitations by 20% by 2030. The Arthritis Foundation offers information and tools to help people live a better life with arthritis. You can hear the full interview here.

The Community Foundation of the Ozarks

The Community Foundation of the Ozarks is a public foundation that serves the Missouri Ozarks. They are dedicated to working with its donors, nonprofit partners, and affiliated community foundations in meaningful and purposeful ways. Founded in 1973, CFO has grown to include 44 affiliate community foundations and more than 2,500 charitable funds totaling approximately $226 million in assets. CFO has a mission to enhance the quality of life in our region through resource development, community grantmaking, collaboration, and public leadership.

The Foundation invites you to learn more about the campaigns and partnerships serving the people of the Ozarks on the initiatives page of their web site. Read more about regional affiliate foundations that are hard at work in rural communities and counties across the Missouri Ozarks in the affiliate section of the site. If you’re interested becoming a donor, explore the numerous options available for giving something back to you community in the donor services section. 

Hear the full interview.

Ozarks Food Harvest

Ozarks Food Harvest is known as the Feeding America food bank for southwest Missouri. They serve 250 hunger relief organizations across 28 counties in the Ozarks. The Food Bank reaches approximately 80,000 individuals each month while distributing 12 million pounds of food annually. OFH was named the Small Business of the Year in 2011 by the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, and it’s facility, the O’Reilly Center for Hunger Relief, recently received AIB International food safety certification.

"Transforming Hunger into Hope," is the mission statement that the Ozarks Food Harvest has embraced since being founded in 1983.  The simple statement serves as a visionary and meaningful summary of Ozarks Food Harvest’s goals, at the same time it expresses exactly what it is The Food Bank does. In addition to food distribution and services to 250 Ozarks nonprofits, OFH has direct service programs including the Weekend Backpack Program™, Kids Cafe®,and theMobile Food Pantry™.

Learn more about how Ozarks Food Harvest is a Springfield Difference Maker. Hear the full interview  anytime. 

Convoy of Hope

Convoy of Hope has goals to provide help and hope to people in need in the United States and around world. They were founded in 1994 as a 501(c)3 faith-based nonprofit. They have served more than 55 MILLION people throughout the world via international children’s feeding initiatives, community outreaches, disaster response and partner resourcing.

With millions of children going hungry and lacking access to clean drinking water each day they focus heavily on providing the basic necessities of life to those in need. Presently, more than 120,000+ children are included in the feeding initiatives of El Salvador, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Kenya, Nicaragua and the Philippines. By these feeding initiatives Convoy of Hope can help provide good nutrition, clean and safe drinking water, instruction on agricultural techniques, healthy living environments and education.

 It is an ongoing effort that they are praised for their effectiveness and efficiency in mobilizing tens of thousands of volunteers for community outreaches during times of disaster response. Regardless as to what is happening, Convoy of Hope’s objective is to always deliver much-needed food, supplies and hope to the impoverished and suffering. Learn more at the Convoyof Hope website. Complete interview at this link: Convoy of Hope Interview.

Cherish Kids

A belief that every child is a gift from God and deserves to be cared for and cherished is the reason that Cherish Kids exists. They work to improve the quality of life for children who find themselves orphaned or displaced. The vision of Cherish Kids is to make a difference in the lives of children in crisis by collaborating with state, counties, churches and adoption agency leaders.

As a non-profit organization, Cherish Kids is committed to a threefold mission that is as follows:

1.     RAISE AWARENESS of the needs of children in crisis locally, statewide and around the world.

2.     OFFER RESOURCES by providing credible information and guidance to families and individuals who desire to help.

3.     PROVIDE SUPPORT by assisting children in crisis with essential needs and providing financial, emotional and spiritual support to families and individuals in their effort to foster and adopt.

There are many ways to help this Springfield Difference Maker. You can volunteer, attend events, foster, and more. There are resources and more for you to learn about Cherish Kids at their website. Hear the full interview that aired on 88.3 The Wind. 

Killuminati Foundation

The Killuminati Foundation was established the fall of 2008 in Southwest Missouri. Their founder, Jeanna Callahan, knew that it would be impossible to save every life but made it a priority to focus on the lives that Killuminati could save. No matter the breed, age, size, etc. the foundation has worked hard to save hundreds of lives in just a few short years through rescue and their vet assistance program.

The Killuminati Foundation is named for a very special rescue dog who passed before her time, but  touched the hearts of many. Her name was Nati / Lil’ Mama and is short for the word Killuminati and comes from the African philosophy meaning change for the better – continually striving to be better. Killuminati Foundation is a tribute to Nati’s memory – but the word also represents their focus – CHANGE.

While unforeseen vet assistance is the main financial focus, they also work with area rescue groups to promote adoption. Education is another pillar Killuminati as founded on. They work with the community to teach the importance of animal welfare, proper vet care, training needs, and help families stay with their pets throughout life's trials and tribulations. They have partnered with various groups for educational program like the Boys & Girls Club, Girl Scouts of America, and the Library Center. Killuminati believes this cause belongs to the community and hopes you will make it your personal cause too and get involved. 

Learn more now at: The Killuminati Foundation  website.

Springfield Greene County Park Board

The Springfield-Greene County Park Board is committed to provide the highest quality of leisure opportunities, to offer programs for relaxation as well as stimulation, and to encourage personal and community enrichment for the citizens of Springfield, Missouri.They were established May 22, 1913, after Springfield voters overwhelmingly approved a tax for establishment and maintenance of free public parks and playgrounds. The new Park Board took over maintenance of Washington and Lafayette (both est. 1869) and set about planning and acquiring new parks. 

The mission to take parks to another level is evidenced with programs such as Hearts ‘n Parks, which encourages people to enjoy a more active lifestyle. The Community Olympic Development Program fosters efforts in tennis, weightlifting, ice hockey and volleyball.

The department is incorporating a network of linear parks and trails that run near and around geologically unique areas of the Ozarks, such as creek beds and springs. These parks and greenways protect the environment and the animals that make a habitat in them, in addition to offering play space.

A nationally-known organization, the Parks Department has been named a Gold Medal 

Award-winning system by the National Recreation and Park Association.

Learn more: The Springfield-Greene County Park Board

Click to hear the full interview.

LeadHer

LeadHer believes that every woman is a leader–because each woman is making an impact and influencing someone around her every day. Their goal is to help women see themselves through this truth, to equip them based on Biblical teaching, and to encourage each woman to put hands and feet to her faith and impact the world around her for Christ.

LeadHer has international and local chapters that meet twice a month and this platform gives the coordinators a mix of structure and flexibility. The first meeting focuses on structure to the chapters. Each chapters is given the same teaching video on our theme of the month to watch and discuss together.  Since each chapter is watching the same video it allows all chapters nationwide to discuss the topics in their chapters as well as online through Facebook and Twitter.

The second meeting  provides flexibility to the chapters.  Coordinators can use this second meeting anyway they choose as long as the reinforce the monthly LeadHer theme.  Here are some examples of ways that chapters personalize themselves through their second meetings:

Community Service Projects

Sharing Testimonies or Group Discussion

Praise and Worship time

Additional Teaching or Bible study on the topic

Prayer Time

Mentoring Time

Guest Speakers

Learn how to get involved with LeadHer today.
Hear the full interview by clicking here: LeadHer Interview.

Missouri Safe and Sober

Missouri Safe and Sober is a non-profit organization, under the Mercy Health Foundation-Springfield, which creates awareness about the dangers of drugs and alcohol and encourages teens to lead a safe and sober lifestyle. Kurt Larson founded the program in 2004. He us a Springfield-based attorney who originally started the program to be known as Safe and Sober Prom Night. Since its inception, the program has reached more than 47,500 students in southwest Missouri.

Learn more about the three parts of the program and how you can be involved at: Missouri Safe and Sober. 

If you missed the full program you can listen HERE.

JDRF of the Ozarks

The local branch of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)was founded by a group of parents and adults with type 1 diabetes (t1d)over four years ago. These parents where dedicated, passionate, and wanted an organization in the Ozarks that was solely dedicated to t1d. JDRF Ozarks serves all people affected by type 1 diabetes from West Plains to Joplin. They have Southwest Missouri covered with all the latest information, resources, and events.

The mission of JDRF is to find a cure for diabetes & its complications through the support of research. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that strikes children and adults suddenly, and can be fatal. Until there is a cure people with type 1 diabetes have to test their blood sugar and give themselves insulin injections multiple times a day unless they use use a pump.

If you have been recently diagnosed with t1d, be sure to email jcotner-jones@jdrf.org to request your free Bag of Hope. This is a free kit full of relevant diabetes education materials. Even if you have had t1d for some time, JDRF Ozarks can still provide valuable support and resources for you as well as your family through their dedicated and compassionate volunteers and staff.

Get involved today and learn more by visiting the local JDRF website.

Community Blood Center of the Ozarks

Since 1995, Community Blood Center of the Ozarks has met the transfusion needs of patients throughout the Ozarks. It takes more than 275 blood donations each day to meet the needs of patients in thirty-eight hospitals supplied by CBCO. Hospitals in southwest Missouri, northwest Arkansas and southeast Kansas rely on Community Blood Center of the Ozarks donors. All blood and blood products transfused to patients in these hospitals come from CBCO donors. Community Blood Center of the Ozarks collects blood at Donor Centers located in Springfield, Mo. Joplin, Mo., Springdale, Ark., and Bentonville, Ark., and hosts many more mobile blood drives throughout the region each day. Community Blood Center of the Ozarks is a not-for-profit organization, and is committed to providing the highest quality blood and blood products to area hospitals at the lowest possible cost.

 They  state that it is “Our mission is to provide a quality blood supply, in a timely manner, at the lowest reasonable fee, while remaining accountable to the local community, blood donors and health care providers.” Community Blood Center of the Ozarks was formed because area business and civic leaders were convinced that a local blood provider could supply the region’s needs while keeping quality high and costs low. This dramatically changed the way that blood was collected and distributed to area hospital patients. CBOC is led by a group of community leaders who serve on a Volunteer Board of Directors, who possess knowledge and experience of the needs for the area they serve. CBCO employs state-of-the-art technology and strict quality control methods to ensure that area hospitals have the blood products they need to save lives. They are committed to fulfilling future needs, while remaining accountable to the local community. As a not-for-profit organization, CBCO offers blood products for a fee determined solely by the cost of collection, testing, processing and distribution of those products to area hospitals. CBCO consistently provides these services at one of the lowest fees in the nation. CBCO is a member of America’s Blood Centers, a network of independent blood centers that provides over half of the nation’s blood supply, and is fully accredited by AABB. Learn more at cbco.org.

Pregnancy Care Center 2013

The Pregnancy Care Center was the first organization to be highlighted as a Springfield Difference Maker. To celebrate all of their efforts in the Springfield area they are kicking of the 2013 calendar year as the January Springfield Difference Maker. PCC is committed to, "providing health, wellness, and relationship education for young people facing an unplanned pregnancy, and presenting healthy relationship education in local schools to equip teens to make positive choices," as their mission statement reads. They provide a number of services including Adoption Education, a Pregnancy Testing Program, and Community Medical Referral.
For the past eleven years the PCC has helped enrich relationships and they have impacted the community in several ways. Among those changes have been a decline in teen pregnancies by 24% since 2000, abortion rates have decreased by more than 49%, and volunteers have invested numerous service hours valued at over $7.34 million. They also visit schools to advocate abstinence education through the Choice Project.

Educational, community, and foundation collaborations are what keep PCC thriving. You can help the PCC continue to educate the Ozarks. Volunteer opportunities range from mentorship to administrative tasks, visit the How To Get Involved page to see the list. Contact Terry Malesky at (417)877-0800 ext. 388 or email volunteer@pccchoices.org and set up an appointment today!

Listen to the full interview by clicking this link: PCC 2013 Interview.

Thank You Dr. Gregory Stamps, OB/GYN

This month's Springfield Difference Maker is sponsored by Dr. Gregory Stamps, OB/GYN. Dr. Stamps, practices obstetrics and gynecology in Springfield, MO. Appointments can be made at Primrose OB/GYN. If you are considering becoming a sponsor for a SGFDM please send your contact details to sgfdifferencemakers@gmail.com. 

The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army was founded as an evangelical organization. The desire was to bring people into a meaningful relationship with God through Christ. Its doctrinal basis is that of the Wesleyan-Arminian tradition. The organization is composed of people who are united by the love of God and man, as well as the common purpose of bringing others to Jesus Christ.

Their name joins two words; the word salvation indicates the overall purpose of the Salvation Army—to motivate all people to embrace the salvation provided to them in Christ. The word army indicates that the organization is a fighting force, constantly at war with the powers of evil. Battles are effectively waged through an integrated ministry that gives attention to both body and spirit. It is a total ministry for the total person. The Salvation Army cooperates with churches of all denominations to meet the needs of the community. Those who have drifted away from God or have become estranged from their own religious affiliations are often attracted to The Salvation Army where they are urged to seek Christ. 

Learn more about The Salvation Army in Springfield, Missouri today.

If you missed the interview, listen anytime at this link: The Salvation Army Interview.