Children’s Center of SWMO receives $6,457 grant from CFO

Children’s Center of Southwest Missouri received $6,457 from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks on Dec. 5 through the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Grant Program.

The grant funds the purchase of translation devices, translated materials and culturally diverse comfort items for its centers in Butler, Joplin, Monett and Nevada.

“With the translation devices, we can now communicate with our families in a much more effective manner without looking to have a translator on site,” said Abby Edwards, development coordinator for Children’s Center of Southwest Missouri. “With the diversified toys that we’re going to be able to get, trust is such a huge part of our play therapy. These kiddos being able to see that these families that they’re emulating look like theirs is invaluable.”

Children’s Center received the grant during a presentation at the Library Center in Springfield. The CFO granted a total of $120,000 to 10 agencies through the grant program, which supports projects to improve the quality of life for underserved and underrepresented populations in central and southern Missouri.

“At the CFO, we strive to address the barriers and disparities in access that so many people face every day,” said Winter Kinne, president and CEO of the CFO. “That is our commitment, and the grants we celebrate today are an important part of that effort.”

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Grants are funded by the CFO’s unrestricted assets and field-of-interest funds that support a broad area of interest. The grant committee comprises Virginia Bailey, Joshua Best, Denise Lofton, Ana Ortiz, Summer Trottier and Brooke Widmar.

For a full list of recipients, go to Source