Boys & Girls Club of the Ozarks has openings for its Summer Programs in Branson and Forsyth!  Don’t let your kids sit around the house this summer – give them the chance to “Be GREAT!”  For more information, call Laci in Branson (417.336.2420 x 228) or Garry in Forsyth (417.546.6299), or visit our website at www.bgcozarks.org

Three area organizations will host the Clothe-A-Child 5K/1mile walk/run on Saturday, July 25, on the Lakeshore Trail. Meet at the Dewey Short Visitors Center just south of Table Rock Dam on Missouri 165. Registration at 7 a.m.; race at 8 a.m. Adults, $18 in advance; $25, day-of-race. Ages 14 and under, $10. Register at www.christianactionministries.org.

Funds will provide new outfits for kids attending the upcoming Taney County School Readiness Fair. Hosting this event is Christian Action Ministries, OACAC and the Salvation Army.

There will be T-shirts, finisher ribbons and awards for participants. There also will be a bin for clothing donations. For more information, call Becky Lowrance at 417-294-4775 or email [email protected].

BRANSON, Mo. – Hundreds of Taney County youth will benefit from the $1,000 donation presented on Tuesday to the not-for-profit Christian Action Ministries through the CenturyTel Clarke M. Williams Charitable Foundation. The funds will support the Clothe-A-Child Program.

This is the 23rd year that CAM has sponsored the Clothe-A-Child program. It is part of the Taney County School Readiness Fair, a cooperative effort of CAM, Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation and the Salvation Army. Hundreds of children in need will receive a new outfit for school, improving self-esteem and enabling greater academic success.

“The Charitable Foundation was established by CenturyTel based on the belief that companies have an obligation to improve the quality of life where they do business,” said Pamela Anderson, Marketing Communication Manager for South Missouri.

Following the example set by Williams, the company’s founder, the foundation contributes to projects that improve the well-being of people in need. The projects range from substance abuse prevention to disaster relief and technological development. This year, the foundation will award approximately $124,000.

The CenturyTel Experience Center is a drop-off point Christian Action Ministries’ “Under Cover Program,” providing new socks and underwear for Taney County school-aged children. For more information on the program, call Christian Action Ministries at 334-1157 or visit www.ChristianActionMinistries.org.

Today Gift of Hope announced their annual fundraiser, Celebrate A1merica, will be canceled for 2009. Celebrate America was to be held at Shad1ow Rock Park on July 25, but due to the high water levels planning was becoming very difficult. Currently there is very little room left for parking, attendees and the fireworks display.  “We will not sacrifice the quality of the event and currently the water levels are leaving less and less space to allow us to operate as planned,”

Anthony Collier, President of the Board of Directors, stated. “We are disappointed that we have to cancel such an enjoyable event, but feel it is in the best interest of Gift of Hope and the Forsyth community.”  Even with the cancellation of a fundraising event, Gift of Hope must be able to continue its efforts to assist those in the community. Mr. and Mrs. Collier will be making a personal donation to Gift of Hope to try to compensate for the loss of funds that Celebrate America would have created for the charity, and hopes that other residents of Taney County will be generous in their support as well.

The next scheduled fundraising event for Gift of Hope is their annual Bowl-A-Thon, which will take place in October.  For more information about Gift of Hope and their upcoming events, please visit www.giftofhopeinc.org