At Buchanan, Williams & O’Brien, helping the Joplin community is among our highest priorities. This spring, we have had the pleasure of participating in a number of events that support our friends and neighbors.
In April 2019, we had the opportunity to donate money to Children’s Haven, who are working to improve the playground at their facility. Children’s Haven of SW Missouri provides temporary shelter to children in a safe, secure environment while their parents resolve a family crisis. This organization has been providing temporary shelter since 2003 to area children, ages birth through seventeen, at no cost to families.
Our office manager, Shelia Youngblood, got to experience a tour of the Children’s Haven Home located at 711 South Picher with Stephanie Theis of Children’s Haven. Stephanie explained the need they currently have for updates to their playground area.
BWO has donated money toward this project. We hope that, with the community support, Children’s Haven of SW Missouri will be able to fulfill their needs quickly.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and BWO participated in the fight against child abuse by taking part in the Pinwheel Gardens initiative. Joplin and the surrounding communities showed their support by hosting over 75 Pinwheel Gardens on their lawns in twelve different counties.
The purpose of these gardens was to bring awareness to the community about child abuse and encourage people to participate in training sessions about how to identify and prevent child abuse. Children’s Center in Joplin offers various training sessions free of charge!
Every year on May 9th, Keller Williams Realty joins forces with the community for RED Day, the purpose of which is to Renew, Energize and Donate in support of local charities. BWO enjoyed the opportunity to give back by purchasing lunch for our staff prepared by local business owners. All money raised at this event went to support Bright Futures (tutoring and mentorship nonprofit), Joplin Professional Firefighters, and Children’s Haven. One of BWO’s staff members, Megan Grimes, is married to Captain Grimes of the Joplin Fire Department, so it was especially nice to support this group of dedicated professionals with whom we have a personal relationship.
May is also graduation month for Missouri’s students. We had the chance to support Joplin area kids by donating Mastercard gift cards to Project GRAD. Project GRAD is an education-focused nonprofit that works alongside school districts to encourage academic achievement and secure college access for students in economically disadvantaged communities.
These gift cards will go to four graduating seniors from Carl Junction, Diamond, Seneca, and Webb City High Schools. Way to go, class of 2019! And a special shoutout to our staff member, Katrina Fields’ son, Dayton Fields, who graduated from Seneca this year. Congratulations Dayton!
Finally, graduation season reminds those of us at BWO of Vivian Vu, a young lady who holds a place near and dear to our heart. Vivian was killed in a tragic accident in 2017. In keeping with Vivian’s generous spirit and academic diligence, a scholarship was created to assist other students in perpetuating her dream of leading humanitarian efforts around the world. BWO makes an annual donation to this scholarship so Vivian’s name can continue to be remembered.
We are proud to be a part of a community like Joplin that cares about each other and the future of its young people. From all of us at BWO, thank you to everyone who participated in these efforts.