(Joplin, MO) – Lafayette House is proud to announce it has received a generous charitable gift from Karen and Wayne Calvert of the Joplin community. The gift will directly support Lafayette House programs serving survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and substance use disorders across a seven-county region in Southwest Missouri. Every dollar contributed to Lafayette House is put to work providing emergency shelter, crisis intervention, legal advocacy, counseling, and long-term recovery programming to individuals and families who need it most. All services are provided free of charge, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The connection between the Calverts and Lafayette House was facilitated by Pete Ramsour, Affiliate Manager at the Joplin Regional Community Foundation (JRCF), an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. After being introduced by Ramsour, the Calverts visited the Lafayette House facility, where they had the opportunity to meet staff and learn about the breadth of services the organization provides to families and individuals in need. Partnerships like this one are essential to sustaining that work, allowing Lafayette House to reach more survivors and expand the support available across the region.
Lafayette House has served the Joplin region for more than 47 years and remains one of the area’s most trusted resources for survivors seeking safety, healing, and long-term stability. The organization’s reach extends across Jasper, Newton, Barton, Dade, Lawrence, McDonald, and Barry counties, ensuring that survivors in both urban and rural communities have a place to turn. Since its founding, Lafayette House has helped thousands of survivors rebuild their lives, and community donors like the Calverts are the reason those doors have never closed.
“We were impressed with your facilities and the wide range of services you provide to our community. It’s evident that you have put a lot of thought and effort into building your program,” said Wayne Calvert.
“The Joplin Regional Community Foundation’s mission is to build and lead a better community through collaboration and charitable giving. Working with both the Calverts and Lafayette House is exactly the kind of collaboration we hope to inspire. The Calverts are a generous, community-minded couple, and Lafayette House is a great nonprofit doing work that our community depends on. This was a perfect fit, and we are pleased to have played a part,” said Pete Ramsour, Affiliate Manager at the Joplin Regional Community Foundation.
“When the Calverts came to visit, they listened, asked the right questions, and saw the need up close. That kind of engagement is a gift in itself. We are deeply grateful to Karen and Wayne for their generosity and their belief in the work we do here at Lafayette House. Gifts like this make a real and lasting difference for the families and individuals we serve every day. We are also so thankful to Pete Ramsour and the Joplin Regional Community Foundation for making this connection happen. This is what community looks like at its very best,” said Susan Hickam, Chief Executive Officer of Lafayette House.
Stories like this one are a testament to what becomes possible when community partners work together with a shared purpose. Lafayette House is deeply grateful to the Joplin Regional Community Foundation for the role they play in connecting generous donors with organizations doing meaningful work, and encourages others in the community to explore those same kinds of partnerships.
About Lafayette House:
Lafayette House is a private non-profit organization serving adults, children, and families experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, and/or substance use disorders. The organization serves 1,200 people each year from a seven-county area in southwest Missouri.
Reference:
Chelsea Conley, Development Director
Lafayette House
417.782.1772
chelseaconley@lafayettehouse.org
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