The Ouachita Valley Community Foundation makes grants to help improve the quality of life in our community by assessing the community needs and making grants to non profit organizations to support those needs. We awarded over $15,000 in grants during the July 1, 2004 – June 30, 2005 fiscal year to the following nonprofit organizations:
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- Ouachita County Community Concert Association
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- Boys and Girls Club of Ouachita County
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- Ouachita County Historic Society
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- Camden Appearance Committee
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- Ouachita Industries Arkansas People First
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- Ouachita Valley Youth Advisory Council
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- 4-H Club of Ouachita County
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- The South Arkansas Symphony Society
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- United Fund of Ouachita Area
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- Ouachita Animal Shelter Information Society
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- Ouachita Conservation District
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If your organization would like to learn more about our grantmaking process and grantmaking guidelines, please contact Kathy Boyette at ovcfexdir@sbcglobal.net or call the Foundation office at 870-836-5698.
 
The Christian Health Center has been in operation since 1977, providing primary health care for the working uninsured of Ouachita Valley. They currently assist patients with a prescription drug program, which enables them to get needed medications for high blood pressure, diabetes, and other health related maintenance drugs at little or no cost.
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A Ouachita County family enjoys playing with their new dog that they have
adopted at the Animal Shelter. The Ouachita Valley Community supports the
spay/neuter program offered to Ouachita Valley citizens by the OASIS
(Ouachita Animal Shelter Information Society). |
The Boys and Girls Club of Ouachita County, was founded in 1946, and today it serves over 1,150 children annually. The Club works closely with the community to provide a wholesome atmosphere for physical and intellectual development. The Club’s programs play a key role in preventing and reducing juvenile crime, since it is one of the few places in our area where children of different backgrounds can come together for safe recreation and other character building activities.
This year the Boys and Girls Club of Ouachita County has been offered a challenge opportunity from a private citizen of Ouachita County. Every dollar the Boys and Girls Club raises the individual will match up to $100,000. This money will be placed in the Boys and Girls Club of Ouachita County Endowment.
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Ouachita County Boys & Girls Club |
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Swimming Activity |
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Group Exercise |
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Computer Educational Program |
The Child Enrichment Center provides services for children who have special needs. Over the past year the center has been adding equipment and materials to each classroom and playground.
A statement from a recent letter from the Center to the Foundation reads, "Thanks to the Ouachita Valley Community Foundation Board and the David and Carolyn Watts Endowment for making such a difference in the growth of our center and the lives of the beautiful children we have the opportunity to work with at the Child Enrichment Center".
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Children enjoy new playground equipment |
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Pictured is the Leak-Ingham Libary
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In 1850 when William Leake built his new office at the corner of Washington and Harrison Street he probably had a feeling of pride in this small handsome building. He might have sat on the small porch in the afternoon with other lawyers of the day smoking a cigar and discussing the happenings of a growing community of Camden. It is doubtful that he could have imagined that his little office would play such an important part in the history of this small town. |
After the Civil War it served as a freedman’s bureau and later as the first library of Ouachita County. He couldn’t have foreseen that the property he built would become so valuable that his little office had to be moved to make way for progress. This building is so important to the history of Ouachita County it has been moved and protected since 1975.
This year, in 2005, it was moved again to its final location on a small hill beside the McCollum-Chidester House Museum. There it will be restored and a climate control system will be installed. It will face at an angle towards Washington Street where the Greek revival facade will be visible to all that pass. This wonderful historic structure is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Grants from the Ouachita Valley Community Foundation have helped with the cost of the heating and cooling system and relocation.
Everyone is invited to come and see Leake–Ingham building in its new glory.
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