Lebanon Area Foundation

Our Administrator, Melinda Fries, received a very sweet and unexpected surprise this morning when Alayna Richardson stopped by to present LAF with a Certificate of Appreciation and a heartfelt thank you note from the GO CAPS Lake Region Business Strand students.

Alayna recently job shadowed at LAF and was a tremendous help during our Dinner & Comedy Night fundraiser planning and setup activities. It was great to see her again and to hear how much the students appreciated Melinda serving on this year’s judges panel and providing feedback on their projects and presentations.

LAF is proud to partner with GOCAPS Lake Region to help provide mentorship opportunities for local students as they explore future careers, develop professional skills, and gain real-world experience. Watching young people grow in confidence and passion for their future is one of the many ways Lebanon Area Foundation is able to positively impact our community beyond grantmaking and scholarships.

A huge thank you to Alayna and all of the Business Strand students for the thoughtful recognition. Your kindness truly made our day!

Help us wish a very happy birthday to LAF board member Kimberly Roecker!

Kim currently serves as our Vice President and as the Chairperson of the Community Cares Committee. These are two incredibly important roles that she handles with grace and determination. But she doesn’t stop there! Kim also brings her passion and energy to the Distribution Committee, the Nominating Committee, AND the Dinner and Comedy Night Committee.

We’re beyond grateful for her willingness to take on challenges and make things happen. We truly hit the jackpot having this AMAZING lady on our team!

When asked what motivates her to serve our community she stated, “For the past 27 years I am grateful to have been part of this community. I have seen many good changes and also the challenges we have in our area. I think that serving on the LAF board is one small way I can help with those challenges.”

Outside of her volunteer work, Kim enjoys biking, boating, and spending quality time with her family.

Thank you, Kim, for your incredible support and dedication to Laclede County nonprofits. Wishing you the happiest of birthdays!