Drew Lewis Foundation at The Fairbanks

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Drew Lewis Foundation at The Fairbanks Dr. Amy Blansit founded the Drew Lewis Foundation (DLF) at the historic Fairbanks elementary school building in 2013 in honor of her late husband, Drew Lewis.
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The mission of the Drew Lewis Foundation is to educate, empower, and support underserved families through personalized programs and coaching to increase quality of life and build resilient communities. The historic Fairbanks Elementary—a former public school built in 1906—had fallen into severe disrepair. The DLF reimagined the Fairbanks building as a Community Hub housing a number of community betterment initiatives that work to improve the quality of life within the neighborhood. The Services & Programs Drew Lewis Foundation offers are:
- RISE (Reaching Independence through Support and Education) — Our core program works through intensive case management and curriculum to improve sufficiency in a variety of indicators including education, employment, debt reduction, quality childcare, and parenting.
- Blue House Project (BHP) & Healthy Homes Initiative (HHI) — We purchase low-cost homes and renovate them. We then select qualified members of RISE to live in the homes for a period of 2 years while they pay rent and learn about homeownership, eventually purchasing the home. Through home visits and educational curriculum, we educate on the Healthy Homes Principles and their relationship to physical and mental health of the home’s residents.
- Nonprofit Career Academy — A post-secondary education and training institute. This is a gateway for employees to enter the pipeline in the nonprofit sector and build a successful career.
- Fairbanks Community Hub — The Fairbanks Community Hub (a HUD-certified EnVision Center), brings together a multitude of service agencies, co-locating them centrally in a distressed neighborhood where their services are needed most. Interested in learning more? Feel free to message us or email [email protected]. We hope to connect with you!

Sometimes better financial planning starts with having the right tools at your fingertips!👀Multipli works to help its m...
10/20/2026

Sometimes better financial planning starts with having the right tools at your fingertips!👀

Multipli works to help its members and community improve their financial well-being through everyday services, educational resources, and practical money-management tools. 💚

Who do they serve?
Multipli supports members through many different stages of life, from first cars and first homes to building savings, managing everyday expenses, and planning for future goals.

What do they offer?
Members have access to online and mobile banking tools, spending alerts, bill pay, financial calculators, savings resources, and financial wellness education through easy-to-follow lessons on real-life money topics.

What’s the bigger impact?
These resources help make managing money feel a little less overwhelming and give people practical ways to make informed decisions, build stronger habits, and plan for what comes next.

Financial confidence grows one decision at a time, and having trusted resources can make all the difference!🙌

You can't change a community's future without understanding what's holding its people back! 💙Every day, organizations ac...
10/18/2026

You can't change a community's future without understanding what's holding its people back! 💙

Every day, organizations across Missouri are working to help individuals and families overcome financial hardship, access resources, and build more stable futures.

But what if we could make those efforts even more effective?

Nonprofits, banks, churches, and community leaders, we're talking to YOU! 👏

That's where Community Rising comes in!

Built on years of real-world experience and outcomes from the Drew Lewis Foundation's RISE program (Reaching Independence through Support and Education), this training equips the people serving our communities with deeper understanding, practical tools, and strategies that create lasting impact.

Here's what your team will walk away with:

✅ A deeper understanding of the barriers keeping families living paycheck to paycheck
✅ Research-based strategies to better serve individuals facing financial hardship
✅ Real stories, data, and lessons learned from Missouri communities
✅ Tools to strengthen collaboration, compassion, and meaningful community impact

Whether you're working in banking, social services, faith-based organizations, or community leadership, this training is designed to strengthen the work you're already doing.

We bring Community Rising directly to YOU!

Two hosting options:

💲 $500: Full-day training for social service organizations and community members.

💲 $650: Add an evening kickoff featuring a community-sponsored dinner and financial education, followed by the full-day training.

Because when the people serving our communities have better tools, entire communities benefit. 💙

Ready to bring Community Rising to your community?

📧 [email protected]
📞 (417) 200-2223

Out-of-state hosting options are available!

10/17/2026

Food is more than nourishment.
It’s connection, stability, dignity, and the foundation for a healthier community. 💚🌱

On World Food Day, we’re reminded that access to fresh, nutritious food should never be a luxury.

At the Drew Lewis Foundation, we see firsthand how something as simple as a shared meal or fresh produce can make a meaningful difference.

Through our partnership with Springfield Community Gardens and our weekly Thursday Community Dinners, we’re working alongside our neighbors to reduce barriers to food access, bring people together, and build a stronger, healthier Springfield.

Because fighting food insecurity isn't just about filling plates…

It's about caring for people, creating opportunities, and making sure everyone has a place at the table. 💙

The Drew Lewis Foundation was grateful to welcome volunteers from for a hands-on day of service at the Blue House Proj...
10/16/2026

The Drew Lewis Foundation was grateful to welcome volunteers from for a hands-on day of service at the Blue House Project, located at 1903 N. Campbell Ave. in Springfield. Team members spent the day removing debris, cutting back overgrowth, and tackling general outdoor cleanup around the property. Their work made the house and grounds safer and more welcoming, and it moved the project one step closer to its next phase.

Projects like this depend on partners who show up ready to work, and Simmons Bank did exactly that. Thank you to every volunteer who gave their time to the Blue House Project and to the neighborhood around it.

Join us this Thursday from 5:00–6:00 PM at the Drew Lewis Foundation for a free community dinner — open to everyone!It’s...
10/15/2026

Join us this Thursday from 5:00–6:00 PM at the Drew Lewis Foundation for a free community dinner — open to everyone!

It’s pizza night! 🍕 Thanks to our friends at Little Caesars, we’ll be serving up hot, cheesy pizza for the whole neighborhood. Bring your family, bring your friends, and come grab a slice (or two) with us.

These dinners are 100% volunteer-run, and we’d love your help. Want to lend a hand this Thursday or a future one? Sign up here: https://givepul.se/uft7c5

Want to help keep the table full? You can donate here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=9XRGY735UEX82. Just write “Community Dinner” in the donation notes so your gift goes directly to these meals.

Proudly sponsored by Southern Bank. 💙

See you at the table!

Sometimes, the biggest breakthrough is realizing just how capable you really are. 💙For Josh, RISE has been about more th...
10/15/2026

Sometimes, the biggest breakthrough is realizing just how capable you really are. 💙

For Josh, RISE has been about more than reaching goals…

It’s been about building confidence, recognizing his potential, and discovering what he’s capable of accomplishing.

And stories like Josh’s remind us why RISE matters. When people are given the tools, support, and encouragement to believe in themselves, incredible things can happen.

We’re proud to be part of Josh’s journey, and we can’t wait to see what he accomplishes next! 👏

A huge thank you to the Junior League of Springfield MO! 🌿Their members are rolling up their sleeves to help with landsc...
10/14/2026

A huge thank you to the Junior League of Springfield MO! 🌿

Their members are rolling up their sleeves to help with landscaping at 1903 N Campbell, and we’re so grateful to be working right alongside them. Partners like JLS are what make this work possible. Thank you for showing up for our neighbors, again and again.

10/14/2026

There's always room for one more at our table. 💙🍽️

Every Thursday, our community comes together for something special. A warm meal, friendly conversations, familiar faces and maybe a few new friendships along the way.

That's the heart behind our FREE Community Dinners and everyone is welcome!

1126 N Broadway Ave.
Every Thursday | 5:00–6:00 PM
Free and open to everyone!

These evenings are made possible by an incredible group of volunteers who give their time to serve our neighbors.

Want to be part of it? We'd love an extra set of helping hands!

Sign up to volunteer: https://givepul.se/uft7c5

DAF Day may be behind us, but your donor-advised fund doesn't run on a single deadline. As you think about year-end givi...
10/12/2026

DAF Day may be behind us, but your donor-advised fund doesn't run on a single deadline. As you think about year-end giving, your DAF is ready whenever you are. Don't have one yet? Now's a great time to ask your advisor whether it's right for you, many of our supporters set theirs up specifically for moments like this. However you give, thank you for thinking of Drew Lewis Foundation as you plan your year-end giving.

Address

1126 N Broadway Avenue
Springfield, MO
65802

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+14172002223

Website

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