Heart-Ozarks United Way, US

The idea of Community Action came out of the enactment of the Economic Opportunity Act (EOA) of 1964. The overall purpose of the statute was to eliminate the causes and conditions of poverty in the United States. Under the Act, a federal Office of Economic Opportunity was established, state Economic Opportunity offices were formed, and new community-based organizations called Community Action Agencies evolved.South Central Missouri Community Action Agency was incorporated in 1965 under the Equal Opportunity Act, 1964 as a not-for profit Community Action Agency serving the counties of Butler, Carter, Dent, Reynolds, Ripley, Shannon and Wayne."...it is therefore the policy of the United States to eliminate the paradox of poverty in the midst of plenty in this nation by opening to everyone, the opportunity for education and training, the opportunity to work, and the opportunity to live in decency and dignity." Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson