BTC Bank surprises City of Buffalo with sizable GRO donation

Published 5:00 am Wednesday, October 21, 2026

Wednesday, October 14, BTC Bank presented the City of Buffalo with a $50,000 check to complete the funding for Phase 1 of the Buffalo Community Center repair project.

Buffalo city leaders, including Mayor Brandon Kenall and aldermen Ron Parks, Terry Lane and Eric Kirchberg, gathered to meet at BTC Bank Wednesday, October 14, because the bank wanted to present them with a check to help repair and remodel the Buffalo Community Center, formerly known as the O’Bannon Center, located at 315 East Ramsey Street.

BTC, however, had not divulged the amount of the check to the city beforehand, so they were in for a big, pleasant surprise when the giant check was turned around to reveal the amount.

The City has been discussing needed repairs at the Buffalo Community Center, for several months, with various aldermen reporting on the state of things. Alderman Kirchberg, in particular, has reported several times on his efforts to find funding for needed repairs. The issue finally got the attention it needed to push it into the spotlight when BTC Loan Officer and Branch Coordinator Mindy Morris reported on the state of things after holding a sale in the center.

“After a friend and I had a yard sale at the Buffalo Community Center (formerly O’Bannon Center) I had taken some pictures and shared on Facebook about how, if the walls of the O’Bannon Center could talk, about the stories it could tell. It’s not just a building — it’s part of the heart of Buffalo and Dallas County. Where many memories were made. But, like many things that have served us well, it was showing its age with repairs, updates and renovations needed to ensure it could serve our community for many years to come. It was time for us to come together as a community by volunteering, donating, sponsoring, and fundraising to plan a role in preserving the building,” Morris said, paraphrasing her Facebook post, which she has since removed from her page.

The post stirred action in the local community and farther than most imagined.

Paralleling the local activity, retiring State Senator Sandy Crawford was recently named to the board of BTC Bank. Before she officially joined the board, she had the opportunity to go to one of their meetings in Bethany, where she mentioned the community project and stirred the interest of the bank, which is known for its small-town community and agricultural investments. At her first “official” meeting, she brought the topic up again.

“Doug [Doug Fish, BTC president and CEO] said, ‘Are you making a motion for a $50,000 donation?'” Sandy said to those gathered for the check presentation, and added that she was a little stunned. “I wasn’t expecting to make a motion that day, and I didn’t expect that amount,” she said. “They’re very generous, and I’m super excited.”

“We’re blown away by the generous donation,” Kenall said. “We’re basically at Phase 1, and that wouldn’t be possible without BTC and the community.”

Kirchberg, who has been instrumental in developing plans for repairing the building, said, “I love this place [Buffalo], and I love people like you [BTC Bank]. … I know what the building can do for the community.”

The building has been a central part of the Buffalo community for years, with family reunions, sales, County Fair exhibits, plays and even weddings in the building.

Lane said that as the building deteriorated over the years, a lot of negativity was developing around it. “This stamps it out,” he said. He went on to quote his father, “‘Can’t never could do anything,'” Lane said, “but now we can.”

Lane said that years ago, he and others noticed trash laying around and caught in fences. They wanted the town to be cleaned up and looking better. “It started with picking up trash,” he said.

Kenall agreed that the initial attempts to do those little things started movement in a positive direction. “Now we can keep the ball rolling, and we’re building positive relationships,” he said. “I’m super excited.”

Parks added, “Every little thing ignites another.”

A letter seeking charitable contributions for the rehabilitation of the building had been sent out by the City of Buffalo in September. The letter stated that the top priority repairs include “a new roof and HVAC system, fully remodeled kitchen and bathroom facilities and crucial ADA accessibility upgrades.”

At the time of the letter, it was reported that $85,000 had already been received from Dallas County, Dallas County Economic Development Group, Dallas County Fair, O’Bannon Bank and Senator Sandy Crawford.

Several businesses and organizations had donated to the “GRO” project, as it has been dubbed, prior to the BTC donation, including Dairy Queen, New-to-You, the Buffalo affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks and the Sheriff’s Posse.

The fundraising campaign is organized into two phases. According to the letter, Phase 1, for $130,000, covers the roof and HVAC system to “protect the structure, improve safety and comfort, and provide a strong foundation for the remaining renovations.”

BTC’s contribution carried the projected beyond the $130,000 needed to complete Phase 1. Those gathered discussed the possibility of seeking grants to further the current community investment.

Businesses, organizations and individuals who would like to contribute should consult with City Hall.