MFA Oil Foundation Helps Christian Academy Build New Classrooms

July 21, 2016

Written By Adam Buckallew

The MFA Oil Foundation provides cash grants to support nonprofit organizations that are working to improve communities in MFA Oil Company’s trade area. The foundation’s mission is to assist rural communities where the company has a presence by donating resources that help develop and strengthen organizations dedicated to education, youth, human services or civic endeavors.

The Bill Rice Ranch in Murfreesboro, Tenn., is one of many organizations recently selected to receive a grant from the foundation. The Bill Rice Ranch is a revival organization originally founded to provide ministry to deaf young people. Since its founding in 1953, the ministry has grown to serve both hearing and deaf people and now includes the Bill Rice Christian Academy, which serves more than 100 elementary school students.

Nathan Reeves, the administrator of the Bill Rice Christian Academy, says the school will use the grant money to construct and furnish a new classroom building to accommodate its growing student body.

“Our county has consistently been one of the top 10 counties in the nation for growth for several years,” Reeves says. “Consequently, Bill Rice Christian Academy has grown an average of 15 percent per year for the last 10 years. Because of this growth, we are in need of more classrooms.”

The academy’s building project will add four new classrooms and space for up to 60 additional students. The extra space will make it possible for the academy to offer high school classes once the addition is completed.

“We’re thankful to the MFA Oil Foundation for its support,” Reeves says. “We approached several businesses about donations, and MFA Oil was the first, and only one so far, to make a substantial contribution to our building campaign. Our local MFA Oil plant manager, Chris Tynes, has developed a good relationship with our ministry over the years, and we are so thankful for his friendship. Thank you, MFA Oil, for investing in what we do!”

“The Rice family and their ranch have been a big part of the Murfreesboro community for many years, and I’m glad the MFA Oil Foundation could provide them with help on their building project,” says Chris Tynes, who manages the MFA Oil propane plant in Murfreesboro. “They serve a great number of children through their academy and summer church camps.”

Since its inception in 1998, the MFA Oil Foundation has awarded more than $1 million in grants. The foundation is primarily funded by pre-tax, non-member income. Organizations interested in applying for a grant from the MFA Oil Foundation.