The bus named "Jimbo" is a small token of the Boys & Girls Club of the Capital City's appreciation for Jim Vossen's persistent efforts to see the organization succeed.
A retired bank president, Vossen brought with him his community connections, financial know-how and elbow grease from his upbringing in 2010.
The United Way of Central Missouri partner agency was struggling at the time, searching for a new executive director and lacking a strong identity in the community.
"He's been a leader in our transformation and instrumental to our capital campaign," said Executive Director Stephanie Johnson. "He's our biggest advocate."
While he has been occupied most recently with the new center's construction on Lafayette Street at Lincoln University, he has long proven himself a problem solver, Johnson said.
"He finds out a need we have at the club, and then he is our champion," she said.
Not only has Vossen collected donors and raised pledges, he meets regularly to monitor the construction process, Johnson said.
"He's a rare gem," she said. "We're honored to have him."
Before the Boys & Girls Club gained his help, including serving as board president from 2012-16, the Samaritan Center enjoyed his work as treasurer, identifying tax credits to build the current facility.
Before that, it was the Helias Foundation benefiting from his work as fund drive committee chairman to build Rackers Field House in the early 1990s.
He's also helped many other community organizations in the last half century, including the Cole County Cancer Board, River City Habitat for Humanity, Cole County Extension board, Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce, Missouri Housing Development Commission, Jefferson City Downtown Association, St. Mary's Foundation, Missouri Society of CPAs and Knights of Columbus.
Vossen volunteered throughout his career, from which he retired in January 2014. After a brief time living in Memphis, Tennessee, working as a CPA, he returned to his hometown to work 11 years for Central Bank and 22 at Hawthorn Bank, the last four as president.
Although he enjoys more time to devote to his grandchildren, split between St. Louis and Omaha, he is glad to have more time for his community, too.
His early work with Boys & Girls Club was education, holding breakfasts or attending other organizations' meetings to get the word out about the club's programs and benefits to local children.
Just as community awareness was reaching a good point, the Whitton Expressway interchange at Lafayette Street introduced a new crisis. Because the Missouri Department of Transportation's initial plan would have shaved square feet from the club's playground, it would have lost several funding streams that require a minimum amount of per-child playground space, Vossen said.
So 15 months later, the club and MoDOT reached a relocation agreement, enabling them to accept the deed of one acre of land from Lincoln University for a new facility, which will accommodate 400 children.
"The community really has been supportive of this project and of the Boys & Girls Club," Vossen said. "It was kind of a blessing; that's the way you have to look at it."
That is a worldview Vossen has held from a young age, influenced by his father's example.
"It may not be the hand you want, but at the end of the day you have to deal with it," he said.
His parents owned and operated a neighborhood grocery store, taking over for his maternal grandparents. But Whitton Expressway again made its mark, erasing the family business once near the intersection with Broadway.
"If there was an obstacle, he would find out how to deal with it," Vossen said of his father.
Citizenship and community service also were high ideals held by his parents and passed on through Vossen to his children, he said.
"I'm fortunate to have worked for two good banks who gave me the time and encouraged me to be involved," he said.