By RONDA GRAFF

MCFF

At the end of every Big Give, people want to know the numbers, which is perfectly understandable. The 2023 Southwest Nebraska Big Give is no different and the numbers look good for the annual one-day of giving. 

On Nov. 2, more than $190,000 was donated to 38 non-profit organizations in McCook and Southwest Nebraska through 731 donations. But those are not the final numbers. 

A few donations will trickle in over the next few days, which will count toward the final total. And additional sponsorship dollars still need to be applied. Each organization receives not only matching funds through the “power hours” but also receives matching funds based on their total raised. That is what makes the Big Give so impactful: donations are matched in a variety of different ways throughout the event. 

When the final numbers are tabulated over the next two weeks, McCook Community Chest organizers expect that the Southwest Nebraska Big Give total will surpass the 2022 final number of $219,000. 

Southwest Nebraska Big Give is organized by the McCook Community Chest, a group of local volunteers who work throughout the year to raise funds for local non-profits, primarily through the Big Give. The committee is co-chaired by Lisa Felker and Melissa Stritt, who put in countless hours leading up the community's biggest day of philanthropy.

Every year, they are in awe of the generosity of the community, donating to support those organizations which keep the community going.

“We are pleased with the day,” Felker said. “After adding in the matching funds and donations, we will reach our highest level to date.”

The Big Give began in McCook in 2016 as Big Give McCook and included 18 organizations. Eight years later, the event has grown to include all of Southwest Nebraska and includes 38 non-profit organizations.

Felker noted that those record numbers are made possible because of the hundreds of donations given during Big Give, as well as the sponsors, which include Graff Charitable Foundation and MNB Bank, along with Community Hospital and First Interstate Bank. 

Numerous other organizations and individuals make Big Give possible including Horizon Bank, McCook Clinic, Golden Plains Realty and Herrmann-Jones and Jones-Lockenauer Funeral Homes, First Central Bank, Pinnacle Bank, State Farm-Linda Maiden, First State Bank and Insurance, Waypoint Bank and MNB Insurance

Other sponsors who make the matching funds possible are Hometown Agency, Wagner Auto Group, W Design Associates, Casey’s General Store and the Sports Shoppe.

“And the day wouldn’t happen without people knowing about the event,” Felker said, “which is why local media is so important, so a huge thank-you to the McCook Gazette, Hometown Family Radio and High Plains Radio.”

As the final numbers are tabulated, more information will be released. But in the meantime, visit the Southwest Nebraska Big Give website, swnebiggive.org, to see totals, rankings and perhaps most importantly, learn more about these organizations which are vital to McCook and Southwest Nebraska. 

Community Chest is a sub-account of the McCook Community Foundation Fund, an affiliated fund of the Nebraska Community Foundation.