By RONDA GRAFF

MCFF

Plans are underway for the 7th annual Big Give McCook, which will be Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022. Along with welcoming back the previous non-profit groups, organizers have opened up registration for new non-profit organizations now through July 5th. 

Applications are available online at biggivemccook.org for any new non-profit organizations which would like to be part of the 2022 Big Give McCook. Organizations, which have participated in the past, have been contacted to see about being part of Big Give McCook again this year.

Big Give McCook is coordinated by a volunteer Community Chest committee. 

To join Big Give McCook, organizations are asked to fill out an application on the website under “Sign Up Now.” Participants will also be asked to attend one planning meeting as well as offer support leading up to and on the day of Big Give McCook.

To be eligible for Big Give McCook, organizations must have a 501(c)3 exempt status in good standing with the IRS as well as have a physical presence and provide services for Southwest Nebraska. Private foundations and political or governmental organizations are excluded from the event. Religious organizations are also excluded except those providing community programs. All applications are ultimately approved by the Community Chest committee.

Big Give McCook is one day devoted to philanthropy, where every donation - large or small - makes a difference. From midnight to midnight on Nov. 3, participating non-profits will be eligible for donations, whether they are given online or in person at “giving stations” around McCook. 

Donors get to choose both how much they would like to give along with where the money should go. There will also be matching funds, provided by local businesses supporting the event, making those donations go even further. Any business or organizations which would like to be a sponsor for Big Give McCook should contact Community Chest members.

The Community Chest provides financial resources to a dozen agencies in McCook, which serve the basic needs of the community. Community Chest is a sub-account of the McCook Community Foundation Fund, which is an affiliated fund of the Nebraska Community Foundation. 

For more information about Big Give McCook, visit the Big Give website or call Community Chest co-coordinators Lisa Felker or Melissa Stritt at 345-4240.