Exciting Ride for MCFF in 2024

By RONDA GRAFF

MCFF

The past year was a busy year for McCook as well as the McCook Community Foundation Fund. Building projects and new programs have helped make McCook on the Move.

While not everything was successful last year - the McCook school bond issue failed to pass - there was a lot to celebrate and MCFF was happy to go along for the ride.

While it is hard to limit what was accomplished the past year, following are the top 10 stories involving MCFF in 2024.

Grants to City of McCook Toward New Aquatic Center

McCook’s new aquatic center opened in July 2024 with a full capacity. Those using the city’s new pool had an added bonus: no entry fee. To alleviate the burden of paying to get into the new pool, MCFF covered all entry fees for the opening season.

MCFF also covered the cost for the lifeguard certification if the person worked at either the YMCA or McCook City pool.

While those two grants are now over, MCFF is collaborating with the city on other projects.

2. 2024 Big Give Hits Record Number of Donations and Organizations

In its ninth year, the Southwest Nebraska Big Give included the most number of non-profit organizations on its lineup. In turn, the 2024 Big Give also reached it highest amount of donations in November 2024. Hundreds of individual donors plus matching funds from Graff Charitable Foundation and MNB Bank helped the one-day of giving reach a new height. And plans are underway for the 10th annual Big Give on Thursday, Nov. 6.

3. Youth Change Reaction’s Cars Under the Stars

After two years of planning, fund-raising and building, a drive-in theater, “Cars Under the Stars,” is in place at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds. With the help of Jiles Bowman and the Red Willow County Fair Board, a full-sized screen was constructed by the grandstands with sound provided over a FM-transmitter. The first movie was a Star Wars film, shown May 4th, 2024, in

honor of the saying “May the Fourth be with You.”

4. McCook Creative District Received $200,000 DED Grant

MCFF joined with the City of McCook, Community Hospital, Graff Charitable Foundation, and the McCook Economic Development Corp. to provide $100,000 in matching funds for a Nebraska Dept. of Economic Development planning grant in early 2024. The funds are being used for a marketing plan for McCook, as well as a downtown revitalization plan where the Creative District is based.

5. McCook’s Third Thursdays Kick Off in 2024

What began as a leadership concept evolved into a monthly downtown event in 2024. In 2023,MCFF worked with all the local leadership organizations on what was needed in the community.

One idea was for more people to learn how to do events and get people to those events and Third Thursdays was conceived. To kick off the 2024 season, the McCook Creative District took the reigns and organized Third Thursdays with a different “host” from May through October.

Plans for the 2025 are being finalized with music, games and food and drinks planned for Third Thursdays in McCook’s Creative District.

6. Spring and Fall Grants Continue to Grow

MCFF has distributed grants to local organizations and programs twice a year for more than 20 years. But what has changed over the past two decades is the amount available to make an impact in the community. In 2024, MCFF granted more than $250,000 to more than a dozen projects including the new McCook inclusive playground and a bike loan program at McCook Community College. A complete list of grants given by MCFF is available online, along with grant applications, which have deadlines of April 1 and Oct. 1 each year.

7. MCFF Doubles Number of Scholarships

For years, MCFF has overseen two scholarships for local students: the Nelda Haag Scholarship and Barbara Fassler-Neumann Nursing Scholarship. The scholarships have doubled with four scholarships available in 2025 and another planned for 2026. New to the line-up is the Frank and Marion Weiland Scholarship to benefit those going into the education field and the Learn-

and-Return Scholarship with the MEDC for those committed to moving back to their hometown.

8. MCFF Continues Support of YMCA Capital Campaign

The YMCA has been part of McCook for a century. To ensure that the fitness center is part of the community for future generations, MCFF has worked with the McCook YMCA since it began a renovation and expansion project, including funds for a feasibility study. In 2024, MCFF pledged a multi-year grant toward the YMCA’s Capital Campaign project which kicks of in 2025.

9. McCook Connects Expands Impact in Community

MCFF believes in collaboration and that is shown in the McCook Connects group, which had MCFF and Community Hospital come together to welcome newcomers to the community.

Working alongside the McCook Chamber, McCook Connects matches new-comers with current residents of similar interests.

McCook Connects Coffee also launched in late 2024, with a monthly coffee on the first Saturday of each month from 9-11 a.m. at Ember’s Bakery. People can come and go, get community resources, and meet others in a relaxed setting.

10. Planned Gifts Priority for MCFF

Red Willow County is in the midst of an enormous transfer of wealth, that will see millions of dollars change from one generation to the next. Because the money could potentially leave the community, MCFF is focusing on planned gifts and Five to Thrive, which asks people to consider leaving just five percent of their assets to their hometown.

MCFF honored those who included McCook and MCFF in their estate plans during 2024, including Matt and Shelly Sehnert, Jeff and Diana Gross, Jessica and Heath Bortner and Sean and Becky Wolfe.

These are just the highlights with so much more that can be found in the McCook Gazette or on the MCFF website, mccookfoundation.org, whether in news stories on the Community Connection columns that run each week in the paper and online.

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July 2025 Volunteer Makes Positive Impact At Chamber and Across Community

By Ronda Graff • July 29, 2025

Judy McCune named July 2025 McCook volunteer of the month

June Volunteer of the Month Key to Numerous Organizations

By Ronda Graff • July 29, 2025

Joyce Anderson named June 2025 McCook Volunteer of the Month

Sharing Books and Bikes Great Use of Resources

By Ronda Graff • July 29, 2025

Sharing our resources, such as books and bikes and even benches, help our community better for everyone.

Celebrating a Flurry of Activity in Our Community

By Ronda Graff • July 19, 2025

For many years, McCook did just enough to get by but now there is a flurry of activity - with much more possible - which we should be celebrating.

Family Resource Center Using Grant for New Ideas

By Ronda Graff • July 15, 2025

Family Resource Center is using a grant from MCFF to support current and new projects.

Picking up the Lost Baton That Lead To Cars Under the Stars

By Gavin Harsh • July 9, 2025

It was fall of 2012. I was a senior in high school and preparing for the next chapter of my life, college. I was determined that I was going to the University of Nebraska in Lincoln for physical therapy. I also knew to go through undergrad and graduate school I was going to need a lot of scholarships or “student debt” would be my middle name. With that mindset, I ultimately decided not to play basketball my senior year to allocate my time to scholarship applications and a part-time job. It was a tough decision since I enjoyed playing basketball and being around my friends, but it was an investment toward my future. Flash forward to early spring, where I was absolutely blessed by being recognized as a recipient of numerous scholarships that alleviated a major financial burden! Leading up to that point, I was already active in community service projects. But upon receiving those scholarships, I was motivated to give back and say “thank you” for the investment in my education by others. I wanted to do something big, something that would impact the community. Through various conversations and research, I decided to bring back an iconic memory to many McCook natives, a drive-in movie. Through strong partnerships with many local businesses and volunteers, we held a drive-in movie not only my senior year but also my first two years of college, as I returned to help coordinate the project. During the three years of shows in McCook, we rented all the equipment from Dallas, but the dream was to build a permanent, non-profit drive-in for the community to use. However, as I progressed further in my new career of farming, my resources of time and energy were capped and the event sat idle. That is until a group of young, ambitious, and talented students picked up the lost baton. During numerous discussions, Youth Change Reaction members, otherwise known as YCR, shared that they wanted to complete a big project. Many ideas were tossed around, but when the idea of bringing back the drive-in movie came about, it stuck for two reasons: these young adults had memories of attending drive-in movies plus it would meet their goal of going BIG. In the process of picking up the lost baton, their journey into uncharted waters included raising $75,000, building partnerships with community businesses and organizations, and finding the proper equipment. It was truly humbling and at that point, because life really had come full circle. I was once a YCR member and had this dream nearly 10 years ago. But now these young adults went above and beyond in building McCook’s very own “Cars Under the Stars” non-profit outdoor drive-in theater. This project was a true philanthropic endeavor that not only will last for many years, but leaves a legacy, young or old, that we all play a vital role in our community. The power of community collaboration, teamwork, and dedication pulled off a tremendous feat and now our community has a long-standing asset to enjoy. I encourage everyone to take these philanthropic efforts exemplified by our talented youth and implement them into our communities. Embodying the mission of making our rural Nebraska community a better place to live and call home. Those efforts may not result in fulfilling the entire dream you have, but it may be planting the seed and laying the foundation for someone to pick it up. We all have our blessed talents. What are we doing to help move our community forward? What has someone done before you to help set the stage for you to improve? Is there a lost baton in your community that you can pick up and make better? *** Gavin Harsh is an original member of Youth Change Reaction, the youth organization for the McCook Community Foundation Fund, and now serves as a volunteer member on the MCFF Advisory Committee.

'Tis Better to Give Than to Receive

By Ronda Graff • July 8, 2025

We are entering the holiday season. Not the typical cold, wintery time of year but the hot, sultry Fourth of July festivities. As part of this holiday, there are many upcoming celebrations to mark the United State’s birthday. Many have likely seen in the news and on social media that Kearney had to cancel its Freedom Festival, due to a lack of volunteers. This led to some confusion that McCook’s event was not happening July 3, which is understandable since they literally have the same name. But McCook’s event is taking place (may have already taken place by the time you read this) at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds. This event and others like it happen because several things need to be in place including people, businesses and organizations providing the funding needed to make it a reality. But perhaps more importantly, people, businesses and organizations step up to help by volunteering their time. If you don’t have people to plan and organize, the events can’t happen. If you don’t have friends and families willing to give of their time working, these events can’t happen. If you don’t have volunteers who see the value in spending an evening with others, these events won’t happen. And as we have seen, the reality is not that far away in Kearney. But we have proven that residents in McCook and Southwest Nebraska are willing to step up and help and make these projects happen, most recently this past weekend with the Tour de Nebraska (TDN) bike ride, the McCook Chamber’s Bash on the Bricks and Wagner’s Cruise Night. These events took dozens - if not hundreds - of volunteers giving hundreds of hours to make it happen. I was most involved with the Tour de Nebraska, the five-day bicycle ride that had more than 300 riders plus support staff in McCook for two days and nights. As the last of the bike riders headed north to the finish at Curtis on Sunday morning, what was left behind was a sense of joy by those who played a role in the event. There were numerous roles for the volunteers involved in TDN, from visiting businesses to let them know about the increased foot traffic to unloading luggage for the riders. There were the Community Hospital employees who staffed the welcome tent as the riders rolled into town. While the hill up to the staging area by McCook Community College event center is not normally that daunting, it proves to be a challenge after riding 60 miles from Cambridge in 90-degree weather. Nearly everyone pulled up the tent, exasperated over the hill, but was then overjoyed as a hospital employee draped an ice-soaked towel around their neck. There were literally sighs of relief and cries of joy due to this small gesture. Perhaps the biggest undertaking was the van shuttle system to get riders around the community. While the cyclists could have walked or ridden their bikes, it is hard to balance a load of laundry on your handlebars or to get across town from the movie theater late at night. Instead, for two days, nearly two dozen volunteer shuttle drivers drove a route around McCook, picking up and dropping off riders at local businesses. When it was all said and done, the shuttle drivers commented on how quickly their time went and how much fun they had. Some asked to take additional shifts, while others brought along a family member to be part of the joy of meeting others and to share the pride they have in their community. The drivers did receive a t-shirt for their time, but if you ask them, I’m betting that they will say they received more than they gave. Person after person who volunteered had stories from the two-day event, such as how friendly everyone was, how they enjoyed meeting people from across the U.S. and from other countries, and how they loved sharing what they love about their community. By volunteering, they came into contact with people they might not normally meet. There was a group from Denver who took the train from McCook after celebrating a bachelor party on the bike ride. There was the weatherman from Des Moines, who may have offered up his autograph. And there were the former McCook-residents who did the ride because it was in their hometown. This sense of joy and pride is not unique to this event. In fact, it is usually true of almost everyone who steps up to volunteer. Ultimately, you may give of your time and your talent and your treasure but usually you receive much more back in return. And if we all take that to heart and give back to our community by volunteering, we will all end up with so much more in return because it is better to give than to receive.

Building a Legacy with Five to Thrive

By Matt Sehnert • June 26, 2025

It isn’t easy to talk about money but with the transfer of wealth that will happen between the generations over the next few decades, it is something that needs to be a topic of conversation. As part of that discussion, pause for a moment and try to guess how much money will transfer to the next generation between 2020 and 2030, just in Red Willow County. And to make it a little easier, let’s make it multiple choice: $50 million $200 million $608 million I’ll give you the correct answer in just a moment, but for now consider how we know this information. The Nebraska Community Foundation has studied this Transfer of Wealth in every county across the state for decades. This research has inspired the “Five to Thrive” campaign, which encourages us all to consider how just 5% of our wealth could help our communities thrive for generations to come. As Baby Boomers pass on their legacy, the question isn’t if their wealth will transfer — but where. The default answer is typically “to our kids” or “to my family.” And that’s understandable. But here’s a deeper question: Should all of it go to our kids and to our family? Is this even a good idea? Are they prepared for the changes that could happen with the inheritance? Has a conversation been had about what the parents would like to see happen? Would it be wise — or meaningful — to consider leaving just a portion for the greater good? While you may think “I have to leave it all to my family,” there are options. The McCook Community Foundation Fund is here to help you explore what planned giving might look like for you, for your kids and your family. And while MCFF may be part of the conversation, it is not about leaving a gift to the foundation but rather to any cause that reflects your values. Whether you’re passionate about education, youth, the arts, rural vitality, or helping those in need, MCFF can help you connect your resources to your passions. We also offer tools to help you maximize tax savings and structure your giving in ways that are smart and personal. Whether you’re wealthy or working hard to get by, 5% is 5% and it all makes an impact. Which brings us to the answer about the transfer of wealth in Red Willow County over this decade. It will be more than $608 million that will transfer from one generation to the next. And if that next generation doesn’t live in Red Willow County or Southwest Nebraska, then those dollars leave the community, possibly forever. If just 5% of that $608 million were left for local causes, Red Willow County would have $30 million to strengthen our future — keeping rural Nebraska a place where our kids and grandkids can thrive. As Kathy Calvin said, “Giving is not just about making a donation. It is about making a difference.” There are so many possibilities to explore, so many ways to make a difference today and so many ways to leave your legacy. There’s no pressure. Just a conversation. When you're ready, reach out to me directly, to the McCook Community Foundation Fund, or — if you'd prefer more privacy — to the Nebraska Community Foundation. We are blessed in our community and we are in this together to make McCook and southwest Nebraska an even better place to call home. *** As the chairman of the McCook Community Foundation Fund, Matt Sehnert is passionate about making his hometown better for his family, friends and neighbors. Contact him at mwsehnert@gmail.com. Or reach out to MCFF at mcffund@gmail.com or Todd Mekelburg with the Nebraska Community Foundation at tmekelburg@nebcommfound.org.