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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Getting Outside to National Night Out

By Ronda Graff • August 4, 2025

Getting Outside of National Night Out Nearly everyone can tell you their last interaction with the police or the fire department. And unfortunately because of the nature of the organizations, it is usually not at a positive moment. My last contact with the McCook Police Department was just a few weeks ago, when I was pulled over on B Street in McCook…on my scooter. I pulled into the wrong lane when making a turn, which is illegal. But in my defense, it was an act of self-defense to just get through the intersection of East B and Sixth streets alive. Since the drivers haven’t seen a stop-light since Holdrege, cars and semis regularly run the traffic light, which makes me a wee bit vulnerable as I pass through the lanes. I got off with a warning but the true punishment were the texts throughout the day from everyone who saw me with my scooter and the police officer. Since most exchanges with police and fire are not on good terms, National Night Out was created to have an evening of positive interactions, to remind the public that the police and fire departments are just normal people, doing their jobs, looking out for their friends and neighbors, trying to create a safe community for everyone. National Night Out is designed to simply join your friends and neighbors for an evening of fellowship and fun. It is an opportunity to meet local law enforcement, creating safer and more caring neighborhoods. McCook is joining thousands of other communities across the country in hosting National Night Out, which typically takes place on the first Tuesday of August every year. Planned for Tuesday, Aug. 5 from 5:30-7 p.m. in and around Norris Park in McCook, the night includes a bike parade, a walk, awards for bike decorating, desserts and more. In other words, it is simply a block party to hang out. Numerous organizations have come together to make the evening possible. CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and the McCook Rotary Club are hosting a bike parade that starts at 6 p.m. Linda Maiden with State Farm, a bicycle helmet advocate, will also be in Norris Park. The streets around Norris Park will be shut down to provide a safe area to ride, as well as more space to cruise around the block. Participants are encouraged to decorate their bike, scooter, roller skates or anything on wheels. This could mean streamers, pompom balls, markers or even the old classic - playing cards in the spokes of your wheels. Some supplies will be available at the park for use if you show up and realize you are the most underdressed person at the party. If your bike has an inch of dust on it, this is a great time to get it out, wipe it off and get it rolling. And if your bike needs minimal fixes like a flat tire or a brake adjustment, bike tools will be on hand along with myself and my hubbie, who know just enough about bike repair to be dangerous but did manage a 300-plus mile bike ride last week so we must be doing something right. But let’s say you don’t have a bike or biking isn’t your cup of tea? Then you are still encouraged to join the “Walk in the Park,” hosted by Community Hospital. Designed to encourage a healthy lifestyle, walkers will stroll around the park and the neighborhood at whatever pace you feel like with strollers and dogs on leashes welcomed. And perhaps most importantly, there will be a chance to meet members of the McCook Police and Fire Department, getting to see police cars and fire engines close-up in a non-emergency manner, always the best way to see them. And if the weather cooperates, there may be a fire hose, water and spraying involved. If you have been at the Culbertson Fourth of July parade, you know it is up to you to stay out of the line of fire if you want to remain dry. We all have excuses for why we don’t want to go out at night, especially after a long day at work. But National Night Out in McCook on Aug. 5 is a great reason to get out your bicycle and lace up your walking shoes. Hang out with your friends, get to know your neighbors and meet your first responders. That is what makes our communities just a little bit better.