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.

  1. 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.

Closing of Bakery Shows Need for Connection

By Ronda Graff • October 24, 2025
McCook's last hometown bakery closed this past week, leaving a void not just for donuts but for connections.

Choosing to Repair, Recycle and Reuse

By Ronda Graff • October 16, 2025
Many organizations and businesses in McCook offer the opportunity to recycle, reuse and repair items that may just end up in the trash.

Oct. 2025 Volunteer Has Passion for Storytelling

By Ronda Graff • October 13, 2025
Organizer for Buffalo Commons Storytelling Festival and former librarian named Oct 2025 volunteer of the month.

Making Memories at McCook's Third Thursdays

By Ronda Graff • October 10, 2025
McCook's Third Thursdays were created to get businesses and organizations involved and designed to create life-long memories for the community.

Sept. 2025 Volunteer Familiar Face for Those in Need

By Ronda Graff • October 2, 2025
Long-time community advocate Barb Ostrum received the Sept 2025 McCook Volunteer of the Month award.

Taking the Time to Appreciate Our Young People

By Peggy Been • October 1, 2025
We need to celebrate our young people while they are here and encourage them to return.

Realizing Rainy Days Aren't for Everyone

By Ronda Graff • September 29, 2025
While some like myself appreciate a rainy day, others dread them for a variety of reasons. We need to be empathetic as interact with others.

Wrestling Facility Among Spring Grants; Fall Deadline Approaching

By Ronda Graff • September 23, 2025
MCFF Fall Grant Deadline is Oct. 1. Complete list of former recipients on MCFF website

Cleaning Up and Preparing for a Busy Week

By Ronda Graff • September 19, 2025
With so much going, it is time for a “This, That and the Other Thing” column, where we will cover several topics, not very deeply but hopefully with a sense of humor as we clean up and prepare for a busy week in McCook. *** McCook again made state and national news this week for ice. This time, it was in the form of hail that pounded the community for hours upon hours. Conversations this week begin with “where were you….?” or “how many windows did you lose?” And while they may be legitimate and are offering their services, it is like vultures with all the roofing repair and dent removal businesses which have descended upon McCook following the storm. As city officials noted, do your due diligence with any company doing repairs for you and follow the old adage, which is old and still around because it’s true: If something seems to be too good to be true, it probably is. And one last note on the storm, we need to be careful what we ask for. As storm after storm approaches McCook and then splits in two to go around the town, we finally got one to roll right over us. The storm liked McCook so much it slowed down and just there. I was in Lincoln during the storm and trying to determine when I would drive home. I thought the weather app had frozen or the radar was broken because every time I looked, the storm was still sitting over McCook, doing its damage. I guess we can be thankful the next time a storm seemingly just goes around us. *** We are in the thick of McCook’s Heritage Days celebration. Congratulations to all the Heritage Days Royalty, which was announced at the MNB Bank Mixer this week. A special shout-out to Bill Donze, better known as Mr. Bill and his wife, Kathy, who were honored as royalty for their impact in McCook. As many know, Mr. Bill is fighting cancer and the prognosis isn’t good. The chances of him selling snow-cones and candy out of his van next summer near the McCook Aquatic Center are not good. One judge of his impact was the response to my column about Mr. Bill a few months ago. The post was shared thousands of times, viewed nearly 70,000 times with just as many comments by people sharing their fond memories of Mr. Bill. So when you see Mr. Bill riding down Norris in the convertible this weekend in the Heritage Days parade, send extra prayers and well-wishes to the man who has brought so much joy to so many kids - and adults too - over the years. *** Continuing on the Heritage Days theme, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that the McCook Rotary Club is tossing all egos and formality out the window this weekend. As the president of the McCook Rotary Club, I invite everyone to at least watch, if not participate, in the Rotary’s first inflatable costume relay race on Saturday as part of the festivities in Norris Park. These are those giant, blow-up costumes you usually see around Halloween. The first costumes were usually T-Rexes but now there is everything imaginable available as a design. With the idea for the race originally conceived by Melanie Goodenberger, she has purchased everything from corn on the cob to a cowboy riding a chicken. This is a fund-raiser for the Rotary Club with a cost of just $20 for a team of four to participate in the relay race. But it is also a chance to giggle, perhaps make a fool of yourself and just have fun. Come to the park Saturday afternoon for the Wiener Dog races and stay for the Rotary Relay races. While the dogs will already be close to the ground, the relay race participants will likely just end up on the ground. *** With so much going on in McCook this week, I debated whether there should be another activity the next week but the response has already been great for the Lied’s Arts Across Nebraska’s next production in McCook. Hosted by the McCook Creative District, the Omaha Street Percussion ensemble will perform at the Fox Theater on Wednesday, Sept. 24. There is a matinee showing at 10:30 a.m. but I will be up-front…we are testing the capacity of the Fox with every seat already claimed with students. If that is the only show you can make, please come and we’ll find you a seat but it may be those up in the rafters. Otherwise, please plan to attend the 7 p.m. show on Sept. 24. And even better, there is no cost thanks to the Kimmel Foundation and the Friends of the Lied. This is a busy week and a busy weekend but this is a great opportunity to sit back and enjoy a fun, entertaining evening of live music.

Taking a Chance to Try Something New

By Ronda Graff • September 12, 2025
Most likely, we aren't going to be good at something at the start. But that shouldn't stop us from trying.