Fall 2023 Grant Deadline Approaching

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St. Patrick art teacher Deonne Hinz paints the likeness of the McCook Mural apprentice artists into the design, a beneficiary of the McCook Community Foundation Fund’s grants this past year.. MCFF also provided funding for Beautify McCook, which placed flowering planters on Norris Avenue, and were watered by local volunteers including Gary Wiemers.

By RONDA GRAFF

MCFF

McCOOK - Over the past year, downtown McCook has taken on a new appearance in several ways: Half a city block is now graced with a beautiful, eye-catching mural and many of the corners along Norris Avenue feature flowering planters.

Other recent changes include the addition of Norris Alley, which transformed a gravel parking lot between the Keystone Business Center and the historic Fox Theater into a welcoming space to gather for concerts, lunch or conversation. And the Fox is in the process of updating its marquee, which will be seen for blocks in either direction along Norris Avenue.

All of these projects are part of a bigger transformation of downtown McCook and all benefited from grants from the McCook Community Foundation Fund over the past few years. And the fund’s advisory committee is looking for new grant ideas and projects, which will benefit McCook and Southwest Nebraska.

Fall grant applications are due by Sunday, Oct. 1. Applications will be reviewed in October with grants awarded in November 2023.

Other grants awarded this past spring include:

McCook Arts Council: MerryMakers, Buffalo Commons and Summer Arts Program
McCook Community Chest: renaming to Southwest Nebraska Big Give
MCFF Summer Hometown Intern
Reality Checks Program for junior high students
Red Willow County Health Department: Vaccine Freezer
Habitat for Humanity: Volunteer Safety Equipment
Sixth Floor Project: Youth Docents

MCFF distributes grants twice a year, each spring and fall, with more than $150,000 available annually to organizations and individuals who are working to make McCook an even better place to call home.

A complete list of previous grant winners is available on the MCFF website, mcookfoundation.org, along with an application form and more information about MCFF.

McCook Community Foundation Fund is an affiliated fund of the Nebraska Community Foundation.

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Jan. 2026 Volunteer of the Month Devoted to Church and Community

By Ronda Graff • January 22, 2026

To kick off the new year, Jo Beebe has been selected as the January 2026 McCook Volunteer of the month. While many people might know Jo for her years at the Sports Shoppe, she can be found giving hours of her time to the community, especially at St. Patrick Church. Whether during the weekly Mass or for a funeral or wedding, Jo shares her beautiful voice from the choir loft, as well as leading the choir members. Jo, along with her husband Harold, also has served as the St. Pat’s GALA host couple in the past and continues to help with set-up and cleanup of the annual event. Jo is also active with the Fall Festival, the Rosary Rally and the Wild Game Feed in Curtis every year. She attends every the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults class and helps students prepare for confirmation. And since retiring from the Sports Shoppe, she is active in the Altar Society, and volunteers at the Bargain Bazaar thrift store. According to her nomination, “The way Jo gives of her time and talents to our parish and community is a reflection of her faith,” and the community and the church are better because of her generosity. The McCook Philanthropy Council selects the monthly recipient for the McCook Volunteer of the Month award as part of the McCook Community Foundation Fund’s McCook Volunteer program. If there is a volunteer in the community who should be recognized, please contact the McCook Chamber of Commerce at 308.340.3200 or visit McCook Volunteers on the MCFF website, mccookfoundation.org to complete a nomination form. The only requirement is that the nominee must be a resident of McCook or Red Willow County. Please have information about the nominee along with where and how they volunteer in the community.