By RONDA GRAFF MCFF Plans for the 10th annual Southwest Nebraska Big Give are underway with the one-day of giving scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. For 24 hours this fall, people can donate to their favorite non-profit organizations both in person at giving stations and on-line at swnebiggive.org. But before the big day, Community Chest organizers put a lot of planning and work to make the day a success. This includes getting the non-profit organizations registered for the event. Organizations that would like to participate in the Southwest Nebraska Big Give must register between June 1-30 on the Big Give website. This includes those groups which have participated in the past and those which would like to be included for the first time this year. Any group which has participated in the past will be notified to re-register for the 2025 Big Give. To join Big Give, organizations are asked to fill out an application on the website under “Register Your Non-Profit Now.” Participants must also attend a planning meeting, as well as offer support leading up to and on the day of the Big Give. To be eligible for the Big Give, 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 with non-profit status verified through Guidestar. Coordinated by the Community Chest volunteer committee, Southwest Nebraska Big Give is one day devoted to philanthropy, where every donation - large or small - makes a difference. From midnight to midnight on Nov. 6, participating non-profits will be eligible for donations, whether they are given online or in person at “giving stations.” 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 event is now in its third year as Southwest Nebraska Big Give, originally known as Big Give McCook. But with many organizations participating from around Southwest Nebraska, the name was changed in 2023. Organizations involved in the Big Give are also encouraged to be part of the June 19th Third Thursday in McCook, which is being hosted by the Norris Institute. While a volunteer fair/Big Give promotion was held last November, the weather didn’t cooperate. So the McCook Volunteer Fair is now part of the Third Thursday, with all non-profits are being asked to set up a table to share information about their volunteer needs, what they are doing in the community and how the public can support the organization. Contact Caitlin Whitehead at caitlin.whitehead1@gmail.com to signup or for more information. 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 the Southwest Nebraska Big Give, visit the Big Give website or call Community Chest co-coordinators Lisa Felker or Melissa Stritt at 308-345-4240 or MCFF coordinator Ronda Graff at 308-340-3412.

With the goal of reaching 200 subscriptions, the Bison Alumni Newsletter is launching a subscription service.

MCFF was proud to be part of several projects and events in 2024 - large and small - to make McCook an even better place to call home.

McCook Aquatic Park Entrance Fees Among MCFF's 2024 Grants

The 2024 Southwest Nebraska Big Give reached record numbers thanks to support from the community, donors and sponsors.

The Southwest Nebraska Big Give includes those groups helping those most in need for day-to-day services to organizations bringing art, color and creativity to our communities.

Many Big Give organizations have a focus on the youngest and oldest members of the community.

By RONDA GRAFF MCFF With less than a month until the 2024 Southwest Nebraska Big Give, organizers would like to introduce all the organizations which are part of the one day of giving. But with more than 40 non-profits, the groups have been loosely divided into groups, somewhat based on the projects they are working on or people they are serving. By the Big Give on Thursday, Nov. 7, all of the organizations will be covered, starting with the non-profits which are working toward a specific project and/or entity. Perhaps the best known group in the Big Give is the McCook YMCA , which has been a part of McCook for nearly a century. While the organization is undergoing a capital campaign, funds from the Big Give are used to offset fees for families and youth, as well as operating expenses. Another well-known entity is the McCook Humane Society , which works tirelessly for our four-legged friends, both feline and canine. Sticking with the animals, the McCook K9 Korner operates McCook’s dog park, located at Barnett Park with the hope of installing agility equipment for visiting dogs. Many have likely heard of Habitat for Humanity , which has a Southwest Nebraska Chapter and is responsible for many new houses throughout the area over the past few years with the hope of building more in the future. Two organizations which are helping our communities remember (or find) their history is the High Plains Historical Society and Museum , with its location on Norris Avenue, and the Southwest Nebraska Genealogy Society , which utilizes the resources in the museum as well as online. Returning after a year’s hiatus is the Freedom Festival , which is McCook’s annual Fourth of July celebration and is organized by McCook Christian Church. New to the Big Give in 2024 is Beautify McCook , which is responsible for McCook’s downtown holiday lighting, the flowering planters on Norris Avenue and additional lights in Norris Park. Cambridge Park Foundation joins the Big Give for the first time, as it works to improve and update the city’s park. Southwest Area Training Services , commonly called SWATS, has joined for itself and its foundation, serving our community’s residents with special needs. And the Daughters of the American Revolution joins Big Give for the first time in 2024, again helping people remember their past while looking forward. The Southwest Nebraska Big Give is made even more impactful because of the generous sponsors, which provide matching dollars. Platinum and gold sponsors include Graff Charitable Foundation and MNB Bank, Community Hospital and First Interstate Bank. A complete list of sponsors will be available on the Big Give website, swnebiggive.org. The Southwest Nebraska Big Give is coordinated by Community Chest, which is a sub-account of the McCook Community Foundation Fund, an affiliated fund of the Nebraska Community Foundation.

Southwest Nebraska Big Give is Thursday, Nov. 7 and will feature more than 40 non-profit organizations.

YCR's Cars Under the Stars presents second showing to filled "up" parking lot to watch Pixar's "Up."

Cars Under the Stars showing Pixar's "Up" Aug. 17 at Red Willow Co. Fairgrounds

All organizations that would like to be part of the 2024 Southwest Nebraska Big Give need to register by Sept. 9.

After two years of fund-raising, planning and researching, Youth Change Reaction's Cars Under the Stars will have its first show May 4 with a Star Wars movie.

McCook's Creative District and the City of McCook received a planning grant from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development to look at several forward-thinking projects.