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.

The McCook Humane Society was a grant recipient last fall, enabling the facility to purchase new cat cages. The upcoming grant deadline is Monday, April 1 with applications online at mccookfoundation.org.

The 2023 Southwest Nebraska Big Give is the biggest one day of giving in the event's 8 year history, thanks to generous donors and sponsors.

While the final numbers are still coming in, the 2023 Southwest Nebraska Big Give looks to be the biggest in its 8 year history, thanks to generous donors and sponsors in the community.

The second annual event hosted by MCFF celebrated past grants along with the latest donation in memory of Frank Weiland for a new scholarship.

MCFF grant supporting Creative District planning and application

James Lee's donation to several McCook organizations, including MCFF, will have impact for generations.

Cutline : 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.

To better represent all the organizations and communities involved in the Big Give, the Nov. 2 event has a new name: Southwest Nebraska Big Give.