McCook Foundation Exploring Role in Community

Being a member of the McCook Community Foundation’s Fund Advisory Committee (FAC) is one of the true joys in my life. It is a great group of community-minded members who truly want to make our community a better place to live, work, and play. We all benefit from being around like-minded individuals that we can share goals for their community.

Recently, we have been reviewing and looking for ways to improve our grant making process. While we could have just looked for some mechanical tweaks to make the process more efficient, the executive committee has taken the opportunity to do some deep philosophical reflection on how best to use the generous funds that have been contributed over the years and the role we see the Community Foundation taking moving forward as the fund continues to mature.

We have not yet completed this exercise, nor will it ever truly be “done” per se. But I think this is a good opportunity to share with the community at-large some of our thoughts.

One of the questions we asked is what do we actually “do” and what should we be doing that we are not. Right now, the FAC carries out four distinct functions in the community:

Grant Making: By building funds and endowments, the FAC aims to give a significant portion of those funds to non-profit and governmental organizations to support their projects, activities, and missions. The FAC values projects that are seen as impactful, innovative, and collaborative while honoring donor intent.
FAC Activities: The FAC members, subcommittee members, employees and volunteers aim to be a driving and collaborative force within the community. The FAC supports the community by supporting efforts to:
engage, train, and foster community leaders
bring community groups together in collaborative and productive ways
make our community a more attractive place to live and visit
be a driving force within the community
provide campaign and fundraising education and coaching to community organizations.
Supporting Donors: The McCook Community Foundation supports donors wishing to make an impact on the community by being a charitable vehicle to administer the gift in a tax advantageous and prudent manner. We also look for opportunities to leverage a donor’s vision through the use of matching funds and campaigns; and encourage everyone to consider charitable gifting in their estate plans.
Supporting Small and New Charitable Organizations: The McCook Community Foundation can be a charitable incubator for small and new charitable organizations, allowing them to get established or maintain supporting their cause in an economically efficient manner. We also value the collaboration of fundraising for small charities through activities such as the Big Give.

And perhaps most importantly, we want to hear from the community.

Visit MCFF’s website at mccookfoundation.org to learn more about what we are doing, where you can get involved and how to contact a committee member. Let your FAC members know your thoughts on the role that these funds should play in both creating a positive culture in McCook and in helping make McCook an excellent place to live, work and play.

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Although Sean Wolfe has a keen eye for numbers, serving as the chief financial officer for Community Hospital and the treasurer for many local organizations including the McCook Community Foundation Fund, he also has a gifted mind to see the big picture and how those numbers affect our community.

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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.