By Shary Skiles

McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. – Making Southwest Nebraska better is one of the goals of the McCook Community Foundation Fund Advisory Committee. By bringing people and resources together to collaborate and dream big, MCFF has been accomplishing that goal for the past 22 years.

The McCook Chamber chose McCook Community Foundation Fund as its 2023 first-quarter Honor Business. Chamber President Molly Smith told committee members that the chamber wanted to recognize the importance MCFF plays in the community by providing financial and leadership support for so many projects. Since its formation in 2001, MCFF has directly granted more than $600,000 to community organizations, benefiting youth programs, services to the elderly, education, cultural activities, and many large and small community projects.

MCFF committee member Cynthia Huff graciously gave credit for MCFF’s accomplishments to community members. “None of the work that we do, which is energizing and exciting work that we get to do, would happen without people like you being partners,” Huff told the gathering at Friday morning’s presentation. “Our donors are fabulous and believe in this community, and all the organizations we have that make this community a better place to call home are making this community better. We’re all here together so thank you.”

Shary Skiles/McCook Gazette

MCFF met at the McCook Junior High School meeting room so they could observe one of their latest grants to the McCook Public School system, a CNC router. MCFF committee member and McCook Public School Business Manager Jeff Gross said that MCFF has been encouraging the school system to think outside the box and dream creatively about things that would enrich MPS students’ experiences in the school system. He said instructors Tom Sughroue and Tyler Jedlicki in the Industrial Technology Department came up with the idea of purchasing the CNC (computer numerical control) router for the department. Gross said the total cost of the project was about $44,000, with MCFF donating half of that cost.

The apparatus will cut wood, plastic, and aluminum. The machine is operated by a computer program that controls the movement of the cutting tool and can be used to create intricate designs and shapes in materials that would be difficult to achieve with traditional hand tools. It is capable of cutting, drilling, engraving, and shaping with great precision and accuracy.

Students and instructors have been learning the many capabilities of the machine and have made nameplates for both MCFF board members and MPS Board of Education members. “This technology will ensure a kid has the job skills to go out in the real world,” Gross said.

Gross told the gathering that McCook Public Schools has greatly benefited from the generosity of MCFF through the years, citing grants for Bison Days and Bison Kid’s Club as examples. MCFF also sponsors Youth Change Reaction (YCR), a group of 12 high school students, three from each grade, who work together to promote and encourage positive change for youth throughout the community. YCR is currently working on “Cars Under the Stars”, an outdoor entertainment center where young and old can come together to watch a movie. Their plan is to have the project operational by this summer.

MCFF Fund Advisory Committee members include Huff, Gross, Matt Sehnert, Peggy Been, Gavin Harsh, Dennis Berry, Kyle Dellevoet, Dale Dueland, Bill Graves, Linda Taylor, Tricia Wagner, and Pam Wolford.