SW Nebraska Big Give Hosting Record Numbers of Groups

By RONDA GRAFF

MCFF

McCOOK, Neb. - Now in its ninth year, the Southwest Nebraska Big Give on Nov. 7 is bigger than ever with the most non-profit organizations participating in the 24 hours of giving.

The 2024 Big Give includes 41 groups, which represent nearly a dozen communities and an even wider variety of interests and topics, programs and projects.

The Big Give was originally called Big Give McCook but evolved into Southwest Nebraska Big Give in 2023 to recognize all the organizations from surrounding communities which take part in the one-day of philanthropy. The goal is also to bring in sponsorship dollars from not only McCook but all of Southwest Nebraska since sponsorship dollars are what make the Big Give so impactful.

To be eligible for the Southwest Nebraska Big Give, an organization much be a 501(3) non-profit with a physical presence in Southwest Nebraska.

The organizations taking part this year which have been part of the Big Give since its inception in 2016 include the McCook YMCA, McCook Arts Council, McCook Community Chest, McCook Humane Society, Family Resource Center, McCook Community Foundation Fund, Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska, Domestic Abuse/Sexual Assault Services, Salvation Army, Court Appointed Special Advocates, Southwest Nebraska Habitat for Humanity and McCook’s TeamMates Mentoring Program.

Other 2024 organizations include the Community Hospital Health Foundation, ABC Pregnancy Help Center, Sixth Floor Project/ArtBank, Cambridge Senior Center, Curtis Area Senior Center, Discovery Center, Haigler Community Foundation, High Plains Historical Society and Museum, Hillcrest Nursing Home Foundation, Boy Scouts of America-Mid-America Council, Norris Institute, McCook Art Guild, McCook College Foundation, McCook Community Kitchen, McCook Education Foundation, McCook K9 Korner, McCook Legion Baseball Boosters, Southwest Nebraska Genealogy Society, St. Patrick School, Tri Valley Medial Foundation, and TeamMates for Cambridge and Maywood.

New organizations this year are Beautify McCook, Stratton Community Foundation Fund, Cambridge Community Daycare Foundation, Cambridge Park Foundation, Southwest Area Training Service and Daughters of the American Revolution. And returning is Freedom Festival after a one-year hiatus.

Over the next month, look for a series of stories about all the organizations, what their missions and goals are and projects planned for the upcoming year.

The 2024 Southwest Nebraska Big Give is made possible because of sponsors providing matching funds, which are used during the “power hours” throughout the day, as well as overall matching funds for each organization based upon their totals.

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, swnebihgive.org.

More information about the Big Give and all the organizations participating can be found on the Big Give website.

Online donations will begin to be accepted at 12 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 7 through 11:59 p.m. A complete list of in-person giving stations can be found on the website, along with a printable form so donors can arrive with their donation ready.

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.

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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.