SWNE Big Give Group's Focus on Young and Elderly

By RONDA GRAFF

MCFF

McCOOK - While it can be hard to categorize some of the non-profit organizations involved in the Southwest Nebraska Big Give, many of them have a specific focus on young and older community members. And all of them are seeking donations during the Big Give on Thursday, Nov. 7.

In the second of four stories about the Big Give non-profits, the following groups have a fairly specific focus on both ends of the age groups.

With a priority for our senior citizens, the Cambridge Senior Center and Curtis Area Senior Center are both working to meets the needs of the elderly in their respective communities.

Highlighting the need for affordable and good childcare, the Cambridge Community Daycare Foundation has joined Big Give for the first time this year. Also joining for the first times the Cambridge School Foundation, to meet the needs of the Trojan students.

TeamMates, which connects young people with older mentors, has been part of the Big Give for several years. McCook, Cambridge and Maywood all have TeamMates chapters and are seeking donations to keep their programs growing.

One of the most successful Big Give participants over the years has been St. Patrick Elementary School in McCook, which serves the area for preschool through eighth grade.

Hoping to serve the young people of the community is the Discovery Center, otherwise known as Breakaway, which hopes to open up their physical in McCook in the near future.

Well known in the community, the Boys Scouts of America-Mid-America Council and the McCook Legion Baseball Boosters are raising funds to support their individual entities, but both with a focus on helping young people reach their full potential.

And an organization which has been with the Big Give since its start in 2016 is the Family Resource Center, which helps meet the needs of youth and families throughout the area.

While donors can give funds throughout the year, the Southwest Nebraska Big Give is 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.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Mail

Bison Days Is About More Than Just Jobs

By Ronda Graff • February 5, 2026

Bison Days brings high schoolers and community members to learn about job possibilities but also interests and hobbies in their hometown.

MCFF Expands Scholarship Offerings

By Ronda Graff • February 4, 2026

MCFF Continues to Add Scholarships for Local Students

With Little Snow, Still the Season of Lights

By Ronda Graff • January 29, 2026

With little to snow on the ground in McCook, holiday lights help beat the drab and dreary season.

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.