“The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving.” - Albert Einstein
I’m a retired dentist who moved to McCook with my family in June 1969 to become the junior associate of the famous Blank brothers - Lavern and Don. I went on to practice dentistry for 45 years.
Three days after I retired at the age of 72, my mentor and friend, Don Harpst, recruited me to join the McCook Community Foundation Fund’s Advisory Committee. Despite being a founding member and a four-hour orientation, I still was not sure exactly how this foundation-concept worked nor how I would be an asset.
Fortunately, I found myself on a road trip with Don Harpst, Peggy Been and Ronda Graff to my first annual Nebraska Community Foundation (NCF) training and banquet to Columbus, Neb.
Like the Nebraska Dental Association conferences, the NCF annual conference has a common theme and brings together hundreds of volunteers from across the state. I was part of an NCF network with 1,500 community volunteers from 270 communities in 82 of Nebraska’s 93 counties.
(And mark your calendars because the NCF training and banquet will be in McCook this November.)
But back in 2015 in Columbus while attending break-out meetings on various subjects, I suddenly found my “why.”
The main reason why this work is important to me now is that I love McCook and I love making a difference. The values that MCFF represents are important to me. They are honesty, integrity and inclusivity. Our networking with NCF has accomplished so much and we are incredibly proud and grateful.
But there is more to do.
“The meaning of life is to find our gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” - Pablo Picasso
The intergenerational transfer of wealth is massive and continues to move rapidly. Nebraska became the “Good Life” because people recognized and seized new opportunities. Now is the time to act on an opportunity that can shape Nebraska’s future.
Over the next 50 years, Nebraskans will transfer billions of dollars to the next generation. This transfer of wealth offers an unprecedented opportunity if we count our communities among our heirs.
Imagine what an investment of just five percent of this transfer of wealth could do for long-term economic development and qualify of life in McCook. Over the next 50 years, $2.3 billion will transfer from one generation to the next in Southwest Nebraska.
The opportunity is massive. The time is now.
We must act now to encourage charitable investment in the future of our community while the window is open. We must teach, encourage and inspire each other to give back today. And we must include our community in our estate planning for tomorrow.
“No one has ever become poor by giving.” - Anne Frank
Regardless of your age, I recommend everyone consider the following:
Give to the endowment of your community fund or favorite charity.
Talk to your professional advisor about including your community in your estate plan.
Create a donor-advised fund to support charitable giving.
Learning how you can create your own personal legacy.
On a personal note, when I retired in July 2014, my wife, Sandy, and I made a planned gift to the community of McCook through MCFF and NCF with the help of NCF’s Jim Gustafson, Edward Jones’ Garett Rippen, attorney Bryant Brooks, CPA Kristen Stagemeyer and Pinnacle Bank’s Mark Kisker. The gift we made will create a legacy that will live on in perpetuity.
Everyone has the choice about whether to give or not give, but I will say this: Sandy and I both love McCook and this gift was probably one of the most rewarding and grateful feelings that we could have ever imagined.
“We make a living by what we get. But we make a life by what we give.” - Winston Churchill
Bill Graves is a member of the McCook Community Foundation Fund’s Advisory Committee and has a passion for anything that will make McCook thrive, grow and prosper.
Jeremy Shaw named April 2025 McCook Volunteer of the Month
While the Bison Alumni Newsletter will still be available digitally, a new printed service is available.
During a recent performance at the Fox Theater by the Lied's Arts Across Nebraska, there was one group who was not thanked: those who showed up for the event, which is a big deal.
Mark Friehe named March McCook Volunteer of the Month.
Although the Bodensteiners no longer live in Southwest Nebraska, they are still connected and wanted to see if prosper and thrive.
From long-term projects to weekly events, you cannot say "there is nothing to do" or "nothing is happening."
With the goal of reaching 200 subscriptions, the Bison Alumni Newsletter is launching a subscription service.
Long-time volunteer Don Harpst was recognized as the first McCook Volunteer of the Month in March 2025.
McCook's youth survey shows that young people now value safety in their community, something McCook provides.
Building Connections in McCook Matters June in McCook will be abuzz with fun events including a Youth Summit, hosted by McCook Community Foundation Fund. Our young people in Youth Change Reaction will host the first Nebraska Community Foundation gathering for youth, which will bring youth from across Nebraska to McCook. While still in the planning stages, our students identified that McCook is great because of connections . Our young people easily recognize how critical this factor is to people attraction, to people retention, and to improve their futures. What I miss most about my high school classroom is connections with students and colleagues. In education, I taught first, second, and sometimes third generations in families. My husband, Greg, and I are not McCook natives, but I eventually knew who was related to whom and usually where the parent(s) were employed. Going to the grocery store meant greetings from students and sometimes their family members. I officially retired from my high school classroom nine years ago in May. When you retire, the most-asked question becomes “What do you do with your time?” I try to maintain those connections and make new ones by belonging. For the past seven years, Sharon Bohling and I have volunteered to help plan and organize Bison Days for our high school students, which took place February 10 and 11. It would not happen without the financial support of McCook Community Foundation Fund, plus the McCook High School, local businesses, and the talented people of Southwest Nebraska who say “yes” when one of us reaches out to ask for the donation of time and talent. I would venture that they allow us to be on the Bison Days’ committee because we both have connections within our community—it’s certainly not our computer savvy. Connections can also solve a problem. Recently, I signed up to help a local family in crisis. My morning plan revolved around delivering my donation at a designated drop-off place. That didn’t work out. Fortunately, I still work with youth in various capacities, so I know that Keri Wilkinson works for Camy Bradley. Keri was an organizer for the family fundraiser, so I walked in Camy’s office hoping to find Keri. She was not there, so Camy and I visited briefly. She knew someone (who I did not know) who could possibly give me further direction. Only in a town with connections are you able to interrupt someone’s business, have her reach out for you using her connections , and offer to keep the donations for me until Keri’s return. Another great example of connecting can be found over coffee. Dee Friehe and I are longtime teacher friends. During a chance meeting at the grocery store a few weeks ago, she shared how she was there following a funeral service and was gathering supplies to deliver supper to the grieving family that night. She also updated me on her group of adults who meet for coffee on Thursdays at Ember’s, which varies from 8-28 depending on the day. She recognized the need for adults moving to McCook or folks just wanting to get out to make connections . Dee’s husband, Mark, also hosts his own group of men who are new(er) to McCook. She regaled me with stories of their Christmas party and other special gatherings. Wanting to call McCook your home is solidified by building connections . Ronda Graff has written about McCook Connects which matches a McCook person with someone new to the community of similar interests. I earned my McCook Connects’ T-shirt welcoming a young family with children. We have since spent many hot summer days sitting on bleachers together cheering on our 4-H horse kids while they show their horses. Warning: I connected them with a “free” new-to-them horse. Be careful connecting with me or you’ll probably own a horse. You do not have to be retired to connect in this community. Volunteering is a surefire way to meet people. McCook has many civic groups looking for new faces. Attend a church here; we have many welcoming congregations. Go to ball games or school concerts, attend concerts in the park, learn a new skill through the college, show up at a Third Thursday event or invite the neighbors for a BBQ. Take your youngsters to story hour or Move and Groove at the library. Go watch an event at the Kiplinger Arena. You can even take it a step further: Make a friend or call a friend and invite him/her to go with you. It is human connection that keeps us healthy and happy. If McCook Community Foundation Fund can help you connect in some meaningful way, please reach out for advice or support. *** While Pam Wolford may be retired, she is just as busy serving on the McCook Community Foundation Fund committee and started a new Learn and Return Scholarship with MCFF, while stepping up to grandparent whenever the call comes in.
