McCook spirit inspires fund team to be first to hit $50k goal

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The McCook Community Foundation Fund's advisory committee is an energetic bunch. They believe in getting things done ... quickly.

With that attitude, it's no wonder that the committee members are striving to be the first Fund in Nebraska to reach Susie Buffett's Sherwood Challenge goal of half a million dollars. And they are well on their way, having raised $465,000 to date.

"Our aspiration is to be the first of four communities in Nebraska to reach the $500,000 goal," said Mark Graff, the McCook Community Foundation Fund treasurer. "Not only that," Mark added with determination, "We want to reach the goal by May 1st, which is when three other Sherwood Challenge communities are coming to McCook for the next Peer Learning Session."

What that means is that the McCook Fund has two and a half months to raise another $35,000 in commitments. If that happens, the McCook Fund will have reached the $500,000 goal and Susie Buffett's Sherwood Foundation will complete her challenge gift to McCool for a cool, no strings attached quarter of a million dollars!

To accomplish the goal -- to win $250,000 for McCook -- the McCook Fund team is reaching out to all members of the McCook community. "Every gift of any amount is important," said Karl Shaddock, the coordinator for the McCook Community Foundation Fund. "This is the perfect time to show the entire state that McCook is a giving place," he said. "Our goal is for McCook to have 250 donors to the Challenge. Whether the gift is $5 or $25 or $200 it all helps, moving us ever closer to the goal."

Graff, the treasurer, points out that, "A $200 pledge can be easily accomplished through a commitment of just $10 per month for the next 20 months." And, remember, Mark adds, "Any amount you give, whether $5 or $500, will increase by 50 percent thanks to Susie Buffett's Sherwood Foundation match."

To reach the goal of 250 donors, the Fund Advisory Committee members have a lot of work to do between now and May 1, 2014. Because, as of now, the number of donors stands at 78. Together, those three score and 18 dedicated donors have given and/or pledged $465,000 to meet the Sherwood Challenge by December 31, 2015.

Thirty five thousand dollars remains to be raised between today and the May First target date set by the McCook Fund. Your $5 or $50 -- or for the fortunate, maybe even $5,000 or more -- will, as Larry the Cable Guy says, "Git 'er Done!"

Let's do it, folks. Better yet, why don't 172 of us step forward with gifts of whatever amount we can afford to spare? If we do that, we will help the McCook Community Foundation Fund achieve its 250-donor goal, and -- in the process -- top off McCook's first-in-the-state response to Susie Buffett's Sherwood Challenge Grant.

That will not only be a feather in our cap as a community of givers. It will also be a way to win a very welcome windfall of $250,000 for our town and the surrounding countryside.