Community Foundation was born

As a member of the McCook Community Foundation Fund and as a past board member of the Nebraska Community Foundation, I have a deep appreciation for Ben's public service. It was during Ben's term as Nebraska Governor that the Nebraska Community Foundation was born.

It was apparent back then that one of his priorities as Governor was to help revitalize rural Nebraska. He also seemed to understand that those of us involved in our communities in rural Nebraska weren't asking for a handout to accomplish this, just a vehicle which would enable us to help ourselves. The Nebraska Community Foundation was that vehicle and because of that, 220 affiliated funds across Nebraska are helping individuals give back to their respective communities in places like Shickley, Norfolk, O'Neill and Ord to name just a few.

I may be biased, but I think Ben showed his greatest wisdom when he, as Governor, named a small town banker to head the Nebraska Department of Banking in the final months of his administration. That individual, of course, was my Dad, Peter M. Graff. Although admittedly biased, I think Ben saw in Dad what each of us did who knew him. He saw a man that knew the banking industry in our state was vital not only for economic development reasons, but because he knew that the banks in our state help individuals realize their dreams.

Looking back at Governor Ben Nelson's administration, in which Pete was actively involved, I think my Dad would use the words President Ronald Reagan used when looking back at his time as President (taking a little liberty with his quote), President Reagan declared: "My friends: we did it. We weren't just marking time. We made a difference. We made our state stronger; we made our state freer; and we left her in good hands. All in all, not bad, not bad at all."