Recognizing 20 years of accomplishment

A CNC router for McCook High School is one of the resources the McCook Community Foundation Fund has helped make available to local educators.

Courtesy photo

As Midwesterners, it is ingrained in us to be humble. You are not supposed to brag. You are not supposed to boast. You are not supposed to gloat.

Instead, you are supposed to remain modest, not looking for recognition or commendations but instead quietly going about your work.

But when that recognition does happen, it is OK to take a minute to bask in the limelight and reflect on all the good things which are happening.

Last week, the McCook Community Foundation Fund received the honor business award for the quarter from the McCook Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber recognized the committee members for their role as leaders in the community, including being part of the successful recreational bond issue last fall to build a new city swimming pool and ballfields. MCFF saw the importance of the project and has pledged to cover the entrance fees the first summer the new pool is open after it is built. The committee members also recognized the lack of lifeguards could be a hindrance so are currently covering the cost of training for the next two years, with a donation to the YMCA so all lifeguard classes are free.

MCFF has also led the restoration of the McCook Philanthropy Council along with the Community Hospital Health Foundation, making planned giving a priority, which in turn means long-term financial resources for the community. This is a group of local visionaries including the YMCA, the Norris Institute, McCook Community College Foundation, McCook Chamber Foundation, Graff Charitable Foundation and Hillcrest Foundation, all working together to make sure McCook and Southwest Nebraska are strong and thriving for generations.

And over the past 20 years, MCFF has distributed hundreds of grants, worth millions of dollars throughout the community. Just this past year, more than $150,000 was granted including $22,000 to McCook Public Schools to aid the institution with the purchase of new technology, critical if we want our students to stay competitive on the world’s stage.

Started in 2001, MCFF has been growing, with both greater financial resources as well as educational and leadership resources in the community. This is due to committee volunteers who want to see things happen, who want to make their community better, and who are working to plant the proverbial tree, knowing they may never benefit from its shade.

The current members of the fund advisory committee are Cindy Huff, Matt Sehnert, Tricia Wagner, Gavin Harsh, Peggy Been, Dennis Berry, Dale Dueland, Pam Wolford, Jeff Gross, Bill Graves, Linda Taylor, and Kyle Dellevoet.

The successes of the current committee are built on the shoulders of their predecessors, who saw a need for a foundation dedicated to the entire community. Floyd Hershberger led the charge more than 20 years ago, bringing together a group of forward-thinking community members including Mark Graff and Doug Skiles.

From the beginning, MCFF grants have reflected a focus on people of all ages. MCFF’s youth group Youth Change Reaction, a group of 12 high school students, is working to bring a drive-in theater, Cars Under the Stars, to the Red Willow County fairgrounds. In addition to covering the cost of lifeguard training, MCFF has supported the YMCA as it moves toward its biggest renovation since the facility was built in 1981/82. And arts and culture has become a top priority, with grants toward improvements at the Fox Theater and the creation of Norris Alley between the Keystone and Fox buildings.

With the impending spring grant deadline of April 1 nearing, how does MCFF choose what it will support both financially and with other resources? Through six carefully chosen values:

Stewardship - MCFF will wisely use all of its resources, believing in honesty, integrity, confidentiality.

Respectful - MCFF values people and will work to be inclusive and accepting, making sure both growing up and growing old are priorities.

Grit - MCFF will support those who are resilient, passionate, resourceful, and courageous.

Collaboration - MCFF will connect organizations, individuals and programs to benefit the community, weaving partnerships and relationships along the way.

Leadership - MCFF invests resources in people who take the initiative to help others, who are optimistic and innovative.

Posterity - MCFF will strive to provide for generations to come and to secure the future of McCook and Southwest Nebraska.

It was a tremendous honor for MCFF to receive the recognition from the McCook Chamber because it just reaffirms that what these volunteers are doing is important. That is something we can boast about for a few minutes more, but then they’ll get back to work making McCook and Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas even better places to call home.