SWNE Big Give expands to 41 groups

McCOOK, Neb. - Now in its ninth year, the Southwest Nebraska Big Give on Nov. 7 is bigger than ever, with more non-profit organizations participating in the 24 hours of giving.

The 2024 Big Give includes 41 groups, which represent nearly a dozen communities and an even wider variety of interests and topics, programs and projects.

The Big Give was originally called Big Give McCook but evolved into Southwest Nebraska Big Give in 2023 to recognize all the organizations from surrounding communities that participate in the one-day philanthropy. The goal is also to attract sponsorship dollars from not only McCook but all of Southwest Nebraska since sponsorship dollars are what make the Big Give so impactful.

An organization must be a 501(3) non-profit with a physical presence in Southwest Nebraska to be eligible for the Southwest Nebraska Big Give.

The organizations taking part this year that have been part of the Big Give since its inception in 2016 include the McCook YMCA, McCook Arts Council, McCook Community Chest, McCook Humane Society, Family Resource Center, McCook Community Foundation Fund, Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska, Domestic Abuse/Sexual Assault Services, Salvation Army, Court Appointed Special Advocates, Southwest Nebraska Habitat for Humanity and McCook’s TeamMates Mentoring Program.

Other 2024 organizations include the Community Hospital Health Foundation, ABC Pregnancy Help Center, Sixth Floor Project/ArtBank, Cambridge Senior Center, Curtis Area Senior Center, Discovery Center, Haigler Community Foundation, High Plains Historical Society and Museum, Hillcrest Nursing Home Foundation, Boy Scouts of America-Mid-America Council, Norris Institute, McCook Art Guild, McCook College Foundation, McCook Community Kitchen, McCook Education Foundation, McCook K9 Korner, McCook Legion Baseball Boosters, Southwest Nebraska Genealogy Society, St. Patrick School, Tri Valley Medial Foundation, and TeamMates for Cambridge and Maywood.

This year's new organizations are Beautify McCook, Stratton Community Foundation Fund, Cambridge Community Daycare Foundation, Cambridge Park Foundation, Southwest Area Training Service, and Daughters of the American Revolution. Freedom Festival is returning after a one-year hiatus.

Over the next month, look for a series of stories about all the organizations, what their missions and goals are and projects planned for the upcoming year.

The 2024 Southwest Nebraska Big Give is made possible by sponsors providing matching funds, which are used during the ”power hours” throughout the day, as well as overall matching funds for each organization based on their totals.

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, swnebihgive.org.

More information about the Big Give and all participating organizations can be found on the Big Give website.

Online donations will be accepted from 12 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, through 11:59 p.m. The website provides a complete list of in-person giving stations and a printable form so donors can arrive with their donations ready.

Community Chest, a sub-account of the McCook Community Foundation Fund, an affiliated fund of the Nebraska Community Foundation, coordinates the Southwest Nebraska Big Give.