News Release
November 19, 2003
Local Charity Lauded
Lincoln -- McCook and five other communities were honored for their work with the Nebraska Community Foundation at its annual banquet in Lincoln on Thursday.
Grassroots, community-based, and from the bottom-up are fitting phrases for the work of the McCook Community Foundation Fund, according to Nebraska Community Foundation President and CEO, Jeff Yost, who presented the endowment-building award to the McCook fund.
Accepting the award were Mark Graff and Susan Harris Bloomfield of McCook.
Eight community leaders have dedicated themselves to building a community foundation and an unrestricted endowment fund in which nearly every current and former resident can participate. For $1,000, anyone can become a Founder of the McCook Community Foundation.
Over the last two years, 41 families or business have become Founders; and more are still signing up. Founders Clubs are a wonderful model to spur on community-wide philanthropy and make sense in any community of any size, Yost said.
Founded in 1999, the McCook Community Foundation Fund is now a community-wide umbrella containing seven separate accounts. With causes ranging from the Senior Center to the Concert Association to Heritage Square to the "Cool the School" campaign, this vehicle has become a well-known tool for getting projects completed and to spur on charitable giving.
The McCook Community Foundation has already reinvested nearly $50,000 and is just getting started. Graff was also elected treasurer of the Nebraska Community Foundation.
Other communities honored last week include Mullen, Plattsmouth, Keith County, Wayne and Consolidated Companies of Lincoln.