Foundation plays critical role in community

Dear Editor,

Recently, the July 20th column from Mr. Trail was brought to my attention and due to my deep affection for and appreciation of the volunteers and donors of the McCook Community Foundation Fund, I feel compelled to respond to some comments made by the author.

I would love to itemize all of the wonderful things this Community Foundation Fund has had a hand in over the years that positively affected our community and those in our community - thanks to our unselfish volunteers and generous donors. Unfortunately, that would take way too much ink. Let me suffice it to say that in my time with MCFF I have experienced an organization that helped one donor build a park enjoyed by residents of all ages. I have witnessed an Eagle Scout candidate build a sculpture monument in Norris Park honoring those that have given their lives to preserve our freedom. I have personally viewed individuals being nourished through funds provided to effective organizations like the McCook Pantry or the Memorial United Methodist Church. I have seen the donated dollars that helped financially challenged families heat their houses in cold Nebraska winters. I have been part of an effort of volunteers funded by MCFF to provide opportunities to our youth to make McCook a better place to live (Youth Change Reaction) and another to assist other youth in their dreams to one day own their own business. I saw this organization play a critical role in acquiring a drug dog for our exceptional local law enforcement personnel. I viewed the fulfillment of one person's dream of providing financial support to deserving young students wanting to advance their education and come back to Southwest Nebraska. And yes, I played a role, along with the organization, in helping a group of thoughtful donors build a sculpture that not only recognizes years of political service to our state and country from one of our own, but honors the positive impact that scouting has had on our area and country. That helps further develop a very historical area of our city. That adds a wonderful work of art to a burgeoning display of sculpture projects in Heritage Square. Again, the list of life changing things that MCFF volunteers and donors play a role in is lengthy and growing.

I also must admit I did take umbrage to one of Mr. Trail's comments concerning MCFF. And that concerned the "frivolous" spending of the Foundation Fund. I do want Mr. Trail to know that MCFF works extremely hard to ensure that our donor's wishes and intentions are honored. What is frivolous spending to one, is a wise investment to a group of boy scouts honored by a sculpture depicting their legacy of service to our country, or to an individual that appreciates a fine work of art or to another individual, like myself, that is extremely proud of the heritage of his hometown.

The sculpture was built entirely with private donations from across Nebraska, not one cent of public funds were spent on the project --that is a fact.

The McCook Community Foundation Fund is an affiliated fund of the Nebraska Community Foundation and not a separate entity. NCF has the legal obligation to comply with donor intent. If donors to a charitable project, like the Nelson sculptures, wish to remain anonymous, NCF honors that intent. The implication that MCFF was hiding the names of the donors I believe was irresponsible and a slap to the face of those generous individuals that gave to a project they feel is a betterment to our community. Because of the logistics, time and cost involved with such a process, with the exception of the special classes of our general and endowment fund donors (Founders, Builders, Pacesetters, Leaders and Legacy), NCF does not publish the list of donors to any of our projects or funds. Such an undertaking would be a sizable task for an unpaid volunteer base. We choose instead to err on the side of caution as the rights of our donors to privacy far outweigh the desire of curiosity from bystanders.

Finally, I end with a thought concerning our great community. During the first gulf war ABC news ran a special series from communities along Highway 83 regarding their thoughts on the conflict. When McCook's turn on the road came, I recall former ABC news anchor, Peter Jennings, introduced the segment by saying something along the lines of (and not in these exact words), now we head to McCook, Nebraska, a community proud that it is a place where diverging schools of thoughts are welcomed and respected. The premise being that McCook was proud of being the hometown of Senator George Norris. An individual recognized by President John F. Kennedy in his Pulitzer Prize winning book, "Profiles in Courage" for his courage to at times take unpopular political stands he firmly believed were in the best interests of our country. To quote the deceased President from his book when referring to the great Senator Norris, "The true democracy, living and growing and inspiring, puts its faith in the people -- faith that the people will not simply elect men who will represent their views ably and faithfully, but also elect men who will exercise their conscientious judgment -- faith that the people will not condemn those whose devotion to principle leads them to unpopular courses, but will reward courage, respect honor and ultimately recognize right."

Hopefully I speak on behalf of the entire MCFF Advisory Committee when I say to those that have not favored a project that we have helped in some fashion to come to fruition for our donors - we are sorry you were offended. However, we will continue to work tirelessly to help our donors positively impact the lives of those of us that so affectionately call Southwest Nebraska home.

Mark Graff

Treasurer -- McCook Community Foundation Fund