PCCFF is one of 14 funds to present at state training
The Perkins County Community Foundation Fund (PCCFF), an affiliate of the Nebraska Community Foundation (NCF), was honored to be one of 14 Nebraska affiliated funds highlighted during the NCF’s 30th Anniversary Annual Fund Training and Celebration in Lincoln on November 14th.
A total of six members from the PCCFF attended the event. They were Michelle Ross, Becky Uehling, Dennis Demmel, Maggie Conner, Rodolfo Aragon and Youth Member Brock Tines.
Uehling and Ross, who are two of the founding members of PCCFF, shared how PCCFF came about because of a vision to capture local wealth before it left the county. Also during the NCF presentation Demmel, Conner and Aragon spoke about the newly implemented programs and successes of PCCFF, with Aragon specifically speaking on the success of the English as a Second Language class he was able to implement with the help of PCCFF.
Although the five adult members of the PCCFF who attended were able to shine a spotlight on PCCFF from where it has come from and where it’s been, Tines stole the show by shining a spotlight on the future potential of the PCCFF. During the NCF presentation, Tines compared the community of Perkins County to being like a second “mother” to him that has supported him in many ways throughout the years.
Tines, a senior at Perkins County High School, is just one of a few youth members who have been welcomed into the PCCFF advisory committee over the past few years. At 18-years-old, Tines wasn’t even born when the PCCFF took root in Perkins County, but he, like many of the youth in the county, are the most important reason the Fund was founded in the first place, according to Uehling.
“My son and Brock are classmates,” Uehling said. “At the start of the PCCFF, it was my desire to sustain Perkins County as a healthy, vibrant community for my children and other future residents of the county. It is just that much sweeter that Brock has now stepped up and is helping the fund to thrive and grow.”
Tines has been involved with several projects of the PCCF, with the most recent being improvements to the Grant City Park.
Tines, along with several other youth from the county, have worked hard to develop a plan to the improve the park in Grant, putting forth many efforts to renovate and brighten up the park. Tines said it has been rewarding to make repairs to the park that has been a special place to him throughout his life.
This is the first year Tines has attended a Nebraska Community Foundation training and celebration. He said he was impressed with the event this year that attracted a total of 53 Nebraska affiliated funds, and more than 400 attendees from across the state.
“It was great to be able to go and hear how other communities strive to make their communities better places to live,” Tines said. He went on to say that the event showed him many ways to give back to the community that he “would have never have thought of.”
“It was also awesome to be able to meet so many amazing like-minded individuals who love their communities as much as I do,” he said. “It was helpful to be able to bounce ideas off of each other and find ways to make even more improvements to our community.”
Denise Garey, NCF Affiliated Fund Development Coordinator for SW Nebraska, praised Tines for his contribution.
“Brock Tines was outstanding in his presentation at Lincoln and received several compliments from participants,” she said. “He is a strong reason for the youth engagement grants pursued by PCCFF. We are hopeful that Brock will return after his first year of college to serve as a Hometown Intern for NCF and PCCFF.”
Others’ Reactions
Garey also praised the other members of the fund who participated, “I was so pleased with the passion expressed by all of the Perkins County Community Foundation Fund advisory committee members during the Perkins County Spotlight presentation,” she said. “PCCFF is investing back into the communities of Perkins County to make their places even better. These volunteers are dedicated to the future of Perkins County.”
The other members of the PCCFF who attended also agreed the NCF event was inspiring and uplifting.
“I love talking about our county and telling the stories of how we got started slow and over the 20 years have expanded and are able to help all of our small towns be successful,” Ross said.
“I enjoyed listening to people from other small communities talk about the challenges they have faced, and how they overcame them to bring projects to fruition. We also came away with some fresh, fun and new ideas to help us work with, and for, all Perkins County residents,” Conner said.
Aragon said, “I appreciate the (ELL) project to help bring the community together, and how it has allowed everyone to get to know each other and discover how amazing the people are in our community.”
Demmel said, “With 30 years of community building experience, NCF continues supporting local groups, like the Perkins County Community Foundation Fund, with training and expertise in various areas. PCCFF has been a local resource for some 20 years, since 2003.”
NCF assists community volunteers in growing their community based unrestricted endowments to fund various local efforts in their home towns. Today, some 100 communities in Nebraska are expanding their unrestricted endowments to provide financial resources to local efforts. The process can continue forever with the financial instrument. These communities now have $67 million in endowment investments, double the amount available just five years ago.
The celebration included music and entertainment along with learning. NCF’s Jeff Yost concluded the day by pointing out that NCF and affiliates are non-partisan organizations and are effective regardless of politics. Studying local assets and tapping local wealth can help communities flourish.
PCCFF recently mailed out its annual report. If you did not receive a report and would like one, contact Demmel, Ross or any of the PCCFF Advisory Committee members. Other members besides those already mentioned include Janet Lagler, Barb Tines, Jeff Wallin, Jennifer Baumgartner and Cheri Sis. Continue looking to the Tribune-Sentinel for updates from the PCCFF.