Press Release
The Nebraska City Community Foundation Fund, established in 2000, has a mission of Investing in People and Inspiring a Culture of Giving. Now part of a statewide movement to spearhead community development and create future prosperity, the fund is working to build a robust endowment to benefit our community long into the future. Their current endowment of nearly $1,200,000 generates annual proceeds that are granted to community projects. Since its inception, NCCFF has invested over $360,000 into projects that support the people of Nebraska City. The Nebraska Community Foundation (NCF) introduced the idea of the Homegrown Challenge Grant to grow the local endowment fund to further invest in the people of Nebraska City.
The Nebraska City Community Foundation Fund (NCCFF) announces a new homegrown fund-raising initiative called The Bill and Betty Davis Family Gratitude Challenge. The Bill & Betty Davis Family Gratitude Challenge is launched with generous donations from two Nebraska City families who feel great hometown pride for Nebraska City.
The first generous challenge donor is Mark Davis and the Davis family. Bill & Betty Davis were originally newcomers to Nebraska City. Their move from Omaha was motivated by a desire to raise their family in a small town. It didn’t take long for the young couple to get involved in the community. Bill built a law practice while also serving terms as city and county attorney. Bill was a founding member of the Nebraska City Community Foundation, making the first donation to the organization. Betty was a teacher, docent and community volunteer. She especially enjoyed welcoming visitors to Arbor Lodge for many years. Betty always said her favorite hobby was people. The Davises raised five children in Nebraska City. Their oldest child Denise, currently serving as secretary for the Nebraska City Community Foundation Fund, and their youngest, Mark, an entrepreneur now based in Michigan and Florida. Both Denise and Mark have been instrumental in establishing this gratitude challenge. Denise is a librarian at the Morton-James Public Library. Mark graduated from UN-L with a business degree and has made his mark in the disaster recovery industry.
Mark Davis and his family are joined by some other generous challenge donors, hometown entrepreneurs, Kiel & Mimi Vanderveen. Kiel and his wife Mimi are both graduates of Nebraska City High School. Kiel graduated from UN-L with an accounting degree and Mimi graduated from Doane University with degrees in Language Arts and Education. Their mentalities were to earn degrees dedicated to service. The VanderVeens came HOME to live, work, and most importantly, serve the community of Nebraska City. Kiel opened a financial planning firm. Kiel’s business is people. After the arrival of their children, Mimi left her role as a secondary educator yet continues to serve her family and the community. Working as a homemaker, assisting in the management of family businesses, and proudly serving as President of Keep NebraskaCity Beautiful, Mimi’s business is people. The VanderVeens believe if you use your time and talents
to do the most good, you create an opportunity so others can do well. They are proud of their hometown and are excited to see all the good WE can do.
The Nebraska City Community Foundation Fund is challenged to raise $500,000 by 12/31/2027 to receive the generous challenge donations of $250,000. This will increase the unrestricted endowment held by NCCFF by $750,000 which will allow for more annual grants to community projects. NCCFF is currently over half way to their goal of raising $500,000.
About Nebraska Community Foundation
Nebraska Community Foundation unleashes abundant local assets, inspires charitable giving and connects ambitious people to build stronger communities and a Greater Nebraska.
Headquartered in Lincoln, the Foundation serves communities, donors and organizations by providing financial management, strategic development, education and training to a statewide network of 1,500 volunteers serving more than 270 communities. For more information visit www.nebraskacitycommunityfoundation.org
