Planning for Sidney's future

Sidney and Cheyenne County have found a new gear in recent years.

In the last few years, they've been busy celebrating recent successes, like the opening of more than 100 new businesses. Or the innovative ways the local NCF affiliated fund, the Sidney And Greater Area Fund (SAGA) is encouraging students to understand the impact they can have on the county.

The Norgards, Melissa and Stanley, are one of many area couples inspired by this upward trend. In addition to owning the local Boss City Brewing Co., Melissa currently serves as SAGA's chair, so she's immersed in everything residents are doing to make their community an even greater place to call home.

"There's a strong spirit of collaboration, where neighbors support each other, and local businesses flourish together," Melissa said. "We appreciate the atmosphere that makes Sidney a great place to live and raise a family. The community's involvement in various local events and initiatives further enhances our love for this area."

Sidney's work with Nebraska Community Foundation began in the late 2010s. Two local moms, both practicing physical therapists, were working to build an inclusive playground that would benefit their patients as well as area children. NCF connected them with peer communities in the network that had pulled off similar feats. An anonymous donor also established the Sidney Community Donor-Advised Fund with NCF. They supported the playground project and granted $184,000 to help save essential childcare during the pandemic.

Then NCF kicked off Energizing Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (E3), a three-year community-building experience designed to bolster rural economic development. Sidney was an obvious choice for the experiment and joined Valley County, Holt County, Keith County, and Red Cloud in extensive training, education, and peer learning opportunities.

For folks in Sidney, the connections between entrepreneurship, community development, and philanthropy are obvious. Residents had long been trying to get a community foundation off the ground as an avenue for community members to give back to their special place. Finally, in 2023, the Sidney And Greater Area Fund, "SAGA," was born.

Those efforts reflect the resilience that's abundant in the Panhandle community.

"Whether it's through volunteering, supporting local charities, or simply maintaining friendships, the camaraderie is palpable," Melissa said. "The way the community comes together during times of need is truly inspiring, and it fills us with pride to be part of a place that fosters such strong connections."

Those strong connections inspired Melissa and Stanley to include Sidney and Cheyenne County in their estate plan. The couple included the Sidney And Greater Area Fund in their will through a bequest, one of the easiest ways to give back to your community through your estate plan. With the help of an advisor, you can include language in your will or trust specifying a gift be made to family, friends or Nebraska Community Foundation as part of your estate plan. The Nebraska Community Foundation website offers resources on the benefits of bequests, as well as information on various gifting options.

"We have witnessed the tremendous impact that community-driven initiatives can have on the communities and lives of individuals and families here," Melissa said. "We wanted to ensure the ongoing development and vitality of Sidney and surrounding areas continues through the growth of our unrestricted endowment. These funds will provide resources for future generations to thrive."

Madi Wilkinson, one of the sisters who led the way on the inclusive playground project, has also made included Sidney in an estate gift. She and her husband, Mitch, are leaving 5% of their estate to SAGA as a bequest.

"We have been a part of projects in Sidney where planned gifts have made incredible impacts in the community," Madi said. "We want to keep that spirit of giving going for future generations and their projects."

Nebraska Community Foundation's Five to Thrive campaign asks Nebraskans to consider leaving just 5% of their assets to their favorite community or to Nebraska Community Foundation to benefit all our hometowns. If every Nebraskan did so, that would amount to $5 billion in this decade alone to build unrestricted endowments like Eustis' in communities across the state. That $5 billion, if endowed, would continue to grow, giving people in hometowns across the state the capital to pursue their dreams. When we all leave five, Nebraska thrives.

If you are interested in leaving a legacy in the place you love, Nebraska Community Foundation is here to help. Contact Director of Gift Planning Todd Mekelburg by phone at 402.323.7343 or by email at [email protected] to learn more.

For information on how you can give back to your hometown, contact Nebraska Community Foundation's Office of Planned Giving, 402.323.7330 or [email protected].