2020’s crowning achievement

In a year when almost everything has been overshadowed by
COVID-19, one crowning achievement stands out and will pay dividends for Imperial for years to come.
    In mid-December, the Imperial Community Foundation Fund, an affiliate of the Nebraska Community Foundation, announced a major milestone.
    For the last four years, ICFF members have been diligently working towards a goal of raising $500,000 for their unrestricted endowment.
    Imperial was one of several rural Nebraska communities selected for a Rural Community Partnership challenge grant from the Sherwood Foundation of Omaha.
    Through these grants, the Sherwood Foundation promotes addressing “locally-identified priorities and thereby strengthen the common good we enjoy as fellow Nebraskans.”
    For every dollar ICFF raised towards their goal, the Sherwood Foundation matched it with another 50 cents. In essence, every dollar raised equalled $1.50.
    The four-year effort culminated this month when ICFF announced they had reached their goal of $500,000, thereby growing the endowment by a total of $750,000.
    This wouldn’t have been possible without each and every one of you who showed your belief by investing in the future of Imperial.
    Perhaps more importantly, the goal was reached through a period of time when the farm and ranch economy has been lackluster at best. That’s just more proof of how committed all of you are to Imperial’s future.
    The investment earnings of the endowment fund, which now totals $1.2 million, will be continually invested in the Imperial area, improving the quality of life for all.
    These efforts represent a crowning achievement that can’t be overshadowed by a global pandemic.