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The History of the Sandhills Area Foundation
by Monty Neiffer
The Sandhills Area Foundation has been in existence for about 11 years. Like many new organizations, it started off small and slow. The seed was planted by Cal Robinson of North Platte when he spoke at Valentine Rotary in the Spring of 1996.
A committee was formed, and this committee laid the groundwork for the Foundation.
Co-chairman of this committee were Bob Gustafson and Jan Lallman. The committee included Bill Quigley, Lew Johnson, Mary Young, Frank Sibert, Kay Wells and others.
From this group, officers were selected. The first president was Bob
 Gustafson, and Kay Wells was the first secretary. Mary Young was the first treasurer.
In October, 1996, three members became life members by giving $2,000 each. These funds were used to kick off the Foundation. The three original life time members were: Bob and Mary Kay Gustafson, Frank and Shirley Sibert, and Carl and Kay Wells. This $6,000 has grown to nearly $950,000 in just 11 years.
Leadership the past 11 years has been provided by several very capable local leaders. Bob Gustafson, Dave Major, Dave Sandoz and Bob Stetter have each served as president for two years. Gerald Keech, the current president, is completing his second year as president. Mary Young has been the treasurer since the beginning of the Foundation. Kay Wells and Suzy Beel have served as secretary. Marian Davenport is the current secretary.
The Foundation received a very large contribution four years ago when
Jr. Bloom made a bequest of $500,000 to the Foundation’s endowment. The income from this contribution per Jr.'s request is used to finance the scholarship program. The income from another generous $100,000 endowment from Frank and Shirley Sibert is used to help fund the grants program. The Melissa Major fund has also helped to fund the grant program. The family of Floyd Bryant also made a generous donation to be used to help fund the scholarship program.
The Foundation has been able to award many
scholarships and grants totaling nearly $175,000 the past few years, and this has benefited many students and organizations in the area. Some of the organizations that have received grants in the past include
Kilgore Fire
Department, Valentine Fire
Department, Cub
Scouts, Valentine
Library, Valentine ball fields, Minnechaduza
Foundation, and others.
The Sandhills Area Foundation has grown from a few local leaders with a vision to have an organization that will help preserve our area and assist its residents, to a large organization with over 200 generous members who have grown the fund to nearly one million dollars. We should be proud of the progress and accomplishments of our Sandhills Area Foundation over the past 11 years.
The memory of life is not its duration,
but its donation.
Peter Marshall
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Sandhills Area
Foundation
Mission
The nature of the Corporation is to financially support area development and accept, receive, manage and distribute contributions, devises, bequests and gifts. Funds received shall be used as follows:
a. To provide funds and encourage service projects for charitable, educational and social purposes within the Sandhills area.
b. To provide funding and services to encourage community involvement in social, charitable and educational projects.
c. To provide funding for scholarships for area youth.
d. To provide funding for the improvement of existing facilities or the construction of these facilities operated by agencies and charitable and educational organizations serving the health, educational and social needs of the residents of the area.
The Book of Memory
(left) lists SAF
Donors and Honorees.
Read full story.
FUNDS STATEMENT
Year End 2006 Total: $858,738.76
Year End 2007 Total: $958,950.20
FYI: For Your Information
Since its inception, a total of $134,750.00 have been awarded in
scholarships and a total of $40,150.00 have been paid in grants.
Sandhills Area
Foundation
Officers and Board of Directors
Susan Beel, President
Marian Davenport, Secretary
Mary Young, Treasurer
Ralph H. Eatinger, Director
Robert Gustafson, Director
Gerald Keech, Director
Dave Major, Director
Steve Moreland, Director
Monty Neiffer, Director
Cheryl Ravenscroft, Director
Phyllis Rothleutner, Director
Dave Sandoz, Director
Frank Sibert, Advisor
W. Robert Stetter, Advisor
The joy is in the giving
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