Kearney Area Community Foundation, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
KEARNEY — The Kearney Area Community Foundation (KACF) Foundation is launching a new fund to support neighbors facing difficult times.
The Community Critical Needs Fund will provide grants to local nonprofits addressing critical needs such as food, housing, transportation and health care.
The goal is simple: to make sure no one in our community goes without help when they need it most.
“Over the past 30 years, the Kearney Area Community Foundation has grown with our community, responding to changing needs and helping neighbors support neighbors,” said Judi Sickler, President/CEO of KACF. “Today, many local nonprofits are seeing both reduced income and increased demand for essential services. The Community Critical Needs Fund ensures these organizations can continue their vital work, keeping families and individuals in our community safe and cared for.”
To help the fund grow, local philanthropists and longtime Kearney residents Rhonda Artrup and Pam Radtke have generously offered a $75,000 challenge match, doubling the impact of every gift made.
“Our hope is that this gift inspires others to give—so together, we can make sure no one falls through the cracks.” — Rhonda Artrup & Pam Radtke
“Kearney is a community that looks out for one another,” said Artrup and Radtke. “We’ve seen firsthand the difference local nonprofits make when families are struggling.”
The Foundation will open a grant application in mid-December for area nonprofits serving families affected by economic hardship and rising costs.
Donations to the Community Critical Needs Fund can be made today at https://www.givewhereyoulive.net/organization/criticalneeds or by bringing a gift to the Kearney Area Community Foundation office. Gifts will also be gathered during Give Where You Live Day on December 4, a community-wide celebration of giving that supports 207 local nonprofits and causes.
“Marking 30 years of service gives us a chance to reflect on how far our community has come—and how much we can achieve when we work together,” said Sickler. “This new fund is a way to continue that legacy, providing a safety net for those most in need and empowering our nonprofits to meet critical challenges head-on. When our neighbors succeed, our entire community thrives.”
The announcement coincides with National Community Foundation Week (November 12–18), a time to recognize how community foundations nationwide unite donors, organizations, and volunteers to create meaningful local impact.
About the Kearney Area Community Foundation
For 30 years, the Kearney Area Community Foundation has helped donors make a lasting difference by supporting the causes they care about most. Through leadership, collaboration, and philanthropy, KACF strengthens Kearney and the surrounding region—ensuring that our community thrives today and for generations to come.
Learn more at www.kearneyfoundation.org.
