As donations to the Center arrive at the end of the year, many of you send short notes along with your gifts. These words of encouragement and connection add such pep to our step.
I want to share (with their permission) one touching testimonial sent to us by siblings Anita and Clint Menke, who made a special donation to the Center around Thanksgiving. With their gift, they honored their dad, longtime supporter and former staff member:
“Our father, Phil Menke, worked for the Center for Rural Affairs after retiring from the University of Nebraska Extension Service. He was also a farmer who operated our fourth generation farm and was an early adopter of sustainable agriculture. His deep roots to the land and the community influenced both of us. Clint converted the farm to an all organic operation 30 years ago after he graduated from college, and I became a public school teacher. Center for Rural Affairs is an organization that aligns so closely with our dad's values and deep commitment to rural America and the people who live there. We are honored to donate in his name.”
Likewise, we’re very honored to have Anita and Clint, and their parents, Phil and Dixie, in our cherished community of supporters.
For the past several years we’ve had the opportunity to match your year-end donations dollar for dollar. Being able to do this is not something we take for granted. We’re continually wowed by our friends and neighbors, near and far, coming together to make this fundraising boost possible.
Speaking of a boost, we have a pretty dang incredible group of matching donors in 2025 to honor as well. Meshewa Farm Foundation, Katie Weitz, Bill Furlong, and Paul Neukirch pooled their funds to match all other donations (up to $41,500) this giving season. And for rising to that challenge and surpassing that goal, we have 227 inspiring supporters to whom we extend our heartfelt gratitude, including 13 first-time donors. Our supporters come from 32 states and Washington, D.C.
Combined, we raised $92,675 between Giving Tuesday (Dec. 2) and Dec. 31! These dollars will have a great impact for the rural communities we serve.
Whenever and however you choose to contribute to the vibrancy of rural America, your engagement and support make a big difference. When you make a gift to the Center, you enable us to meet emerging challenges and rise to opportunities for which we otherwise wouldn’t have the flexible resources.
In addition to your donations to the Center, when you support local farmers and small business owners and partner with your neighbors to strengthen the place you call home, you’re directly carrying out our shared mission to build a bright rural future for all.
Thank you for being here with us, and for entering this new year with determined optimism.
If you, too, have special stories or tributes you’d like to share, I’d love to hear from you at 402.499.2781 or [email protected]. And as we enter 2026, it’s always a good time to give.
