Nebraska Community Foundation’s Annual Events Draw Capacity Crowd

Nebraska Community Foundation (www.nebraskahometown.org) held its Annual Training, Expo and Banquet on Thursday, November 5th in Columbus, with more than 400 volunteer community leaders and their guests in attendance.

The day started with a presentation featuring rural sociologist Ben Winchester who urged his audience to “rewrite the rural narrative.” Winchester cautions us to not be fooled by the headlines and other “anecdata” about rural places. “Rural America is changing, not dying,” Winchester says. Population in rural places has increased 11 percent since 1970. Today’s technology is enabling more and more people in their 30s and 40s to move to rural communities to pursue their careers and raise their families. In 50 of Nebraska’s most rural counties, population in this age group is growing. According to Winchester, they move there for three reasons: slower pace of life; safety and security and lower cost housing.

NCF President and CEO told the audience that locally grown philanthropic endowments can provide the funding needed to create the quality of life needed to attract young families. If you would like information about giving back to the future of your hometown, visit www.NebraskaHometown.org.