Osmond Community Fund explained; progress reported

OSMOND — Members of the Osmond Community Fund advisory committee were on hand at both the Osmond Senior Center and Main Street Alley on Monday, Dec. 1, to explain the fund and encourage participation by local residents.

Maggie Smith with the Nebraska Community Foundation (NCF) was on hand with a PowerPoint presentation to explain how the local and state funds work and how they work together.

Smith explained about the transfer of wealth that takes place from one generation to the next, saying that in Nebraska, according to a 2021 transfer of wealth study, more than $100 billion will transfer from one generation to the next over the next 10 years. That wealth is transferring now, and if the heirs no longer live in Nebraska, that wealth will leave as well. Smith encouraged residents to give back to the community with endowments and planned gifts.

Smith then announced that Scott and Terrie Kumm of McLean are the first in the community to pledge an amount in their wills toward the Osmond Community Fund. She presented Terrie, a member of Osmond’s Fund Advisory Committee (FAC), a Nebraska Community Foundation plaque with a small metal windmill in honor of being the first legacy donor in Osmond.

Clark Gansebom, also a member of the FAC, spoke about Osmond’s fund and how it has grown in the past few years since it was established. He noted that every member of the FAC has contributed toward the fund. He also noted various ways the fund has already given back to various projects in the community.

As noted in last week’s Republican, Dr. David Johnson Jr. created an an unrestricted endowment and issued the Dr. David and Lelia Johnson Family Community Challenge to grow the fund. He has given $100,000 and the NCF will give $50,000, with the Osmond fund to raise $300,000 to match it 2 to 1 by Dec. 31, 2027.

According to a statement Dr. Johnson made about the endowment, “Our family has such a deep and rich history in this area. Johnson have been in Osmond since 1928. Lelia and I felt there was no better place in the world to practice medicine or raise our children. I am proud to have called Osmond home for so many years! As a family, we hope you will join with us in building the future of Osmond through the Dr. David and Lelia Johnson Family Community Challenge alongside the Osmond Community Fund.”

According to Aaron Gutz of Security Bank, total cash donations to the permanent endowment are $150,652, or 50% of the $300,000 needed.

He commented, “This does not count the $75,000 we have unlocked of Doc’s $100k match or the $50k Challenge funds from Nebraska Community Foundation.”

Gutz also noted that the fund has received some significant pledges that will be received over the two years before Dec. 31, 2027.

The Fund Advisory Committee will continue to provide updates on the challenge. Those who wish to make a pledge or a donation may contact Gansebom at (402) 360-0140 or cigansebom@ abbnebraska.com, or any other member of the committee: Gutz, Roger Tacey, Kumm, Dr. Johnson, Linda Krohn, Kelly Hodson and Leah Orr. The group also has a Facebook page at “Osmond Community Fund.”