The Callaway Community Foundation exists solely to promote the Callaway community by supporting projects and individuals that exemplify the unique qualities of this town. A group of volunteers who make up the foundation’s board meet monthly to come up with ideas on how to do that, and ideas for raising the funds needed to accomplish those goals.

Corby Leeper serves as president of the board. The Foundation got its start during construction of the Callaway Community Center in the late 1990s. Seeing a need that they could help meet, community members continued building the Foundation at the conclusion of that project through the Nebraska Community Foundation.

“Over the years various fundraising events, such as the one we will be hosting in a couple of weeks, have raised money for special projects,” explained board member Mike Reiff. “For the most part funds from the endowment and donations go to fund grant requests for non-profits in the Callaway area.”

Those non-profits and government entities that have benefited from the Foundation include the fire department, school, the Village, library, and museum, to name a few. Leeper explained that interest from the endowment fund is used each year to fund grant recipients in the spring and fall.

Currently, the Foundation is gearing up for its biggest fundraiser of the year, the Gala. The 'Maroon & Gold Gala' will be held on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024 at the Callaway Community Center. As always this will be a fun event featuring a social hour, supper, silent auction, and live auction designed to 'Celebrate the Old and the New'.

The evening will include a social hour, sit-down supper catered by Around The Block Catering, and opportunities to purchase some great items through the auctions.

“We will get close to 200 attendees,” said Reiff. “We try to make it a nice event, where people can kind of plan a ‘date night’. People generally have a really good time.”

Leeper shared that over the years auction items have included golf outings, Husker ticket packages, Tri-City Storm ticket packages, river tubing packages, artwork, and the ever-popular kolaches. Baskets of all kinds are typically part of the auction as well.

Always a very successful event, 2022 was one of the highest years for the Gala, raising more than $70,000. The board will meet following the event to determine where the funds from this year’s Gala will go other than grant recipients. A portion of the proceeds from fundraisers like the Gala are deposited into the CCFF endowment fund to continue to grow it for future use.

This year’s theme of Maroon and Gold is designed to be reminiscent of the Callaway school colors and draw off of the history of the community while looking ahead to the exciting new things that are happening here.

The schedule for this year’s Gala will begin with Social Hour: 6 – 7 p.m.; Supper: 7– 8 p.m.; Silent Auction: different points during the evening; and Live Auction: 8– 9:30 p.m. The dinner will feature Surf & Turf (8 oz. flat iron steak and two shrimp with shrimp scampi sauce), decadent mashed potatoes, green beans with caramelized pecans and onions, leafy green salad with dressings, and a variety of desserts.

Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door (table of eight is $280 advance, $320 the day of). Advance tickets may be purchased from any of the following board members: Corby Leeper (President), Christie Pitkin (Vice-President), Kate Carlson (Treasurer), Michael Reiff (Secretary), Henry Moore, Jenn Hickenbottom, Carla Kimball, Levi Griffith, and Lucy Kimball.

Christie Pitkin wants to remind everyone that cash donations are not the only option for giving to the Foundation. “You can do cattle, grain sold at the elevator, you can bequeath a life insurance policy or use a distribution from a retirement fund, or you can always remember us when considering a memorial.”

The Foundation also applied for a tax credit for donors which was approved for Oct. 31, 2023, through Oct. 31, 2024. Through the Community Development Assistance Act program donations of $5,000 or more will get a 40% tax credit. The Foundation is allowed to participate in the program for three years.

If you are unable to attend the Gala but would like to donate to the fund you may send your donation to Callaway Community Foundation, P.O. Box 262, Callaway 68825.