Custer County Foundation presented a $5,000 check to Eli Rogers, for the Nebraska Early Reading Development (N.E.R.D) program to fund the Dolly Parton Imagination Library for Custer County’s youngest children. The Imagination library mails a book every month to registered children under the age of five.

Rogers wrote a grant through the foundation on behalf of NERDs to help with the $2.60 monthly mailing expenses for the books the students receive.

“I knew we needed some monetary help and that the Custer Foundation is always in the newspaper for giving money, so I figured that they would donate to our cause if we submitted the application. It was a good grant and the staff were really helpful on writing it,” said Eli Rogers, senior at Arnold Public Schools.

Rogers founded the Custer County Local Program Partner for the Imagination Library in the spring of 2023 as a member of the Central Nebraska Interact group, a teen division of Rotary. He has maintained the account since to ensure the kids receive their books. In the spring of 2024, Rogers expanded the Local Program Partner to include children from Blaine, Thomas, McPherson, Logan and Hooker counties.

The tax exempt N.E.R.D.s organization was formed in the spring of 2025 to create a sustainable group to continue fundraising after Rogers graduates from high school.

At this time, NERDs is contacting local business partners and patrons for annual donations to enable expansion into other counties. If you would like to donate to help defer mailing costs please send a check to P.O. Box 302 Arnold, NE 69120. .