In 1933, against a backdrop of the Great Depression in the United States and rising authoritarianism in Europe, a letter from New Brunswick, Canada, arrived in Red Cloud.
In the missive, the author laments the hard times at home and “hate broke loose” overseas but ends on a note of hope. “It’s a lovely world, and there is lots of generosity and even nobility in it, one must not forget that.”
The writer of that letter, novelist Willa Cather, shared a lifelong friendship with its recipient, Carrie Miner Sherwood – My Antonia is dedicated to her. The Miner family arrived in Red Cloud in 1878, and the Miner Brothers store quickly established itself as a prominent business in the community. Soon the family established the Peoples Bank of Red Cloud, further cementing their presence in the city.
Carrie Miner Sherwood contributed to the generosity Cather saw in the world. She was active in the Red Cross during both world wars leading efforts to direct aid where needed, served on the school board and the park commission, and was a general leader in the community. Her civic dedication continued down the family line. Today, her great-grandson Brad Sherwood remains a passionate supporter of the Webster County community. Brad and his wife, Nancy, may no longer reside in Red Cloud, but their hearts remain on the prairie.
“Red Cloud will always feel like home to us, we lived there for 30-plus years,” Nancy, who grew up in O’Neill, said. “Giving back makes us feel like we are still connected to Red Cloud. We have a lot of great memories and good friends who continue to live there.”
Both credit their parents for instilling values that encourage volunteerism and philanthropy. Through the Brad and Nancy Sherwood Donor-Advised Fund, an affiliated fund of Nebraska Community Foundation, the couple have contributed to some of Red Cloud’s most beloved organizations – empowering future generations and enshrining community history.
“I have known Brad and Nancy my whole life,” said NCF President and CEO Jeff Yost, also a Red Cloud native. “Their generosity and leadership have helped to transform Red Cloud into a vibrant hometown. Brad has shared with me many times that his role has always been to be a good steward of the family assets, including the bank, to benefit both his family and his hometown. It’s an impressive attitude and I am grateful to them.”
They established the DAF in 2013 by gifting a portion of their ownership in the family bank to NCF prior to its sale, a generous act that also provided tax advantages. One of the first efforts they supported was Red Cloud’s push toward becoming a heritage tourism destination. The endeavor has transformed the community.
Jarrod McCartney, a Red Cloud High School alum, has now been in place as Heritage Tourism Development Director for nine years. Red Cloud is flourishing. Since 2015, the town has welcomed many new businesses and nearly 20 downtown building and tourism improvement projects. City sales tax receipts have increased. Among the new downtown amenities are a wine bar, a bicycle rental shop, new coffee shops, more restaurants, and renovation of several second-story residential units. Bed and Breakfasts offer tourists a place to stay overnight and extend their visits by another day. And soon the community will celebrate the opening of Hotel Garber, a historic downtown building renovated into a 28-room hotel and event space.
“It’s so exciting to see all of the great things that continue to happen in Red Cloud,” Nancy said, adding that supporting renovations to Cather sites was fitting given their family’s connection with the author. Carrie Miner Sherwood, after all, was a founding member of the Willa Cather Foundation.
When good friend Sally Hansen shared her enthusiasm to bring an early childhood development center to Red Cloud, Brad and Nancy knew they wanted to be a partner in the fundraising effort. After countless meetings with stakeholders, including knitting clubs, the VFW, and the Farm Bureau, and considerable fundraising, the community celebrated the opening of The Valley Child Development Center in 2018.
Brad and Nancy are part of a culture of giving in Red Cloud reinvigorated by a challenge from two Red Cloud alum. Frank and Shirley Sibert issued the $100,000 fundraising call in 2001, inspiring volunteers to raise $100,000 of their own, ultimately netting $200,000 for a burgeoning unrestricted endowment. The Fund’s assets continue to grow, giving volunteers more than $100,000 in annual payout to use toward unleashing the community’s dreams. In fact, NCF affiliated funds benefitting Red Cloud collectively have over $3 million of endowed assets, including a $2.2 million unrestricted endowment, and have collectively reinvested nearly $6 million in Red Cloud.
Some of those community dreams include preserving the places and services that matter most. In early 2024, Brad and Nancy were the lead donors to establish the Heritage of Webster County account within the Red Cloud Community Fund, part of a communitywide effort to transition the local nursing home from private ownership to the Webster County Hospital Foundation.
As long as there are Nebraskans like Brad and Nancy Sherwood, generosity in Red Cloud and beyond will abound through even the most uncertain times.
“Everyone has something to offer, whether it’s your time, talent, elbow-grease, or funding,” Nancy said. “When people pull together great things happen, especially in small-town Nebraska!”
NCF’s “Inspiring Generosity” storytelling series is lifting up the extraordinary kindness of Nebraskans who love their hometowns. As 2024 comes to a close, we ask you to consider a gift through Nebraska Community Foundation to benefit the community or cause nearest to your heart.
Visit www.nebcommfound.org/give to make your year-end contribution today. Remember, non-cash assets such as charitable IRA rollovers, appreciated securities, ag commodities, and real estate are a great (and often tax-wise) option to make an even greater impact. Contact Todd Mekelburg at 402.323.7343 or tmekelburg@nebcommfound.org to learn more.
