Every spring beginning in 1969, Margaret McQuistan walked the halls of Pender Elementary School wearing a floral muumuu and a trinket-covered hat. In her role as the “Spring Lady,” the teacher rang an heirloom bell and declared the arrival of spring as she handed out treats to students.
When McQuistan died in 2010 at the age of 100, students and staff celebrated a bittersweet changing of the seasons. The Spring Lady, however, had more to give. In her estate, she designated a $1,500 gift for the Pender Public Schools’ music department. In an article about the donation, Superintendent Jason Dolliver told the Pender Times that the district was appreciative of the gift and thankful to have been a part of McQuistan’s “wonderful life.”
Her gift is one example of the many ways teachers and staff give back to the district and community they love – a tradition that continues to this day. Every month, 42 of the district’s 68 staff members contribute to the Pender-Thurston Education and Community Foundation Fund (PTECFF). The organization, an affiliated fund of Nebraska Community Foundation, has granted nearly $300,000 from its unrestricted endowment since its founding. Gifts like those of District Secretary Lisa Johnson and her colleagues make that possible.
“Giving monthly is important to me because it provides reliable support for programs that strengthen the community and its future,” Johnson said. “By giving, I feel like I am playing a small part in ensuring that our community remains vibrant and continues to grow.”
The long list of PTECFF accomplishments encompasses every portion of community life. Most apparent is the Pender Community Center, a $7 million facility that’s become a focal point of town life. PTECFF supported the center through planning and fundraising, b3ut the Fund has also awarded grants to parks, healthcare, the local library, housing initiatives, early childhood development, and, of course, Pender Public Schools.
In 2023, PTECFF worked with the children of beloved science teacher Corky Malmberg to create an annual celebration of science and Corky’s impact on the community. When her kids created the Corky Malmberg Science Education Endowment, an account through PTECFF, they aimed to create learning opportunities which cultivate a love of science in students. Corky’s children choosing the Pender-Thurston Education and Community Foundation Fund as a place to house the endowment made sense. Corky was a longtime member of the fund advisory committee (FAC), and her commitment to making her community a better place to live matched her fervor for education. The endowment in her name is organized around flexibility, enabling volunteers to use funding for events, equipment, travel opportunities and much more.
In the words of Paraprofessional Tiffany Beckman, “Pender is just a great place to live and work.” Donors appreciate the opportunity to give something that builds a stronger community.
“Pender is one of the few small towns with so many opportunities and giving to the foundation allows these opportunities to grow,” said Elementary Teacher Shauna Kinning. “It was never a hesitation to donate, and I will continue to do so as this is so close to my heart.”
PTECFF’s mission is to create opportunity through collaboration; achieve goals through determination; and move forward through progressive thinking. Included in the FAC’s progressive thinking is PTECFF’s unrestricted endowment. Much like a retirement account, an unrestricted endowment generates investment income for your community year after year. Because the principal remains untouched, it grows with every gift – and so does the annual payout. The fund advisory committee stewarding the unrestricted endowment account can grant the funds in ways that they determine will fulfill its mission.
The unrestricted endowment has grown exponentially in the past 10 years, thanks to PTECFF taking part in matching challenge grant opportunities offered by NCF. Today, the account sits at $2.5 million, with an annual payout of nearly $70,000.
“The unrestricted endowment is a key piece of the future of our community,” said FAC member Mikayla Doht. “No matter who’s in Pender or what the current priority is for funding, the unrestricted endowment is a constant that will be there to support our community in whatever way it’s needed.”
Johnson, a 30-year employee with the district, sees giving to PTECFF as one way of supporting the community as it supports its youngest members.
“Seeing the hundreds of students who have received their education there is what inspired me to give,” she said. “I see firsthand the top-notch education students receive at PPS. I feel like I am part of giving back to the community that played such an important role in the lives of so many children.”
For these philanthropic Pendragons, giving affirms their love for their hometown. Like the Spring Lady before them, they love seeing their community bloom.
“There is a real reward in knowing that my contribution is helping,” Kinning said. “I feel so blessed to have our town and our school that supports it. Giving makes me happy.”
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.
By giving, I feel like I am playing a small part in ensuring that our community remains vibrant and continues to grow.
