Nebraska Community Foundation congratulates a member of its network for receiving recognition for his work in building a Greater Nebraska through gift planning.
The Charitable Gift Planners of Nebraska (CGPN) honored Seward’s John Owens with the 2022 Community Sower Award at its December meeting in Ashland. The award recognizes Nebraska professional advisors for outstanding efforts in engaging clients in philanthropy and personal involvement in philanthropy. Board members assess candidates’ impact on quantity and quality of charitable gifts, experience and peer relationships.
After working as a banker with Union Bank & Trust for three years, Owens returned to Seward in 2004 with Edward Jones. He’s served the community as a financial advisor ever since, developing strong relationships with residents of Seward, Seward County, and Nebraska at large. Owens earned his degree in finance at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Owens serves on the advisory committee for the Legacy Fund for Seward County, an affiliated fund of Nebraska Community Foundation. He also lends his time to his church, local Rotary, local Kiwanis chapter,and TeamMates.
Legacy Fund for Seward County’s endowments—one unrestricted and one for youth—total more than $1 million, thanks to the fund advisory committee’s careful stewardship and the community’s outstanding generosity. Given the Fund’s establishment in late 2019—just months before the COVID-19 pandemic began—that accomplishment is even more impressive.
Thanks to that incredible growth, the Fund is equipped to make substantial impact in Seward County – that’s not to say members haven’t already. In 2020, the fund helped bridge the learning gap in area schools, supplying the necessary resources and technology to keep kids learning.
“John is an incredible champion for not just Seward, but all of Seward County and Nebraska overall,” said NCF Affiliated Fund Development Coordinator Kara Asmus. “It’s no surprise he would receive the 2022 Community Sower Award, as he has lent considerable time, treasure and talent in using his professional advisor career to advance the community he loves by helping others realize the potential of gift planning.”
