SOME REFLECTIONS FROM DONORS

“When I go on recruiting trips on behalf of the Omaha Chamber of Commerce, the questions asked by businesses looking to relocate are about the community of Omaha, and the opportunities for them and their families. This brings home the importance of having a well-educated constituency and many cultural opportunities if we want companies relocate to Nebraska.”
Kate Dodge, Board of Directors, Omaha Chamber of Commerce

“The key to our rural communities is growth. If our children can’t find the level of art and culture they would like to have in their own community, they are more likely to live somewhere else. So it’s important, if we want our children to come home, to have a method or mechanism to insure those art and cultural activities will be available to them. I think an endowment to insure future generations of great art and entertainment in Nebraska is an extremely good idea.”
Hod Kosman, Platte Valley National Bank, Scottsbluff

“Every dollar we raise is matched by a dollar from the state, so we can do it better than with private funding alone. If the Oracle of Omaha, Warren Buffett says that you can expect 8% return, and we have $10 million in this cooperative venture, then we have $800,000 a year that can filter directly into the Arts Council and Humanities Council’s programs.”
Jack Campbell, Mass Mutual Insurance, Lincoln

“Both public and private funding for the arts and humanities are important. To assure the future strength of organizations, setting up an endowment and letting that endowment grow to offer a higher percentage of support to the budgets of arts organizations is what we need for the future.”
Fred Simon, Omaha Steaks, Omaha

“Giving to the Nebraska Cultural Endowment is a contribution to the future of arts and humanities programming in Nebraska, and I want to extend my thanks to all the generous individuals who are making this investment in our children’s future.”
Governor Mike Johanns, February 5, 2003

SELECTED ARTICLES ABOUT THE ENDOWMENT

Nebraska helps keep arts afloat financially http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1458&u_sid=2167860
Midlands Voices: Endowment is a true Nebraska institution
$500,000 Carson gift to Benefit Nebraska Arts
Humanities Council gets $450,000 grant