Serving the Loup Valley for 137 Years
WinterFest and Small Business Saturday Chamber Promotion Packets Now Available
By Katie Walmsley,
Ord Area Chamber & Valley County Economic Development
The first snow has fallen, which means WinterFest and Small Business Saturday are right around the corner!
WinterFest and Small Business Saturday Chamber member promotion packets are ready for pick up! These packets include parade registration forms and information, Snowball Drop registration and information, ChamberBucks drawing information, ChamberBuck guidelines, Holiday Shopping Guide registration and registration for promoting holiday store hours and deals.
The deadline for returning registration forms included in member promotion packets is Nov. 6, 2020.
One change with this year’s WinterFest will be the introduction of the Virtual Snowball Drop. This new format will allow community members who are out of town for the holidays or avoiding colder weather to participate, which means Chamber members will have more potential to reach consumers with their Snowball offerings.
Starting Nov. 2 until Nov. 25 at 5 p.m., “Business Boosting” social media posts will be featured on the Ord, NE Facebook page and Instagram. Comments on these posts will allow participants to be entered to win Snowball Savings. Participant entries will be drawn during a Facebook Live event on Sat., Nov. 28, 2020 at 10 a.m.
For more information on the WinterFest and Small Business Saturday Chamber member promotion packets, contact Katie Walmsley at the Chamber office by calling 308-728-7875 or by email at katiewalmsley@ordnebraska.com.
If your business or organization has a holiday event they would like featured in the WinterFest flyer, please contact Katie Walmsley at the Chamber office before Nov. 1, 2020.
For more information on the Virtual Snowball Drop and how to qualify for Snowball Savings, visit the Ord, NE Facebook page at facebook.com/ordnebraska. Be sure to watch for the Business Boost posts “falling” on Facebook!
Long-time Ord Resident Leaves $2.3 Million Legacy to Valley County Health System Foundation
The late Phyllis Malottke, a long-time Ord resident, created a legacy that will positively impact lives in Valley County forever. A $2.3 million gift to Valley County Health System Foundation, made following her passing in May 2020, will make an immeasurable impact on the organization’s mission to enhance and sustain high-quality healthcare in Central Nebraska.
Malottke was born in Valley County, but spent her career in Omaha where she managed welfare case workers for Social Services, worked for the phone company and Mutual of Omaha. In the mid-90s, she returned to Valley County to care for her parents and chose to remain here for the rest of her life. She enjoyed walking the local trail system in the morning, spending time at the Ord Township Library and visiting with friends and neighbors.
According to Becky Ries, executive director of the Valley County Health System Foundation (VCHSF), Malottke was well-known for her generosity among Foundation staff. Over the past 20 years, she hadn’t missed an annual donation and was always supportive of the organization’s fundraising events. Ries said other local organizations have been touched by that same generosity – each gift leaving a positive impact on the quality-of-life of fellow residents of Valley County.
Though Ries says Malottke’s generosity came as no surprise, the amount certainly did.
“I just about fell out of my chair,” said Ries. “It brought tears to my eyes. Phyllis has quietly done some amazing things for the Valley County Health System Foundation and our community. I am still amazed by all of it.”
Of the $2.3 million estate gift designated to VCHSF, the Foundation’s board has elected to place $2.2 million into the newly established Phyllis Malottke Endowment Account, an unrestricted endowment managed through Valley County Health System Foundation Fund, an affiliated fund of the Nebraska Community Foundation.
The Phyllis Malottke Endowment Account will act like a savings account for the future of VCHSF. While Malottke’s gift is invested, only a portion of the investment earnings are distributed every year. This provides a steady stream of revenue that keeps up with inflation to fund the purchase of new equipment, projects and programs today, 50 years from now and forever. This is especially important to an organization like VCHSF as the healthcare system continues to change and evolve and the cost of lifesaving equipment continues to increase.
Ries said the gift’s timing couldn’t have been better. “This year has been difficult for everyone and proven just how impossible it is to predict the future. Because of that, Phyllis’ contribution will make a bigger impact than she may have ever even known. We cannot predict the future or future needs, but support for healthcare will always be an investment in our communities.”
While Malottke’s generosity has undoubtedly made an impact on VCHSF’s finances, Ries said the Foundation’s ability to thrive remains dependent on broad-based community support.
“Phyllis’ story is a testament to the spirit of giving present in the Valley County community and the importance of giving back to the place you call home,” said Ries. “We hope Phyllis’ generosity is an inspiration for all who care about Valley County and want to make it even better for the next generation.”
About Valley County Health System Foundation:
The Valley County Health System Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable organization. The Foundation’s mission is to seek, receive and administer donations and gifts for the sole benefit of VCHS.
The Foundation’s top priority is enhancing and sustaining quality healthcare in central Nebraska. For more information visit www.vchs-foundation.org.
