PATHWAYS TO PROGRESS

“Philanthropist” can sound like a big-city word—one that brings to mind billionaires and million-dollar checks. But at its core, philanthropy is something much simpler, and much closer to home. Merriam-Webster defines a philanthropist as “one who makes an active effort to promote human welfare.” By that definition, anyone can be a philanthropist—and in our community, many already are.

At the Fremont Area Community Foundation, we see philanthropy every day in the ways people care for one another. It’s the neighbor who volunteers at a community meal, the family who donates to the food pantry, or the parent who buys a raffle ticket to support the school team. These acts of generosity—large and small—are what strengthen the fabric of our community.

This year’s annual report celebrates that spirit. Each story, grant, and fund featured within these pages reflects the collective kindness that fuels local progress. Whether it’s supporting students through scholarships, uplifting families through essential services, or investing in projects that make Fremont thrive, our community of givers continues to shape a brighter future for all.

Every person’s path to giving is unique, but together, those paths lead to shared impact. Wherever you are on your journey, the Fremont Area Community Foundation is here as your partner—connecting your generosity to the causes that matter most and ensuring your impact endures for generations to come.

Because philanthropy isn’t about wealth—it’s about heart. And that’s something the Fremont area has in abundance.

Melissa Diers Executive Director

Caryl Johannsen Board President

^$38.5Million

Total Assets
918Grants

Totaling $4,055,425
13 New Funds

228 FundsTotal
124Scholarships

$186,867Awarded

NEW FUNDS

Jody (Flamme) Riemann Memorial Scholarship

Jody (Flamme) Riemann grew up on a modest farm north of North Bend, where she learned the values of hard work, curiosity, and compassion. After graduating from North Bend Central High School, she attended the University of Nebraska, earning a degree in Studio Art and Education—a path that reflected her lifelong love of learning and creativity.

A passionate patron of the arts and an avid fly-fisher, Jody found beauty both on canvas and in the natural world. Her adventurous spirit led her to rivers across the globe, but her heart always remained tied to her Nebraska roots.

To honor her life and legacy, Jody’s family established the Jody (Flamme) Riemann Scholarship Fund at the Fremont Area Community Foundation. The fund provides scholarships to graduating seniors from North Bend Central High School who plan to attend the University of Nebraska–Lincoln or the University of Nebraska–Omaha. Through this fund, Jody’s spirit of curiosity, kindness, and appreciation for life will continue to inspire future generations.

The GirlPowerr Fund: Empowering Girls to Dream Big

Where are the women?! When Evelyn McKnight lay in a hospital bed fighting cancer in 2020, she asked that question when she saw mostly men discussing the world’s problems on television. Women are only 10% of global CEOs. Evelyn, her husband, Tom, and their friend, Julie Hindmarsh, decided to do something to improve those numbers. As healthcare providers and educators, they saw the critical need for women to be involved in decision-making in their communities. They believed the best way to empower women is through higher education. The three friends created GirlPowerr—a vision to make post-secondary education not only possible, but a priority for young girls and their families.

Through the GirlPowerr Fund at the Fremont Area Community Foundation, families are encouraged to open a NEST 529 college savings account and begin saving for higher education. For every contribution made, the Foundation provides matching funds—helping turn small steps into big opportunities. The initiative also includes fun and confidence-building programs that help girls set goals, believe in themselves, and imagine what’s possible through education.

At its heart, GirlPowerr is about more than financial aid—it’s about belief. Belief that education changes everything. Belief that when we invest in girls, we invest in stronger families, communities, and futures. As Evelyn once said, “Education is the way to move mountains, to build bridges, to change the world.” Through GirlPowerr, that message continues to inspire a new generation of learners and leaders right here at home.

Jim Gallant loved colorful ties—he had accumulated between 400-500 before he passed. A new fund at the Fremont Area Community Foundation, the Jim Gallant Hope Fund, will add color to the lives of individuals, empowering and creating meaningful change for vulnerable individuals — a lifetime passion of the late attorney who officed in both Scribner and Hooper.

More New Funds

Bixby Family Donor-Advised Fund
Kathleen M. England Scholarship Fund
Kiwanis for Kids Initiative
Lt. Col (Ret) David A. England Scholarship Fund
Mervin and Gail Peck Donor-Advised Fund
Sid Dillon, Sr. Charitable Fund
Special Olympics Swim Team Endowment Fund
Special Olympics Swim Team Pass-Through Fund

A Legacy of Service: The Jim Gallant Hope Fund

Jim Gallant was known for more than his years as a respected attorney—he was known for his heart. Whether helping a client through a difficult time, serving on a nonprofit board, or quietly lending a hand to someone who’d lost their footing, Jim believed in meeting people where they are. He understood that every person, no matter their circumstances, has potential—and that hope can change lives.

To carry that spirit forward, the Fremont Area Community Foundation has established the Jim Gallant Hope Fund. Created by family and friends, the fund celebrates Jim’s lifelong commitment to justice, dignity, and community by supporting programs that help people facing life’s toughest challenges—especially those who have experienced foster care or the juvenile justice system, or who are unhoused or without family support.

“Jim believed deeply in the power of community and the importance of giving others a chance to rebuild,” said Melissa Diers, Executive Director of the Foundation. “Through this fund, his compassion and advocacy will continue to make a difference for generations to come.”

The Jim Gallant Hope Fund will provide grants to local nonprofits working to restore hope and opportunity in the lives of others. Contributions are welcome from anyone who wishes to honor Jim’s memory and continue his legacy of lifting up others.

To learn more or to give, visit www.facfoundation.org or contact the Fremont Area Community Foundation at (402) 721-4252 or info@facfoundation.org.

OUR GRANTEES

Care Corps’ LifeHouse: $47,000 Grant

Care Corps’ LifeHouse received a $47,000 grant from the Fremont Area Community Foundation to strengthen its food pantry program—one of the most vital services meeting the community’s basic needs. Each month, the pantry provides a week’s worth of nutritious food to more than 1,300 people across Dodge County, helping families stretch limited budgets and maintain stability. The Foundation’s support covers food costs, utilities, and staffing for the Pantry Coordinator and bilingual support staff, ensuring consistent access to healthy, balanced meals.

In addition to distributing food, Care Corps’ LifeHouse connects participants with case management services that promote budgeting, employment, and housing stability. Volunteers help pick up, sort, and distribute food, contributing to an average of $12,000 in monthly food purchases.

This year’s grant also helped launch a new partnership with Fremont Public Schools to provide healthy snacks for student athletes who often come to practice hungry. Through this initiative and the broader pantry program, FACF’s investment continues to nourish families, support self-sufficiency, and strengthen the fabric of the Fremont community.

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Midland University: Bringing Championship Energy to Fremont

A $50,000 grant from the Fremont Area Community Foundation is helping Midland University bring new life—and new energy—to its Heedum Field track. The project will resurface the university’s 200-meter competition track, ensuring it meets NAIA standards and can safely host major athletic events. This investment sets the stage for Midland to welcome hundreds of student-athletes and spectators to Fremont when it hosts the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Track & Field Championships in 2026—a first for the university and a major opportunity for the local economy.

Heedum Field’s updated surface will benefit not only Midland’s 900+ student-athletes and coaches, but also local and regional competitors who use the facility for practice and meets. High school athletes from Archbishop Bergan Catholic Schools and visiting teams from across the Midwest will train and compete on the improved track. The university also expects to attract additional collegiate and youth meets, including the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Summer Track Meet, which draws roughly 1,200 participants and spectators—further strengthening Fremont’s visibility as a sports destination.

This project reflects Midland University’s mission to inspire people to learn and lead in the world with purpose. By upgrading the Heedum Field track, Midland is creating a space that fosters athletic excellence, community pride, and leadership among student-athletes. The resurfaced track will stand as a symbol of collaboration between the university, the City of Fremont, and community partners like the Fremont Area Community Foundation—demonstrating how shared investment in local facilities can make a lasting impact on both students and the community they call home.

Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce: $5,400 Grant

The Fremont Area Community Foundation awarded a $5,400 grant to the Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce to help launch App My Community, a new mobile platform designed to connect people, businesses, and nonprofits across Fremont. The app will serve as a digital “front door” for the community—providing a single, easy-to-navigate space where residents and visitors alike can discover local events, explore business listings, and access nonprofit services. By doing so, it will strengthen community engagement, support local commerce, and enhance access to essential resources.

The Chamber envisions the app as a tool to help residents feel more connected and informed while giving local organizations a way to share their impact more widely. Nonprofits will be able to post services, volunteer opportunities, and events; businesses will benefit from increased visibility and real-time engagement with customers; and visitors will be able to plan trips and learn what makes Fremont unique. Within its first year, the app aims to reach at least 5,000 active users, helping to showcase Fremont’s vibrancy and strengthen its economic and civic vitality.

The project, supported in collaboration with the Greater Fremont Development Council, exemplifies how local partnerships can advance shared goals of community development and connectivity. The Chamber plans to sustain the app through business sponsorships and advertising, ensuring it remains a lasting resource for years to come. With the Foundation’s support, App My Community will help Fremont thrive as a place where people can easily engage, shop, volunteer, and belong—right from the palm of their hand.

Educational Service Unit 2: $5,518.63 Grant

The Fremont Area Community Foundation awarded Educational Service Unit #2 (ESU 2) a grant of $5,518.63 to launch Little Ears, Big Futures: Early Hearing Screening for Stronger Educational Outcomes. The project funds the purchase of a portable Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) device—a tool that enables quick, accurate, and non-invasive hearing screenings for young children, including those with developmental or communication challenges.

Through this initiative, ESU 2 is expanding access to early hearing detection for children in Fremont and surrounding rural communities, where families often face barriers such as limited audiology services and long travel distances. The program will integrate OAE screenings into school and preschool health assessments, train staff and school nurses, and provide follow-up and referral support for children who need further evaluation.

By identifying hearing issues early, ESU 2 aims to improve language development, learning outcomes, and long-term well-being for local children. The grant covers the cost of the device, accessories, and staff training, helping ensure that every child—regardless of location or background—has the opportunity to start school ready to listen, learn, and thrive.

OUR GRANTEES

Nonprofit Leadership Program

TStrong communities rely on strong nonprofits—and strong nonprofits rely on strong leaders. That’s the philosophy behind the Fremont Area Community Foundation’s Nonprofit Leadership Program, which this year welcomes its sixth cohort of participants.

For 2025–26, six organizations are taking part: Archbishop Bergan Schools, Aspire for Greatness, Care Corps’ LifeHouse, Fremont Public Schools Foundation, Dodge County Head Start, and Rebuilding Together–Platte Valley East. Their leaders are engaging in one-on-one coaching, peer discussions, and specialized sessions designed to strengthen leadership, enhance board collaboration, and expand organizational impact.

The program includes dedicated opportunities for CEOs as well as joint learning sessions with board members, helping both to grow in vision and alignment. Each organization also receives a $5,000 capacity-building grant to support needs such as strategic planning, technology improvements, or professional development.

Through this continued investment in leadership, the Community Foundation is helping nonprofits across the Fremont area build the skills, connections, and confidence to serve our community more effectively—today and for years to come.

Fremont Area Big Give raises over $481,000

We spearheaded the ninth Fremont Area Big Give, which raised over $481,000 for 83 area nonprofits in just 24 hours. Since inception, the Big Give has raised nearly $3.5 Million for charitable work throughout Greater Dodge County.

NEW INITIATIVE! Focus on Fremont: Turning Data Into Direction

This year, the Fremont Area Community Foundation proudly launched Focus on Fremont, a data-driven reflection of life in Fremont and the surrounding area. This new resource offers an in-depth look at how our community is doing across six key areas: Economy, Education, Health, Housing, Quality of Life, and Social & Economic Wellbeing.

Created in partnership with Partners for Insightful Evaluation (PIE) and informed by many community contributors, Focus on Fremont brings together publicly available data in one accessible place. It highlights where we’ve grown, where challenges remain, and where we can work together to improve quality of life for all.

For the Foundation, Focus on Fremont is more than a report—it’s both a yardstick and a compass. It helps us measure our community’s progress while guiding future action and investment. By equipping residents, organizations, and donors with clear, local data, we aim to make charitable giving more informed, effective, and strategic.

The FACF Board is already using these insights to identify opportunities for funding, collaboration, and leadership. We invite you to explore the data, share it with others, and join us in transforming knowledge into impact. Together, we can ensure Fremont’s future is guided by both heart and evidence.

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LEGACY SOCIETY

Sustaining growth through gifts from our Legacy Society

FACF created a Legacy Society to recognize and thank individuals and families who plan to leave a gift to the community through a bequest, trust, life insurance policy, retirement plan, or charitable annuity.

Members of our Legacy Society care about the future of the Fremont area and realize that their gifts will strengthen the projects and programs of local nonprofit organizations and the people they serve. We thank the following members for their foresight and generosity…

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR THE COMPLETE LIST

Fremont Forever Fund: Make a Gift that Lasts Forever

For many donors, giving through their estate is a way to extend their values far beyond their lifetime. By designating the Fremont Forever Fund—the Fremont Area Community Foundation’s unrestricted endowment—as the beneficiary of their legacy gift, they ensure that their generosity continues to meet the community’s greatest needs for generations to come. The Fremont Forever Fund is designed to be flexible and responsive, supporting projects and programs that strengthen the community today and adapt to whatever challenges or opportunities may arise in the future.

Donors who give to the Fremont Forever Fund understand that the needs of tomorrow may look very different from those of today. By entrusting their gifts to the Community Foundation, they place confidence in a local institution with a deep understanding of Fremont and a proven record of stewardship. Each year, earnings from the fund are used to award grants that help address emerging issues across areas like education, health, housing, the economy, and quality of life—guided by data and community input.

Ultimately, these legacy gifts reflect both foresight and faith—foresight to plan for a changing future, and faith in the community’s ability to grow stronger through collective giving. Every contribution to the Fremont Forever Fund, whether made today or through an estate plan, becomes a permanent source of support for the place donors call home. It’s how the seeds of generosity planted now will continue to bear fruit, ensuring that Fremont’s best days are always ahead.

James and Sandra Kruger

A transformative $1.1 million endowment gift

A transformative $1.1 million endowment gift from the estate of James and Sandra Kruger—made possible through their family’s thoughtful decision to conclude the James and Sandra Kruger Foundation—will significantly strengthen the North Bend area for generations to come.

Jim and Sandra’s impact can be seen across North Bend. Their philanthropic footprint includes meaningful support for St. Charles Church, the North Bend Public Library, the restoration of the historic Carnegie Library, early investment in the Veterans Memorial Park, and the creation of the James and Sandra Kruger Community Room. This new endowment ensures that the couple’s deep commitment to their hometown will continue shaping local opportunities far into the future.

The James and Sandra Kruger Fund will be advised by the North Bend Area Community Foundation (NBACF), an affiliate of the Fremont Area Community Foundation (FACF), and invested by FACF for continued growth over time. For 25 years, NBACF has built a strong record of community investment—growing its endowment to $550,000 and awarding more than $400,000 in grants to 81 local projects. The Kruger endowment represents an extraordinary leap forward. “This endowment allows us to dream bigger, serve more, and expand our impact,” said NBACF treasurer Deanna Wolf, expressing the Foundation’s profound gratitude for the Kruger family’s generosity and stewardship.

“The Kruger Fund is a beautiful testament to their generosity and love for the North Bend community,” said FACF Executive Director Melissa Diers. “Though Jim and Sandra are no longer with us, their legacy will live on through this fund, providing resources to meet needs and embrace opportunities for generations to come. We are deeply honored to help continue their caring spirit.”

Through this extraordinary gift, the Krugers have ensured that their devotion to North Bend will forever remain a guiding force—strengthening the community they cherished and inspiring others to invest in its future.

2025 AWARD WINNERS

Ken and Pat Beebe

BETSY MULLIKEN AWARD FOR PHILANTHROPY

Ken and Pat Beebe have devoted their lives to serving others and strengthening the communities of North Bend, Fremont, and beyond. Married in 1968 after meeting at the University of Nebraska, they returned to the Beebe family farm, where they raised their family and built a legacy of leadership rooted in generosity, service, and community spirit.

Pat has been the heart of the North Bend Area Community Foundation since its founding in 2000, serving in nearly every leadership role and guiding its growth over 25 years. She also helped lead efforts to build the North Bend Library, served on the Fremont Area Community Foundation board, and remains active in P.E.O. and other civic causes.

Ken, a Vietnam veteran and retired farmer, has shared his time and leadership through the Methodist Hospital Board, Fremont Rotary, Nebraska Masons, and the Nature Conservancy’s Nebraska Chapter, where he chaired the conservation committee.

Together, the Beebes give generously of both their resources and time—whether helping with community celebrations, creating historic displays, or supporting local and statewide causes. Honored last year with the Spirit of the Fremont Health Foundation Award, Ken and Pat embody the spirit of philanthropy that the Betsy Mulliken Award celebrates.

Steve Hull

2025 Professional Advisor of the Year

Steve has been working as an accountant since 1974, joined a predecessor of Shaw, Hull & Navarrette CPA’s in 1976 and earned his CPA certification in 1978. He was the managing shareholder from 1992 until his retirement in August, 2024. He specialized in estate planning, business consulting and personal and business taxation. Steve is a graduate of Midland Lutheran College, now Midland University.

Steve has been active in the community serving twice as the President of the Greater Fremont Development Council, Chairman of the Fremont Airport Zoning Board, a Director of the Fremont Chamber of Commerce, Member of the Fremont Diplomats, Treasurer of the Fremont Noon Optimist Club, President of the Memorial Cemetery Association and has held many positions in his church.

He is also a past Director of the Nebraska Society of Certified Public Accountants and a past Trustee of the Nebraska Society of CPA’s Foundation and was chairman of several committees for the society. Steve is married to Marsha and they have a daughter Christy, a son Brian, and six grandkids.

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Fremont Area Community Foundation

1005 E 23rd St #2 | Fremont, NE 68025 | (402) 721-4252 |

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