At Snow-Redfern Foundation, we believe in the power of youth voice, community wisdom, and meaningful engagement. These values come to life through the dedication of our board members—leaders who bring passion, expertise, and a shared vision for empowering young people. Megan Walter is one such leader who embodies these ideals.

As the Manager of Customer Engagement for Metropolitan Utilities District (M.U.D.) in Omaha, Megan has built her career around community outreach and supporting families in need. She plays a pivotal role in fundraising for the M.U.D. Home Fund, ensuring that families receive essential utility assistance. But her commitment to community impact extends beyond her professional role—she is deeply invested in creating opportunities for youth through her work with Snow-Redfern.

Raised in Alliance, Nebraska, Megan has always valued the strength of small communities and the potential of the next generation. Her belief in the power of young people aligns perfectly with Snow-Redfern’s mission. Since joining our Board of Directors in 2023, Megan has been an advocate for youth voice and a champion for change.

Megan’s perspective on this work is best captured in her own words:

“Throughout my career and as a proud member on this board, I have been driven by the belief that every young person should have a voice and has the potential to be a powerful changemaker. The mission at Snow Redfern of empowering youth, inspiring changemakers, and energizing partnerships is a vision I truly believe in. By dedicating time to this cause, I believe we are helping to create a brighter future for our youth and supporting the next generation of leaders who will shape our communities.”

Her passion for amplifying youth voice reflects Snow-Redfern’s broader commitment to engaging young leaders in decision-making processes. Through initiatives like our Youth Engagement Coordinator role and the development of a statewide Youth Board, we are actively working to shift power back to young people—ensuring they have a seat at the table in shaping their futures.

Megan’s leadership and dedication inspire us all. With board members like her championing this mission, we continue to build pathways for youth to lead, contribute, and thrive. Together, we are creating a future where every young person has the opportunity to be heard, valued, and empowered.

We are grateful for Megan’s contributions and look forward to the impact she and other changemakers will have in shaping the next generation of leaders.

A few years ago, a leader from a local business within the trades industry reached out to me and asked for guidance on how to recruit and retain local young people interested in a future career in the trades.  Though I wish I had an immediate solution, I did not…. however, I am fortunate to know many brilliant individuals who might!

The search for ideas and solutions eventually led us to the most obvious of all notions- ask the young people that will be our future workforce! Though potentially oversimplified, it was obvious and spoke from the heart of our rural community mindset.

This year, the voices of nearly 4,000 students across the 23 panhandle school districts allowed us to begin a course of action that was aimed at creating career pathways with AND for youth in the panhandle.  By leveraging youth voice and the collective wisdom and collaboration of many esteemed leaders within a diverse array of organizations, institutions, and businesses, Career Connections of Western Nebraska was born.

Once the direction and focus were clear, the need for a backbone entity was paramount to continue to drive the work that this group had in mind.  A local economic development hub,

Twin Cities Development, stepped up to the plate as fiscal agent, coordinator, and backbone entity for what the group name Career Connections of Western Nebraska.

As a Private Foundation, we do not always have the opportunity to be directly involved with the fruits of shared labor, but in this scenario, we were able to act as a partner within this collaborative and participatory model, through both funding support and actual involvement in the development and implementation.

2023 has gone very quicky for this team, with numerous successes to report as we move into a new and exciting year, including the proud announcement of a groundbreaking initiative aimed at transforming career exploration for high school students. With a mission to address challenges in workforce recruitment and retention faced by local companies, Career Connections, in collaboration with 23 school districts across 11 counties in the Nebraska Panhandle, conducted a comprehensive Teen Opportunity Survey.

Over the course of the survey, which engaged nearly 4,000 6th through 12th graders, students provided insights into their post-graduation plans, career interests, community involvement, and more. Key findings indicate a shift in aspirations, with 65% of students planning to attend college, down from 75% five years ago, and 13% intending to enter the workforce directly after high school. Notably, 49% envision themselves living in western Nebraska in the future, reflecting a commitment to the local community.

To translate these findings into actionable initiatives, the Career Connections team developed the innovative Career Cabs program. This initiative involved business tours tailored for 10th-grade students, exposing them to diverse career industries. In November, over 650 students from three Panhandle regions explored seven different career sectors across more than 50 Western Nebraska businesses. Industries covered included agriculture, food and natural resources, business management, education, criminal justice, health science, human services, and trades.

2024 promises great things for this work in the panhandle, and we are very proud to have been asked that first tough question, as it has led us to this beautiful collaboration.

Interested in reading the Youth Opportunity Survey results?

https://online.flippingbook.com/view/662942669/

Estate planning isn’t just for the rich and famous. For example, you may have family heirlooms (such as jewelry or artwork) or real property that has sentimental value to certain family members. Wills and trusts can help ensure that your estate is divvied up fairly after your passing. But you won’t be around to explain or interpret your estate plan when it’s triggered. So, your will and other estate planning documents should be as clear as possible to help ensure your intentions are honored.

Here are some strategies to consider when drafting or revising your estate plan that can help minimize future disputes over your estate.

Treat Heirs Equitably

If your heirs contest your will or trust, it may be tossed out of court. That means your estate will be distributed per the laws of “intestate succession” — as if there’s no will or trust in place. However, if your will or trust follows the applicable laws closely, there’s less likelihood your heirs could successfully contest it.

For example, a will that calls for shares of an estate to be split equally between the decedent’s children, including any stepchildren, seems fair and aligns with applicable laws. Therefore, it’s unlikely that an heir could contest this will.

But this strategy may not be fair or equitable in all situations. For instance, suppose you have a son from your current marriage who’s a college student and a daughter from a previous marriage who’s financially independent. Your son needs more financial assistance, so he might not think it’s fair to divide your estate equally between the siblings who are at different stages of life.

Explain Your Plan

Warren Buffet once described his philosophy for leaving the correct amount to children as, “Enough money so that they … feel they could do anything, but not so much that they could do nothing.”

Whatever your rationale is for dividing the estate, to avoid disputes or disappointment, it’s a good idea to describe your thinking to your family while you’re still alive. For example, if you leave a child out of your will because he or she is financially independent, the individual might contest the will, arguing that the omission was an oversight. However, your intentions will be clear if you explicitly describe them.

The caveat is that you should be careful about the reasons for disinheriting an individual. If you argue that you’re taking this step because he or she is “financially independent,” the definition of the term can be a reason to litigate.

Thwart Challenges to Your Mental Capacity

When wills are contested, the suits often claim undue influence or lack of testamentary capacity. Typically, states have an age requirement, usually 18 years old, and a mental capacity requirement.

To demonstrate you’re “of sound mind and body” in a legal context, you generally must know:

  • The nature/extent of property,
  • The natural objects of your property,
  • The disposition that your will makes, and
  • How to connect these elements to form a coherent estate plan.

Three common ways to avoid challenges to your testamentary capacity include:

  1.  Acquiring a written evaluation by a physician or psychiatrist,
  2. Selecting witnesses who can attest to your mental capacity and are likely to out-live you, and
  3. Possibly recording your will.

With the third option, be aware that if you appear nervous or hesitant in front of the camera, the court could perceive it as a sign of confusion or duress. Consult with your attorney about this action.

Hire a Professional Executor

Traditionally, the executor of an estate is a trusted child, friend, trustee or personal representative. However, this may open the door to abuse-of-power claims.

To decrease the likelihood of these arguments, consider using an independent, paid professional. Typically, people select their family attorney, CPA or financial advisor, but you can also use an institutional fiduciary, such as a bank or trust company.

For More Information

These are just a few examples of the numerous strategies you can deploy to guard your estate plan against misunderstanding and possible litigation. Your estate planning attorney will help design an estate plan that meets your goals while reducing the risk of litigation.

Property valuationsWhat If You Own a Family Business?

If you own a family business, you may be considering leaving it to children (or other loved ones) who are active in its day-to-day operations. But your will might not be the optimal tool for transferring private business interests. Instead, you might consider selling the business to heirs who are actively involved while you’re still alive. This can help eliminate the risk of another heir contesting your will, which could leave your business in limbo.

In general, disgruntled heirs will have a more difficult time challenging a lifetime sales contract than a bequest in your will. Your financial and legal advisors can help you with options for a lifetime sale, including installment sales and sales to intentionally defective grantor trusts. These plans can spread the payments over numerous years while minimizing the tax impact.

Learn more from our accounting partners at HBE, at: https://hbecpa.com/ways-to-secure-your-estate-plan/

ESTATE AND INHERITANCE TAXES

by Patricia Jones, Alliance Community Task Force: Creating Opportunity

When a person dies, their assets could be subject to estate tax at the federal level and inheritance tax in Nebraska. Both of these were designed to limit the transfer of wealth to people who were not involved in earning it, and they are controversial.

Federal estate taxes were created in 1916, taxing estates valued at over $5 million. This amount changed to $50 million in 1932. In 1940 it dropped to $10 million, then $5, then $3. In 2002-2007 estates worth more than $2 million paid the tax. The exemption amount has increased annually since then.

In 2023, the federal estate tax applies only to estates worth more than $12.92 million. For a married couple, that is a combined exemption of $25.84 million. Only the amount over that threshold is taxed, and the rates are progressive. The first $1 million (over the $12.92 million) is taxed at lower rates – from 18% to 39%. Everything above that is taxed at 40%. This tax applies to about one tenth of one percent of Americans.

One of the reasons people argue that federal estate tax should be eliminated is the fact that there are ways to avoid paying anything at all. Every year, married couples can give away a certain amount in tax-free gifts to other people, including family members.  The annual gift tax limit is currently $16,000 per person. So, a husband and wife could each give away $16,000 every year for a combined $32,000 in annual tax-free gifts. Through annual gifts, married couples can reduce the value of their taxable estate while benefiting their intended beneficiaries.

Estate taxes can often be avoided by setting up a trust. Most trusts give the surviving spouse rights to the assets, with no estate tax on the assets put into this trust. For example, the surviving spouse can draw income from the trust, live in the house, etc. When the surviving spouse dies the trust assets are distributed to the intended beneficiaries.

A charitable trust names a charitable organization as the beneficiary of the trust assets. Assets in the charitable trust can include cash, stocks, real estate, and other property. There is a reason why the super-wealthy have foundations in their names.

A family limited partnership (FLP) is beneficial because it allows family members to pool their assets and then shift them to other members in the family, and it is common in agriculture. The assets you put into an FLP and transfer to others are taken out of your estate, with significant estate tax savings. FLPs offer a strategy for family farms to transition the farm on to the next generation. The older generation manages the operation at first, and the younger generation can, over time, take over the operation.

Nebraska is one of six states that collects an inheritance tax, and counties collect and use this tax. Inheritance tax is not calculated on the total of the estate; it is collected on the amount paid to each person who receives something from the estate.

The tax is levied on Nebraska property inherited from parents, siblings, extended family, and non-relatives. Spouses are exempt and inherit tax-free. Other beneficiaries inherit a certain amount tax-free, but then pay based on their relationship to the deceased. When property is inherited from immediate family members, the value worth more than $100,000 is taxed at 1%. Property inherited from near relatives is taxed at 11% for the part that is worth more than $40,000, and property inherited from distant relatives and non-relatives worth more than $25,000 is taxed at 15%.

The Revenue Committee of the Nebraska Legislature is considering advancing a constitutional amendment, LR23CA, to end inheritance tax. If approved, this would be on the ballot in the next general election for voters to decide.

If these two “death taxes” are ended, we must remember that the dollars collected from them must be made up with other taxes. This would be one more example of transferring tax obligations from the wealthy to those with no assets, again raising taxes on low-income households.

As you consider the benefits of leaving your legacy for the next generation, consider non-profit organizations, such as Snow-Redfern Foundation.  We build partnerships with communities and utilize data to determine how your gifts can best meet the needs of children.  For more information, please contact us or learn more at: https://www.snowredfern.org/give-today

A Tribute to Arvilla Snow-Redfern

The Young Women’s Leadership Program is being developed as a tribute to our fearless founder, Arvilla Snow-Redfern.  For decades she dedicated her life to growing great kids that came to her ranch in need of structure, skills, nurturing, discipline, and purpose.  She created an endowment for the express purpose of ensuring perpetual support of kids that needed what she so openly provided in her lifetime.

We think that implementing a program that is specifically aimed at creating opportunities for young ladies to gain experiences, skills, and self-awareness of their innate leadership potential is a project worthy of Arvilla’s respect and approval.  Afterall, who better to emulate a program than our fearless female leader who was developing structured programming long before it was considered “proper” for a woman to be doing.

“The first year of the Young Women’s Leadership Program is underway and has been structured as a pilot project.  This allows us to test various aspects of the framework so we can strengthen the overall program design and content for future cohorts.  It also provides opportunity to elicit input from a cohort of young women as we develop the program parameters, including curricula design and logistics”, said Teresa Sanders, Snow-Redfern Foundation board member and Young Women’s Leadership Committee Chairperson.

Kick-Off

The program kicked off on February 20 with a focus group facilitated by ToP facilitator and Executive Director of Panhandle Partnership, Faith Mills.  Six high school girls from Gering, Scottsbluff, Morrill and Hemingford shared their voices in this robust conversation in a beautiful venue that was donated by another strong female leader in our community.

Lisa Weborg, owner of Hotel 21 and Weborg 21 Center, created a space for the girls to convene.  After completion of the two-hour facilitated discussion, the girls were thrilled to take a tour of the lavish hotel’s main floor.

Among the multitude of insights shared by the girls was their feedback about descriptors of female leaders, which included: nurturing, hard-working, organized, responsible, persistent, assertive, self-aware, able to do things for themselves.  They also expressed that female leaders often have to work harder than males in order to get what they want/need.

The Program

The short-term cohort-based workshop series is designed to enhance the leadership skills, college/trade preparedness, and/or career development of young women in Nebraska. The program prepares 16- to 19-year-old female presenting participants for the workforce, post-secondary education, and leadership in their communities.

There will be a four-workshop series for this first cohort, which will include content ideas expressed by the girls as important to them as they develop their leadership skills.  The curriculum is currently being designed by Allyson Berggren, Service Excellence Director at Regional West and previous elementary school teacher and principal.  The workshops will be facilitated by Dr. Maya Chilese, seasoned ToP facilitator, administrator with Public Health, and owner of Blueprint Consulting LLC.  Dr. Chilese has also been instrumental in the development of the Youth In Power program for which Snow-Redfern Foundation awards funding to Panhandle Partnership and CAPWN to implement.

“The workshop series will be presented virtually”, said the facilitator, Dr. Maya Chilese, “creating a more intentionally inclusive cohort design that allows participant diversity and the ability for young women to join from anywhere in Nebraska.  The design lends itself to a more robust model that integrates technologies, skill introduction, and relationship building with broader impact that can be scaled and repeated for future cohorts.”

 

As we grow this program, we are seeking support from those interested in sponsoring the development of curriculum or sponsoring a future participant.  Please contact Sara Nicholson at [email protected] or at 308-763-6370 if you are interested in investing in this program as it expands state-wide next year.

As this exciting project unfolds, we will be sure to share updates!  Keep an eye out for these incredible young women!

Middle school girls in Adams County are moving into Action thanks to the efforts of YWCA and our support with project grant funds.

Girl Leaders

YWCA creates opportunities for middle school girls to become leaders in schools, churches and in their community, helping them to speak out against negativity like rumors and bullying with a positive voice in the world. YWCA Leaders aim to invest positive change and skill development in girls while creating a sense of emotional wellness.

“The girls in Adams County having been trying out new healthy activities, such as yoga.  They have also been exploring their creativity with a recent Halloween cookie decorating contest”, said YWCA Executive Director, Laura Stutte.

Space to Gain Skills

According to research, soft skills, such as emotional intelligence, effective communication, mediation, collaboration, creativity and strength of character, are critical to the healthy development of kids.  Girls in Action are afforded time and space to gain these soft skills together with the guidance of a caring adult leader with YWCA.

Interested in seeing more programs like Girls In Action out there supporting our girls across Nebraska? Share a gift today at: https://www.snowredfern.org/give-today/

Christmas is a Time of Giving

Christmas is a time of giving, and Mystic Rhoads Productions (MRP) partners with Lincoln community organizations for this very reason!

Recognizing that there are kids in need, the MRP managed program called Baldorf Better Holidays aims to partner with community organizations to give gifts to kids that could use a little something extra under the Christmas tree.  The gift packages also help program participants get a head start on the second semester of the school year.

This year MRP will be serving kids in need at Roper Elementary School.  Mrs. Tara Claridge, guidance counselor at the school, appreciates what the program does for her students:

“Roper families are so grateful when they are able to receive a holiday gift bag for their children. Tough times have fallen on many people in our community these past couple years and having our Holiday Program has really made winter break and the holiday season special. I love seeing our students light up when they get a gift bag that they get to take home and keep. It’s an awesome program that really helps our families out during the holidays.”

Making the Holidays Special

The gift packages provided by MRP include winter clothing, school supplies, necessities (personal hygiene, dental care, etc.) and healthy snack packs for the holiday break.  It also includes toys, games, books and activities to help make the holidays special for participants.

The program is partially funded by the Snow Redfern Foundation and made possible through the generous support of Lincoln businesses and community volunteers.

Tis the season- help MRP help families who need additional support during the holidays.

Learn more about Baldorf Better Holidays here: https://mysticrhoads.org/what-we-do/better-holidays/

Help us support more projects that help kids at: https://bit.ly/3r1t92b

Returning to her Panhandle roots, new Youth in Power Program Director, Tristina Meister, has set her sights on creating programming that allows teens to get involved and engaged in their communities.

As a teen that grew up in the Panhandle, Tristina recalls firsthand how difficult being a teenager in rural and frontier areas can be. She is hopeful that providing opportunities for teens to get involved allows them to try new things, connect with other kids, and engage in the community in meaningful ways, other than school and sports options alone.

Tristina received her bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design from Drake University and a master’s degree in child and Adolescent Developmental Psychology. She began her career working for Denver nonprofits, finding the work at Habitat for Humanity, AmeriCorps, and the Eating Recovery Center rewarding.

Her desire to continue working with kids while being closer to her own family and providing her beloved dogs open space to run, drove her decision to move back to the Panhandle.

With a couple of months now under her belt, Tristina has hit the ground running. As she ardently develops and implements this new program, she has found joy in recruiting young people to help create and lead the program as Youth Influencers.

“Youth in Power is a great opportunity for Youth from all different background to get involved, make a difference in their community and gain lifelong skills,” said Tristina.

Interested in helping us support great female leaders and important youth programs? Consider giving today at: https://bit.ly/3r1t92b

Today, Snow-Redfern Foundation is celebrating 70 years of empowering youth with a special focus this year on empowering girls! We are declaring December 1st (our birthday) as the Day of Girls- in honor of our founder, Arvilla, and all the amazing girls that deserve a shout out!

the United Nations Foundation introduced and celebrated the Day of the Girl and the extraordinary power of girls in our world.  This year’s theme, “The Power of the Adolescent Girl: Vision for 2030,” highlights the importance of girls to achieving the global goals for sustainable development. Simply put: To reach our global goals, we have to reach girls.

Join us tonight from 5-7pm at our open house to learn more about how we are honoring Arvilla and impacting kids!  The open house will be at our new office- 305 Box Butte Ave in Alliance, and more details can be found on our Facebook event page!

Here are five reasons why empowering adolescent girls matters to all of us, as shared by the UN Foundation (https://unfoundation.org/blog/post/5-reasons-why-empowering-girls-matters/):

  1. It’s her right.

Fundamentally, this is a human rights issue. Discrimination has no place in the 21st century, and every girl has the right to go to school, stay safe from violence, access health services, and fully participate in her community.

  1. Empowered girls mean healthier families.

When girls are educated, healthy, and empowered, families are healthier. According to UNESCO, 2.1 million children under age 5 were saved between 1990 and 2009 because of improvements in girls’ education. And closing the gap in the unmet need for family planning for the 225 million girls and women who want to delay or avoid pregnancy but aren’t using modern contraception would reduce maternal deaths by 67% and newborn deaths by 77%.

  1. Empowered girls are key to breaking the cycle of poverty for families around the world.

Research from the Brookings Institution has found that every additional year of school increases a girls’ eventual wages by an average of 12% – earnings she invests back into her family. Empowered, educated girls have healthier, better educated children and higher wages – helping to break the cycle of poverty.

  1. Empowered girls strengthen economies.

According to a new Brookings report, “Increasing the number of women completing secondary education by just 1 percent could increase a country’s economic growth by 0.3 percent.” Additionally, a report just released by the McKinsey Global Institute found that if women’s level of participation in the labor market was the same as men’s it would add up to $28 trillion to annual global GDP in 2025.

  1. Did we mention it’s the right thing to do?

Investing in girls is one of the smartest things we can do to promote a healthier, more prosperous world. More importantly, it’s the right thing to do. Every girl has the right to be in charge of her future and her fate, and we have the collective obligation to protect her rights and promote her wellbeing.

This is a priority for Snow-Redfern Foundation. To join our movement to support our programs that empower adolescent girls, visit

 

44 new project grants have been awarded to nonprofits across Nebraska!

Helping young people is the inspiration that moves us—but where does it lead?

Experience has guided us toward three pathways where we can foster the greatest change: Basic Needs, Well-Being, and Education. In each, we have met so many exceptional, caring people who are impacting young lives every day.

Our role is to provide the funding that empowers the work they do.

As our 2021 grant cycle finalizes, we are encouraged by the inspirational work being done by our nonprofit partners, including through their recent grant applications.

This year’s project grant cycle challenged applicants to align their grant goals with their local public health district’s Community Health Improvement Plans, so we are excited to see how they can increase impact for children in their region.

The most prevalent connections cited were mental health and access to services with basic needs being the most common priority area.

“In the past few years, we have seen an increase in the number of applications seeking to address food insecurity and unmet basic needs for children.  This year, however, we saw more applications that intend to focus on well-being and children’s mental health”, said Grant Committee Chairman, Jared Mracek. 

In fact, over 50% of the applications cited strategies directly linked to mental health in some capacity, including some applications that were additionally focusing on basic needs and education.

“Mental health is an important part of overall health and well-being. It includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being, affecting how we think, feel, and act. It is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood”, shared Executive Director, Sara Nicholson.

Our focus is giving these 44 grant recipients the funding, support, and other resources to do more of the things they do best.

Join us in acknowledging this year’s project grant awardees!

  • Nebraska Family Support Network
  • Camp Scott
  • CASA- South Central NE-Franklin County
  • Lexington Public Schools Backpack Program
  • CASA Connection
  • YWCA Adams County
  • African Culture Connection
  • Carnegie Arts Center
  • TeamMates of Scotts Bluff County
  • Nebraska 4H Foundation
  • CASA of South Central Nebraska
  • Panhandle Partnership dba CAPWN
  • United Way of Western Nebraska
  • Panhandle Public Health District
  • Willow Branch Foundation
  • Fillmore County CASA
  • CASA for York County
  • Compass
  • City Sprouts Inc
  • Poverty Impact Network, Inc
  • Omaha Conservatory of Music
  • Dawson County Parent-Child Protective Services
  • Panhandle Partnership Inc
  • Nebraska Children’s Home Society
  • CASA of Northeast Nebraska Inc
  • Alliance Recreation Center
  • Lexington Public School
  • Mystic Rhoads Productions Inc
  • Carpenter Center
  • PlainsWest CASA
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Nebraska
  • Threads of Grace
  • DIBS for Kids
  • Southeast Nebraska CASA
  • Family Navigation Program- CASA
  • Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska
  • Alliance Bulldog Backpack Program
  • WhyArts Inc
  • Trails West CASA Inc
  • Banister’s Leadership Academy
  • Cirrus House
  • LyonHeart Equine Assisted Learning
  • Families CARE Inc
  • Banister’s Leadership Academy