2024 Year-End Fundraising Campaign
There were philosophical works in the collection, but he did no more than open and glance at them. He had no curiosity about what men had thought; but about what they had felt and lived.
– Willa Cather, A Lost Lady
In Willa Cather’s novel A Lost Lady, young Niel Herbert finds himself pleasantly distracted from his law studies with an array of classic literature discovered in his uncle’s bookcase. Perhaps you too can relate to the delight and perspective Niel finds in reading books that have an enduring quality. In fact, your support enables us to encourage readers of all ages to turn to Cather’s words for inspiration, perspective, or escape.
Thanks to you, our programs and services served more than 90,000 people in the last year—a new record. We hosted nearly fifty events in various locales to mark Cather’s 150th birthday, rededicated the restored and accessible Willa Cather Childhood Home, opened a new permanent exhibit, and developed resources for libraries and communities taking part in a Big Read of My Ántonia.
Yet there’s even more to be enthusiastic about. Early next year the rehabilitation of the Potter-Wright building into Hotel Garber will be complete. We will welcome our first overnight guests at this new boutique hotel, and we will begin curation of new exhibits for the restored Burlington Depot and Pavelka Farmstead. As programs, collections, and visitors to the museum continue to grow, so do the costs associated with mission delivery.
We need to raise an all-time high of $215,000 in charitable donations by year-end to meet our budget. Generous support from donors like you is an integral source of income for both mission-driven programs and operational costs. Will you help us enrich more lives through educational opportunities, preservation initiatives, and arts programs? Please become a supporter today, or consider increasing your annual gift by 15%.
Your Gifts at Work at the National Willa Cather Center
Access to the Arts
Each year, our Opera House welcomes more than 2,000 patrons from nearly fifty communities in Nebraska and nearby Kansas. Summer children’s theater programs and complimentary matinee programs for school students provide enrichment for an average of 1,500 area youth annually.
Support for Aspiring Writers
"The residency was just what I hoped it would be—a time for me to push forward my writing and gain insights from other writers. It was extra-special to do it against the historical and literary accomplishments and influences of Willa Cather. The dedication to our needs and support for our creative work from all Cather Center representatives went far above and beyond even my high expectations.”
— Participant in the Willa Cather Residency
Potter-Wright's Future as Hotel Garber
As a literary and heritage tourism destination, Red Cloud was named as one of Smithsonian Magazine’s Top 15 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2023. The rehabilitation of the Potter-Wright building into a lodging and event center known as Hotel Garber will help us accommodate more visitors and contribute to the local economy with an estimated ten new jobs and more than $365,000 in local sales and lodging taxes in its first decade of operation.
Immersive Experience for Educators
"This institute was made by teachers for teachers. I appreciated how much the archives and tours went hand in hand. I would see something in person and then read about it in Cather’s letters. That was so powerful to experience, and I can’t wait to arrange a similar experience for my students in Red Cloud!”
— Participant in the Willa Cather Teacher Institute