Kearney Resident Joseph Whitehead started with a simple idea: $100 from one individual or business to a non-profit won’t go very far, but $100 from 100 would boost a non-profit with $10,000. Last week he took a giant step towards making that idea a reality.

Whitehead formed a Facebook group called $10K for Kearney last year and started asking people to become members and participate in his vision.

“$10K for Kearney is a group dedicated to helping our community by donating to local non-profit organizations or community projects,” states Whitehead on his group page. “Once each quarter we will gather 100 people together, discuss the needs of the community, and then each person will donate $100 dollars directly to the organization we think can best help the need. If we all do our individual part there will be $10,000 donated.”

The first event was scheduled for January 18 for food and drinks and short presentations from local non-profit organizations who could use the help. The group voted to give the donation to the Northland Therapeutic Riding Center.

The group fell a little short of the $10,000 goal for the first donation, but there will be more chances to donate later this year. Whitehead says the next event will be in April. Whitehead delivered the donated checks totaling $6,160 to Shaney Othic at the riding center on January 26.

For more information about the group, search $10K for Kearney on Facebook.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story