Walk in the Copes’ Shoes; Community-wide Acts of Kindness on Sept. 13 & 14
KEARNEY— Friday, Sept. 13 and Saturday, Sept. 14, in honor of what would have been Carol Cope’s 104th birthday, residents of Kearney and the surrounding areas are encouraged to take a walk in the Copes’ shoes. Share in Ron and Carol Cope’s joy of giving by doing something small that makes a big difference in someone else’s life. It could be a random act of kindness or a planned event. It could take five minutes or a couple of hours. It could be a one-time occurrence or a life-long change for the betterment of your community.
For a suggested list of kindness ideas and more information about a Walk in the Copes’ Shoes, visit www.kearneycoc.org/CopesShoes or www.facebook.com/CopesShoes.
About the Copes Legacy of Giving
Few individuals have had a greater or more lasting impact on Central Nebraska than the late Ron and Carol Cope. Their legacy of giving has literally changed the face of Kearney and surrounding areas. The pinnacle of what it means to “give back” and “pay it forward,” they believed whether a big donation or a small gesture, sharing your gifts and talents is transformational.
About the Copes
Ron and Carol Cope were natives of southeast Nebraska and moved to Kearney in 1940. The couple, raised during the depression, had met at college and married in June 1934. Kearney would remain their home until September 13, 2012, when Carol passed away on her 103rd birthday. The Copes built a chain of Claussens Shoes stores in Kearney, Lexington, North Platte and Holdrege and spent the next 30 years selling shoes together. They lived modestly, investing their earnings in local farmland and Berkshire Hathaway stock, and enjoyed attending St. James Catholic Church and spending time with their dogs. Ron served our state legislature for eight years before passing away on January 12, 1992. Ron and Carol weren’t blessed with children, but their marriage of 53 years was a tribute to the love they shared for each other and for Kearney, Nebraska.