Small Communities, Big Hearts

The Value of Giving Back

Gordon and Edna Sykes Endowment Fund

This story is from our Fall 2024 newsletter. See the full newsletter here!

Rural communities are the heartbeat of Wyoming. Gordon and Edna Sykes knew this when they established the Gordon and Edna Sykes Endowment Fund (Sykes Fund) with the Wyoming Community Foundation (WYCF) nearly 20 years ago. They lived in Basin and wanted their community to thrive long after they were gone. The fund was created to help community programs and educational opportunities in the southern region of Big Horn County.  

When CJ Duncan, Mayor of Basin, sits down with his fellow Sykes Fund committee members, they ask “How much good can we do?” The committee meets twice a year to make grants from the Sykes Fund to local Big Horn County nonprofits.  

“The Sykes Fund brings people together and offers opportunities for connections in our small communities,” says Deb Craft, Big Horn County Commissioner and committee member. “We’re very thankful for the fund.”  

Because of the generosity of people like Gordon and Edna Sykes, their fund at WYCF continues to leave a legacy in their community.  

Youth in Big Horn County benefit from grants made from the fund. Gretchen “Gretty” Gasvoda is the Youth Development Educator for Big Horn County 4-H. The Big Horn County Extension Office provides hands on learning and growing opportunities through Ag Day. “It’s been phenomenal to be able to provide more opportunities for our kids,” says Gretty.   

Giving back to the community is a huge part of 4-H. Grants from the Sykes Fund make this possible.    

4-H youth in Big Horn County have a community garden, and the produce they grow goes to local food banks. Projects like the garden teach kids the value of giving back. “The gratitude and success of being able to plant something and take care of others is unexplainable for these kids,” Gretty says.   

Big Horn County 4-H hosted two horse clinics this spring. Kids got to learn from two different experts and had incredible growth over the course of the clinic. 

Showcase Showdown is a state 4-H event which consists of numerous contests. The skills and knowledge gained are amazing, but connections, life skills, and memories are priceless! Youth from Big Horn County competed in Food Cook Off, Vegetable Judging, Table Setting, Cake Decorating and presentations. 

“This was my 3rd year of going to Showcase Showdown, but it was my first year in the cooking contest.  We made a Moana inspired chicken dish and we all learned about food safety and knife skills.  Our dish was very tasty,” boasts one student.​​

The town of Basin’s grant from the fund created the Lilac City Senior Activity Center in the old Riverside High School building. Seniors previously traveled to Greybull to that senior center. The center in Basin offers a comfortable space to play games, read, and connect. Fitness and art classes are held in the space. Seniors can use the hallways and gym to walk safely in the winter. 

“We wanted to offer a fun place for seniors to socialize in Basin without having to travel to Greybull,” CJ says. 

“We don’t have a lot here, so having these opportunities for our small communities has a huge impact,” Deb says. “I’m so thankful we can keep our families here rather than having to travel outside the county.” 

Grants from the Sykes Fund at WYCF have helped fill other gaps in the area. 

The Fund has helped upgrade the only county playground, bought safety equipment for volunteer firefighters, and brought therapy horses to dementia patients. “The Sykes have reached people in our community from 5-100 years old,” says Deb. “Without their fund, there would be a hole in the community.”   

Leaving a permanently endowed fund like the Field of Interest fund from Gordon and Edna Sykes can make a huge impact on your community for years to come. If you are interested in starting a fund with WYCF, visit: https://wycf.org/geographic-funds/