Raun-Samuelson Account Established to Honor Family Legacy, Strengthen Pender-Thurston Area
Patricia Ann Samuelson
Pender, Neb. (October 12, 2026) A family's legacy of community involvement and generosity will continue for generations to come through the newly established Raun-Samuelson Account with the Pender-Thurston Education & Community Foundation Fund (PTECFF), an affiliated fund of Nebraska Community Foundation.
Established by PTECFF Fund Advisory Committee member Matt Samuelson in honor of his mother, Patricia Ann Samuelson, and maternal grandfather, Al Raun, the endowed account will provide ongoing charitable support to organizations and initiatives throughout the Pender-Thurston area, with an emphasis on the arts, youth and community betterment.
The family's roots in Thurston County stretch back nearly a century. In the 1920s, Al Raun, a recent law school graduate, chose Walthill as the place to establish his law practice. Alongside his legal career, Raun developed a passion for farming, gradually acquiring 600 acres of Thurston County farmland before his passing in 1964. The land was inherited by his daughter, Patricia, who maintained the family's agricultural legacy for decades.
Patricia grew up in Walthill before making Pender her home in 1955. An accomplished artist, she shared her creativity generously with the community, teaching art from her home and working as a commercial artist for the Miller & Paine department store in Lincoln.
Her artistic contributions could also be found throughout Pender, from painted backdrops at House Memorial Library to dragons adorning cheerleaders' megaphones, which are now displayed at the Thurston County Heritage Museum. Following her passing in 2015, many of her original works were sold in a 2016 fundraiser benefiting the Pender Community Center, allowing her artwork to continue bringing joy to homes throughout the area.
Following Patricia's passing, the family's farmland was passed to the next generation. Matt ultimately chose to use a portion of the proceeds from the sale of that land to establish the Raun-Samuelson Account, honoring the generations of hard work, creativity and community involvement that came before him.
For Matt, the decision reflects a desire to give back to the communities that have shaped his family while helping create opportunities for the future.
"Our community has a lot of momentum, and the PTECFF has been an important part of that," said Samuelson. "Whether it's improvements to our parks, support for our fire department, investments in healthcare or other community projects, there's always something happening to move us forward. I wanted to build on that momentum, give back and help create opportunities for the next generation."
Al Raun
As an endowed account, the Raun-Samuelson Account is designed to provide a lasting source of charitable support for the Pender-Thurston area. Through Nebraska Community Foundation's endowment model, a portion of the account's assets is made available for grants each year, while the remaining assets are invested to support future generations. This approach allows the family's legacy of generosity to continue making a difference in the communities they have called home for generations.
The account currently supports a variety of local organizations and causes that reflect Patricia's interests, her family's values and their shared connection to the region. Eligible beneficiaries include 12 Hills Dog Rescue, the Pender Backpack Program, Pender Betterment Group, Pender Food Pantry, Pender Greenspace/Park Committee, House Memorial Library, Pender Community Center, Pender Fire and Rescue, Pender Summer Recreation/Legion, Pender TeamMates and the Pendragon Sports Complex, along with initiatives supporting the arts.
For Matt, the account represents an opportunity to honor his mother's love for the community while supporting organizations that make a difference in the lives of local residents.
"Mom loved Pender, loved people and loved sharing her art with others," Samuelson said. "I think she would be pleased to know that what our family worked for is now helping organizations and causes that strengthen the communities she cared so much about."
Organizations interested in requesting grant funding from the Raun-Samuelson Account can complete a grant application through the PTECFF website at www.ptecff.org/grants. Grant requests will be considered based on the account's designated charitable purposes and eligibility criteria.
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About Pender-Thurston Education and Community Foundation
The Pender-Thurston Education & Community Foundation Fund (PTECFF) is an affiliated fund of Nebraska Community Foundation dedicated to strengthening Pender, Thurston and the surrounding communities. Led by a local volunteer advisory committee, PTECFF works to inspire charitable giving, foster community partnerships and invest in projects that enhance quality of life and create opportunities for future generations. Through its unrestricted endowment and other charitable accounts, PTECFF connects generous donors with causes they care about, turning local generosity into lasting community impact.
Drey Samulson, Patricia Samulson, & Matt Samulson
About Nebraska Community Foundation
Nebraska Community Foundation unleashes abundant local assets, inspires charitable giving and connects ambitious people to build stronger communities and a Greater Nebraska. Headquartered in Lincoln, the Foundation serves communities, donors and organizations by providing financial management, strategic development, education and training to a statewide network of 1,500 volunteers serving more than 265 communities. In the last five years, 45,993 contributions have been made to Nebraska Community Foundation and its affiliated funds. Since 1994, Nebraska Community Foundation has reinvested $517 million in Nebraska’s people and places. For information, visit NebraskaHometown.org.
