Making a difference in one’s community – one’s world – can take on many forms. And the results of those good deeds touch many in the here and now, while forming a lasting legacy that touches future generations.

That is why The Mexico Ledger honors Hidden Heroes.

Nancy Ekern grew up in Kansas City, but she always wanted to live in a small town – a place where she could raise a family, make friends and get to know her community well.

In 1964, she moved to Mexico with her husband, Dr. H. Peter Ekern, a Mexico native, where they grew their roots, and Nancy gained a reputation for her willingness to help and her aptitude for fundraising.

“I got into volunteering because I felt like Mexico had been really good to me,” Ekern said. “I wanted to give back.”

Ekern’s contributions to her community started in Mexico Public Schools.

She was a tutor at Eugene Field Elementary School, Mexico Middle School and Mexico High School, all at the same time.

Ekern also volunteered as a tutor for an adult literacy class through the Mexico-Audrain County Library.

“I finally got one man through the entire program,” Ekern said, remembering her student fondly. “I said, ‘I have to finish this before June of 1988 because my daughter is getting married and I'm going to be too busy to do this, so you better get with it.’”

After her youngest daughter, Anne, went away to college, Ekern said her volunteering “mushroomed” – it grew despite her thinking long and hard before committing to any project.

“I didn’t just say yes to everything because you really have to have your heart into it and not just saying ‘Oh yeah, I'll do that,’ and doing a half-baked job,” Ekern said.

The first big undertaking Ekern remembers was her time spent as chair of fundraising for the United Way.

She was also a board member of the Allen P. and Josephine B. Green Foundation Inc. for more than 20 years, which is how she met her Hidden Hero nominator, Melissa Deimeke.

“Nancy is just one of those people who wants to see things better for her fellow man,” Deimeke said. “She’s just a good person.”

Ekern played an instrumental role in the fundraising for many organizations around town and she seems to have a knack for fundraising for building expansions, which all started with the Mexico Area Family YMCA. She had been serving as a board member when she was asked to take the role of co-chair for the expansion.

“That was a gigantic project, and I can't even tell you how much money it was,” Ekern said in disbelief.

From there, she was asked to use her experience and community mindset to help Presser Arts Center when they began their expansion.

After her success at Presser Arts Center, her fundraising efforts continued to snowball.

Ekern said it wasn’t long before Susan Atkins reached out on behalf of The Help Center. It was also in need of a building expansion and she wanted to make sure everybody would be able to eat.

There were so many projects in between that Ekern said she can’t remember them all, but the project most near and dear to her heart now is with the Handi-Shop Inc. where she serves as fundraising co-chair with Robby Miller.

The Handi-Shop is trying to raise $9 million for campus improvements. Ekern is optimistic they will start breaking ground in early November.

“It’s going to happen, or I’m going to die trying,” Ekern said.

Ekern continues to stay busy volunteering her time and staying involved in community affairs.

She still lives on the farm in Mexico where she raised her four children, which she said was the best thing that ever happened to her, and she is a devoted member of First Presbyterian Church, where she teaches classes and serves on governing boards.

“If you don’t do it, who's going to?” Ekern asked. “Somebody has to jump in and do these things. I’m going to take the plunge and make the choice to do it.”