What’s that old saying? The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry. That was the case Saturday night.

Because of unexpected happenings elsewhere, we missed the Match Month Kickoff of the Smoky Hills Charitable Foundation at Ellsworth’s American Legion building. From the comments we’ve heard, the event was a huge success.

The foundation raised $47,000, according to organizers. That amount will be matched 150 percent by the Logan-based Dane G. Hansen Foundation. That means more than $100,000 will go to support communities across Ellsworth County.

There’s more.

The goal of Smoky Hills is to raise $50,000 in October. Only $2,700 more to go.

Since its creation in 2000, the Smoky Hills Charitable Foundation has touched the lives of hundreds of Ellsworth County residents.

Here are a few of the projects from the organization’s Facebook page:

• Thanks to a grant from the Smoky Hills Charitable Foundation, the Wilson Winners 4-H Club and Wilson Lions Club are putting new plants in the Lions Club Park in Wilson.

• Wilson Elementary School 3rd graders check out some of the new book sets that were purchased using funds from a USD 112 Central Plains Fund grant.

• The community of Lorraine came together this past weekend to install playground equipment bought with funds donated by the Smoky Hills Charitable Foundation.

At Ellsworth, grants have gone to the Ellsworth County Historical Society, the City of Ellsworth, the Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce and many other organizations and projects.

Ellsworth County is a better place because of the foundation. More information is available by visiting www.smokyhillscf.org