In 2005, the Imperial Community Foundation Board set a 10-year-goal of $1,000,000 for the unrestricted community endowment. At 5% interest, that would provide $50,000 to be used each year for community improvement with the intent to continue to grow that fund.

The Robert and Jeanette Hunt family, founders of Great Plains Communications, helped provide a significant boost toward the goal when they offered $50,000 as a challenge if $150,000 could be raised by the community in a three-year period.

Victory! Formal announcement of the Hunt Challenge was made in March 2006 at the annual celebration and the challenge was met in August 2007.