Supporting Nonprofits in Omaha, NE – 2019
Nonprofit corporations play a vital role in maintaining the Good Life in Nebraska. Charitable organizations and their board members, along with countless volunteers and donors, provide essential services all across our state. As businesspeople, we are invested in those efforts because it allows us to build our businesses as well as raise our families, cultivate friendships, and lead happy, healthy and fulfilling lives.
Here in the Greater Omaha area, you’ll find many people working together to care for one another, to give a hand up to those in need for the greater good, to protect our environment, and to make our city the best place to live and work it can possibly be. In a community that understands the importance of giving back and places a lot of value in it, you’ll also find it to be a big part of corporate culture here in small and large businesses alike. Supporting our local nonprofit organizations is something that we can all do to give back.
An excellent example of the power of philanthropy at the local level just happened a couple months ago. For the seventh year, the Omaha community came together for Omaha Gives! on May 22 and showed their support in a big way. With almost 50,000 donations to about a thousand different nonprofit organizations, the total raised came in at $6.7 million.
Monetary donations aren’t the only way you can give back, though. There are a variety of ways to donate to the valuable work that our nonprofits are doing day in and day out, all year long. This may be a donation of items or hosting a donation drive, volunteering, sponsorships, participating in special events, helping to raise awareness, and so on.
Our local nonprofits are the source of initiatives that are focused solely on helping to make an impact on the lives of those who live in our community—to make our tiny part of the world a better place for all. Oftentimes their reach extends beyond that to make an impact at the state, national, and/or global level. These organizations also create jobs in our community, allowing many people to fulfill their greater purpose by doing what they love while touching lives and truly making a difference.
At Strictly Business, the focus of our work has always been supporting the growth and prosperity of our local business community. That being said, we feel strongly about supporting our local nonprofit organizations too. That is why we’ve put this feature together, highlight some of the amazing local organizations. We encourage our readers to flag the names, logos, and missions of the nonprofits in this feature, and to keep them in mind when considering ways to give to back
Founded in 1989, BLUEBARN Theatre (bluebarn.org) is dedicated to theatre’s most important tradition: to provoke thought, emotion, action, and change. BLUEBARN has established itself as Omaha’s only professional regional contemporary theatre company. Each year BLUEBARN produces five plays in a season that runs from September through June. Come join BLUEBARN Theatre for Season 31, featuring bold new creations and theatrical events as diverse and surprising as the world we live in. They remain committed, now more than ever, to cheerily subversive experiences that connect us all to our shared humanity.
There are over 38,000 people in Nebraska experiencing infertility. Conceive Nebraska (conceivenebraska.org) is an Omaha-based non-profit whose mission is to come alongside and support individuals and couples facing fertility challenges by increasing and improving educational resources. Our goal is to raise awareness in our community by changing the conversation surrounding infertility through support groups and events. Infertility affects women and men equally. Chances are you know someone who has had difficulty conceiving. Please have them visit our website at conceivenebraska.org and read our blog or follow us on Instagram and Facebook (@ConceiveNebraska)!
The American Heart Association (www.heart.org/omaha is devoted to saving people from two of our nation’s top killers, heart disease (No. 1) and stroke (No. 5). Powered by millions of volunteers nationwide, the Association’s goal is to improve the cardiovascular health of Americans by 20 percent by 2020, while reducing deaths from heart disease and stroke by 20 percent. Currently, one person dies every 40 seconds from heart disease and stroke. Through events right here in Omaha like the Omaha-Council Bluffs Heart Walk, Go Red for Women Expo and Heart & Stroke Ball, that startling statistic can change.
For more information, visit www.heart.org/omaha.
For over 20 years, Domesti-PUPS (www.domesti-pups.org) has been supporting people in our local, regional and national communities through the assistance of animals. From therapy dogs in the classroom motivating children to excel in their learning environment to pet therapy visitations in nursing homes, hospitals, and assisted living centers, Domesti-PUPS pet therapy teams bring a bit of brightness through their furry encounters. Our service dog teams provide increased independence when paired with a disabled partner. These highly-skilled canines can turn on lights, provide balance and mobility, retrieve dropped items, bring a bottle of water from a refrigerator, respond to medical emergencies such as responding to a seizure or alerting to a diabetic high or low, and open doors both literally and figuratively. Some even provide life-saving measures for their disabled partners.
The Rose House (www.therosehouseinc.org) is an organization for single mothers and their children. The nonprofit, founded by TaRae Peoples, launched its efforts in Omaha within the last year. As a woman who was a single mother, TaRae relates to the struggle and insecurities that single motherhood brings, but knows there is a way through and out. This organization provides basic life skills and employment training, temporary housing, and mental health support, as well as self-empowerment tools to assist in the life transformations of these families.
The Rose House recently moved into a new office at 8611 Blondo St., which is open between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, visit the website at www.therosehouseinc.org or go on Facebook (@TheRoseHouseInc). To contact TaRae, call (402) 431-2366 or email info@TheRoseHouseInc.org.
CEDARS (cedarskids.org) has been a vital part of the community for over 70 years. What started as a grassroots effort to help kids in crisis has grown into a dynamic and dedicated team of over 200 professionals and a network of loving foster parents serving over 2,400 kids and families each year.
Thanks to community support, CEDARS is there for children and youth who are unable to live at home, for families in need of resources, support and education, and for youth involved in the juvenile justice system.
CEDARS is accredited through the Council on Accreditation and the National Association for the Education of Young Children, is a United Way partner, a four star charity with Charity Navigator, a top-rated charity with the American Institute of Philanthropy, and a Better Business Bureau Accredited Charity.
Today, CEDARS will serve nearly 800 children and youth.
To learn more, call (402) 434-KIDS (5437) or visit cedarskids.org.
Our mission is to empower and equip unemployed and under educated men and women through character development, vocational training and work experience.
The CROSS TRAINING CENTER (www.crosstc.com) exemplifies the message, “If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day but if you teach him how to fish, you feed him for a life time.”
Our students are youth and adults who are unemployed because of challenging backgrounds and circumstances. They have experienced setbacks in life due to incarceration, homelessness, generational poverty and other challenging conditions.
We provide vocational training and hands-on work experience so they gain skills and knowledge to overcome the barriers of employment. They are able to acquire a job on a career path and break the cycle of poverty for generations to come.
Our students receive real work experience while providing valuable services to the community in the following areas:
- Electronics Recycling
- Computer Refurbishing and Repair
- Computer and Electronics Retail Store
- Appliance Sales
- Automotive Maintenance and Repair Services
- Banquet Facility
Cross Training Center’s mission is to provide Solutions to Poverty through Work. Our work experience program not only helps our students succeed but also keeps our environment safe and clean. Contact Brenda Banks at (402) 590-2100, via email at brenda@crosstc.com, or visit www.crosstc.com for more information.
Youth Emergency Services (YES; www.yesomaha.org) is the only nonprofit in Omaha with the sole mission to help homeless and nearly homeless in our community. Last year, YES provided support and services to a record number of 3,682 youth in the Omaha metro. YES also provided 9,818 meals to homeless and near-homeless youth throughout Street Outreach Center. Many of these youth have been physically, emotionally or sexually abused, making it unsafe for them to return home. Without YES, these vulnerable young people cannot succeed independently.
YES offers a full continuum of care to ensure all youth receive the support they need, no matter their situation. This includes a Street Outreach Center, Emergency Shelter, Transitional Living Program and Maternity Home. Throughout these programs, we offer case management, job readiness classes, group activities, support for the LGBTQ+ community, and specialized services for trafficked victims. To ensure youth are successful once they leave our care, youth in YES’ programs are required to set short and long term goals, be enrolled in school, have a job, or both; and do community service. For more information about YES’ programs, please visit www.yesomaha.org.
Angels Among Us (www.myangelsamongus.org) provides financial assistance to families whose children are battling pediatric cancer. Any family living in or being treated in Nebraska is eligible to apply. Once approved, families are provided with $500 a month for 18 months to help them stay financially stable during treatment. Funds are paid directly to the creditor, which ensures that funds are used for their intended purpose.
When a child is diagnosed with cancer, a family’s life as they know it comes to an abrupt halt. Unfortunately, their monthly expenses do not. Since 2006, Angels Among Us has assisted nearly 420 families with $1.7 million in support.
Will you join us as we fight to keep families stable? Gifts of any amount are welcome and encouraged. There is strength in numbers. There is also hope, help, and monetary relief.
For more information, contact Angels Among Us at (402) 934-0999 or visit our website at www.myangelsamongus.org.
Assistance League® of Omaha (www.alomaha.org) is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit service organization whose members identify, develop, implement and fund ongoing philanthropic programs to serve specific needs of children and adults in the Greater Omaha area. They receive no public funding. Donations and grants are needed. Signature programs include:
- Operation School Bell® clothes children for school
- Operation Recovery supports women recovering from chemical addiction
- Assault Survivor Kits® supplies clothing and hygiene items to assault survivors
- Operation Teen Parent encourages teen parents to complete their education
- Operation Bear Hug provides stuffed bears for children in crisis situations
- Operation Literacy presents books to children and adults
- ACT/PSAT Review sessions.
Assistance League of Omaha has received Platinum rating from GuideStar, Best Practices status from the NonProfit Association of the Midlands and is a Top-Rated GreatNonProfits NonProfit.
Assistance League of Omaha’s signature fund raising event is Christmas Caravan to be held in November.
Friendship Program, Inc. (www.friendshipprogram.com) is a community-based non-profit agency dedicated to providing quality services for adults with aging and/or mental health needs in Omaha and surrounding areas. The agency provides three distinct programs: Adult Day, Day Rehabilitation, and Community Support Services. In addition, the agency offers Social Services, Health Services, Peer Support Services, Transportation, and Agency Support Services as part of wraparound care. All services are based on the belief that each individual can maximize his or her ability to live independently within the community. Furthermore, the services promote health and wellness including education and activities in areas such as physical fitness, nutrition, mental health, socialization, recreation, and safety. The name of the agency, “Friendship,” was chosen by participants in 1979 and perfectly describes the programs which offer care, compassion, and companionship to adults. For more than 39 years the agency has served the Omaha community providing care from the heart.
MICAH House (www.themicahhouse.org), a homeless shelter in Council Bluffs, has provided safety and security to children, families, and women for more than 30 years. Located on the Charles E. Lakin Human Services Campus, MICAH House serves hundreds of homeless individuals each year – and more than half are children. Our focus is to keep families together, while reducing the amount of trauma children experience during a difficult time in their lives. The BUDDY program provides an opportunity for MICAH House children to play, learn, and grow. In January 2019, MICAH House expanded services to include a 26-bed women’s shelter and health care clinic. The shelter offers a therapeutic healing environment and includes a full-time therapist on-site. The three-exam room clinic will allow MICAH House clients and community members access to medical and dental services five days a week. For more information, please visit www.themicahhouse.org.
For more than 100 years, the Better Business Bureau (BBB; bbb.org) has been helping people find businesses, brands, and charities they can trust. People today are overwhelmed with choices – and often unsure about where to find verified, unbiased information. There are more than 32 million businesses in North America alone, and hundreds of thousands of sites around the world where people shop online. Thousands of free and subscription websites offer a range of information, including reviews, reports, directories, listings, and gripe sites. Where can you go to find trusted information?
In 2018, people turned to BBB more than 173 million times for BBB Business Profiles on nearly 5.4 million businesses and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free on BBB.org. Nearly 400,000 BBB Accredited Businesses support BBB’s mission of advancing marketplace trust, and their dues and contributions allow BBB to offer its information and services to consumers at no charge.
BBB offers its services by creating a community of trustworthy businesses through accreditation, setting standards for trust, encouraging and supporting ethical business practices, celebrating community role models and denouncing substandard marketplace behavior.
CHAD (Combined Health Agencies Drive; www.chadnebraska.org) is a local, donor-designation driven organization that has been raising funds for Nebraska’s premier health charities since 1972. Through workplace partnerships, we promote charitable giving, employee engagement and wellness and connect people with health causes they care about.
Formerly Community Health Charities of Nebraska, we work with United Way of the Midlands through a contractual agreement. Donors who give so generously every year ensure our 21 member charities are funded on a consistent basis, and 100% of donor-designated dollars go directly to full-member charities. Valuable donations help Nebraskans in need by providing care and support for those affected by a health diagnosis; funding education and prevention programs in our communities; and supporting advocacy and medical research.
Omaha Office: 212 S. 74th St., Suite 205 | (402) 614-8500 | www.chadnebraska.org | Social media: @CHADNebraska
Since 1938, Inclusive Communities (www.inclusive-communities.org) has served the Heartland in the areas of youth; community and workplace human relations; and leadership programming to achieve our mission of confronting prejudice, bigotry, and discrimination. Inclusive Communities programming includes IncluCity, Omaha Table Talk, LeadDIVERSITY, and customized business training. IncluCity is a leadership program for high school students, designed to empower youth to create respectful and just communities. Omaha Table Talk provides informal, facilitated gatherings of people throughout our community, engaging in conversations about diversity and inclusion over a meal. LeadDIVERSITY, launched in 2019, is a year-long program designed to build a network of leaders dedicated to creating localized solutions to diversity and inclusion. Our Custom Business Solutions provide workshops focused on building leadership skills and respectful, inclusive behaviors using activities and presentations aimed at building empathy; examining biases and prejudices; and increasing the knowledge, language and dialogue skills to forge meaningful intergroup relationships.
For more information visit us at www.inclusive-communities.org or contact Cammy at cammy@inclusive-communities.org.
Nebraska Community Foundation (NebraskaHometown.org) is celebrating 25 years of building stronger communities and a Greater Nebraska. Through a growing grassroots network of volunteers who hail from every corner or the state, we unleash abundant local assets, inspire charitable giving, and connect ambitious people who believe in the future of their hometown.
Headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska Community Foundation provides financial management, strategic development, donor education and training in partnership with 1,500 volunteers serving 257 communities. In the last five years, 41,776 contributions were made.
Since 1994, Nebraska Community Foundation has reinvested $323 million in Nebraska’s people and places. For information, visit NebraskaHometown.org.
The mission of Omaha Home for Boys (OmahaHomeForBoys.org) is to support and strengthen youth, young adults and families through services that inspire and equip them to lead independent, productive lives. The Home’s clients are empowered to transition from a state of crisis to one of safety and growth through five core programs: residential care, transitional living, independent living, supportive housing and clinical services.
The individuals who seek the guidance of Omaha Home for Boys come from a myriad of troubled backgrounds, but thanks to supporters like you, they find brighter futures through the Home’s programs focusing on education, employment, housing and behavioral and mental health. For more information about Omaha Home for Boys or to invest in the futures of the youth served, please visit our website at OmahaHomeForBoys.org.
The mission of Release (www.releaseinc.org) is to affect at-risk youth and their families with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ. They do this through foster care, group homes, mentoring, and juvenile detention outreach. Almost all of Release’s “youth-only” work starts with the 950+ youth who are incarcerated every year in Douglas County. In addition, Release’s largest branch is their Community Based Initiatives, through which they work with families in their homes to educate and improve family circumstances for the ultimate goal of preventing family separation. Release is a member of the National Family Preservation Network, and all of their workers are trained specifically in the area of cultural competency and crisis intervention management.
Many children and families in our community are living through constant crises and trauma, and are only able to focus on survival. Release is all about helping these at-risk youth and families to become…SAFE, TOGETHER, HEALTHY, and FREE!
Learn more about Release at www.releaseinc.org or contact (402) 455-0808 / info@releaseministries.org.
Rejuvenating Women (rejuvenatingwomen.com) is a faith-based, nonprofit organization providing hope and restoration to victims and survivors of human trafficking. Rejuvenating Women’s vision is to empower survivors to lead healthy and independent lives, free from slavery. Our two-year, residential therapeutic program (the Restored Wings Program) is free-of-charge to survivors and includes:
- Individual complex trauma and addiction therapy
- Group therapy (specific to human trafficking survivors)
- Community equine therapy, life-skills classes (nutrition, budgeting, etc.), GED classes, tattoo branding removal, legal services, and fitness
- Staff coordination and attendance at all medical, dental, psychiatric and vision appointments
- Mentorship with a loving and trauma-informed mentor
- Staff coordination to acquire resident’s birth certificates, ID’s, and other state-required documentation as needed.
- Weekly social outings where residents experience “normal” life doing activities such as shopping, going to the zoo, going to a movie or baseball game, etc.
Incorporated in 2002, the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands (NAM; www.nonprofitam.org) started with the goal of helping nonprofits help their communities. CEO Anne Hindery has led the organization since 2008. “We serve and strengthen more than 600 nonprofits of all sizes and missions in Nebraska and western Iowa. By connecting organizations with information, education, advocacy and collaboration, we help our members representing health and human services, the arts, education and other areas make an impact in the communities they serve,” Hindery said.
NAM’s signature Guidelines and Principles Program provides legal compliance and best practices information in 12 major areas of nonprofit management: communication, evaluation, financial management, fundraising, governance, human resources, information technology, planning, public policy and advocacy, strategic alliances, transparency and accountability, and volunteer management.
The National Council of Nonprofits, the nation’s largest network of nonprofits, recognizes NAM as the state association for Nebraska. Learn more about NAM at www.nonprofitam.org.
Located in South Omaha, Stephen Center (stephencenter.org) is a sober campus of resources for those battling mental health and addiction issues. The clients we serve are the homeless, addicted, and those in poverty. Our mission is to partner with the community, families, and individuals to overcome homelessness, addiction, and poverty. Founded in 1984, we are celebrating 35 years of services and cannot do it without our amazing group of volunteers. Volunteers make an impact on the lives of clients we serve every day. Activities ranging from direct client contact to helping behind the scenes ensure that Stephen Center provides the best possible experience. For more information, please visit stephencenter.org or follow us on Facebook (@StephenCenterOmaha).
Wear Yellow Nebraska (WearYellowNebraska.org) provides service, support, and community for Nebraska’s cancer survivors. Our purpose from the very beginning was to bring people passionate about cycling together to celebrate life and fight cancer. Well, we’ve grown that purpose and since launching our free transportation program in late 2012. We have spent more than $130,000 dollars in providing more than 8,000 cab rides to cancer patients in need.
The Wear Yellow Cab Ride program, Powered by Lyft is our primary initiative and funded by our signature event, the Wear Yellow Ride, Run & Walk. Transportation to and from treatment is essential because patients are often unable to drive themselves, which also leaves them vulnerable to medical lapses. Even if patients do have family and friends who can help, they aren’t always available and sometimes they just don’t want to ask for one more thing.
Wear Yellow Nebraska reaches Omaha, Fremont, and Lincoln. Help Us Grow! Learn more at WearYellowNebraska.org.
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease where a person’s pancreas stops producing insulin, a hormone needed to get energy from food. T1D strikes children and adults suddenly and is unrelated to diet or exercise. JDRF (Jdrf.org/Omaha) is the leading global organization funding T1D research. We’re accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications. You can help make a difference by participating, volunteering or fundraising.
Events:
- JDRF One Walk – 8/24/2019
- Vala’s Pumpkin Patch JDRF Event – 10/6/2019
- JDRF Promise Gala – 2/22/2020
- JDRF TypeOneNation Summit – 4/25/2020
Programs:
- Advocacy – Advocate for government support of research and new therapies.
- Give Back at School – School education & fundraising opportunities.
- Outreach – Resources for individuals and families.
- Empower1 – Connecting the adolescent T1D community.
- Ride – Destination cycling experience for all fitness levels.
- YLC – Young professionals raising awareness and funds for T1D.
Learn more at Jdrf.org/Omaha or call (402) 397-2873.
For more than 140 years, Heartland Family Service (HeartlandFamilyService.org) has been the area leader in helping individuals, children, and families create their paths to a better tomorrow. In 2018, Heartland Family Service connected with more than 54,000 individuals and families through direct services, education, and outreach. With over 50 programs, we are able to craft an integrated, multi-service approach to guide clients toward safety, well-being, and, ultimately, self-sufficiency.
When life improves for one of us, life improves for all of us.
To support our mission of strengthening individuals and families in our community through education, counseling, and support services. Visit HeartlandFamilyService.org, or contact Chief Development Officer Marzia Shields at (402) 552-7443 or MShields@HeartlandFamilyService.org.
When businesses, faith-based organizations, government, and individuals come together to improve the lives of families, the results are astounding. Lift Up Sarpy (LiftUpSarpyCounty.org) fosters that collaboration and encourages grass roots, person-to-person assistance and volunteering.
Lift Up Sarpy County, Inc. brings these entities together in our community to serve people in need in Sarpy County, offers opportunities for cooperation, provides operational services, and encourages all to get involved.
When you donate to Lift Up Sarpy County, you’re helping foster powerful collaboration that truly helps families in our community get out of crisis and into a place of sustainability.
Specifically, we identify needs and opportunities that impact the long-term success of people in Sarpy County; support, connect and energize organizations and funders through regular communication and collaboration, and build sustainability by managing resources, developing new partnerships, and sharing work.
Please learn more and donate at LiftUpSarpyCounty.org.
Volunteers serve for a variety of reasons, but those interested in skills-based service are looking to (a) gain career-related experience, (b) develop personally or professionally, and (c) enhance skills and competencies. ThriVinci (thrivinci.org) maximizes the volunteering experience by offering committed skills-based volunteers an exciting, meaningful service opportunity. Our volunteers, who are trained in lean six sigma philosophy, use management expertise to provide support to transitioning agencies as they implement strategies to maximize efforts. Additionally, our skills-based volunteers can be matched with opportunities to serve on nonprofit governing boards. ThriVinci is a volunteer-led initiative that is made possible by utilizing lean project management best practices. Because skills-based volunteers are 27% more likely to land a job than those who don’t volunteer, we support workforce development through our projects and professional development training.
Are you an individual interested in getting involved? Is your company looking to become more socially responsible? We offer individuals’ and businesses a chance to sponsor a ThriVinci project and or provide their employees’ professional development by facilitating a skills-based volunteer project that will further develop employee talents while enhancing a nonprofit’s capacity and extending the reach of their valuable missions. Contact us today at info@thrivinici.org or visit us on our website at thrivinci.org.
The Rose Theater (www.rosetheater.org) is committed to enriching the lives of children and families through live theater and arts education. With live performances of plays and musicals specifically for children and a wide range of classes designed to inspire budding performing artists, a lifelong love of theater starts at The Rose.
The Rose is one of the largest and most accomplished children’s theaters in the nation. In 2016, American Theatre magazine named The Rose one of the top 20 children’s theaters in the country. The theater presents a variety of family-friendly productions on its main stage each year. The Rose’s First Stage series features plays specifically for very young children in a smaller, shush-free, sensory-friendly environment. In addition, students from age two to 18 can participate in performing arts classes such as creative drama, dance, musical theater, acting, voice, and more.
For more information, visit www.rosetheater.org or call (402) 345-4849.
Founded in 1989, Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy’s (www.HETRA.org) mission is to improve the quality of life both physically and emotionally of adults and children of all ability levels through equine assisted activities. Therapeutic Riding, Therapy Services, Carriage Driving, Life Skills, Veterans, and Equine Facilitated Learning programs are at the heart of HETRA’s services. The organization employs Occupational, Mental Health, and Physical Therapists, 16 PATH Int’l Certified Riding Instructors, and is the only Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International Accredited (PATH) facility in Nebraska.
Today, as a result of 28 years of dedication and commitment, HETRA serves over 125 participants weekly with the help of over 200 dedicated volunteers who donate over 18,000 hours annually. HETRA offers year-round programming, indoor and outdoor riding arenas, a herd of over 20 horses, and is situated on 25 beautiful acres in Gretna, NE. Learn more at www.HETRA.org.
Help save lives. Donate blood.
“I’ve never been asked.” That’s the number one reason why people don’t donate blood. Today, the Nebraska Community Blood Bank (NCBB.org) is asking you to donate blood to help save lives. Every 2 seconds someone needs blood. The rarest blood type is the one that’s not available when a patient is in need. That need is constant. Nebraska Community Blood Bank has been connecting people who need life-saving blood with generous volunteer donors for 50 years. We provide life-saving blood to healthcare facilities throughout southeast Nebraska. Be part of our life-saving mission by becoming a blood donor with Nebraska Community Blood Bank today.
Visit NCBB.org to learn more about hosting a blood drive or to sign up to donate blood at a donor center or blood drive near you. Connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, or Twitter (@NCBBOmaha).
The mission of the Veterans in Business Forum (VIBF) is to provide business support, education and advocacy to help veterans succeed in business and increase community awareness of veteran-owned business activities. Veterans, active duty, reservists, and civilians are welcome to join and support each other and veteran-related goals.
The VIBF meets the first Friday of every month (0800-0900) and serves the Omaha area (www.omahanebraska.com/VeteransinBusinessForumOmahaNetworking).
Speakers may be from VIBF members, business groups, veteran groups, NBDC, PTAC, SBA, SCORE, or private sector and government agencies on a wide range of topics. VIBF encourages collaboration through networking. Each month, members can bring up issues and concerns to discuss with the group to get recommendations to help come up with effective solutions.
Contact us to learn more: Michel Thornhill, (402) 932-7243, info@littlemountainwebdesign.com. Mailing Address: VIBF c/o Little Mountain Web Design, P.O. Box 461235, Papillion, NE.
With Best Care EAP (www.bestcareeap.org) as a business partner, you can provide support to help employees focus on their jobs when problems in their personal lives get overwhelming. Best Care EAP provides a wide variety of wellness and online services that will boost your employees’ productivity and morale. All of our services can be tailored to meet the individual needs of your company.
Flexible training formats—Our training programs are available online and in person. Your employees have access to pre-recorded webinars 24 hours a day. We can also tailor training to your company and deliver it on site or online.
Counseling for a wide variety of issues, concerns, and stressors—Our licensed counselors provide one-on-one, couple, and family counseling close to your work or home.
Professional help coping with a critical situation—For over 40 years, we have provided immediate support for our members during times of crisis. Whether caused by an unexpected injury or death, crime, or environmental impact, Best Care EAP is available to you and your employees with immediate support following a critical incident.
If you are interested in learning more about Best Care EAP or have questions about our services, visit www.bestcareeap.org or call (402) 354-8000 / (800) 801-4182.
Help the Omaha Police Foundation (OPF; www.OmahaPoliceFoundation.org) Support Our Local Officers! We work to promote and strengthen the Omaha Police Department (OPD) by providing financial support and creating community partnerships to ensure it has highly qualified officers who have the training, equipment and technology needed to prevent crime, save lives and make Omaha a safer community. Since 1999, the OPF has sponsored and hosted the annual Officer of the Year Awards Luncheon to recognize exceptional effort and to honor acts of heroism. The OPF is currently raising funds to purchase 600 Body Worn Cameras to equip each and every officer in the Department’s Uniform Patrol Bureau. 100% of all donations go directly to the project of your choice. If you would like to learn more or to support the work of the Omaha Police Foundation, please visit www.OmahaPoliceFoundation.org or contact OPF Administrator Elizabeth Balazs at (402) 345-5401, ext. 102.
Open Door Mission (www.opendoormission.org) is a Gospel Rescue Mission founded in 1954 committed to breaking the cycle of homelessness and poverty. Each day, Open Door Mission’s campus offers 917 safe, shelter beds to homeless men, women and children, serves over 3,500 nutritious meals and provides homeless preventive measures to more than 1,000 people living in poverty.
Visit www.opendoormission.org or call (402) 422-1111 to see how you can make a difference in our community.
You probably know that when a worker is injured on the job, workers’ compensation pays the medical expenses and lost wages. What you may not know is that workers’ compensation does not take into account the costs of post-secondary education for children of the injured worker. Often families who have suffered such a tragedy are forced to care for the injured individual and do not have the funding to send their children to college.
Kids’ Chance of Nebraska’s (KCNE) mission is to provide scholarships to children whose parents have suffered a workplace injury or death. We want to raise awareness of our mission. KCNE wants to do what we say: Give the kids a chance.
Eligible students and families are encouraged to go to www.kidschanceofne.org for information, no matter the age of the children.
We are a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization. If you are interested in making a donation, go to www.kidschanceofne.org/make-a-donation.
Our mission is simple: For more than 60 years we have provided education and leadership to empower people to live safe and healthy. The Nebraska Safety Council’s comprehensive programs, training courses, events, and services are designed to improve employee care at a desk, on the production floor, behind the wheel, and off the job (nesafetycouncil.org). Our unique Worker 360° approach provides integrated risk management to improve overall worker quality of life and positively impact an organization’s bottom line.
Our members include organizations throughout Nebraska and surrounding areas, across a variety of industries. There is no one-size-fits-all option; each company’s safety and wellbeing program is customized for their needs and size.
Demonstrate your commitment to employee safety and health by becoming a member of the Nebraska Safety Council. You will receive access to training, guidance, and resources to establish or enhance your safety and wellness programs and policies.
Providing leadership and resources for a safe and healthy workplace and community, Nebraska Safety Council – (402) 483-2511 / nesafetycouncil.org.
Eastern Nebraska Community Action Partnership (ENCAP; www.encapnebraska.org) is a nonprofit community based organization that has been providing social and human services to people facing poverty since 1965. Last ENCAP provided 21,590 to 6,557 people living in Douglas and Sarpy Counties. ENCAP is a member of a national network of over 1,000 Community Action Agencies dedicated to providing programming that meets community needs, that responds to the voices of the low-income community, and that demonstrates continuous quality improvement. ENCAP’s service areas include: Emergency rent and utility assistance, community response, emergency food assistance, transportation, and mental health and substance abuse counseling. For more information, please visit: www.encapnebraska.org.
Veterans are the only people who know what veterans need.
Out Beside You (OBY; outbesideyou.org) is an organization led by retired Recon Marine Dustin Davis that raises money (mostly privately) to bring veterans and their families to the Midwest for hunting, farming, and fishing. The purpose of this is to offer a private and relaxed setting where transitioning veterans and their families can have fun doing something purposeful. It’s an extraordinary bonus if there are stories told round the bonfire or dinner table of combat—sharing and listening to these stories have a way of encouraging transitioning veterans to move forward and keep kicking butt in life. Raising a family in the military or the rigors of transitioning into civilian-hood. If OBY can’t get a military family here, OBY will go to them.
OBY feels that privacy is paramount so they don’t typically use social media and they never take pictures of the veterans and families that they are serving. OBY plans to publish inspiring stories on their website from veteran families they have touched.
Out Beside You has no employees, only volunteers, and 100% of all donations directly support transitioning veterans. Learn more at outbesideyou.org or contact (402) 680-1922 / outbesideyou@gmail.com.
Child Saving Institute (CSI; childsaving.org) focuses on the prevention, intervention, and healing of childhood trauma, neglect, and abuse. Since its beginning more than 127 years ago, Child Saving Institute’s primary focus has always been children’s safety and well-being.
As an innovative leader in children’s services, our programs include an emergency shelter for youth in crisis, quality early childhood education, consultation services for low-income child care centers, foster care, foster parent training, therapy, pregnancy counseling, in-home services for struggling families, pediatric social services in low income medical clinics, independent living skills education for youth aging out of the foster care system, free parenting workshops, and older child adoption. The agency also operates the Triage Center at Project Harmony, providing a comfortable environment, food, and fresh clothing to children who have been abruptly removed from their homes in crisis.
CSI’s programming is diverse, but so are the needs of today’s children and youth. With your support and the support of others like you, CSI serves nearly 2,800 kids and families each year and touches thousands more, improving the lives of children in our community — and helping them discover the joy of childhood that every child should experience.
For more information, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, visit childsaving.org, or call (402) 553-6000.
Mission: “To improve the quality of life by caring for the body and mind.”
Jennie Edmundson Foundation (www.jehfoundation.org) is the fundraising arm of Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital. By engaging philanthropic leaders, we are able to help make certain that the equipment, facilities, programs, services and educational initiatives at MJE continue to meet community needs.
The JE Foundation relies on donations and grants from our community. These funds go to help our Charitable Patient Care Fund, Breast Health Center, Medi-Bus Transportation and Scholarship Funds, to name a few. Generous contributions provide education, care, and services to many who may not otherwise have access to healthcare services. Individual or Planned gifts, Memorials or becoming an event or corporate sponsor are also a few ways to help.
Becoming a MJE Teen or Adult Volunteer gives you the opportunity to be involved in many facets of volunteerism. What a wonderful way to meet new people; develop new skills, interests and be rewarded through the experiences of helping patients, family members, and hospital staff.
To find out more about the JE Foundation and how you can get involved, call (712) 396-6040 or visit our website at www.jehfoundation.org.
Together, we can end child abuse. Project Harmony (www.projectharmony.com) is boldly focused on ending the cycle of child abuse and neglect in our community. We have reimagined how communities can come together by leveraging resources to respond to, treat and ultimately prevent child abuse. Project Harmony restores courage, facilitates healing and empowers each of us to be someone in the life of a child. Take the pledge to be someone in the life of a child today at ProjectBeSomeone.org.
To find out more about Project Harmony, visit www.projectharmony.com or call (402) 595-1326.
Established in 1972, Santa Monica (www.santamonicahouse.org) has been providing long-term residential services to thousands of chemically-dependent women, partnering with them on their journey to recovery. The program relies on the disciplines of the twelve step program of Alcoholics Anonymous® while incorporating mental health and trauma treatment along with life skills. Santa Monica provides food, shelter, rehabilitative counseling, job acquisition guidance, and re-socialization training. Santa Monica provides a Halfway House program, followed by a ¾ way house program and transitional apartment living. This approach to step-down levels of care for the women, provide a more holistic continuum of care. These services will give the women more support as they transition back into the community. Donations are always valued at Santa Monica and the women benefit from toiletries, clothing, and paper products.
Visit our new website at www.santamonicahouse.org for more information about the agency, what the future holds, and how to help.
Kids Can! Community Center’s (KidsCanOmaha.org) mission is to educate, engage, and inspire children through early childhood care and out-of-school experiences. Kids Can! serves children 18 months to 13 years old. We offer a variety of programs including early childhood education, before- and after-school programs, summer and non-school day programs, tutoring, and mentoring. Kids Can! utilizes the Creative Curriculum and Handwriting Without Tears activities for our youngest students with the goal of ensuring all students are prepared to enter Kindergarten. School-age children participate in the STEMsmart Academy which focuses on science, technology, engineering, math, strength, music, art, reading, and tutoring supporting well-rounded children.
Founded in 1908 as Social Settlement Association of Omaha, Kids Can! has a long history of making a meaningful impact in the community. Kids Can! is located on 49th and Q Streets in Omaha.
For more information about Kids Can! Community Center, visit KidsCanOmaha.org, call (402) 731-6988, or email jgillman@kidscanomaha.org.
Grief’s Journey (www.griefsjourney.org) (formerly Ted E. Bear Hollow) exists so that no one has to walk their grief journey alone.
Since 2001, the agency has provided a free and welcoming safe place for grieving children, teens, and adults to offer each other hope and support. Research indicates that unresolved grief correlates to issues such as poor school and work performance and emotional and behavioral concerns, whereas healthy coping leads to long-term successes for children, families, and communities. Carefully measured outcomes indicate that the programs of Grief’s Journey effectively move participants to health and resilience. As the region’s cornerstone for grief support, Grief’s Journey provides free peer support groups, family days, and camps as well as professional training, education, and consultation throughout Nebraska and Iowa.
The agency relies on charitable contributions, special event income, and volunteerism to support its free programs. Together, hope grows.
For more information about Grief’s Journey, please visit www.griefsjourney.org or call (402) 502-2773.
Midlands Latino Community Development Corporation (MLCDC; www.midlandslatinocdc.org) provides low-income new immigrants individuals with opportunities to generate economic growth by providing financing products, development services and community development that advances their ability to develop a sustainable future in the Midlands.
The top programs the organization provides are Business Development, Childcare creation, Micro-lending and Financial Capability programs. We have been serving the community for about 11 years with these programs.
Since 2009, we have been provided ongoing education to more than 5,217 clients, 325 small business have been launched, 128 micro-loans have been awarded, and 1,260 new jobs have been created and maintained in the Omaha metro area.
MLCDC educates and offers one-on-one coaching to low-to-moderate-income new immigrants seeking to build assets through affordable homeownership and build a plan to improve their financial capability through personalized financial coaching, financial literacy and the responsible access to financial products.
For more information, visit www.midlandslatinocdc.org.
The Daily House Respite B&B (www.dailyyaymaker.com) is a respite bed and breakfast for individuals with intellectual disabilities. As a compliment sister company to Daily Yaymaker, LLC, an event and travel consulting business for individuals with unique needs, The Daily House Respite B&B looks forward to opening a lodging facility for differently-abled individuals and their families in and around the Omaha area.
The vision of The Daily House Respite B&B is to also provide jobs to people with disabilities, such as a cook, barista, security guard, or a landscape manager at the bed and breakfast! All of these things are possible once The Daily House Respite B&B is up and running. Right now, the nonprofit is looking for volunteer board members and fundraising champions to help them turn their vision into a reality. Please contact Dawna at (402) 206-3092 / dailyyaymakerne@gmail.com if you would be interested in helping to organize and solicit on behalf of The Daily House B&B. Visit the Facebook page (@thedailyhouse) or go online to www.dailyyaymaker.com to learn more.
MENTOR Nebraska (MENTORNebraska.org), formerly Midlands Mentoring Partnership, is focused on improving the number and quality of mentoring programs available for Nebraska’s youth. For more than 20 years, MENTOR Nebraska has led the mentoring movement to ensure youth and mentors have access to high-quality mentoring experiences. MENTOR Nebraska does this by raising awareness, standards, and numbers around mentoring. In addition, MENTOR Nebraska provides training, support, technical assistance, and background checks to mentoring programs throughout the state.
MENTOR Nebraska’s vision is for every young person to have the supportive relationships they need to grow and develop into thriving, productive and engaged adults. For that to happen, we need caring adults like you to volunteer your time. Please help us make a difference in someone’s life. Visit MENTORNebraska.org to learn how you can become a mentor.
NAMI Omaha (www.namiomaha.org) is a nonprofit organization composed of consumers, family members, professionals and friends who have come together to share and take comfort in the commonality of their experiences and to educate members of their communities about serious brain disorders. Along with education/literature, support, workshops, conferences and more. NAMI Omaha actively advocates at the local, state, and national levels to improve the services and the lives of those affected by mental illness and their families.
One of our most successful and free educational programs is FAMILY TO FAMILY [F2F]. It is a 12-week course for family caregivers of individuals with severe mental illnesses. The course offers a wide variety of information including: current information about mental illnesses, medications, current research, gaining empathy, learning problem solving, listening and communication techniques, acquiring strategies for handling crises and relapse, focusing on the caregiver, guidance on locating appropriate supports and services and information on advocacy initiatives.
For information, go to www.namiomaha.org or call (402) 345-8101 / (877) 463-6264. For helpful articles on mental illness follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/NAMIOmaha.
The Set Me Free Project (www.setmefreeproject.net) is a nonprofit organization whose focus is to combat sex trafficking. Our mission is to bring prevention education to youth and families to stop trafficking before it starts.
Our curricula packages are informative, interactive, and flexible – reaching students from 3rd-12th grades, educators, parents, industry-specific professionals, and community members.
The Set Me Free Project is unique, because we not only bring awareness, we bring education. Our educators empower each audience member to protect themselves and others from traffickers. We show students how and why they are at risk, and we teach them ways to protect themselves. We teach the adults involved in the lives of youth to better guide and protect them. Every presentation we give is based on the foundation of each individual’s intrinsic value and worth.
Together, with our collaborators and supporters, we stop human trafficking before it starts.
At the Heartland Hope Mission (HeartlandHopeMission.org) South Omaha and Millard food pantries, working poor families choose a week’s supply of nutritious groceries including milk, frozen meat, and fresh produce to prepare well-balanced meals at home. But, we are more than a pantry. Clients also receive clothing, hygiene items, diapers, and access to a Client Service Specialist, who assists with SNAP (food stamp) applications and navigational services. Our Jobs Paths Program provides access to current job postings and on-site interviews with employers. Clients can also participate in financial classes, nutrition education, and a community garden. Our goals are to provide programming and wraparound services to prevent families from becoming homeless and to help people achieve or rebuild self-sufficiency.
Pantry Hours:
- South Omaha (2021 U Street): Tuesdays 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Thursdays 1:30-4:00 p.m. | Saturdays 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
- Millard Pantry (5321 S. 139th Plaza): 2nd Saturdays 10:30-11:30 a.m. | Last Wednesday 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Find out more: HeartlandHopeMission.org | (402) 733-1904
Did you know…Midlands Community Foundation (MCF; www.midlandscommunity.org) helps donors achieve their philanthropic goals and “Invest in the Power of Community.”
MCF plays an integral part in the community by serving Sarpy and Cass counties in the area of health care, arts, culture, community, economic development, education and human services. For example, MCF:
- Helps provide shelter for the homeless and stocks shelves at the local food banks
- Underwrites scholarships for college-bound students
- Maintains and supports local libraries
- Provides funding for health fairs
- Updates parks and recreational areas
- Treats school children to educational field trips
- Supports and assists in disaster relief for victims affected by Mother Nature
In addition, MCF manages 135 charitable funds that serve an array of needs. This past year, more than $1.3 million has been distributed into the community through these charitable funds, MCF grants, and discretionary gifts.
To learn more, visit www.midlandscommunity.org or call (402) 991-8027.
The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands (bbbsomaha.org) is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.
Big Brothers Big Sisters strives for all youth in the program to reach their full potential. A Big Brother, Big Sister or Big Couple provides youth with a sense of safety and security, emotional support and social skill promotion. Bigs and Littles are matched based on common interests so they can have the benefit of doing activities together that they both enjoy. With a Big by their side, more Littles are discovering who they are and what they can achieve in life. Big Brothers Big Sisters is working to clear the path for our youth’s biggest possible futures.
To learn more about how to become a Big, make a donation or find other ways to get involved, go to bbbsomaha.org or follow us on social media.
At Ronald McDonald House Charities in Omaha (RMHC; www.RMHCOmaha.org), we focus on keeping things as ordinary, unperturbed and boring as possible. Why? The families we serve are regular folks facing unfamiliar situations as their kids have been diagnosed with medical issues that are sometimes rare, sometimes chronic and sometimes both. And they’re often hundreds of miles from home. Obviously, the last thing they need is more stress, which is why we work extra-hard to make sure their new normal is as normal as can be.
In other words, at RMHC we take extraordinary measures to create ordinary times.
With 40 rooms and more than 14,600 lodging nights annually, normalcy is established by providing all of the basic essentials of a home such as warm beds, family rooms and meals. We also provide educational and artistic programs for all members of the family. Additionally, the environment includes a built in support system where families are able to connect with each other forming an interdependent network of resources and collaboration. RMHC is so much more than a House, consider us the made-to-order, one-of-a-kind, double Home with everything. Ronald McDonald House Charities is located at 620 S. 38th Ave. For more information, please call (402) 346-9377 or visit www.RMHCOmaha.org.
Dreamweaver Foundation (dreamweaver.org) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fulfilling lifelong dreams for terminally ill seniors in need. We strive to enrich the quality of life and are committed to honoring our most cherished generation in their final days. Making the impossible dream, possible. We serve seniors who are at or below the federal poverty guidelines in the Greater Omaha Area, Lincoln, eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. The granting of a Dream is a simple act, and yet the outcomes are profound. Dreams give the gift of hope.
Dreamweaver Foundation is celebrating six years of making dreams come true for terminally ill seniors by hosting our first Boots & Buckets fundraising event, presented by Pinnacle Bank. The casual event will be held Thursday, September 19, 2019 at A View on State in Omaha.
For more information about our event or Dreamweaver, visit our website at dreamweaver.org or email us at info@dreamweaver.org.
Goodwill Industries, Inc. (www.goodwillomaha.org), Serving Eastern Nebraska and Southwest Iowa, has been a leader in helping people fulfill their dreams through work since 1933. We train and employ people with disabilities and others who may be at a competitive disadvantage in the job market, such as at-risk youth.
Many people know Goodwill as a place to donate used clothing or household items. However, did you know that Goodwill is also a place where thousands of formerly unemployed or underemployed individuals have been given the opportunity to earn a living and the chance to succeed in life?
Goodwill offers a variety of employment programs and job opportunities for individuals with barriers to self-sufficiency. These programs include AbilityOne, Employment Solutions, Community Service, Work Experience, and YouthBuild AmeriCorps.
For more information about Goodwill’s mission programs call (402) 341-4609, email info@goodwillomaha.org, or visit www.goodwillomaha.org.
For almost twenty years The La Vista Community Foundation (LVCF; www.LaVistaCommunityFoundation.com) has been helping make our growing community a GREAT place to Live, Work and Play. The word community is the key, and it is what makes things happen in La Vista, Nebraska. We have been a leader in funding activities through collaboration and cooperation of our citizens, businesses, civil representatives, and community sponsors.
LVCF facilitates Community Impact Grants each fall. We have supported and shared success with many area charities, education programs, human service organizations and civic/recreation activities. Yearly contributions support our efforts, and several donor-advised funds are also used to support our grant program. We have been able to give back over $300,000 to the La Vista Community since our early years.
We promote a fun and engaging LVCF Golf Classic fundraiser each summer, and we work to raise dollars from the proceeds at a local fireworks tent each year. And importantly, our organization has chosen to lead the metro area in honoring our U.S. Veterans with our annual “Salute to Veterans” Dinner event, each November at the Embassy Suites – La Vista Conference Center. This event is no charge for veterans who attend.
We look forward to helping La Vista grow! Our goal is solid: to identify need, involve people, and engage support.
For more information about LVCF, or to support our mission with a donation or a donor-advised contribution, please contact Jill Lukes, executive director, at (402) 960-9625. You can also email us at info@LaVistaCommunityFoundation.com. Our website is www.LaVistaCommunityFoundation.com.
The Metro Area Youth Foundation (MAYF) was formed in 2006 by a group of Omaha area Optimist Club members who wanted to do more for families and children experiencing cancer. This all-volunteer group recognized that many organizations have been formed to help fight cancer, but there were not many resources available to the families who were in the middle of the fight. The goal is to allow the families to focus on the children, not the money they owe by providing a short-term financial bridge. Many of these families were already struggling financially; a cancer diagnosis can often mean that only one parent can continue to work, adding to the burden. MAYF has been able to provide over 500 families a chance to keep the water and power on, rent to stay in their apartment, a mortgage payment to keep their home and a chance to keep life as stable and normal as possible. For more information about how you can get involved or donate to MAYF’s Childhood Cancer Campaign, visit SummerBashforCCC.org or please call (402) 740-5158 or email SummerBash@cox.net.
Parkinson’s Nebraska (www.parkinsonsnebraska.org) is the primary source of education, support, and services for those whose lives are affected by Parkinson’s Disease in Nebraska. Our goal is to create a community of patients, caregivers, and resources so that the journey of Parkinson’s is A Journey Shared.
We serve the Parkinson’s community right here in Nebraska. Since 2016, we have sponsored over 1,500 specialized exercise classes, supported the community through support groups and programming grants, provided educational opportunities to patients, caregivers, and professionals, and connected families with important resources. We are state-based, passionate, and proud that all funds stay in Nebraska to benefit our Parkinson’s community.
At Parkinson’s Nebraska, we strive to identify and meet the ever-changing needs of the Parkinson’s community. We recognize a lack of Parkinson’s resources in Nebraska’s rural and underserved communities and are working hard to meet that need. In July 2019, we hosted a Delay the Disease training in Grand Island, NE to train health and medical professionals how to design and implement a community-based Parkinson’s exercise class. As a result of the training, 20 new classes began across Nebraska, with 13 serving rural or underserved communities. We look forward to continuing to build relationships with the Parkinson’s community and grow a network of resources through the state. Learn more online at www.parkinsonsnebraska.org or call (402) 715-4707.
MVP4Life (www.MVP4Life.org) is a nonprofit group that teaches life skills through the game of baseball. One program of MVP4Life is the Corn Belt Collegiate Summer Baseball League (www.cornbeltleague.com). From the College World Series to TD Ameritrade’s Home Run Derby, college baseball is at its finest in Omaha and this league is no exception. College players from all over the country come to develop their game. MVP4Life utilizes these players to mentor the youth of our community. What better role model than a college athlete and his quest to play in the MLB
The league relies on families in Omaha to open their home and become host families to these players.
The league has grown to be the premier college developmental league in the Midwest and plans to expand the league are set for the 2020 season. This will bring a greater need for sponsors and host families. Please help! For more information and schedules, visit www.CornBeltLeague.com / www.MVP4Life.org.
Outlook Nebraska (outlookne.org) helps anyone with vision loss find the resources they need, learn how to use technology to stay independent, find out about employment opportunities and stay active through recreation and cultural activities. From teaching them to use technology to helping them enjoy a theater performance with audio description to being their eyes when biking – we strive to enhance the lives of our blind neighbors.
Through our enrichment programs, the visually impaired participate in cultural and recreational activities they otherwise could not enjoy. Our employment opportunities improve their self-sufficiency. Outlook Nebraska is the largest employer of the blind in Nebraska, through production of janitorial paper products and our business support center, Outlook Business Solutions.
The Need:
- 15,000 people in metro area have vision loss that interferes with daily activities. This will more than double because of the prevalence of diabetes and our aging population
- More people in our region experience vision loss than homelessness, and most vision loss cannot be corrected.
- 1 in 4 of us is at risk of severe vision loss today.
Giving Opportunities:
- Be a Vision Monthly Partner with a $20/month automatic donation. Choose this option at outlookne.org/support.
- Make a cash donation at outlookne.org/support or mail a check to Outlook Nebraska.
- Sponsor an event such as our June Tee It Up Fore Sight golf tournament.
- Plan a future donation through our Legacy Fund.
Help those with vision loss in our community live life to the fullest with a donation. Visit outlookne.org to learn more.
The American Lung Association (Lung.org) is the leading organization dedicated to saving lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research. Our non-profit organization provides support and education for those living with asthma, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and fighting threats to lung health such as tobacco, air pollution and more.
The American Lung Association’s Fight for Air Corporate Cup is a 10K and 2 Mile run/walk and a piece of Omaha history! Celebrating its 39th year on September 8, more than 5,000 participants are expected to join their friends, family, co-workers at the starting line of this marquee event. More than 25,000 individuals have participated in the last five years alone, raising $1.5 million in support of the mission of the American Lung Association. This year, you can join the challenge and raise money to help provide life-saving lung health research, patient education and public policy efforts. The routes may vary in their distances, but each offers an opportunity for teams and individuals to challenge themselves. Every step you take moves us forward in our fight for healthy lungs and clean air. Lung HelpLine: 1-800-LUNGUSA | Website: Lung.org