Youth Emergency Services Cancels 2020 Dance for a Chance Due to COVID-19

Even though Youth Emergency Services (YES); (https://www.yesomaha.org/) tried its best to keep the 2020 Dance for a Chance: The Roaring Twenty-Twenties fundraising event happening this year—even postponing it from August to October—the organization has decided to cancel the event due to COVID-19 and the ongoing need for social distancing.

“We want to thank everyone who had agreed to dance and instruct for us this year—we hope you’ll be back next year—as well as our presenting sponsor Lindsay Corporation for supporting this amazing event,” said YES Director of Development Barb Farho. “We are so grateful to everyone who supports us every day, but without our biggest fundraising event this year, we are looking for other ways to connect with our partners and sponsors moving forward to meet the financial needs of supporting our youth.”

The decision ultimately came down to the need to be responsible to the dancers and instructors, who wouldn’t be able to properly social distance during practice and performance, as well as the inability to host an event the size of Dance, which welcomes upwards of 500 people each year, during the pandemic.

YES has already secured August 5, 2021, at the Omaha Design Center for next year’s DFAC. Please mark your calendars and watch for more information in the coming year. If you or your company was a past sponsor of Dance for a Chance and you’d still like to make a donation, please contact Barb at bfarho@yesomaha.org.

Youth Emergency Services is the only nonprofit in Omaha with the sole mission to help youth experiencing homelessness and near-homelessness in the community. Last year, YES provided support and services to more than 3,000 youth—a record number—in the Omaha metro area. Many of these youth have been physically, emotionally, or sexually abused, making it unsafe for them to return home. 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, Maternity Home, and Rapid Rehousing. To learn more, visit www.yesomaha.org.