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the giving bond
ALLAN & DIANNE LOZIER AND JOHN & WENDE KOTOUC ConneCting our Community
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Spring 2018
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in this ISSUE
connecting our community
features
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THE GIVING BOND allan & dianne lozier and john & wende kotouc
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WHEN EVERY MINUTE MATTERS methodist hospital foundation
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ONE FESTIVAL opera omaha
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AKSARBEN CORONATION BALL CXI aksarben foundation
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A NEW CHAPTER author wally duff
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BUSINESS HALL OF FAME greater omaha chamber of commerce
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THE WINNERS ARE... the BIG event 2018
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connecting to our inspiration
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connecting to our creativity
GETTING EXCITED ABOUT GIVING BACK the giving guide & event book 2018
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VIPS: VERY INSPIRATIONAL PEOPLE
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connecting to our care
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GAME CHANGERS • SUSAN HENRICKS presented by planitomaha
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connecting to our experience
HE SAID/SHE SAID mike & kelly from KMTV’s morning blend
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SPOTIGHT ON harrison financial services
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OMAHA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION omaha giving
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metroSPIRIT with mary vandenack
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VW LAW planning matters
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SWARTZBAUGH, FARBER & ASSOC. todays savings
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STEPHANIE VONDRAK impact!
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connecting to our partnerships
SCENE highlights from recent charity & cultural events
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SAVE THE DATE upcoming events in the coming quarter
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CredItS PROVING UP Mazzoli/Vavrek
APRIL 13, 15, 19, 21 & 22, 2018 SPrING 2018 • Vol. 30 No. 1 Press releases and other editorial information may be sent to: P.o. Box 241611, omaHa, Ne 68124 or e-mailed to: editor@Spiritofomaha.com Publisher/Editor-in-Chief andrea l. “andee” Hoig
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words FROM MY HEART
mquarterly • letter from tHe PublISHer
UNLIMITED
possibilities
We live in a world of unlimited possibilities… how does it get any better than that? On many levels I have always known this, but on other levels I have never really believed it. If anything and everything is possible why do we struggle so much…why do I struggle? Perhaps it is due to an unrealized belief in possibilities (or, in practice, the lack of them) that has gotten in the way of obtaining everything I desire. I think many of us get tripped up when we can’t see all of the possibilities that lie ahead of us, we just see the struggle, with occasional little glimmers of a tantalizing, beautiful and abundant world. We feel hemmed-in, locked-out or swept-up in the “current” of our lives. So often that beautiful and abundant world is just out of reach, available to others but not us…let’s change that. I have officially declared 2018 The Year of Unlimited Possibilities! I am committed to looking beyond what appear to be struggles, challenges and roadblocks—to see them as opportunities to become a more expanded and powerful version of myself.
aNdrea l. HoIG ahoig@Spiritofomaha.com
I am committed to asking myself, “What are the possibilities here? What am I not seeing in this situation that could be better, bigger, even more amazing? What is the unrealized potential?” When we come to conclusions based on our limited perspectives and our limiting beliefs, we close the door on what’s possible. It’s much harder to navigate through life when all of your doors are closed and many of them appear to be locked. By navigating through life with the awareness and “knowing” that anything and everything is possible, all doors now appear unlocked (or wide open!) and we get to choose which ones we want to walk through.
I am so grateful to be exactly where I am–to know that there are unlimited possibilities each and every day in this year and beyond. And I get to choose! What do I want to create? How do I want to feel? What amazing adventures do I want to experience this year? What choices can I make that will open up new opportunities to do, have and be anything I want?
I am also committed to making choices in 2018 from this place of awareness. That sounds simple enough…and you know what? It is! Andee Hoig (and so many just like me) has made choices without being more aware of the beliefs driving those choices. People like me often feel as if the circumstances of life are being chosen for us when, in fact, it is we who do the choosing.
It really is quite exciting when you grasp that anything is possible. I will admit it takes a little getting use to…at least it did for me. But the more I dance with the unlimited possibilities of life the more it becomes my new normal. I have also gotten more comfortable with the unknown, and with releasing my illusions of control. In fact, I love not knowing where life is going to take me.
We are already constantly choosing how we show up, and how we react or respond to any and all situations. We choose our emotions, whether to love, hate, or fear; whether to feel at peace or feel conflicted. We choose whether or not we judge others or ourselves. We choose what we put in our bodies and how we take care of our mind, will and emotions.
If I knew exactly where I was going that would take all the fun out of the journey and eliminate all of the wonderful possibilities along the way. I may just change my mind. Something may have sounded good one day but the next day, not so much. And the great thing about it? I get to choose differently if I so desire. Don’t you just love that?!?
Ultimately we choose to struggle with what appear to be our limitations, and inevitably conclude that the struggle is real–that there is “No Way Out!”
Here’s to a year of Love, Laughter, Joy, Adventure and Unlimited Possibilities…
But we have the power to choose differently. Whenever we feel hemmed-in or locked-out by our circumstances, our feelings or “the current,” we can simply make a different choice…and that is a Game Changer!
We Got This!…Are You In?
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COVER PHOTO BY JIM SCHOLZ
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community LEADERSHIP
ALLAN & dianne AND JOHN & wende... The Kotoucs, like the Loziers, are committed to supporting the community. Both have served on numerous community boards and organizations as a couple and independently, and under their leadership, the bank maintains a long history of nonprofit service and community involvement.
the loziers and the Kotoucs Know they’ve all been friends for decades and that the two men had become friends well before the couples were married. but they had to do a little calculating to figure out what year it was when allan lozier and John Kotouc were first introduced when serving together on the board of directors for bellevue college (now bellevue university). lozier finally guessed that 1976 or 1977 was probably that auspicious year.
a giving way of life Residents of the Omaha metro area would be hard-pressed to find any nonprofit or community organization that hasn’t benefited at some point by either couple personally or through their businesses or foundation. A very small sampling would include ABIDE Omaha, Bellevue University, College of Saint Mary, Creighton Prep High School, Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, Heartland Family Service, Project Harmony, Empowerment Network, Family Housing Advisory Services, Girl Scouts, Girls Inc., Hope Center for Kids, , Make-A-Wish, Nebraska Methodist Hospital, Omaha Conservatory of Music, Omaha Gives!, Salvation Army, Stephen Center, STEP-UP Omaha!, University of Nebraska Foundation, various churches and faith-based organizations, the Women’s Center for Advancement, and the Women’s Fund.
“That goes back a long time,” Lozier said. “40 years ago?” said Wende Kotouc, John Kotouc’s wife. The two couples converse in the manner one would expect from an easy and longstanding friendship. But the Loziers and Kotoucs are not only good friends, they’re respected leaders who have collectively and individually made an impressive mark on the community.
allan and dianne lozier Allan Lozier began working at age 14 for his family’s small business that started out as a garage-based refrigerator repair service and eventually became Lozier Corporation, the largest manufacturer of store fixture systems in the U.S. The company is still headquartered in Omaha, and Lozier has served as president or chairman of the board since 1959, starting when he was only 26 years old. Dianne Seeman Lozier, who married Allan in 1991, is corporate counsel for the Lozier Corporation today and was formerly associate general counsel and vice president of quality and risk management for Health One Corporation in her native Minneapolis. The Loziers hail from different cities but with similar backgrounds, and their common interests are evident in their individual histories of community involvement and the shared work they do through the Lozier Foundation. Founded in 1986, the foundation they fund focuses on education, social services and issues involving women and children with an emphasis on the inner city and underrepresented populations. The Loziers have also supported a wide range of nonprofits and community organizations both together and separately.
Their giving activities range from overseeing or coordinating large corporate campaigns and supporting coalitions like United Way and Omaha Gives! to targeted efforts like contributing to causes close to an individual employee or customer. They’ve all given volunteer hours and served on boards and in advisory roles to various organizations. John Kotouc said that, just like banking is in his DNA, giving is in his blood. “It has been a way of life that has been part of my family; I’m following in the footsteps of some very generous people—my grandfather (Otto), my father and mother (Otto and Mildred)—and we always believed that it was important for others to benefit from any of our successes,” Kotouc said. “And Allan and Dianne have also been extraordinary mentors and partners in this regard.” For Allan Lozier, his family’s giving tradition also followed business success, but he was around to witness the slim earliest years.
John and wende Kotouc John and Wende Kotouc also are from different communities and career paths. Wende Kotouc’s work history includes management positions with McDonald’s Corporation and an executive officer role for a global nonprofit called Willow Creek Association; both companies are in Illinois. John Kotouc is a fourth-generation Nebraskan, originally from the Humboldt area, whose forefathers were among the founders of American National Bank. John and Wende Kotouc serve as the bank’s executive co-chairmen today, but the company’s origins date back to 1856 with family ties beginning in 1909. American National Bank now has 30 locations in Nebraska and Iowa along with seven locations operating under the Western Bank name in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, and services in Kansas and Texas. Allan Lozier and John Kotouc joined together in co-ownership of American National Bank in 1984.
“It began with survival. Everybody that I knew in my dad’s family was a small-business owner. They were always struggling, my granddad and both of my dad’s two brothers. Once you get past the struggle, then you can look at other things. But at the beginning, you pay the loans, pay the bills and so on,” he said. “We fairly quickly got by that, and then we started looking at what we owed the community. To my way of thinking, there were two things we owed the community. One was to leave it better than we found it. And two was to provide jobs. That’s a very hard balancing act.” The company had 25 workers when it began manufacturing store fixtures more than 60 years ago. Today, Lozier Corporation employs more than 2,200.
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Story by KARA SCHWEISS | Photo by JIM SCHOLZ
THE giving
• mquarterly
bond
it’s easy to see why allan and dianne lozier are such good friends with john and wende kotouc. both couples are not only leaders in business, they are professionally and personally active in a wide spectrum of nonprofit and community organizations.
the giving bond ALLAN & DIANNE LOZIER AND JOHN & WENDE KOTOUC
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community LEADERSHIP
THE GIVING bond In contrast, Dianne Lozier did not come from a family that had the capacity to lead by example where giving was concerned. “I grew up in a very poor family; there’s no history of philanthropy that I came from; the heart was there, but the financial resources were not,” she said. Regardless, she was ready to give once she had the means. “I moved to Omaha in 1990 and Allan’s family had been very philanthropic for generations. So that was a very different experience for me and if I think about what’s important to me philanthropically, it’s trying to figure out how to really make a difference,” she said. “That causes me to try to get into any new venture with that thought ‘What is it that we’re trying to accomplish?’ It’s not a whole bunch of meetings and fun (activity), but ‘What is the difference we’re trying to make?’” While Wende Kotouc came from a family who taught her the importance of community involvement and charitable giving, she said she considers giving opportunities from a similar practical perspective as Dianne Lozier.
JOHN KOTOUC EARLY BOARD DAYS AT BELLEVUE COLLEGE
“Our bank officers and employees volunteer in the community. We seek to make our customers successful, and ask for the community’s business; it’s important to give back” she said. “For me, it’s impact. Where can we have the greatest impact to bring benefit to the community? It’s not always the popular things.”
engaging in the community Every community is different, too. Because American National Bank has so many locations, John Kotouc said that the specific needs of a particular neighborhood, town or city, or even region, can vary widely and it’s been a factor in the company’s diverse giving activity. “Sometimes either we learn about a need or an officer brings a need to our attention,” he explained. “As we are engaged in the community we learn about special needs, and sometimes we become very passionate about them.” Most branch employees live in or near their banks’ neighborhoods or service areas, so they provide insight into local needs. “Branches have authority to choose what they want to support in the community, so often you can see the very specific needs the branches identify with,” Wende Kotouc said. “Each branch is uniquely plugged into the community and we give them a lot of choices so they can become thriving members in the community.” Workplace-sponsored giving opportunities are able to involve all employees, John Kotouc said, and serve as a catalyst for giving in general. WENDE WITH ELIJAH AND MAREASE STEP-UP OMAHA AND EMPOWERMENT NETWORK
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addItIoNal PhotoS courteSy of ALLAN & DIANNE LOZIER AND JOHN & WENDE KOTOUC coNtINued
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kotouc and lozier
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THERE IS NEED everywhere.
“One of the collaborations in the community is Omaha Gives! It’s fascinating to see where those gifts are given,” he said. American National Bank has been involved with the event since its first year and serves as a presenting sponsor, he added. “We challenge every employee to be a part of it, but the objective is that everybody gets to have an opportunity to be a giver. We also do this with United Way. We believe that once people give, it gets in their system and it’s an important change for then.” “It shows commitment and is obviously good for employees to know that they’re giving through their workplace which is giving back to the community, trying to make it a better place,” Wende Kotouc said. “I think for a lot of people, when their employer does something visible in the community, they’re a part of that,” Dianne Lozier said. “It contributes to greater involvement: “I can make a difference personally when I work for an organization that tries to make a difference in the community.” Lozier Corporation’s headquarters and largest facility are located in North Omaha, and the Loziers have “become more and more pointed at North Omaha as time’s gone by,” Allan Lozier said. “The Lozier store fixtures business has always been a part of North Omaha. North Omaha has a special place in our hearts. Focusing there is very important,” Dianne Lozier said. “We were very supportive of Habitat for Humanity’s work in the Kountze community area, strengthening the community and making the property more appealing to homebuilding and that kind of thing; it was very meaningful to do this in partnership with many others.”
education is key As vice chair of The Lozier Foundation, Dianne Lozier has also led the development of Nelson Mandela Elementary, an independent, nonprofit elementary school serving high-poverty students in the North Omaha area. The school, located on North 30th street in the heart of the neighborhood it serves, is now in its third school year. “There’s a lot of challenge there,” she said. The area has one of the highest crime rates in the state and is among the most impoverished in the city. “Intergenerational poverty makes it incredibly hard for kids to have hope, to see that their life could be different.” Lozier knows from experience that education is a primary factor in creating career opportunities that can result in a more secure existence than previous generations. “For whatever reason—neither of my parents graduated from high school—education has always seemed like the key to have the kind of life I wanted to have,” she said. “What I really want for (young people) to do is think of what kind of life they want to have and think about what kind of education they need in order to have that life.”
~ WENDE KOTOUC
Children who grow up in prosperous families “have every reason to believe they could have a good life,” she said. Her husband, for instance, was confident from an early age that he could be successful through a lot of hard work and a bit of ingenuity. “I, like John, had a family full of entrepreneurs. And I owe a lot to my dad and mom, who both worked in the business. They helped me get a good start, and based on their behavior I knew no bounds. Anything I wanted to do, I did,” Allan Lozier explained. “And that’s how I got into banking and real estate and store fixtures.” “I don’t mean to say that it was served to you on a silver platter, but you had people around you who were hardworking and very committed and very involved in the community,” Dianne Lozier said. “If you think instead that you’re in a setting where maybe nobody in your family graduated from high school and there is a whole lot of crime that happens in your community and people have made different kinds of life choices, you can have the sense that ‘this is what my life is going to be like.’…To have the hope and aspirations that your life might be different is a huge need and a huge value. One of the things I think we are really trying to do with Nelson Mandela Elementary School is help instill or grow that hope.” Because of that hope, the students are flourishing, Lozier said. She’s also already seeing a ripple effect touching their families and even the area neighborhoods. “It’s great to have so much community involvement, so much parental involvement,” she said. Nelson Mandela Elementary may be the largest educational project either couple is connected to, but it’s far from the first. “Education was the reason Allan and I met,” John Kotouc said, reiterating that both men were involved with Bellevue College and Bellevue University boards. “We’ve both been lifelong learners and we both place a really high importance upon education for young people and for this community and for the area and country. It is a real divider for a community that will succeed or not,” he said. With a wry smile, John Kotouc added: “And Allan is probably the best walking librarian of articles that I know.” Lozier was amused but unabashed. “There’s nothing that doesn’t touch my curiosity. So sometimes I get enmeshed in too much reading material. I copy it all off and save it and sometimes I distribute it,” he said.
the giving bond ALLAN & DIANNE LOZIER AND JOHN & WENDE KOTOUC
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community LEADERSHIP
THE GIVING bond building the fabric of the community
looking ahead
Both men agree that strictly speaking, corporate giving is voluntary. But they have always approached it as a duty they’re glad to carry out.
As time marches on, everyone’s level of personal activity is forced to change in some ways, Allan Lozier pointed out. Now in his 80s, he’s thinking about his legacy more than what he’s done in his past, he said. But he still has a “deep sense of responsibility for people’s jobs and helping the community.”
“I heard someone say that ‘giving really builds the fabric of the community that is ours.’ I have found this to be true. If we don’t address community concerns we won’t be a healthy community,” Kotouc said. “I remember Allan Lozier saying that a number of years ago, and I’ve always thought that was a wise understanding.” Giving isn’t always easy or immediately gratifying, Allan Lozier said. Funding isn’t infinite and community needs are boundless. Challenges may seem almost insurmountable. People who need assistance aren’t always appreciative of efforts to help them. And some causes are less compelling than others. “There are some things you have to do that are not very popular but they still need to be done,” he said. “You also have to stand for some things.” Sometimes, the best way to help meet a need or support a project is to rally others to the cause, Wende Kotouc said. That takes a lot more time and focus than simply writing a check. “There’s financial giving and giving of your time, but there’s also discernment of your influence and really taking time to research the causes in the community which simply require connecting people. Sometimes we’re positioned as such that we can pick up the phone and get different people together,” she said. “I learned a lot of that when I married John… That was a great lesson for me. How you spend your time can have a significant impact.” Although it’s a worthy endeavor, serving as a catalyst or facilitator can be challenging, Dianne Lozier added. “I would say all four of us are introverts from one level to another,” she explained. “We don’t want to have lots of meetings; it sucks the energy out of us. That aspect of it is a tough one. Finding the appropriate amount of energy to put toward each (effort)—that’s been an interesting thing to figure out. It’s evolving.”
“I personally started dropping out of community affairs between ages 72 and 75. I focused instead for what happens after I’m gone. I’m almost 84,” he said. “It’s not that easy. But it’s rewarding in a way because it gives me more time to think about where we’re going strategically.” Getting others involved is another way to ensure giving not only grows in the present, but continues in the long run, Wende Kotouc said. “From a leadership perspective, it’s been a joy to watch. We’ve really been focusing on empowering our bank leaders: watching them learn how to lead, helping others lead, growing that process and then encouraging them to go out into the community, partner on boards, do this that and the other thing with their teams,” she said. “You see them replicate this in the community. It’s well worth the effort to do that as an organization because if you enable people, it has a multiplier effect.” Sometimes what charitable campaign organizers want most is a personal endorsement from a successful business or community leader. “We don’t feel a need to have our names out there (but) you learn that at times it makes a difference for an organization. I think people need to give in the way that works best for them with an eye toward the impact that putting their name there—or someone else’s name—has or doesn’t have,” Dianne Lozier said. “There are all sorts of events for which people want chairs and people to recognize and you figure out very quickly that it means you want someone to lend their name in support of an organization typically to raise money but also to help raise awareness of the cause. That’s something to me that’s important to think about.” The most important measure of success is how much support is cultivated, whether in terms of dollars or volunteer activity. Recognition, Allan Lozier said, should be irrelevant.
Having to say “no” is also trying. “Wende is an extraordinary leader/doer in all her circles of influences. Tireless, I would say,” John Kotouc said. “There is need everywhere,” Wende Kotouc said.
“If that’s why you’re giving, to put your name on something—we don’t want to do that,” he said.
“We are trying to focus more on what we do as a foundation. And that’s really hard because you have to say ‘no,’ you have to prioritize, you have to narrow or channel your curiosity,” Dianne Lozier added.
“We don’t think of ourselves as something special,” John Kotouc agreed. “We are common people who are interested in certain causes and think certain causes make a difference in the community.”
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coNtINued
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kotouc and lozier
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WHAT I WANT… [YOUNG PEOPLE] TO DO IS…think OF WHAT life THEY WANT TO HAVE, AND think ABOUT WHAT KIND OF education THEY NEED IN ORDER TO have THAT LIFE.
“
~ DIANNE LOZIER
NELSON MANDELA ELEMENTARY
ORIGINAL AMERICAN NATIONAL BANK KOTOUC FOUNDERS IN HUMBOLDT, NE: OTTO KOTOUC, SR. ON LEFT WITH BROTHERS
the giving bond ALLAN & DIANNE LOZIER AND JOHN & WENDE KOTOUC
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healthy GIVING • healthy LIVING
methodist HOSPITAL FOUNDATION Just as he did every day after work, omaha nursery owner sean mulhall knocked out his usual three-mile run. But that evening, decemBer 30, 2016, something was different postworkout. normally “incrediBly healthy,” sean told his wife he wasn’t feeling well and moments later, collapsed. it was a heart attack.
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“Every prayer I knew, I was like, ‘God, please,’” recalled Sean’s wife, Pier. On the way to the closest hospital, Pier had a directive for the ambulance I’VE LEARNED IN THE COURSE driver: “I said, ‘You have to take him to Methodist. His doctor said Methodist.’” OF JUST HOW Once Sean arrived at the emergency department (ED), on-call doctor Michael Dehning, M.D., immediately put in a stent to open Sean’s completely MUCH IT MATTERS clogged left main artery – and then, because Sean’s brain had been starved of oxygen, implemented a therapeutic hypothermia protocol. YOU ARE “They saved my life – purely and simply,” Sean said. “I’ve learned in the course of recovery just how much it matters where you are cared for.” ~ SEAN MULHALL More than ever, the Mulhalls are now champions for an even bigger Methodist hospital Methodist ED – one that includes more space, less waiting and easier access. eMergency departMent patient The plan calls for twice as many patient rooms, fast-track triage, increased privacy, a second trauma room and 24/7 valet service. “We know in an emergency, if you have chest pain or you’ve been in a car accident, time is not on your side. Every minute matters. That is why Methodist Health System is committed to ensuring that every person who walks through our doors has immediate access to the very best emergency care,” said Tracy Madden-McMahon, Methodist Hospital Foundation’s president & chief philanthropy officer. Society’s most vulnerable patients are also prioritized in the expansion To uphold that promise for generations to come, Methodist Hospital Foundation is now in the process of fundraising for an emergency department plans. The renovated ED will provide more space and privacy for victims of expansion, renovation and redesign project. It is ambitious. It is also necessary. sexual assault, domestic violence and human trafficking; create safe rooms for an increasing number of patients with mental health issues; and allow At present, Methodist’s ED is the number-one choice for 911 patients. Patient Methodist staff to care most effectively for severely overweight bariatric volumes are only increasing; they are up by 20 percent over the last five years patients. New ceiling lifts will help ensure patient safety and protect doctors (even after the ED opened at Methodist Women's Hospital). and nurses during patient moving and 22,000 square feet. “Our community relies on us,” said Joseph McCaslin, M.D., Methodist Beyond that, the new ED design will allow Methodist to stay on the Hospital’s emergency medical director. “This expansion will allow us to meet leading edge of innovation, affording more space to accommodate new the increasing demand by offering better access with the highest quality technology, including state-of-the art diagnostic and monitoring equipment. state-of-the-art care. It’s critically important so we can serve patients now “We truly understand that an emergency department is a community and for decades to come.” resource. Each and every person who walks through the door deserves to The Methodist Hospital ED underwent its last structural remodel in 1995. receive the same excellent level of care,” said Madden-McMahon. The planned expansion and renovation would extend Methodist Hospital’s ED Architectural plans for the ED will be finalized in 2018. The five-phase to the east end of Methodist’s North Tower. ED square footage would double to construction project could begin as early as January 2019. As Methodist 22,000 square feet. The number of patient rooms will increase from 12 to 24. Hospital Foundation works to raise awareness and funds, it reminds donors Dr. McCaslin said the expansion and renovation will translate to fewer and potential donors that one hundred percent of gifts given to support the ambulances/patients turned away due to a lack of space, decreased wait expansion will benefit the project – not one cent pays for administrative costs. times for room placement and initial evaluation, and increased comfort for Sean and Pier Mulhall are eager to add their voices to the chorus of support. patients and family members. The project will also allow Methodist to expand “When I think Methodist, I think life-saving,” Pier said. geriatric care for aging baby boomers. Sean spent months in rehab after his heart attack. He knows most don’t “We’re seeing so many more people 65-plus every day. We know in survive an ordeal like his and is quick to praise the doctors and nurses at the Douglas County alone, the baby boomer population is expected to increase by about 40-percent in the next ten years. That’s a lot more patients to treat,” Methodist ED that night. The admiration is mutual: “Dr. Dehning still calls him ‘the miracle man,’” Pier said. McCaslin said.
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recovery
where cared for.
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Story aNd Photo by METHODIST HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
methodist hospital foundation is embarking on an ambitious fundraising endeavor; a project that will renovate and expand a true community resource and ensure immediate access to quality care when every minute matters.
WHEN every minute
matters...
when every minute matters... METHODIST HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
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coronation KEEPSAKES
GARY A. PERKINS, BLAIR MARIE KELLNER HONORED AS 121st King and Queen of AKSARBEN THE NEW MONARCHS OF AKSARBEN ARE KING GARY A. PERKINS AND QUEEN BLAIR MARIE KELLNER. BLAIR IS THE DAUGHTER OF KIRK AND TERESA KELLNER.
As the former CEO of the Children’s Hospital and Medical Center, Gary spent over 40 years working in support of children and their health. Under his leadership, he led the hospital through major growth and change: a move from Methodist Hospital’s Together the new monarchs and their north tower to the facility at 84th & Dodge; families will work to raise critical scholarship quadrupled growth in patient volumes; and dollars for AKSARBEN scholars and help under his leadership, he and his team increase awareness for the AKSARBEN established Children’s as the a leader in our Foundation’s mission. region, specifically for children needing care in the areas of cancer, heart, infectious and Approximately 1,700 attendees witnessed the rare diseases. crowning of the 121st AKSARBEN Coronation & Scholarship Ball at Baxter Carol Perkins is passionate about her family Arena on the campus of the University of and cares deeply for others less fortunate. Nebraska at Omaha. The event included the She has been involved in mission work both formal introduction of the 2018 Royal Court in Omaha and internationally and recently honoring more than 200 Nebraska and returned from her 8th missionary trip to Western Iowa families and proudly Africa. celebrated 50 AKSARBEN Horatio Alger Scholarship recipients and over 300 The Perkins have two children, David AKSARBEN Horatio Alger Career Scholars. Perkins (Courtney) and Kristen Buttermore (Dan) and six grandchildren Will, Graham, The new king, Gary Perkins, is a native of Macy, Jude, Luke and Micah. Missouri Valley, Iowa, but has called Omaha home for over 40 years. The Perkins family will work closely with the Kellner family over the next 12 months. Perkins attended Midland College in Fremont, Nebraska, and majored in The new queen, Blair Marie Kellner is a fifth economics and accounting. He met his generation Nebraskan whose great, great future wife, Carol, while they were students grandparents immigrated from Germany to at Midland. Perkins has served his alma be farmers in the Heartland. mater as a board member and board chair. Her family has served on multiple mission Perkins has shared his time and talents with trips, Habitat for Humanity Builds, and is numerous boards and non-profits, including: active in their church. the Salvation Army, Youth for Christ, Childs Savings Institute, Fresh Start for All Nations, Blair’s father Kirk Kellner is a 36 year veteran Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital, Project of the banking industry, serving as a Wells Harmony, Nebraska Safety Council, MidFargo region bank president in community America Council for Boy Scouts of America, banking for Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri. Building Healthy Futures, and Access Bank. He oversees 550 team members and 48 banks in the three states. The Kellners spent time Perkins devoted his career to Hospital working in Grand Island, NE, for Wells Fargo Administration and with his team in the late 1990s. transformed Children’s Hospital & Medical Center into a regional leader in pediatric The Kellners have donated time and talent to healthcare. many Midland Organizations including: the
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Susan G. Komen Foundation, the United Way of the Midlands, Joslyn Art Museum, the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, St. Luke Teen Advisory Board, the University of Nebraska Foundation and the Midwest Housing Equity Group Board. Kellners also have a long history with the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. Blair is the third generation to study Business at UNL where she is active in her sorority. Next semester, her dreams will come true as she has been accepted into the competitive Disney College Program at Disneyworld. The Kellner family has been previously honored by AKSARBEN. Blair was a page is 2006; Blair’s sister Miranda was a princess in 2017; and Kirk has served as both a Councillor and a Governor of the Knights of AKSARBEN. He is currently the Chairman of the Board. For more information on the AKSARBEN Scholars program, or to donate, please log on to www.aksarben.org
Established in 1895, AKSARBEN Foundation represents the premier employers in Nebraska and western Iowa. AKSARBEN Foundation works as a unified network to influence change for the betterment of youth, the economy and Heartland communities. We advance our mission to leverage collective business leadership to build a more prosperous Heartland by funding and guiding best practices, needs based scholarship programs, awarding more than $1 million annually; promoting the Heartland’s cultural heritage through topranking community celebrations attended by more than 100,000 annually; and honoring community leaders who carry on the Heartland’s tradition of philanthropy and volunteerism.
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• mquarterly
AKSARBEN CORONATION BALL 2017
supporting scholarship
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DWYER PHOTOGRAPHY supporting scholarship AKSARBEN CORONATION BALL CXI
coNtINued
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pre-ball
reception
AKSARBEN coronation ball
ANDERS AND EMILY CHRISTENSEN WITH DR. JOHN AND JAN CHRISTENSEN
ALISON AND J.R. JOHNSON WITH PHIL AND KATIE MCDONNELL
CONOR AND JEANNA KISER
DR. STEVE, BRIGID AND PATRICK WILKENING WITH KITTY AND MIKE O’NEIL
PATRICK AND CARLY TURNER
BEVERLY AND RALPH HOLZFASTER WITH SENATOR BEN AND DIANE NELSON
DR. RICHARD AND GERALYN AZIZKHAN
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| cxi • supporting scholarship
ANDREW SPENCER, ALEX CANTRELL AND JACK WILSON
TERESA RUNBACK, HOLLY BOYER AND NIKKI DARON
HARRY HOCH III, MAUREEN MULLIGAN WITH CHELSEY AND BUTCH BURGERS
ELIZABETH AND JENNIFER WARD WITH KAREN AND JAMES KOSSE
PhotograPhy by DEBRA S. KAPLAN
ANNA, MARK, JANE, TARNA AND CLARA KIDDER
TIM AND KERRY CLARK WITH TIFFANY WADE
DR. KEVIN AND KATIE GROSSHANS
ANDREA MARSHALL AND CAROLYN SUTTON
JENNIFER BUDA AND ASHLEY MCMAHON
SAM, MARK, SHARON AND ANNIE ELLERBECK
REINA WALLS AND JOHNNY RODGERS
TIFFANY DENCKLAU WITH BILL AND MIMI KOVAR
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pre-ball
reception
EMILY SUNDERLAND, MEGAN SUNDERLAND AND CREIGHTON SILVAIN
AKSARBEN coronation ball
BOB AND SUSI DALRYMPLE WITH MARISOL AND MARCOS RODRIGUEZ
JENNIFER AND BURKE HARR
TERRY AND JACKIE KROEGER WITH DANA AND DANI BRADFORD
DAWN AND SID DINSDALE
CLAIRE WILSON, BLAIR KELLNER, EMILY KELLER, MORGAN SMIDLEIN, CAROLYN DAVIS AND GRACE MOSIER 24
mquarterly • spring 2018
AMY HADDAD AND STEVE MARTIN
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| cxi • supporting scholarship
GERRY, BLAIR, KIRK AND TERESA KELLNER
ROCHELLE MALLETT AND PHILLIP ROMBERG
MARY DAUB, KATHY LEWIS AND MARY LOPEZ
PHYLLIS AND NORM CHOAT
PhotograPhy by DEBRA S. KAPLAN
JESSICA, A.J., TROY AND ANDY SHEFSKY
DR. KEN AND ANNIE BIRD
JEFF, REBECCA, ELLIE AND STEPHANIE HANSEN
DENISE, KAITLYN, TATE AND BARBARA FITZGERALD
JILL AND BRUCE RASMUSSEN, DAVID AND SANDY PARKER WITH MARK AND CHELSEY BURGERS
EMILY DUGGER, MATT FOREST, REGAN AND GARY MUHS
JACK BECKER AND LESTER KATZ WITH EMILIANO, SANTINO AND SHANNON LERDA
MIKE AND LOUANN GODING
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locally CREATIVE
HAMLIN PARK irregulars wally duff established his successful medical career decades ago, but more recently he’s also become a budding novelist about to publish his second book in a planned series of eight. If you had to decIde between savIng the lIves of your chIldren or thousands of people you do not know—and you have only one choIce—whIch one would you choose?
“I will say this: only a dad could view his daughter as a heroine-in-the-making.
The reader reviews for Wally Duff’s thriller entitled boom-BOOM! are overwhelmingly positive: “Fabulous characters, amazing plot, twists and turns to keep any reader turning the pages.” ”I couldn’t put the book down. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.”“Absolutely loved this exciting book.” “Captivating book!! Great and easy read.”
many other smaller life details. But of course it’s not me, as well. My life is far
It’s a little surreal, that’s for sure,” Taylor said. “I mean, it’s me in many ways; Tina shares my vocation, my house in Chicago, my husband and daughter, and more mundane. Typically journalists choose their profession so that they can be the ultimate observers, not the participants. I would vastly prefer interviewing someone about fighting terrorists to actually doing it myself… the protagonist is more the Tina template, not actually me.”
But Wally Duff isn’t a household name—yet. He’s not even a full-time writer, and he’s never done any writing for a living, unless you count medical paperwork. Dr. Wallace Duff is a respected otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat doctor), a graduate of the University of Nebraska College of Medicine who’s been in practice in Omaha for more than 40 years. “I love picking noses!” Duff wisecracked. “I’ll never retire. Love my staff, the OR staff and, mostly, my patients.”
Fellow author Dave Russell (The Socratic Contract), who knew Duff when he lived in Omaha during his years as a corporate executive, said he’s eager to read Déjà Boom! after enjoying its predecessor. “boom-BOOM! drew me in,” he said. “I loved the characters and the careful weaving of the novel’s fabric. It’s a really good read; smart, sensitive, terrifying and great escape from whatever vortex you are presently living.”
Although he minored in English, Duff didn’t start writing until 1998, some 20 years post-college. boom-BOOM! is both Duff’s first book and the first in what he plans to be a run of eight in his “Hamlin Park Irregulars” series. His second book, Déjà Boom! will be released in February or March. Both novels are available in paperback from Amazon.
Janzen said she liked Duff’s fast pacing and that her husband, who typically reads only nonfiction, “couldn’t put boom-BOOM! down.” “It’s a fun, fun book,” she said, adding that before reading his first book, she
strange sequence of events
had never pictured neighbor and friend Duff as a novelist. “I was surprised.
The series revolves around former investigative journalist and now full-time mother, Tina Thomas. “Tina is longing for some excitement when she and the other stay-at-home moms of Hamlin Park are jarred out of their mindnumbing boredom by a strange sequence of events in their upscale Chicago suburb,” Duff explained. To find out what’s next? Read the book, of course.
I didn’t know he could write like that.”
an excellent read Duff’s first book has been well-received on a professional level as well. An editorial review from Kirkus Reviews included: “The narrative maintains an
One distinguishing characteristic of Duff’s novels is that he draws many of his characters’ names and qualities from his real-life family, friends, neighbors and colleagues.
impressive momentum with myriad scenes of dialogue and concise chapters.” An evaluation from a Writer’s Digest competition concluded with,
“Some of the people I know, so when he describes them, I’m like, ‘Oh!’” Debbie “Congratulations on an excellent read.” Janzen said. Namesake characters inspired by Janzen and her husband Rody are featured briefly in the second book, and Janzen said the couple were “Reviews terrify me as a virgin in the writing game. It is interesting to read especially happy to be part of the series after reading boom-BOOM!. “It’s clever, them because the books are as much of a mystery as a thriller. I want to know it’s humorous, even though it’s a serious subject… he does such an amazing at what point do they figure it out,” Duff said. “And most have commented job.” that it’s hard to believe that a man can write as a female. Must say something about my character.”
“I have only had one person sort of object and I changed the last name in Déjà Boom!” Duff said. “Actually most people love it, even when I kill them.”
“It’s pretty amazing that my dad has discovered a passion that is so completely
the real tina Duff is especially close to his protagonist Tina Thomas. She’s based on Tina Duff Taylor, his daughter, a former journalist who used to reside in the Hamlin Park area of the Windy City. (He’s also dad to filmmaker son James E. Duff.)
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different from medicine. It’s like this whole other side of himself that he’s nurturing, and I think it’s very fulfilling for him,” Taylor said. “I think that is inspiring. We can have second, or third, or fourth acts.”
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Story by KARA SCHWEISS | PhotoS courteSy of WALLY DUFF
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AUTHOR wally duff
a new chapter a new chapter WALLY DUFF
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locally CREATIVE
A new CHAPTER
wally duff
excerpt FROM THE HAMLIN PARK IRREGULARS: boom-BOOM! ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA • 8 A.M. • TUESDAY, JULY 3 My heart pounded so fast I found it hard to breathe. I called FBI Special Agent Scott J. Wiles. “He’s here!” “Who is this?” Wile’s voice was annoyingly calm. “And who’s where?” “It’s Tina Edwards, and the bomber I warned you about yesterday just walked into the surgery entrance of the Arlington Women’s Clinic.” “Oh, really?” “He’s disguised as a deliveryman.” “Ms. Edwards, are you sure you’re not overreacting?” He paused. “Again.” Jerk. I grabbed my backpack and jumped out of my car. “He’s pushing a laundry cart and the bomb is in it!” “Are you certain he took the device into the building?” I sucked in a deep breath before I answered. “Not exactly. No.” Wiles didn’t say anything. “He is not the regular laundry deliveryman, and he’s here on the wrong day!” “I will send an agent to investigate,” he said. “With D.C. traffic, your agent will be lucky to be here by noon.” Forget this damn story. I shouldered my backpack. “Wiles, I’m going in there to stop him.” “Ms. Edwards, do not go into that building!” I hung up on him and slammed my car door. My next call was 911. I told them about the bomber and gave them the clinic’s address. Jamming the phone into my backpack, I turned my jog into an allout sprint. There were several abortion protesters on the other side of the street from the clinic’s front door. They saw me coming and began chanting anti-abortion protests as I roared past them. “Bomb!” I shouted, pointing at the clinic. “Run!” I didn’t stop to see what they were going to do. I ran through the clinic’s front door and skidded to a stop in the middle of the waiting room. There were about half a dozen young women sitting with their heads down, looking at their cell phone screens. A couple wore ear buds. Two female staff personnel sat at a glass-enclosed desk. They worked on their computers. “There’s a bomb in this building! Get out of here!” One young woman looked up at me. The rest continued to stare at their cell phone screens, oblivious to what I’d said. “Stop looking at your damn cell phones!” I yelled again, this time stomping my foot. “I’m a reporter, and you’re all going to be blown up!” No one moved. They might die because of their stupid cell phones. One staff member picked up a phone. If she called their security, help might be on the way. But I didn’t have time to wait. I had to find the bomber and stop him before he blew up the building and all of us inside.
2
The door to the surgery area was to my left. He might be in there. As I stepped into the hallway, the odors of cleaning solvents and medications washed over me. The frigid air being spewed out by the building’s overly enthusiastic cooling system instantly gave me goose bumps. Twenty feet in front of me, the men’s bathroom door flew open. The laundry deliveryman walked out. He turned to his right and moved toward the exit door into the parking lot.
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Where is his laundry basket? Did he plant the bomb in the bathroom? Adrenaline surged through my blood stream. I reached into my backpack and grabbed a Glock 19. It was a departing gift from the Marines I’d been embedded with while doing stories in Afghanistan. Throwing down my backpack, I jacked a bullet into the chamber. The click-clack noise echoed off the white walls and the green tile floor of the hallway. The laundryman’s head snapped up. Now you know I have a gun. He stopped and turned toward me. I held the Glock in front of me with both hands, my right index finger on the trigger guard. He reached into his white jacket pocket with his right hand and pulled out a flip-phone. You can use it to detonate the bomb. I motioned with the gun. “Put the phone down and step away.” He ignored my command and shuffled backward toward the exit. You don’t think I’ll pull the trigger. Turning on my gun’s internal laser sight, I pointed the narrow red beam at the center of his chest. I wanted to prove to him that I would shoot. But will I? He continued to back up. I walked toward him. With each stride, the laser beam moved back and forth across his chest. My ASICS squeaked on the tile floor. The surgery entrance door opened behind him. A slender young woman entered the hallway. The dazzling morning sunlight from the open door backlit her stringy blond hair. She stopped when she reached the man. “Excuse me,” she said. “I’m looking for pre-op registration.” The bomber grabbed her around the neck and twisted her toward me, using her body as a shield. I don’t have a clear shot! She twisted and turned, struggling to break free. “Let go of me, you creep!” Her screams became muffled as he tightened the pressure on her throat. I stopped walking. Assuming a shooter’s stance, I slid my index finger onto the trigger. The girl’s eyes widened when she saw me aiming the gun in her direction. She broke loose from the bomber’s grasp and dived to the floor. He pushed a number on his flip-phone. “Baby killers!” he screamed. I heard a phone ring in the men’s bathroom. Shoot him! The bathroom phone rang a second time. I fired two shots at his center mass. A blinding flash of light... A thunderous BOOM! Acrid smoke and dust... Chemical odors... My body thrust upwards... Pressure in my ears... My chest slamming into a wall... Searing pain in my ribs... My head bouncing off the floor... A shower of lights behind my eyelids... An explosion inside my head... And darkness...
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VIP
VERY inspirational PEOPLE
INSPIRATIONAL EXAMPLES
AS HE APPROACHES the age where most people are readying for retirement, Lee Legenhausen keeps doing more and more. And his pet projects literally are ‘pet’ projects: Pets in Omaha and Kirby’s Hope. He’s owned a successful private detective agency for more than 20 years. For the last 15 years, he’s also served as an event supervisor for the CenturyLink Center and TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. And in 2013, Lee Legenhausen started an online pet magazine followed by a nonprofit in 2016 that supports animal rescue services and promotes pet adoption. “The detective agency pays the bills, the job at CenturyLink is my fun job, and Pets in Omaha is my passion,” Legenhausen said. “I wake up every day and wonder what will happen today. You never know; life is short, so I try not to waste any days and I’m just inspired by what can happen every day. And something happens every day if you just have your eyes open.” In Legenhausen’s case, it’s more of a matter of what he makes happen. The idea for Pets in Omaha, for instance, came to him a few years back after floundering online looking for an item for his canine companion, Kirby. “I can’t even remember exactly what it was, but I thought maybe I could find it locally,” Legenhausen said. “So I went to Yahoo or Google and typed in ‘pets Omaha.’ I thought there might be some big hub for everything pets and there just wasn’t. So I thought that would be a good idea.”
launched Pets in Omaha at petsinomaha.com. It quickly became the area’s allencompassing, one-stop website for everything pets—just as Legenhausen had envisioned. “Our readership has grown month after month and we have a lot of traffic; 200,000 visitors came through our site in the first three years,” Legenhausen said. The objectives of the site include serving as a comprehensive resource for pet owners seeking services, products and information on pet care; bringing together Omaha’s pet community; and helping humane societies and local rescue groups promote their mission and message. Thousands of pages of pet-related news, advice, and interviews with local pet enthusiasts and professionals comprise the site’s original content. Pets in Omaha isn’t making him rich, Legenhausen said, but it’s self-sustaining. “We have ‘Pet Partners,’ advertisers on our site, and we promote them very well.”
A good home
“Something happens every day if you just have your eyes open.” LEE LEGENHAUSEN F
A good idea Legenhausen’s preliminary research showed that the majority of Americans— around two-thirds—have pets in their homes. As the son of a veterinarian who owned a farm, Legenhausen grew up around animals and loved being a pet owner himself, although “one at a time is enough for me.” Anecdotally, he had noticed through social media how enthusiastic his friends, family and acquaintances were about their pets. “Everyone feels the same way as I do about my Kirby,” he said. “People really love their pets.”
In the fall of 2016, Legenhausen founded the nonprofit Kirby’s Hope to promote responsible pet ownership, provide timely financial assistance to humane organizations, and provide tech support to shelters and rescue groups for promoting adoptable animals on the web. “We were already doing some of this through Pets in Omaha, but one of our goals with Kirby’s Hope is to help (shelters and rescue groups) with their websites and communication and take responsible pet ownership education into the schools,” Legenhausen said.
Fans of Pets in Omaha and supporters of Kirby’s Hope are caring, loving pet owners, but not every pet is lucky enough to have a good home, Legenhausen said. “There’s an overpopulation across the world,” he explained. So to help ensure every pet is a wanted pet, he’s hoping Pets in Omaha and/or Kirby’s Hope can sponsor spay and neuter clinics in the future. Also, Pets in Omaha has coordinated three successful two-day Pick-a-Pooch adoption events, drawing around 7,000 visitors each year.
Legenhausen knew that pet-related businesses like supply stores, groomers, boarding facilities, trainers and veterinary clinics were thriving and abundant in the area. He learned that local shelters and rescues usually lacked the resources to establish an online presence or engage in marketing efforts.
“A lot of animals have been adopted through being at the show, and a lot of animals who weren’t even at the show were adopted,” Legenhausen said.
But he faced a big deterrent to building a web resource: Legenhausen didn’t know the first thing about building a website.
“One thing we do is educate people about the puppy mills,” he said. A Humane Society of the United States report published annually has identified both Nebraska and Iowa “problem dealers” among the “Horrible Hundred” worst puppy mills in the country. However, the Nebraska number dropped from 14 in 2015 to eight in the 2017 report. “Slowly but surely, people are waking up to this puppy mill situation,” he said.
“Long story short, four and a half years ago I had coffee with a friend of mine who had been in the PR and ad agency business. I told him about the idea,” Legenhausen said.
A good resource The friend to whom he pitched the idea, Steve Lorenz, had a soft spot for animals, too, so was immediately intrigued. After consulting with tech and communication professionals and executing a feasibility study, Legenhausen and Lorenz assembled a team and eventually 30
Pets in Omaha and Kirby’s Hope also promote a strong ‘adopt, don’t shop’ message.
Legenhausen said one reason his various ventures have succeeded is because he’s always willing to ask questions and learn from others. And he’s happy to return the favor. “I’m an open book and I’m always ready to share anything about that I know,” he said. “[Through this] I’ve made a lot of friends in the community. mquarterly • spring 2018
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• mquarterly
LOVING HIS pet projects
lee legenhausen
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game CHANGERS
• presented by
after utilizing ican’s programs to develop her employees into leaders, corporate executive susan henricks became a strong proponent of the nonprofit and joined its board of directors. now she serves as ican’s president and ceo.
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• mquarterly
SUSAN HENRICKS
seasoned
PRESENTS
game changers
SUSAN HENRICKS
contInued
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game CHANGERS
• presented by
seasoned AS A busy EXECUTIVE WITH A HEAVY TRAVEL SCHEDULE, SUSAN HENRICKS DIDN’T NEED TO FIND WAYS TO FILL HER TIME. SHE BECAME INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND NONPROFIT ACTIVITIES BECAUSE SHE FELT IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. “I believe, as many people do, that we really have a responsibility to the community in which we live. That responsibility can show up in many different ways: donating money, donating time, participating in events or boards. But I really feel like if you have the ability to participate in community-related events, whatever that might be, that you should do that,” she said. “It’s part of the deal of living in such a lovely place and living in America.” One of the nonprofits Henricks served was ICAN (Institute for Career Advancement Needs), an organization whose mission is to develop inspired business leaders to transform the organizations and communities they serve. After utilizing its programs to develop her employees into leaders, the corporate executive became a strong proponent, joining ICAN’s board of directors. It was a great fit. A perfect fit, in fact. Today, Henricks leads ICAN as president and CEO, a role she’s had since 2014. She’s fostered a period of growth for the organization, which is best known for a major annual leadership conference for women and “leadership exchange” events throughout the year but also provides ongoing leadership programs for both men and women. Henricks is also responsible for strategic planning and overseeing its subsequent development and execution. “Susan’s had a very seasoned career and she’s worked in a lot of those corporate settings; she’s traveled globally and worked different industries, managing multiple teams and a lot of people. “As a corporate executive and business leader, she firmly believed in developing her employees and investing in leadership development,” ICAN’s senior manager of marketing and communications Allison Schorr said. “She always thought it was important.”
All over the world As Schorr pointed out, Henricks brought plenty of executive experience to the table. The Chicago-area native—who earned her bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and returned years later for an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management—joined direct marketing company Metromail Corporation, “which used to have a very large presence in Nebraska” and traveled to Lincoln weekly from Chicago. Henricks didn’t spend all her time in town, though, because her career took her all over the world.
minister opened up the wedding ceremony and said, ‘Welcome to the Hendricks and Henricks families.” In addition to enjoying more time with Mr. Henricks these days—not to mention her three beloved Maine coon cats (“They’re known as gentle giants. They’re just funny and they like to play.”)—Henricks serves on the board of trustees for Arbor Day Foundation.
“Over time I’ve been on the board of directors for numerous nonprofits, but that is the one I focus on today. I believe since I run a nonprofit I should be focused on mine and then “I had the opportunity to lead an IPO (initial public offering) maybe one other,” she explained. “Arbor Day Foundation was looking for someone with a broad business background and take a company public. Working with investment and someone that could relate to this whole idea of bankers, doing all the presentations you have to do in sustainability and the importance of planting and order to sell the stock, we traveled all across the United maintaining trees. It just struck a chord with me.” States as well as Europe, and that was an amazing experience,” she said. “I also was able to lead a global, Integrity and authenticity billion-and-half-dollar business unit of a major company Schorr said Henricks is as down-to-earth as the trees she and had an opportunity to travel internationally for champions. business as well as all across the United States.” She then officially landed in Omaha through a position with First “One thing that’s interesting is that in our work— Data Corporation. especially today, and in the news—authentic leadership It was an exciting time, Henricks said, but she doesn’t miss and integrity, developing people, leadership advancement and leadership growth are common topics,” she said. the traveling. “We’re grateful that other organizations see value in having “I did it for 30 years. I was a road warrior for a long time and somebody like Susan who’s very seasoned in developing people and leadership.” I remember getting up at 3 a.m. to catch that 5:30 flight,” she said. “Now I really like being home, because I wasn’t “I really believe in developing people and I was always home for so long. I don’t regret anything, but just going focused on that in my corporate career. And that is the out to dinner during the week, just being with my focus of ICAN,” Henricks said. “I believe I’ve succeeded husband is nice. I missed that when I was gone.” because I always act with integrity. I also believe I’ve had There’s no place like home some measure of success because of hard work and focus. Marriage may be wonderful, but marrying Gregor Henricks But I also believe that I’ve had some success because I’m authentic. In my mind being an authentic leader and meant taking a new last name that people confuse with the more common Hendricks. Even more confusing—and acting with integrity go hand in hand, and those have always been extremely important to me. And I think that incredibly ironic—is that the more common name was those strong beliefs and my core values come through to her original last name. the people I work with, to clients, to anyone.” “My maiden name is Hendricks with a ‘d’ and my married Henricks said, considering her organization’s role in name is Henricks with no ‘d’. It has created some very humorous stories, particular at our wedding when on one developing leaders, she’s been watching with interest the side of the aisle were Hendricks and the other side of the recent media coverage of issues associated with ethics and aisle were Henricks,” she said. “It was funny when the women in the workplace.
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• mquarterly
SUSAN HENRICKS
“
IN MY MIND BEING AN authentic LEADER AND ACTING WITH integrity GO HAND IN HAND, AND THOSE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN extremely IMPORTANT TO ME.
”
~SUSAN HENRICKS
This special feature is sponsored by planitomaha. planitomaha is dedicated to honoring women whose influence not only impacts the boardroom but the community.
“Welcome to
”
one of the largest and most prestigious meeting planning firms in the midwest omaha magazine B2B winners since 2008 national, regional and local meetings and events marketing, business development, operations, IT, et cetera,” “The time and the timing; it’s incredible to me watching all of this unfold and reading and listening and talking,” she Henricks said. “I benefited and learned so much.” said. “I can honestly say I’ve always stood up and supported other women, especially in the context of the big corporate Even as a seasoned executive, Henricks finds mentoring roles that I’ve had and especially now. Many women in the valuable, although she now finds herself on both sides of past have not stood up to help other women, and I just the relationship. think it’s so important that women help other women— and men—in the context of business. There was a long “I always mentored women and men in my business life. time when women were reluctant to help other women.” There are several I mentor now,” she said. “But I’m also the recipient now of what I call ‘reverse mentoring’ where a Many sides of mentoring younger person mentors an older, more experienced person. It can be on anything from technology to social Mentoring has also been an important part of her story. media to ‘What does a millennial think about XYZ?’ I’m a “I definitely was mentored in my career. I had an incredible baby boomer and I feel that it’s important for everyone to know about the different generations, not just the one mentor who was the founder of Metromail; he gave me the opportunity to lead every area of the business: they’re a part of.”
PRESENTS
game changers
SUSAN HENRICKS
nationally recognized as a leader in the meetings & event industry supporting our community through our nonprofit work and the boards/organizations we are members of planitomaha has been providing event and meeting management solutions for over 18 years. we are a client-centric firm that provides unmatched service and professionalism. while proudly located in the midwest, our crazytalented event team works from new york to la and everywhere in the middle.
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business corner
GREATER OMAHA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
larry j. courtnage
bruce e. grewcock
dianne seeman lozier
owner and chairman c&a industries, inc.
chief executive officer and chairman of the board – peter kiewit sons’, inc.
corporate counsel – lozier corporation, vice chair – the lozier foundation
an entrepreneur From a young age, Larry Courtnage is the founding force behind C & A Industries, Inc., the nation’s 28th largest staffing firm and a seven-time honoree as one of the Best Places to Work in Omaha™. Courtnage has been active in the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and local trade associations. He is a past potentate of the Tangier Shrine Center, past president of the downtown Sertoma Club, and serves on the Board of Directors for Bellevue University. He founded, funds and sets the direction for The Kim Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to mental health advocacy and suicide prevention.
Bruce grewcock lead was first elected to Peter Kiewit Sons’, Inc. board of directors in 1994, named president and COO in 2000, CEO in 2005, and board chairman in 2013. He is a founding member of the Construction Industry Ethics and Compliance Initiative (CIECI) and a member of Business Roundtable, an association of CEOs. Grewcock serves as a director of Nebraska Medicine and Creighton University and on the Colorado School of Mines Foundation’s Board of Trustees. He actively provides leadership to others in the construction, engineering and mining industries to improve the safety of workers and construction impact on the environment.
Dianne seeman Lozier serves as corporate counsel for the Lozier Corporation and heads the Lozier Foundation. An active advocate for women, girls and education, Lozier has served as a board member and/or chair of the Women’s Fund, Girl Scouts, College of Saint Mary and the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (DVCC). As vice chair of The Lozier Foundation, Lozier has led the development of Nelson Mandela Elementary, a nonprofit elementary school in north Omaha, and the Nelson Mandela Early Childhood Development Center. Like Mandela, Lozier believes that “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
LARRY J. COURTNAGE
BRUCE E. GREWCOCK
DIANNE SEEMAN LOZIER
For 25 years, it has been the place of incredible legacies and guaranteed inspiration. The Omaha Business Hall of Fame Gala, which includes a dinner reception, induction ceremony and dessert, was initiated in 1993 as part of the Greater Omaha Chamber’s centennial anniversary. Proceeds support the permanent Omaha Business Hall of Fame exhibit at The Durham Museum and the Greater Omaha Chamber efforts to attract and retain young professionals, including the annual YP Summit. The original 1993 gala honored an inaugural class of Business Hall of Fame standouts that included Rose Blumkin, Warren Buffett, John A. Creighton, Robert Daugherty, Peter Kiewit and V.J. Skutt. That tradition of excellence is continued year after year.
greater omaha chamber inducts five business leaders into business hall of fame
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• mquarterly
chamber of commerce hall of fame dr. maryanne stevens, rsm
president (retired) first national bank
president – college of saint mary
Dan o’neiLL spent 36 years with the First National organization as a vice president and then president of the Lauritzen Corporation, president of First National of Nebraska, and president and chairman of First National Bank of Omaha. He retired on April 1, 2017. O’Neill has served on the boards of the MidAmerica Center and College of Saint Mary, and as board chairman for the Durham Museum and the United Way of the Midlands. O’Neill and his wife, Alison, have also served as chairs of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Gala and the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes.
sister Dr. maryanne stevens was appointed president of the College of Saint Mary on June 1, 1996. Inspired by the 18th-century foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, Dr. Stevens believes that “nothing is more productive of good to society…than the careful education of women.” Prior to her appointment, Dr. Stevens taught in, and eventually became chair of, the theology department at Creighton University.
DAN O’NEILL
A woman of profound values, Dr. Stevens has spoken both locally and nationally to numerous groups on women’s issues, gender in the workplace, and the need to make college accessible and affordable.
steve martin joined BCBSNE in 2002 and currently serves on the board of directors of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) in Chicago, as well as Chairman of the BCBSA Brand Enhancement and Protection Committee. Martin also serves as a board director for Prime Therapeutics LLC and Travel and Transport, as vice chair and board director of the Wellness Council of America and as Chairman of the Board for BCS Financial Corporation. Martin currently serves with: Children’s Scholarship Fund, Governor, Knights of Aksarben, Lauritzen Gardens, Nebraskaland Foundation, Strategic Command Consultation Committee, The Durham Museum and more.
PHOTO BY JIM SCHOLZ
dan o’neill
DR. MARYANNE STEVENS, RSM
they have eLevateD some oF omaha’s most iconic companies anD institutions; a group of five distinguished men and women whose specialties range from construction and finance to education, advocacy and staffing solutions. The 2018 class of Omaha Business Hall of Fame inductees includes Larry Courtnage, owner and chairman, C&A Industries, Inc.; Bruce E. Grewcock, chairman and CEO, Peter Kiewit Sons’, Inc.; Dianne Seeman Lozier, corporate counsel, Lozier Corporation, and vice chair, The Lozier Foundation; Dan O’Neill, president (retired), First National Bank of Omaha; and Dr. Maryanne Stevens, RSM, president, College of Saint Mary. The 2018 class will bring the total number of BHOF inductees to 158.
OMAHA BUSINESS HALL OF FAME GALA Incredible Legacies. Guaranteed Inspiration. 2018 Honorees Larry Courtnage | Bruce E. Grewcock Dianne Seeman Lozier | Dan O’Neill Dr. Maryanne Stevens, RSM
Tuesday, April 17 6 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres Dinner & Cocktail Hour 7:30 p.m. Induction Ceremony 9 p.m. Dessert Reception
Ticket $250/Member $275/Non-Member ($150 is tax deductible) Make reservations online by Tuesday, April 10.
OmahaChamber.org/BHOF
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he said SHE SAID
??
u’ve What’s the most interesting thingcoyo-host? discovered about your
Being hired as the new co-host of The Morning Blend was incredibly exciting. But I must admit, I was a little intimidated at first. Coming in as a replacement to a show where two people have been co-hosting together for seven years is not always an easy feat. As the “new girl,” I wanted to fit in. But Mike immediately helped me feel welcome, even before I made the move to Omaha. After the first week on the job, those apprehensions were gone. I guess I felt comfortable with Mike as soon as I realized just how easy it is to pick on him. It’s pretty entertaining to give him a hard time, especially about how bad the Packers were this season. (Go, Vikings!) Mike is a mega-Italian, which I appreciate. I find I can relate to him because Italian is my favorite kind of food…I’m kidding. But I am pretty proud of the fact that this Scandinavian girl crushed “Mike the Italian” in a cannoli-eating contest. Side note: I later went on to win the celebrity division of the cannoli-eating contest at the Santa Lucia Festival. But in all seriousness… I admire Mike for his love and passion for Omaha. Since I began working with him, he has taught me about the people who live here and the organizations that make up the community. I’ve also learned how well-rounded and talented he is (although I really hate to admit this to him.) He owns a few businesses, plays in a band and co-hosts our show, all while making time for his own family. Mike truly is an all-around good guy and I have had a great time hosting this show with him, thus far. I’m excited for what the future holds on The Morning Blend.
KMTV MORNING BLEND’S
mike & kelly
The first time I saw Kelly Nyberg was on an audition reel that she sent in to The Morning Blend. We were actively searching for a new co-host, a position that helps Omahans get their weekdays started at 9 a.m. Kelly was one of about 30 applicants who sent in audition reels in the days after the job was posted. We needed someone who was fun, energetic and had a great sense of humor. Kelly’s reel consisted of “man on the street” interviews, which feature a host heading out to the streets with a camera, asking people questions. Among her topics was “Why are you hung over on a Saturday?” This is the hardhitting journalism we were looking for! She had interviews with former Nickelodeon teen sitcom iCarly stars Miranda Cosgrove and Jerry Trainor, displayed her knowledge of power tools and showed off her best dance moves. She even took us to an egg-sucking competition. As you all know, Kelly got the job and has been wonderful to work with! She provides us with daily laughs and a sense of sarcasm that leaves viewers scratching their heads. However, the one surprise has been her love of all things Minnesota Vikings—yes, the purple people-eating football team of the north. This past season, Kelly traveled to Minneapolis several times to see her beloved team. (Her twin sisters are Vikings cheerleaders, for crying out loud!) For Halloween, Kelly dressed up as Anthony Barr, the Vikings player who broke Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers’s collarbone! She is that fanatical about these darn Vikings. Her fascination provided for some great Monday morning football chats. I always love to give her a hard time after a tragic Vikings loss. Just be sure to never mention the name “Brett Favre.”
~ Mike DiGiacomo
~ Kelly Nyberg
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spotlight on
• HARRISON FINANCIAL SERVICES
beyond the typical FINANCIAL ADVISOR
“Thanks, but I already have a financial advisor.” This is a statement I have heard many times during my 22 years in the financial services industry. Today our team serves affluent families who typically have multiple advisors (lawyers, accountants, investment advisors and insurance advisors). One important—but often unknown need—many of our clients have is to get their advisors to work as a team and to create a written comprehensive financial plan. This larger vision and the corresponding level of service and integration provided is more than just being an investment advisor or financial planner. This is about finding a trusted advisor who can truly coordinate and help “carry your complete financial box”. Here are six key things to consider when looking for an advisor who will go above and beyond for you: • An efficient client service and planning culture should be evident and you should expect a written set of core values and a comprehensive financial plan focused on your goals and updated periodically. • Look for signs of continuous education and multiple advanced credentials in his or her field of study demonstrating a broad financial education beyond the basic undergraduate degree in finance or accounting and a license to sell you products. • A deep support team is key. Advisors today often have multiple roles which include serving clients, new business development, and investment decisions. Seek out an advisor who has an experienced team around her or him to deliver on promises made to you and your family and you will be served well while also enjoying good results. • Find an advisor who will be straightforward and provide independence, simplicity, and who has a strong balance sheet behind her or him. Your investment checks should be written to a custodian and your advisor should never have actual custody of your assets. • Experience and niche expertise does matter. Look for a team who has a focus or specialty in serving specific needs you have. Services such as retirement income distribution planning, multi-generational planning with families, and charitable strategy planning analysis are all examples of value-added service. • Find an advisory team with a written and funded succession plan and who can provide continuity in serving you and your family for multiple generations. Not everyone wants or needs this level of service, but for the busy and successful executive, business owner or retiree, having a trusted wealth advisor team in place provides an additional layer of clarity and confidence that goes well beyond just having a financial advisor.
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Matt Darling is Vice President of Donor Services at the Omaha Community Foundation
omaha giving
• Omaha COmmunity FOundatiOn
corporate philanthropy
MORE THAN THE bottom line Through our work at the Omaha Community Foundation, we have the opportunity to see firsthand how different types of philanthropy continue to transform the charitable landscape. Businesses—both big and small—have always been a key part of the philanthropic fabric in our community and around the country, but recently there has been an even greater focus on the role that corporate giving is playing in the philanthropic sector. According to the National Philanthropic Trust, charitable giving by corporations increased to more than $18 billion in 2016, up 3.5 percent from the year prior. There are many opportunities and programs that companies utilize to engage in giving: philanthropic donations directly to nonprofit organizations, corporate sponsorships, matching employee gifts, employee assistance funds, paid time off for volunteering…the opportunities for corporations to engage in philanthropy are seemingly limitless. Why do corporations and small businesses choose to give back? Research has shown that more than half—or 55 percent—of consumers are willing to pay more for products that come from socially responsible companies. And companies are taking note; 65 percent of Fortune 500 companies offer matching gift programs, and today most of the world’s large companies publish Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reports. For a business, being philanthropic can not only improve their public image, it can attract and retain investors and significantly boost employee engagement. Not only do the corporations benefit, employees and the nonprofits on the receiving end of the gifts of time or money benefit as well. Philanthropically inclined businesses have reported increases in creativity among their staff, as well as more positive work environments. Giving back as a corporation can also promote individual philanthropy among employees. For nonprofits, corporate gifts and partnerships can help diversify their sources of revenue, expose them to a new swath of potential donors, and increase volunteer participation. Here at the Foundation, we’ve witnessed a swell in the number of companies looking for ways to give back to our local community, and we continue to offer our expertise in corporate giving through a number of opportunities:
Corporate Executive Donor Advised Funds: In recognizing employee milestones or honoring service upon retirement, many companies have established charitable funds with corporate dollars at the Omaha Community Foundation. The honored individual can then recommend distributions to their favorite causes over their preferred time horizon, and they can engage in our full scope of donor services while supporting the matt darling causes they care about most. Digitizing Employee Giving Opportunities: Many companies incentivize staff to support employee-driven philanthropic efforts by offering an option to wear jeans one day a month in exchange for a voluntary donation. In partnership with the Omaha Community Foundation, one local business has successfully used the Omaha Gives! platform, OmahaGives.org, to streamline its internal process with a custom landing page, convenient online payment for employees, easy receipting for the charitable gifts, and real-time donation tracking for project organizers. Employee Assistance Funds: Some local corporations have established separate 501(c)(3) organizations to provide monetary assistance to their associates during times of crisis or financial need. We have been proud to assist such partners in utilization of the year-round Omaha Gives! website as a convenient mechanism for promoting support of coworkers in times of need, with the Foundation assuming management of the receipting and processing of online donations. Our team of professionals possesses a deep knowledge of today’s social, economic, and environmental challenges. With a fully customizable list of services, including those listed above, the Omaha Community Foundation can help local companies create a corporate giving structure that best matches their charitable goals. Contact us at giving@omahafoundation.org or (402) 342-3458 to learn more about how we can help simplify your corporate giving.
May 23, 2018
Let’s get ready to give at OmahaGives.org!
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maRy E. VandEnaCK Mary Vandenack, while a lawyer by profession, has studied extensively in mind/body areas of fitness and wellness. She is Yoga Alliance RYT-200, Power Pilates certified and ACE certified.
authentic friendships AND SAFE PEOPLE A FRIEND IS ONE THAT KNOWS YOU AS YOU ARE, UNDERSTANDS WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN, ACCEPTS WHAT YOU HAVE BECOME, AND STILL, GENTLY ALLOWS YOU TO GROW.” ~ William Shakespeare “Authentic” means real, actual, no pretensions, sincere, genuine. “Friendship” is about being connected to another person, typically in a positive fashion. An authentic friendship is a connection to another where you can be exactly who you are, be accepted for that, and allowed to grow. While love is blind, friendship sees but looks the other way. An authentic friendship is a connection that is based on mutual respect and appreciation. That respect and appreciation is based on knowledge of who you really are. Such a friend is sincerely happy for your successes, encourages you when and where needed, and believes in you even when you don’t believe in yourself. Such a friend is there for you in tough moments. It is easy to find “friends” who will join you when you invite them to fly on your jet with you to Hawaii. An authentic friend will ride the subway with you when you can’t afford Uber. It is easy to find friends who will join you to attend a fancy party. An authentic friend will be content to sit on the porch with just you when you are both old and can’t do a whole lot more than discuss the ending of an old movie you just watched on Netflix. An authentic friend knows that you are human, forgives you for your mistakes, reaches out a hand when you have had a bad day, and doesn’t boo at you when you miss the field goal that would have won the game. Instead, the authentic friend will realize that such moments are when you most need your friend to help you find some positive light. Your friend will reach out to you and meet you for sushi when he or she much prefers Mexican. An authentic friend will validate your faith even if such friend’s faith is different from yours. An authentic friend will still treat you with love and respect even when you express political views that are on the opposite end of the spectrum. It doesn’t matter.
An authentic friend cares enough about you to let you know when you have a smudge on your shirt. He or she will also find a kind and loving way to let you know something you don’t want to hear but may need to. All of us will hurt each other now and then. In an authentic friendship, that hurt will never be intentional. In an authentic friendship, we can take off our mask. We don’t have to pretend to be other than who we are. In the light of authenticity, we can bring our faults, our failures and our flaws into the light of friendship. We can also bring our successes and joys knowing that our authentic friend will celebrate those with us.
ENVISION YOUR FUTURE: PREVENT DISEASE DISCOVER HEALTH! YOU DESERVE A BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY SMILE!
Dr. Stephanie Vondrak • Dr. Ashley Rainbolt Vondrak Dental (402) 289-2313 info@drvondrak.com
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planning matters
• with Vw law
estate plan asset coordination ENSURING YOUR TESTAMENTARY INTENTION A common misunderstanding about the estate planning process is that all assets will pass in accordance with one’s trust or will. That isn’t the case. Different types of assets pass in different ways and contractual designations can trump one’s trust or will. Thus, it is important to coordinate all of your assets as part of your estate planning process. In the event that you specifically want something to pass differently than as provided by the trust or will, you should create clear documentation of any differences. Asset coordination can prevent trust and estate disputes after death. Clear documentation of testamentary intentions can help your beneficiaries establish what you intended to do in the event that someone took advantage of you during a final illness or incapacity. Assets transfer in various ways at death. Assets can pass through a probate process. Probate requires a filing with a court, presenting your will and asking the court to direct that assets be distributed in accordance with your will. Assets can pass by operation of law.
For example, if you title an asset in joint tenancy, upon your death, the asset will pass to the joint tenant by operation of law. Assets can also pass by contractual designation. Creation of a trust and titling assets in trust results in contractual transfers. When you name a mary e. vandenack beneficiary of a life insurance policy, annuity, or IRA, the asset passes contractually. As part of preparing an estate plan, you should compile a detailed list of all of your assets, including the current titling and beneficiary designations. When compiling this list, consider all real estate, investment accounts, your home, life insurance, annuities, stock in a closely held company, executive compensation plans, benefits payable under an employment agreement and unique assets. Assets that typically pass outside of your trust or will include IRAs, retirement accounts, life insurance, business ownership agreements and annuities. In many states real estate can be passed pursuant to a transfer-on-death deed and investment accounts can be passed via a transfer-on-death designation. For those assets that can pass by contractual designation, it is important to consider whether that is desirable. The correct answer depends on a variety of factors. The most important factor is the best way to achieve your estate planning objectives. Additional considerations may include probate avoidance, estate tax issues and income tax issues. For any estate that consists of a variety of assets that pass by beneficiary designation, consideration should be given to whether some of the assets should be directed to the trust and distributed through that vehicle. One advantage of a trust in this regard is that the trust can cover all of the distribution issues in one convenient place. For example, the trust can specify who receives assets in the event a beneficiary predeceases you. This cannot always be accomplished in beneficiary designations but even if it can, you must remember to update and change all beneficiary designations when changes to your testamentary plans occur. Detailed asset coordination is crucial to a good estate plan. Coordinating various estate planning advisors so that everyone is on the same page is extremely beneficial.
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FOR quick YOURfix HEALTHCARE scaredy
effort daniel j. ferris, CEBS
HEALTHCARE IN AMERICA today is broken. Finding the right option requires effort, not a backseat or “accept what may be” approach. There are two approaches for both small and large employers that can assist in lowering the cost of healthcare for employers and employees by more than 20%. But individuals seeking standalone individual policies in Nebraska and Iowa have few options. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 162 million Americans receive health insurance through their employers. Sixty percent of employers offer health benefits as a way to attract and retain employees. Ninety-five percent of employers with more than 50 workers and almost three-fourths of companies with 10 to 24 workers provide health insurance. If you are fortunate enough to have an employer-based health plan, it is under attack as the average cost of coverage for an employer health plan now exceeds $10,000 annually per employee. For employer groups having fewer than 50 employees, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) provides protection from catastrophic rate increases due to the adverse health components of a group. The premium rates are the same for these groups, regardless of health status. For example, if two 40person companies each have exactly the same demographic makeup of employees, but one group is very sick and the other is super-healthy, nonsmokers in both groups will receive the same premium costs under the protections of the ACA. The sickest groups have no choice but to remain insured under the safety and protections of the ACA. But healthier groups have options and don’t have to continue to subsidize other, unhealthy employers. Healthy groups may receive lower-cost health plan options through alternative health plans, plans that exist outside of the protections of the Affordable Care Act. The differences in premiums are dramatic, as much as 20% lower cost. For larger employers who are self-insured, there are cost-saving options related to the way hospitals are reimbursed. The traditional PPO network model does not serve all employers well, especially those that seek to significantly reduce the cost of their health plan. Reference-based pricing models allow selffunded health plans to challenge the traditional reimbursement rates of PPO plans, potentially saving self-funded plans between 20 and 30% off their total healthcare spend. The Affordable Care Act is leaving a trail of Americans behind. Eighty thousand Nebraskans have individual health policies. Their increases for 2018 are averaging 31% for Silver coverage. Premiums have increased 280% in four years. For 2018, Nebraskans and Iowans have only one option for individual health plans: Medica insurance company. And premiums are expensive. If an individual has income between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level, he or she may be eligible for subsidized premiums and out-of-pocket costs through federal programs. The federal poverty level for an individual in 2017 is $12,060, or just under $25,000 for a family of four. Washington, DC, is struggling to find new options to solve this problem.
For more information, please contact your trusted advisor at Swartzbaugh-Farber – ‘Client Centered – Client Advocates™’. This material is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal or tax advice and is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified attorney, tax advisor or plan provider. Securities Offered through M Holdings Securities, Inc., a Registered Broker Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Swartzbaugh-Farber & Associates, Inc. is independently owned and operated.
stephanie vondrak d.d.s.
AND have the reputation for always AS AMERICANS wecat! being in a hurry. We want what we want, and we want it now. From hamburgers to healthcare, our impatient nature drives industries and generates incentives for the quickest fix. The interesting thing about this “now” notion is that we are led to believe that this trend is positive. And that it is universal among professions. Take dentistry, for example. We have all seen the commercials for a quick-fix dental approach. Full mouth dental implants done in a day or porcelain crowns seated in an hour, these companies would like you to believe that the faster your mouth is restored, the better. Why take the time to get to know your doctor or allow your doctor to get to know you? Dental or medical care is a “one-size-fits-all,” right? Wrong. Incredibly wrong! The truth is that diagnosis takes time and individualized care should trump all (as it once did!) Doctors should demand the opportunity to know their patients and understand their unique needs. Medical decisions are as complicated as the people who need them so why not dedicate the time? Just last week, I saw a patient referred to me by her physician for facial pain. She and her husband drove a little over three hours in hopes of finding a solution to her suffering. For the first 30 minutes of her appointment, we sat together and talked. Let me say that again…for approximately 30 minutes, she talked and I listened. I needed to hear her story—like how she described her four failed surgeries in the last six months—to understand if and how I could help. What bothers me most about situations like this one is the missed opportunity to be a positive impact on this woman’s life. Four surgeries successful “by medical standards” but a failure to her. She is still in pain. How can this be okay? I argue that, as doctors, it is our responsibility to seek solutions for our patients, especially when their circumstances or symptoms fall outside the norm. (This used to be the norm for medical practice, now it’s “exceptional” medical care!) When society, insurance companies or advertisers try to influence our practice philosophies in this way, is it not equally our responsibility to push back? Recently, I spoke to an internal medicine physician about a sleep study I had completed for a longstanding patient in my practice. With a board certification from the American Academy of Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine, it is not uncommon that I identify individuals with the possible risk of sleep apnea, send them home with my sleepscreening equipment and discuss the results with their physician. On this particular day, I thanked the patient’s MD for taking my call and began to describe my opinion on how to help her get better. I reviewed the findings of the study, described her history of bruxism and jaw joint problems as well as the presentation of her oral airway. I then asked the physician for his thoughts. His response, and I quote: “My thoughts are dictated by the insurance company. I recommend what they will pay for.” Gulp. Really? Call me old-fashioned or call me crazy, but I did not commit to four years of dental school and over 500 hours of post-doctorate education to work for an insurance company. My intent and my passion is to help my patients feel better in a time frame that is reasonable for their specific situation and individuated needs. Yes, this type of practice requires persistence and patience at times. It requires dedication and diligence to “swim upstream”. But at the end of the day, when you witness your patient feeling better and living life, trust me, the struggle is worth it! It’s your healthcare…demand better! Dr. Stephanie Vondrak is board certified by the American Academy of Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine to treat patients suffering from sleep apnea with sleep apnea appliances.
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The following events & organizations were announced as WINNERS at metroQUARTERLY’s recent presentation of The BIG Event! Please JOIN US in congratulating the following organizations and events!
BEST EVENT: FOOD & WINE BREW HAHA Habitat for Humanity of Omaha
BEST EVENT: WALK / RUN WALK FOR THE ANIMALS Nebraska Humane Society
COMMUNITY SPIRIT SMALL BUSINESS AWARD TAGG - Together A Greater Good
BEST EVENT: THEME FOR THE KIDS BENEFIT: A DAY AT THE RACES Omaha Children’s Museum
BEST EVENT: GUILD FASHION INSTITUTE GUILD Fashion Institute Midwest
COMMUNITY SPIRIT IMPACT AWARD Business4Business Professional Society
BEST EVENT: UNDER 500 WINE, WOMEN & SHOES Children’s Hospital & Medical Center BEST EVENT: OVER 500 PROPERTY BROTHERS’ LUNCHEON Rebuilding Together Omaha
PUBLISHER’S CHOICE “BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN” KEY TO FREEDOM BANQUET Rejuvenating Women
COMMUNITY SPIRIT COMMUNITY PARTNER AWARD NP DODGE Real Estate
MAD25 HEALS TO THE PAVEMENT HEALing Embrace
FIRST PLACE: $10K BIG CONNECTION WINNER Children’s Hospital & Medical Center • Wine, Women & Shoes
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G
GET EXCITEDABOUT
IVINGBACK! CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITY
FROM THE PUBLISHERS OF
3 Great Ways to Connect
with the most important events in the 2018 Charity & Cultural Calendar • The Giving Guide & Event Book 2018 Print Editon and Digital Edition • The Giving Guide online at WWW.SPIRITOFOMAHA.COM/THE-EVENT-BOOK/ • Enter, update and search 2018 events 365/24/7 at WWW.SPIRITOFOMAHA.COM/METRO-MAGAZINE/COMMUNITY/CALENDAR/
Distributing now in celebration of these great nonprofits & businesses: FULL PAGE NONPROFIT PROFILES Adult & Teen Challenge of the Midlands American Heart Association American Red Cross Heartland Chapter Angels Among Us Assistance League of Omaha Autism Action Partnership Avenue Scholars Ballet Nebraska Bluebarn Theater Boys Town CASA of Douglas County Catholic Charities Central HS Foundation CHI Health Foundation Child Saving Institute Children's Hospital & Medical Center Foundation Children's Respite Care Center Children's Scholarship Fund of Omaha Collective for Youth Completely KIDS Crohn's & Colitis Foundation The Dreamweaver Foundation The Durham Museum First Responders Fresh Start for All Nations Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska
Great Plains Colon Cancer Task Force Grief's Journey Habitat for Humanity of Omaha Heart Ministry Center Heartland Family Service Historic General Dodge House The Hope Center for Kids Immigrant Legal Center JDRF Joslyn Art Museum KANEKO Kids Can The Kim Foundation The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Nebraska Chapter Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska Make A Wish Nebraska Methodist Hospital Foundation Metro Area Youth Foundation Metropolitan Community College Foundation MVP 4 Life Nebraska Ataxia Nebraska Children's Home Society Nebraska Humane Society Nebraska Wesleyan University Nebraska Wildlife Rehab NET
OAYO - Omaha Area Youth Orchestras Omaha Children's Choir Omaha Children's Museum Omaha Community Playhouse Omaha Home for Boys Omaha Performing Arts Omaha Public Schools Foundation Omaha Symphony Open Door Mission Opera Omaha Outlook Nebraska, Inc. Partnership 4 Kids QLI Quality Living, Inc. Rebuilding Together Omaha Rejuvenating Women Ronald McDonald House The Salvation Army Siena/Francis House Stephen Center Inc. Susan G. Komen® Nebraska Great Plains Chapter Take Flight Farms United Cerebral Palsy of Nebraska Visiting Nurses Association Wellcom Women's Center for Advancement
HALF PAGE NONPROFIT PROFILES
BUSINESSES GIVING BACK
VENUES
Creighton University Athletics Gesu Housing, Inc. Nebraska Children and Families Foundation Nebraska Foster and Adoptive Parent Association Ollie Web Center, Inc.
Bergman Incentives Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska Centris Federal Credit Union Cox Communications Gallup Jet Linx Mangelsen's Midlands Business Journal NP Dodge NuFemme Omaha Outdoor Advertising Pinnacle Bank Printco Graphics TAGG (Together A Greater Good) Supreme Lending Vandenack Weaver LLC
Embassy Suites La Vista Founders One Hilton Omaha Marriott Downtown Omaha Design Center Omaha Performing Arts
EXEMPLARY GIVERS All Makes American National Bank Cox Communications Harrison Financial Services Methodist Hospital Foundation NP DODGE Omaha Community Foundation SAC Federal Credit Union
EVENT SERVICES Abraham Catering Attitude on Food Catering Creations CenturyLink Center Cinderella Dress Rentals Dog & Pony Productions The Downtown Club The Omar Building Planitomaha Scott Conference Center STEP Group Terryl's Flower Garden VIP Limo
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event galleries
look for the LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE ORGANIZATIONS IN THE EVENT BOOK 2018!
ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION NEBRASKA 44TH WOMAN OF THE YEAR GALA
LUTHERAN FAMILY SERVICES RALLY FOR KIDS
CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL & MEDICALCENTER FDTN. GALA
OMAHA SYMPHONY GUILD DEBUTANTE BALL
THE DURHAM MUSEUM SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY
CHI HEALTH CELEBRATION OF CAREGIVERS
MIDLANDS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION 2018 REFLECTION BALL
OMAHA PERFORMING ARTS 90TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
• VIEW & PURCHASE ADDITIONAL PHOTOS OF THESE EVENTS now! AT Spiritofomaha.com
THE SALVATION ARMY TREE OF LIGHTS KICKOFF
Purchase photos from these events online or from your smartphone, and metroMAGAZINE will donate 10% back to that organization. Join us in giving back! Enter the code “GIVE10” ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF OMAHAcart. BEMIS CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ARTS THE HOPE CENTER FOR KIDSpage of your on the checkout shopping ®
BENEFIT ART AUCTION
THE HOPE GALA: “ROOTED IN HOPE”
CARAVAN PREVIEW PARTY GALA
• please remember to trade with our advertisers, whose support helps make our promotion of these important events possible 47
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featured eVent
spotlight
omaha symphony guild photoS courteSy of dwyer photography and debutante ball committee
coming out
ESSENTIALS: The 2017 Omaha Symphony Debutante Ball was held on December 27th at the Embassy Suites, La Vista. Over 530 people attended the Ball. Funds raised will help the Symphony’s educational and outreach programs that will touch over 30,000 students annually. The Debutante Ball has honored and celebrated the volunteerism and philanthropy of many Omaha area families for the past 52 years. It recognizes these families’ support of the Omaha Symphony and other charitable organizations in our community. The evening’s highlights included honoring 35 Stags and 38 Debutantes along with their parents. Following the presentation, the Debs and Stags promenaded in the Grand March. Immediately following the Grand March were father-daughter and mother-son dances. Pam and the Pearls entertained the crowd throughout the evening. The Debutante Ball décor was created by Aaron Carlson Design and inspired by a winter wonderland.
2017 OMAHA SYMPHONY DEBUTANTES
2017 Deb (left to right, front to back): Jordan Otterberg, Lily Gilliland, Sophie Hicks, Allison Pritza, Allison Thelen, Cassandra Burkhalter, Alissa Archer, Elizabeth Schropp, Meghan Drahota, and Isabella Carollo, Brooke Huerter, Emma Shoemaker, Madeline Halgren, Emily Woodward, Lauren Thaden, Tehra Finn-Jackson, Madison Hanley, and Mallory Grote, Olivia Robino, Katharine LeFebvre, Madisen Connealy, Sophia Schack, Grace Heldridge, Anna Boggust, Sophia Dineen, Danyelle Walsh, and Samantha Sullivan, Lillian Marvin, Courtney Tompkins, McKenna Kirkpatrick, Anderson Bilyeu, Elizabeth Seline, Emily Doll, Josephine Egermier, Aubrey Grasz, and Anna Shehan 2017 Stags (left to right, front to back): Zane Watanabe, Mark Fluckey, Michael Strohmyer, Grant Heider, Matthew Farho, Daniel Jewell, Jack Bydalek, Galen Root, Henry Diers, Ryan Wortmann, Charles Erker, Grant Grzywa, Jake Wilson, David Watson, Lukmaan Sattar, Jacob Meyerson, Jack Chambers, Duncan Harry, Keegan Konsor, Luke Bausch, Charles Johnson, Noah Moreano, David Bredthauer, Adam Hedican, Reagan Freeman and Anthony Seina, Samuel Johnson, Matthew Coffey, Owen Lang, Connor Golden, Bennett Hellman, Jackson Pflug, Peter Kizer and William Tjaden
2017 OMAHA SYMPHONY STAGS 48
For more Information: omahasymphony.org/guilds
metroMAGAZINE • Spring 2018
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mquarterly
| debutante ball
FRONT ROW: CHRISTINE STEVENS, SALLY ENGLISH, DANIELLE BUNZ, CATHERINE MAHONEY, BECKY WINCEK AND PATTY BUSER MIDDLE ROW: JENNIFER PETERSON, STACY WILSON, SUSAN HEIM, JULIE LYONS AND ANNE MEDLOCK BACK ROW: MICHELE ZADALIS, NANCY AYOUB, JEANIE JONES, TONEE GAY AND CHRISTINE NIKUNEN
JAY DOLL, JEAN BELL, SARAH DOLL, EMILY DOLL, LAURA DOLL, RACHEL DOLL AND LAWRENCE CHAPMAN
THOMAS, MADELINE, DRS. JOHN AND VICTORIA HALGREN
HENRY DIERS, CHARLES JOHNSON, GALEN ROOT, SAMUEL JOHNSON AND JACK CHAMBERS
DANIELLE BUNZ, CATHERINE MAHONEY AND JULIE LYONS
LAUREN THADEN, TEHRA FINN-JACKSON, EMILY DOLL, SOPHIE HICKS, ALISSA ARCHER AND LILY GILLILAND
DORI, GORDON, ZANE, JOY, REECE AND CORA WATANABE
BRANDON FINN-JACKSON, TEHRA FINN-JACKSON, PAM FINN AND KEVIN JACKSON
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event galleries
photos courtesy of children’s hospital & medical center
SUPPORTING
Innovation
Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Foundation Children’s Hospital & Medical Center’s Gala
RICHARD AZIZKHAN, M.D. AND GERALYN AZIZKHAN
RON AND KELLI JORGENSEN, LANCE AND JULIE FRITZ WITH CINDY AND SCOTT HEIDER
The 2017 Children’s Hospital & Medical Center’s Gala was a record-breaking event, raising more than $900,000 to further innovation and expansion at Children’s. Funds raised will support Children’s Changing Lives Together capital campaign for the construction of the Hubbard Center for Children. Guests at the November 11th event at the CenturyLink Center Omaha enjoyed silent and live auctions, a raffle, dinner and entertainment by Broadway performer Ashley Anderson, who graciously stepped in when Sutton Foster was unable to perform due to laryngitis.
MIKE AND SHELLY HOMA
BACK: COLLIN MORRISON AND JEFF FRY FRONT: TAYLOR FRY, NATHAN FRY, GRACE FRY AND MANDY FRY
LAURA CROSBY AND DEBBIE WOOD
TRACY ARGYLE AND CHRISTOPHER MALONEY, M.D.
The 2017 Gala theme was “Supporting Innovation, Supporting Children.” Honorary Chairs were Lance and Julie Fritz. Cindy Heider and Kelli Jorgensen served as the Gala’s co-chairs. Laura Crosby is the current president of the Friends Board, which plans the Gala along with Foundation staff. “We are extremely grateful for the leadership and generosity of our chairs and the Friends Board as well as the many community sponsors and volunteers who contributed their time, talent and support to ensure the 2017 Gala was a success. We are honored by this overwhelming level of support,” said Beth Greiner, Executive Director of the Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Foundation. “It is because of our community’s dedication to the health of our region’s children that we are able to deliver the highest level of care. The new Hubbard Center will be a beacon of hope for our patients for generations to come.” The 2018 Children’s Gala is scheduled for November 3 at the CenturyLink Center. For more Information: 402.955.6851 | ChildrensFoundationOmaha.org
SELINA AND FERNANDO FERRER, M.D.
KAREN THOMPSON, TERRI EISCHEID, MICHELLE SMITHBERG AND DEBBIE WOOD
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photos courtesy of lfS
PROUDLY
Cheering
Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska Rally for Kids When: November 3, 2017 BARB AND COUNCIL BLUFFS MAYOR MATT WALSH WITH PAT AND JENNIFER HENSLEY
JAN AND DR. JOHN CHRISTENSEN, DRS. MARTHA AND BOB BRUCKNER WITH RUTH HENRICHS
Where: Hilton Hotel - Omaha Why: This tailgate-and-sports-themed auction event raises critical funding for Children Services at LFS Nebraska. Honorary Chairs: Dr. John and Jan Christensen of Omaha and Drs. Bob and Martha Bruckner of Council Bluffs Emcee and Special Guests: Trev Alberts, Vice Chancellor of Athletics at University of Nebraska Omaha; Ruth Henrichs, President and CEO of LFS Nebraska; Council Bluffs Mayor Matt Walsh; and Amanda Reinert, Mrs. Nebraska USA Universal.
CHRIS TONNIGES AND FAMILY
RUTH HENRICHS AND TREV ALBERTS
Attendance: 410 guests Amount Raised: Over $165,000 Mission: Lutheran Family Services expresses God’s Love for All People by providing quality human care services that build and strengthen individual, family and community life. About: LFS’s vision is to support Safety, Hope and Well-Being for all people through strong programs in Children Services, Community Services and Behavioral Health. For more Information: 402.342.7038 | www.lfsneb.org
RICHARD HENRICHS, PETER W ZANDBERGEN AND CRAIG STIRTZ
BRUCE AND JONI RASMUSSEN WITH LYNN AND JON HALL
DARREN AND JENN OSTEN
NORM CHOAT, BOB CHANDLER AND PHYLLIS CHOAT
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ROSEMARY OHLES AND MARIAN PRICE
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photos courtesy of arthritis foundation nebraska
FEMALE
Power
Arthritis Foundation Nebraska 44th Woman of the Year Gala When: October 19, 2017 Where: Omaha Marriott – Regency, Omaha Why: The Arthritis Foundation is privileged and honored to recognize Melissa Marvin as the 44th Woman of the Year honoree. The Woman of the Year event helps support the Arthritis Foundation and its mission to cure arthritis and make it easier for people living with the disease to achieve everyday victories. Diamond Sponsors: Simmonds Family Foundation, Redstone, Sonburst Communications Emerald Sponsors: Pinnacle Bank, Valmont Industries, Inc., Moglia Family Foundation, The David Scott Foundation, Dixon Family Foundation, Parker Family Foundation, Dog & Pony Productions, Inc., Barnhart Press, Cindy and Mogens Bay Ruby Sponsors: Borsheims, Blue Cross Blue Shield Nebraska, HDR, MAKE Event Planning LLC, Sharon Marvin Griffin/Geoffrey Hartig/ Melissa Marvin, Macaela Smith Sapphire Sponsors: Baxter Auto Group, Burlington Capital/Gail and Mike Yanney, Home Instead Senior Care, NP Dodge Company, Pape Family Foundation, Anonymous, UNMC, Werner Enterprises, Annie Bird/Karen Hawkins Patron Party Chairs: Cindy and Mogens Bay Gala Chair: Susan McGillick Attendance: over 300 Amount Raised: $169,000 Mission: The Arthritis Foundation’s Mission is to improve the lives through leadership in the prevention, control and cure of arthritis and related diseases. About: Money raised from the event will fund important research and medical assistance aimed at helping the millions of Americans – adults and children – dealing with the devastating effects of arthritis. In addition, funds will be used to provide programs such as the Juvenile Arthritis Camp Spirit, Advocacy Summit, Juvenile Arthritis Conference, Juvenile Arthritis Fun Days and resources such as Better Living Tool Kits and Juvenile Arthritis Power Packs. For more Information: Sally Stalnaker – 402.262.0144 sstalnaker@arthritis.org | www.arthritis.org/nebraska
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photos courtesy of omaha performing arts
ANNIVERSARY
Jubilee
Omaha Performing Arts 90th Anniversary Celebration When: October 21, 2017 Where: Orpheum Theater JACK AND STEPHANIE KORALESKI, CATIE KORALESKI WITH MICHELLE AND DAN KORALESKI
ALEXANDER GEMIGNANI, LAUREN REID, JOAN SQUIRES AND COLIN WELFORD
Why: Celebrating 90 Years of the Orpheum Theater and Honoring Generations Event Planner: Atmospheres by Design Attendance: 150
LAURA DODGE, ALEXANDER GEMIGNANI WITH MEG AND NATE DODGE III
KAREN DIXON, SANDY PARKER, AMY SCOTT AND DAVID SCOTT
Amount Raised: In preparation of the Orpheum Theater’s 90th anniversary, over the summer of 2017, Omaha Performing Arts (OPA) completed a “refresh” of the theater. Approximately, $3 million was secured to complete many important capital projects and improvements at the Orpheum. These projects include repairing the ceiling of Slosburg Hall, replacing and re-upholstering seats, replacing carpet, installation of a hearing loop, refurbishment of Anne Thorne Weaver Lounge and repairs to the north marquee. Additionally, $2 million was raised to expand OPA’s education and engagement programs. Mission: Omaha Performing Arts’ mission is to enrich the community through the presentation of the highest quality arts and entertainment experiences, the stewardship of the Orpheum Theater and Holland Performing Arts Center, and education and community engagement programs.
WES AND KAREN DIXON, SANDY AND DAVE PARKER, AMY SCOTT, LORI AND DAVID SCOTT
MATTHEW BAILEY, ALEXANDER GEMIGNANI, VICTORIA FONTENOT AND ANDY HOLLAND
About: Omaha Performing Arts is dedicated to providing the best Broadway, jazz, blues, dance, comedy, family and popular entertainment to the citizens of Omaha at the Orpheum Theater, Holland Performing Arts Center and beyond. As Nebraska’s largest arts organization, we also provide education opportunities and free community events to expand arts appreciation. For more Information: 402.661.8496 | OmahaPerformingArts.org
MAYOR JEAN STOTHERT AND ALEXANDER GEMIGNANI
LORI AND DAVID SCOTT, AMY SCOTT, WES AND KAREN DIXON, DAVE AND SANDY PARKER, JOHN AND CARMEN GOTTSCHALK, JOAN SQUIRES AND JEANIE JONES
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photos courtesy of the durham museum
event galleries
TIMELESS
Traditions
The Durham Museum
Sentimental Journey: The Celebration of a Century When: November 17, 2017 SUE AND DAVE MORRIS
Where: The Durham Museum
LISA AND BILL ROSKEN
Why: The Celebration of a Century: in honor of what would have been Chuck Durham’s 100th birthday, a night of community filled with cinematic intrigue, inspiring music, old friends and timeless traditions.
ANNE AND JOHN NELSON
DENNY AND SUNNY LUNDGREN WITH LAURETTE AND RANDY HESS
Special Guests: Opera Omaha Singers Soprano Leah Partridge and Baritone Corey Crider accompanied by the Omaha Symphony, Ernest Richardson, Conductor. Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert and her husband Joe, State Senator Jim Smith and his wife Ruth, former United States Senator Ben Nelson and his wife Diane and former Omaha Mayor and University of Nebraska Regent Hal Daub and his wife Mary. Honorary Chairs: Mike and Gail Yanney and Bill and Lisa Roskens Attendance: 416 Amount Raised: $220,000 Mission: Provide relevant educational and entertaining opportunities within the region that exceed customer expectations, while preserving our community’s vibrant cultural history.
JOY AND STEPHEN ABELS
DEBBY DURHAM AND FAMILY
LYNNE AND JOHN BOYER
About: Beautiful architecture blends with memories of a time gone by at The Durham Museum. Making its home in one of Omaha’s most unique treasures, Union Station, The Durham Museum offers a fascinating look at the history of our region and offers a broad range of traveling exhibits covering subjects ranging from history and culture to science, industry and more through our affiliation with the Smithsonian Institution and strong ties with the Library of Congress, National Archives and the Field Museum. Proceeds from the event will be used to expand the museum’s educational reach within the community. For more Information: 402.444.5071 | www.durhammuseum.org
GAIL AND MIKE YANNEY
BOB AND JUDY BATES, HAL AND BEVERLY MAURER, DIANE AND BEN NELSON WITH PHYLLIS AND DEL TOEBBEN 54
DR. STANLEY AND DOROTHY TRUHLSEN AND FAMILY
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photos courtesy of chi health
HEALTHY
Helpers
CHI Health Celebration of Caregivers When: November 18, 2017 Where: CenturyLink Center, Omaha Why: The Celebration of Caregiver Gala 2017 was a wonderful night dedicated to honoring the past, present and future of Creighton University Medical Center-Bergan Mercy.We paid tribute to the legacy of Sister Norita Cooney, who served as a past president and CEO of Bergan Mercy and was a true inspiration and visionary leader. The celebration continued as we honored those who work in and were foundational to the creation of the new Creighton University Medical Center – Bergan Mercy. The Academic Medical Center is home to a unique model of education, training, healing and caring and it is a point of pride for the region. Looking to the future, the evening will supported research and innovation that will impact the way we deliver care in the future. The funds raised will support CURE, Creighton University Research Exchange, which is focused on supporting local clinical research for the treatments and technologies of tomorrow. Attendance: 600+ Amount Raised: Goal $1M Mission: The mission of CHI Health is to nurture the healing ministry of the Church, supported by education and research. Fidelity to the Gospel urges us to emphasize human dignity and social justice as we create healthier communities. About: CHI Health upholds the commitment of our founders to nurture the healing ministry of the Church through an emphasis on human dignity and social justice as we create healthier communities. The Sisters of Mercy, the Lutheran deaconesses, the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration, and the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) all shared a calling and a passion for serving those most in need through compassionate care and excellence in medicine. The rich and diverse spiritual heritage forms the foundation for CHI Health which was created in 2013 with the merger of Alegent Creighton Health and CHI Nebraska. CHI Health today is a comprehensive nonprofit, faith-based regional health care network extending from western Iowa through Central Nebraska and employing over 13,000 employees. For more Information: 402.343.4550 | GIVE.CHIhealth.com/Gala2017
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Photos courtesy of Midlands Community Foundation
INVESTING IN
Community
Midlands Community Foundation 2018 Reflection Ball When: January 20 FRONT: KRIS ZEY, TAMI FIELD, MARTHA SOPINSKI, JAN DAVIS, MARY GAWECKI AND JILL GOVIER BACK: KARLA RUPIPER, DIANE KNICKY, DONNA WILCOX, BRENDA CARLSON, CARRIE KRIST, JACKIE DAVIS, KATHY WENDLANDT AND KEN SUMMERFIELD
KRIS AND STEVE ZEY, BINDY AND BOB FREDERICK, TONEE GAY AND PATRICK SULLIVAN
Where: Embassy Suites - La Vista Why: The Reflection Ball is an annual fundraiser for the communities of Sarpy and Cass counties. Proceeds from the event will support the needs of nonprofit organizations that provide programs and services to children in Sarpy and Cass counties in the areas of art, community, economic development, education, health and human services. Special Guests: Bindy and Bob Frederick, 2018 Reflection Award honorees Attendance: 475
PATRICK SULLIVAN, FRED UHE, TIM SCHRAM AND DON BELLINO
Amount Raised: more than $130,000
FREDERICK FAMILY
Mission: The mission of Midlands Community Foundation is the benefit the diverse needs of the Sarpy and Cass county communities by providing financial support, involvement and service. For more Information: 402.991.8027 | www.midlandscommunity.org
DR. MICHAEL WESTCOTT, KARLA RUPIPER AND DR. SUSAN WESTCOTT
SID AND DAWN DINSDALE WITH JOYCE AND WAYNE BRUNZ
KEVIN AND ELLEN DASHER WITH CATHY AND RANDY FEURT
BINDY AND BOB FREDERICK WITH KYLE AND DR. RICK BLACK
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TERRY AND CHRIS WENDLANDT WITH ENID SCHONEWISE AND TOM FRETTE
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Photos courtesy of The Salvation army
GLOWING
Giving
The Salvation Army Tree of Lights Kickoff
When: November 10, 2017 Where: American National Bank 90th and Dodge, Omaha KEVIN ROBBINS WITH SANTA AND MRS. CLAUS
Why: The Tree of Lights Kickoff marks the beginning of The Salvation Army Tree of Lights Campaign. This year’s fundraising goal for the Omaha-Council Bluffs Salvation Army was announced during the ceremony. Attendance: 300 Mission: The Salvation Army’s mission is to meet the spiritual, emotional and physical needs of all people without discrimination. In Omaha, our seven program and service initiatives include food, housing, youth development, material assistance, behavioral health, older adult services, and anti-human trafficking. For more Information: www.salarmyomaha.org
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event galleries
Photography by Chris Holtmeier, Foton-Foto
ART Rocks
Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts Benefit Art Auction + After Party Concert
When: October 27, 2017 Where: Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts FRED BOSSELMAN, DEANNA VIARS BOSSELMAN, LORI HOCK AND MARC HOCK
MEGAN GREEN AND DAN CRANE
Why: Proceeds benefit Bemis Center programs (Artistin-Residence Program, Exhibition Program and Public Programs) and operations Attendance: more than 800 Amount Raised: $425,000 About: Founded in 1981, by artists for artists, the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts supports today’s artists through an international artist-in-residence program, temporary exhibitions and commissions, and innovative public programs. Located in the historic Old Market district, the Bemis Center serves a critical role in the presentation and understanding of contemporary art, bridging the community of Omaha to a global discourse surrounding cultural production today. For more Information: 402.341.7130 | bemiscenter.org
CULTS PERFORMANCE
ANDY SALADINO, CAROLINE HINRICHS AND WATIE WHITE
Savor the experience Voted Best of Omaha Eight Years in a Row
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Photos courtesy of The Hope Center for Kids
BELIEF Source
The Hope Center for Kids
The Hope Gala: “Rooted in Hope”
When: October 20, 2017 Where: CenturyLink Center Omaha
JOE JENSEN WITH DEREK AND RACHEL LEAGUE AND BRENDA BLOCK
Why: The 10th Annual Hope Gala celebrated the transformational work The Hope Center for Kids does in Omaha and Fremont and helps fund the nonprofit’s year-round programs that impact nearly 3,000 children, youth and families. Event Chairs: Jeff & Mary Wilson Multi Media: Midland Pictures Attendance: 900 Amount Raised: More than $360,000 Mission: The Hope Center for Kids strives to faithfully inspire hope in the lives of youth and children through education, employability, collaboration and faith. For more Information: 402.341.4673 | www.hopecenterforkids.com
JEFF AND MARY WILSON
ASHLEY STANSIFER, ALYSSA COREY AND EMILY LANPHIER
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Photos courtesy of assistance League® of Omaha
CARING
Hands
Assistance League® of Omaha Caravan Preview Party Gala
When: November 1 Where: Champions Run
PREVIEW PARTY COMMITTEE
Why: Benefitting Assistance League of Omaha’s philanthropic programs including Operation School Bell® Special Guests: State Senator Rick Kolowski Caring Hands Award: Dick Lundquist Crystal Bell Award: Two Men and a Truck, accepted by Brian Beadle (marketing director) Emcee: Tracy McMahon Attendance: 252 Amount Raised: $35,000 Mission: Assistance League volunteers transforming the lives of children and adults through community programs. For more Information: 402.342.4288 alo@alo.omhcoxmail.com | alomaha.org
BRIAN BEADLE
DICK LUNDQUIST
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Photos courtesy of nebraska ataxia
LET’S GO
Steady
Nebraska Ataxia The Engagement Party
When: September 30, 2017 Where: Creighton Preparatory School, Omaha Why: Nebraska Ataxia’s annual fundraiser celebrates our successes, educates the community about living with ataxia, and raises money for our support programs. Mission: Nebraska Ataxia’s nonprofit mission is to help those affected by ataxia through hands-on assistance, education and awareness, support for caregivers, and funding for medical therapies, equipment and research. Our programs and partnerships focus on improving the quality of life for ataxians in our service area of Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, Kansas, and Missouri. About: Outstanding participation made 2017’s second annual fundraiser an even bigger success than our inaugural event. With your help, we’ll continue to do great things! For more Information: 402.979.6331 | nebraskaataxia.org
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Photos courtesy of The Kim Foundation
A LOVING
Voice
The Kim Foundation “A Time for Hope & Healing” Annual Luncheon
When: October 24, 2017 Where: Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center La Vista Why: The goal of The Kim Foundation’s Annual Luncheon is to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and educate the community on mental illness and suicide prevention. Proceeds from the event will enable The Kim Foundation to continue pursuing its mission as it works to change the overwhelming statistics of suicide in our community. Special Guests: Mike Veny, keynote speaker Attendance: Nearly 500 Mission: The Kim Foundation serves as a supportive resource and compassionate voice for lives touched by mental illness and suicide. For more Information: 402.891.6997 | www.thekimfoundation.org
a national and regional powerhouse in meetings & events | planitomaha.com
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Photography by MaK images Photography
REACHING
Milestones
Nebraska Children and Families Foundation Changemakers
MATTHEW BLOMSTEDT AND DR. HELEN RAIKES
JAIME HEMMERLING, WES MOORE AND MARY JO PANKOKE
On October 10, 2017 nearly 500 people came together at the Embassy Suites in La Vista to celebrate another year of positive change for children – and Nebraska Children and Families Foundation’s 20th anniversary! It was an honor to commemorate such a big milestone with so many of the people who make this work possible on a daily basis. Nebraska Children and Families Foundation invests in children from birth to young adulthood with initiatives that are focused on strengthening families and preventing negative outcomes. We do this by building strong communities that support families so their children can grow up to be thriving, productive adults. By working with our community partners to understand the risks facing children, we can identify the most effective avenues to create positive change, and help Nebraska’s most vulnerable citizens reach their full potential. For more Information: 402.476.9401 nebraskachildren.org rtrebilcock@nebraskachildren.org
WES MOORE
BEN NELSON AND MRS. DIANE NELSON
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Photos courtesy of OneWorld
MAKING
Miracles
OneWorld Community Health Centers 2017 Milagro Dinner
When: November 2, 2017 Where: Hilton Omaha (1001 Cass Street) MARIA TERESA KUMAR
KRISTINE MCVEA, RUTH HENRICHS AND ANDREA SKOLKIN
Why: Milagro – when a community comes together to make miracles happen for those in need. Our annual Milagro Dinner is an opportunity to honor individuals and organizations who make Milagros (“miracles” in Spanish) happen for the most vulnerable children and families we serve. All proceeds from the Milagro Dinner directly support programs that provide essential services to OneWorld patients in need. Attendance: 360 Amount Raised: More than $126,000 Mission: OneWorld Community Health Centers, Inc., in partnership with the community, provides culturally respectful, quality health care with special attention to the underserved.
CHINH DOAN
KRISTINE MCVEA, KELLY NIELSEN AND ANDREA SKOLKIN
For more Information: 402.734.4110 | www.OneWorldOmaha.org
THE MA GI C RETURNS…
New look, coming soon! • More space & seating capacity • Improved reception & guest flow • New finishes & colors • Updated technology • Same delicious food, great service & free parking
6450 Pine Street 402.778.6313 ScottCenter.com M AY 5 & 6 O RP H E U M TH E ATE R balletnebraska.org • www.TicketOmaha.com • 402-345-0606 • Box office: 13th & Douglas Premier Benefactors:
Season Sponsor:
Fred and Eve Simon
Major Support: Cindy & Scott Heiider
Charit tab able Founda ati tion
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Photos courtesy of HeaLing embrace
MOVING Soles
HEALing Embrace
HEALs to the Pavement for Pregnancy and Infant Loss
When: October 14, 2017 Where: Lake Zorinsky, Omaha Why: To bring hope and healing to grieving hearts that have lost a baby through pregnancy or infant loss. HEALing Embrace provides a safe place to honor those babies that have left us too soon. This is our annual fundraiser, allowing us to raise money to help families pay for medical and funeral expenses, postpartum care and grief counseling. It also allows us to provide free bereavement services to families. Attendance: 1,500 Amount Raised: $65,000 Mission: We exist to... Journey alongside warrior families going through pregnancy & infant loss offering hope, healing & support; and to serve as an advocate and catalyst for options to honor those children lost. For more Information: 402.819.4002 | www.healingembrace.org
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Photos courtesy of KoMen
MEN Only
koMEN
koMEN Night Out
When: October 23, 2017 Where: Certified Muscle Car Museum Why: First time event to help other men who need support from guys who have been through the loss of their wife or loved one and/or are currently fighting the battle. A guys’ support group! Special Guests: Coach Greg McDermott Event Planner: Rod Kestel Attendance: 120 Amount Raised: $23,000 Mission: Men gathered to provide support and inspire those whose spouse or loved one have lost, or are fighting breast cancer. For more Information: 402.800.2227 Rod Kestel rkestel@waittoutdoor.com
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Photos courtesy of LLS
WE WALK
Cancer Runs
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Nebraska Chapter 2017 Light the Night
When: October 21, 2017 Where: Stinson Park, Omaha Why: Light the Night is The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s evening fundraising walk to celebrate and commemorate lives touched by blood cancer. During this special walk, fundraising participants carry illuminated lanterns - white for survivors, red for supporters and gold in memory of loved ones lost to cancer. Attendance: Over 1,000 Amount Raised: $153,000 About: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Nebraska Chapter serves residents who have been touched by one of the blood cancers: leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. The chapter serves all of Nebraska and Pottawattamie County Iowa. a
For more Information: 402.344.2242 | http://www.lls.org/nebraska
"()&*% *')$(#
SPRING LUNCHEON
SAVE the DATE APRIL
30 20I8 the afloat difference
Dr. Alison Freifeld & Dr. Ken H. Cowan
a more complete float experience en-suites for total privacy pre-float 15-minute unwind in auto-massage chair
11:30 am– 1:00 pm at Happy Hollow Club
ir sauna massage vibrational sound therapy
afloatwellness.com | (402) 991-9908 84th Street, Omaha
nebraskacures.com
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Photos courtesy of Creighton University
TURNING
Blue
Creighton University Athletic Department Bluejay Jamboree
When: October 20, 2017 Where: Hilton Omaha REV. DANIEL HENDRICKSON, SJ, PHD
CREIGHTON DANCE TEAM
Why: Student-athlete scholarships have been a top priority for Creighton Athletics and your support has made a difference. The Bluejay Jamboree has helped significantly increase scholarship support for Creighton student-athletes. In the past three years, Creighton Athletics has been able to provide the equivalent of five additional athletic scholarships due to the generosity of our supporters and events like the Jamboree. Chairpersons: Janie and Harry Hoch, Jr. Attendance: 400 Amount Raised: Over $400,000 For more Information: gocreighton.com | 402.280.5577
CREIGHTON MEN’S BASKETBALL
ANGELIC
JANIE AND HARRY HOCH, JR. WITH GOVERNOR PETE RICKETTS Photos courtesy of Omaha Children’s Choir
Voices
Omaha Children’s Choir City Voices Choral Festival
When: October 28, 2017 Where: Trinity Episcopal Cathedral Why: City Voices Choral Festival is an annual event hosted by the Omaha Children’s Choir that unites students in grades 3-6 in song. The festival is the first of its kind and open to students of eligible age in all metro public and private schools. Knowing that not all children in the metro area can afford or attend weekly OCC programming, OCC developed this one-day event to provide an opportunity for children to experience choral singing and collaborative music making. Attendance: 100 Mission: Omaha Children’s Choir exists to provide all children with an appreciation and understanding of our city’s diversity and to inspire social change through the power of choral music. For more Information: 402.672.8870 | omahachildrenschoir.org
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Hi. I’m Homie!
I got so much more. T I had a painful knee, a flea problem and my teeth were in bad shape when I arrived at the But my dream came Nebraska Humane Society. All I really wanted was a lap to sit on. I got so much more. t The medical team performed surgery on my knee, cleared up the itchy fleas, pulled m teeth and gave me a dental polishing. I felt so much better. But my dream came true when an adopter fell in love and offered me a new lap for cuddling…that’s why my tail can’t stop wagging.
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featured walk/runs
CHALLENGE #7 – BRUNCH 5K JUNIOR LEAGUE OF OMAHA
CHALLENGE #14 – JDRF ONE WALK JDRF
CHALLENGE #21 SUPERHERO HEART RUN HEART HEROES
spotlight
M.A.D. 25
CHALLENGE #1 – POLAR PLUNGE OMAHA
CHALLENGE #2 – TREK UP THE TOWER
CHALLENGE #3 – HEAT THE STREETS RUN/WALK
SPECIAL OLYMPICS NEBRASKA
WELLCOM
COMMON FUND OF THE HEARTLAND
CHALLENGE #8 – RIDE, FUN RUN & WALK
CHALLENGE #9 – CORNFIELD CORNFIELD 10K
CHALLENGE #10 – THE ROAD TO OMAHA
WEAR YELLOW NEBRASKA
NEBRASKA COMMUNITY BLOOD BANK
OMAHA PARKS FOUNDATION
CHALLENGE #15 – BOXER 500
CHALLENGE #16 – HIGH VIBES FESTIVAL 5K
CHALLENGE #17 – 25TH ANNUAL WALK/RUN
GREAT PLAINS COLON CANCER TASK FORCE
LOTUS HOUSE OF YOGA
SIENA/FRANCIS HOUSE
CHALLENGE #22 – WALK TO END ALZHEIMER'S
CHALLENGE #23 – RACE FOR THE CURE
CHALLENGE #24 – HEALS TO THE PAVEMENT
ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION
SUSAN G. KOMEN GREAT PLAINS
HEALING EMBRACE
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mquarterly
| we went M.A.D. in 2017
CHALLENGE #4 – BREATHE & BREW SPRING YOGA SERIES AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION
CHALLENGE #11 – 5K SUPERHERO RUN CASA
CHALLENGE #18 – CORPORATE CUP AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION
CHALLENGE #5 – THE RED BRICK RUN
CHALLENGE #6 – DONATE LIFE 5K & HEROES' WALK
TEAMMATES GRETNA CHAPTER
DONATE LIFE NEBRASKA
CHALLENGE #12 – DIVA DASH
CHALLENGE #13 – HEAD FOR THE CURE
5K OMAHA
HEAD FOR THE CURE OMAHA
CHALLENGE #19 – OMAHA MARATHON
CHALLENGE #20 – WALK FOR THE ANIMALS
PARTNERSHIP 4 KIDS
NEBRASKA HUMANE SOCIETY
recruit us TO MAKE YOUR walk/run ONE OF OUR
M.A.D.25 EVENTS
CHALLENGE #25 – RED KETTLE RUN SALVATION ARMY
CHALLENGE #26 – MONSTER MASH CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL & MEDICAL CENTER
Connect@SpiritofOmaha.com
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Be Giving Be Golden Friday, April 6, 2018 Omaha Design Center
Sip • Savor • Shop • Support
For more information visit us online at WineWomenandShoes.com/Omaha or call 402.955.6851.
BENEFITING CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL & MEDICAL CENTER’S CAROLYN SCOTT RAINBOW HOUSE
365 BUSINESSES GIVING BACK 365 DAYS A YEAR Download TAGG to support your favorite cause(s) today! Proudly supported by
1
Download the TAGG app.
2
Submit photos of receipts from participating businesses.
3
Choose a cause! The business will donate (usually 5%) at no extra cost to you!
TOGETHER A GREATER GOOD
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The information in this section appears as supplied to us by the organizations presented. ALH Publications, Inc. accepts no responsibility for the accuracy or integrity of any of the information provided. Please double-check for updated details with event organizers.
• mquarterly community CALENDAR
save the date
Learn more details about any of these events by searching our extensive Community Calendar at mQUARTERLY’s website: http://www.SpiritofOmaha.com/Metro-Magazine/Community/Calendar/
featured
VENTS
CONNECT with over 100 nonprofits and learn more about their mission and how you can help! Order your copy of The Giving Guide & Event Book 2018 today at mQUARTERLY’s SpiritofOmaha.com.
February 22
Complete information for the following events is available at metroMAGAZINE’s SpiritofOmaha.com CALENDAR PAGE or each organization’s website.
6:00 AM –9:00 AM
February 2
3902 Davenport Street | Omaha $75 before January 11 | $85 after January 11 402-595-2199 | http://joslyncastle.com/events/?ee=185
JOSLYN CASTLE MURdER MYSTERY Joslyn Castle
5:30 PM –10:30 PM
MARIAN FEST Marian High School
February 24
Hilton Omaha | 1001 Cass Street | Omaha $150 per person | 402-571-2618 | www.marianhighschool.net/marianfest/
1:00 PM –4:00 PM
UNCORkEd AT FLEMING'S TO BENEFIT ANGELS AMONG US Angels Among Us
February 3
Fleming's Prime Steakhouse | 140 Regency Parkway | Omaha $50 per person | 402-934-0999 | http://www.myangelsamongus.org
5:00 PM –10:00 PM
OMAHA HEART ANd STROkE BALL American Heart Association
February 24
Embassy Suites Conference Center – La Vista | 12520 Westport Pkwy | La Vista $300 Individual | 402-810-6848 | www.heart.org/omahaheartball
6:00 PM –11:30 PM
JdRF PROMISE GALA - COUNTRY SIdE OF A CURE JDRF Omaha-Council Bluffs Chapter
February 4 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
AUTISM ACTION PARTNERSHIP MAkING MEMORIES AT THE SAC MUSEUM Autism Action Partnership
CenturyLink Center Omaha | 455 N 10th Street | Omaha Individual tickets are $225. Tables are offered from $2,500 - $25,000. 402-397-2873 | http://jdrf-omaha.ejoinme.org/2018Gala
February 24
Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum | 28210 West Park Highway | Ashland FREE | 402-763-8830 http://https://autismaction.z2systems.com/np/clients/autismaction/event.jsp?event=24&
7:00 PM –11:00 PM
PERFECT POUR Friends of Nebraska Children and Families Foundation
February 10
The Slowdown | 729 N. 14th St. | Omaha General admission: $75 VIP package $150 | http://perfectpour.org
“CARNIvAL OF LOvE” GALA Heartland Family Service
February 25
Embassy Suites Conference Center – La Vista $150 individual ticket | $1,500 table of ten | 402-552-7443 HeartandFamilyService.org
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
ART & SOUP Visiting Nurse Association
February 13 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Embassy Suites Conference Center – La Vista | 12520 Westport Pkwy | La Vista $50 - $100 | 402-930-4170 | http://vnatoday.org
LIFE wITHOUT BOxES: UNTANGLING HAIRCUTS FOR CHILdREN wITH AUTISM Autism Action Partnership
March 2 – 3 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center | 6400 South University Drive Road, North CEC201 | Omaha FREE | 402-763-8830 http://https://autismaction.z2systems.com/np/clients/autismaction/event.jsp?event=22&%20
NEBRASkA HISTORIC PRESERvATION CONFERENCE Restoration Exchange Omaha Metropolitan Community College Fort Omaha Campus | 5300 North 30th Street | Omaha $50 | 402-679-5854 | www.restorationexchange.org
February 17
March 3
8:00 AM –12:00 PM
7:00 AM –12:00 PM
TREk UP THE TOwER WELLCOM
HEAT THE STREETS RUN ANd wALk FOR wARMTH Common Fund of the Heartland
First National Bank Tower | 1620 Dodge St | Omaha $60 | 402-934-5795 | http://www.trekupthetower.org/event-overview
Werner Park | 12356 Ballpark Way | PO BOX 540251 | Papillion $40 for the run | $30 for the walk | 402-250-3928 | www.heatthestreetsomaha.org
February 17
March 3
4:30 PM –10:00 PM
5:30 PM –10:30 PM
MERCY: THE GOLd STANdARd, FIESTA 2018 Mercy High School
IRISH FEST: A BLARNEY BLAST Kiewit Corporation and Others
Embassy Suites Conference Center – La Vista | 12520 Westport Parkway | La Vista $125 per guest; $75 for alumna | 402-553-9424 | http://Mercyhigh.org
Marriott Capitol District | 222 N 10th St | Omaha $150 | 402-829-9205 | www.ccomaha.org 73
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coNtINued
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The information in this section appears as supplied to us by the organizations presented. ALH Publications, Inc. accepts no responsibility for the accuracy or integrity of any of the information provided. Please double-check for updated details with event organizers.
community CALENDAR
Learn more details about any of these events by searching our extensive Community Calendar at mQUARTERLY’s website: http://www.SpiritofOmaha.com/Metro-Magazine/Community/Calendar/
save the date
CONNECT with over 100 nonprofits and learn more about their mission and how you can help! Order your copy of The Giving Guide & Event Book 2018 today at mQUARTERLY’s SpiritofOmaha.com.
April 13 6:30 PM
March 3
EvENING OF IMPACT Adult & Teen Challenge of the Midlands
6:00 PM
CRUISE AwAY TO HOLLYwOOd Stephen Center, Inc.
Location TBA
$50 402-551-2322 | www.tcmid.org
Champions Run | 13800 Eagle Run Dr. | Omaha
$150 per seat 402-715-5476 | www.www.stephencenter.org
April 14 6:00 PM –10:00 PM
March 8
2018 BLUE JEAN BALL: 35 YEARS OF wISHES Make-A-Wish Nebraska
11:45 AM –1:00 PM
AMERICAN REd CROSS HEROES IN THE HEARTLANd LUNCHEON American Red Cross
Hilton Omaha | 1001 Cass Street | Omaha $150 per person or $1500 per table of 10 | 402-333-8999 | http://nebraska.wish.org
Hilton Omaha | 1001 Cass Street | Omaha $50 | 402-990-6893
April 14 5:00 PM –9:00 PM
March 10
vinNEBRASkA Partnership 4 Kids
6 PM – 10 PM
SILvER RIBBON EvENT “THE HEART ANd ART OF CARING” CRCC (formerly known as Children’s Respite Care Center)
Hotel RL Omaha | 3321 S 72nd St | Omaha $125 | 402-390-3000 | http://vinnebraska.com/
Scoular Ballroom
Young professional- individual tickets $80 | Individual tickets $150 | Patron tickets $175185 402-895-4000 | www.crccomaha.org
March 24
April 14 10:00 AM –4:00 PM
2018 OUTLOOk NEBRASkA vISUALLY IMPAIREd COMMUNITY RESOURCE FAIR Outlook Nebraska Baxter Arena | 2425 S 67th. St. | Omaha FREE | 402-614-3331 | http://outlooknebraska.org/resourcefair
6:00 PM –9:30 PM
ARTvENTURE Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska
April 14
UNO's Mammel Hall | 6708 Pine Street | Omaha $125 - Patron Party | $40 General Event | 402-779-8230 | www.girlscoutsnebraska.org
5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
March 24
THE FRESH START CELEBRATION BANQUET Fresh Start For All Nations
5:30 PM –9:00 PM
The Scott Conference Center | 6450 Pine St. | Omaha
THE GATHERING Christian Urban Education
NO CHARGE to attend | Open to the public - Registration is required. | Table and Event Sponsorships available. 402-578-3103 | 855- 968-4448 | www.freshstartforallnations.org
Embassy Suites Conference Center – La Vista | 12520 Westport Parkway | La Vista 125 | 402-451-5755 | www.cuesschools.org
April 18
March 25
11:30am–1 PM
4:00 PM
CAN dO LUNCHEON Kids Can Community Center
vOICES CREATING CHANGE Omaha Children’s Choir
Omaha Marriott Downtown at the Capitol District | 222 N 10th St. | Omaha
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church | 925 84th St. | Omaha
$75 402-731-6988 Ext. 212 | www.kidscanomaha.org
Free 402-672-8870 | https://omahachildrenschoir.org/
April 20
April 6
6:30 PM – 11 PM
6:30 PM –10:00 PM
A NIGHT UNdER THE BIG TOP! Methodist Hospital Foundation
wINE wOMEN & SHOES Children's Hospital & Medical Center
Happy Hollow Club
Omaha Design Center | 1502 Cuming Street | Omaha $100+ | 402-955-6851 | www.winewomenandshoes.com/event/omaha
$150 per person | $250 per person for Patron reservation 402-354-4825 | MethodistHospitalFoundation.org
April 7
April 21
5:30 PM –10:00 PM
6:00 PM –9:30 PM
PINk RIBBON AFFAIR 2018 Susan G. Komen® Great Plains
BLACk TIE ANd TAILS Nebraska Humane Society
Hilton Omaha | 1001 Cass Street | Omaha $125 | 402-502-2979 | www.komengreatplains.org
Marriot Downtown Capitol District Hotel | 222 N 10th | Omaha $150/ $200 patron | 402-905-3483 | www.nehumanesociety.org 74
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featured
LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE ORGANIZATIONS IN THE GIVING GUIDE 2018!
April 21
VENTS
8:00 AM –11:00 AM
ClAussen-leAhy MAveriCk run UNO Athletics Baxter Arena | 2425 S. 67th Street | Omaha Kids are FREE Adults $30 | 402-639-9506 | http://omavs.com/maverickrun
April 21 5:30 PM – cocktails | 6:30 PM – dinner | 8 PM – concert
OMAhA syMphOny GAlA Omaha Symphony Holland Performing Arts Center
$5,000 table sponsor | $500 for gala dinner and concert | $25-$85 for concert only 402-661-8587 | www.omahasymphony.org
April 24 6:30 PM
2018 GAlA – CelebrAtinG the GOlden AGe Of hOllywOOd Omaha Community Playhouse
Feb. 9– March 11
March 2– 25
April 13– May 6
on sale now
on sale now
on sale Feb. 20
Omaha Community Playhouse | 6915 Cass St. | Omaha
$150 Patron | $200 VIP 402-553-4890 | www.OmahaPlayhouse.com
April 28 7:00 PM
Guns n hOses First Responders Foundation Baxter Arena
General Admission $15, | Ringside Seats, Tables, and Suites Available firstrespondersomaha.org
6915 Cass St. | (402) 553-0800 | OmahaPlayhouse.com
UPCOMINGS! CONCERT ™ & © Universal Studios and U-Drive Joint Venture
April 28 9:00 AM –12:00 PM
brunCh 5k Junior League of Omaha Midtown Crossing | 216 S 34th St | Omaha $50 for Brunch Registration; $25 for Brunch only http://https://runsignup.com/Race/NE/MidtownCrossingOmaha/J uniorLeagueofOmahabRUNch5k
April 28 5:00 PM
blue JeAns And dreAMs HETRA
FEB. 24 | HOLLAND CENTER
MAR. 24 | HOLLAND CENTER
HETRA | 10130 S 222nd Street | Gretna 402-359-8830 | www.HETRA.org
TM & © Universal Studios
April 28 brunCh 5k JuniOr leAGue Of OMAhA Junior League of Omaha Midtown Crossing | Omaha $25 - $75 | http://jlomaha.org
May 1 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM
50th AnnuAl bOys tOwn bOOster bAnquet Boys Town Embassy Suites Conference Center – La Vista | 12520 Westport Pkwy | La Vista $100
APR. 7 & 8 | HOLLAND CENTER
TICKETS START AT $19 – Order Today! 75
mquarterly • SPrING 2018
APR. 28 | HOLLAND CENTER
402.345.0606 • OMAHASYMPHONY.ORG
73-80-STD-218-SMALL-REDO.qxp_- 2/2/18 2:59 PM Page 76
The information in this section appears as supplied to us by the organizations presented. ALH Publications, Inc. accepts no responsibility for the accuracy or integrity of any of the information provided. Please double-check for updated details with event organizers.
community CALENDAR
save the date
Learn more details about any of these events by searching our extensive Community Calendar at mQUARTERLY’s website: http://www.SpiritofOmaha.com/Metro-Magazine/Community/Calendar/
featured
CONNECT with over 100 nonprofits and learn more about their mission and how you can help! Order your copy of The Giving Guide & Event Book 2018 today at mQUARTERLY’s SpiritofOmaha.com.
VENTS
May 4
coNtINued
May 30 6:00 PM
PINOT, PIGS & POETS Completely KIDS Happy Hollow Club
11:30 AM
Pricing TBD 402-397-5809 | completelykids.org
LEAdERS FOR LIFE LUNCHEON Creighton University Athletic Department D.J. Sokol Arena inside the Wayne and Eileen Ryan Athletic Center at Creighton University
June 2
402-280-2720 | www.gocreighton.com
6:00 PM
May 5
CABARET Child Saving Institute
5:00 PM –9:00 PM
Omaha Marriott Downtown –Capitol District
FOR THE kIdS BENEFIT Omaha Children's Museum
$175 402-553-6000 | www.childsaving.org
Omaha Children's Museum | 500 South 20th Street | Omaha $150 | 402-342-6164 | www.ocm.org
June 2 6:30 PM
May 5
JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ASSOCIATION ANNUAL GALA Joslyn Art Museum
4:30 PM
JUMPIN’ JULEPS Take Flight Farms
Joslyn Art Museum | 2200 Dodge St. | Omaha
Location TBA
$250 per person – table pricing available 402-933-8220 | www.joslyn.org
Pricing unavailable 402-930-3037 | www.takeflightfarms.org
June 2 6:30 PM – 10 PM
May 6
OLLIE’S dREAM GALA 2018 Ollie Webb Center, Inc.
7:00 PM
YOUTH SYMPHONY SIdE-BY-SIdE CONCERT wITH OMAHA SYMPHONY Omaha Area Youth Orchestras
Omaha Hilton Downtown | 1001 Cass St. | Omaha
Holland Performing Arts Center
Tickets and Sponsorship options available 402-346-5220 | www.olliewebbinc.org
$15 adults, | $10 students 402-238-2044 | www.oayo.org
June 3 MISSION POSSIBLE 5k/10k Open Door Mission
May 8
Shadow Lake Towne Center, Papillion
11:45 AM
THE SALvATION ARMY d.J.'S HERO AwARdS LUNCHEON The Salvation Army
10K – $35 | 5K – $25 402-422-1111 | www.opendoormission.org
CenturyLink Center Omaha | 455 N 10th St | Omaha 150 per person/$1,500 per table | 402-898-5908 | www.salarmyomaha.org
June 9 5:30 PM – 9 PM
May 11
125TH ANNIvERSARY CELEBRATION: CHILdREN FIRST SINCE 1893 Nebraska Children’s Home Society
6:00 PM –11:00 PM
2018 BROwNELL TALBOT GALA Brownell Talbot
Embassy Suites Conference Center – La Vista
$125 402-451-0787 | www.nchs.org
Brownell Talbot | 400 N Happy Hollow Blvd | Omaha $125 | 402-556-3772 | www.brownell.edu/gala
June 11
May 11
12 PM – 5 PM
11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
SwING FOR HEALTH GOLF OUTING CHI Health Foundation
HIT THE LINkS & dRIvE AGAINST dISABILITIES United Cerebral Palsy of Nebraska
The Players Club at Deer Creek | 12101 Deer Creek Dr. | Omaha
Tiburon Golf Club | 10302 South 168 Street | Omaha varied levels available | 402-502-3572 | www.ucpnebraska.org
$1,250 for a Foursome 402-343-4550 | www.CHIhealthfoundation.com
May 12
June 12
6:00 PM
11:30 AM – 1 PM
MAN & wOMAN OF THE YEAR GRANd FINALE Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
TRIBUTE TO wOMEN Women’s Center for Advancement (WCA)
Embassy Suites Conference Center – La Vista
The Marriott Downtown at the Capitol District
$150/person (tables of 10 available) 402-344-2242 | www.lls.org/nebraska
Pricing unavailable 402-345-6555 | wcaomaha.org 76
mquarterly • SPrING 2018
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LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE ORGANIZATIONS IN THE GIVING GUIDE 2018!
DON’T MISS these February 10
6:00 PM –10:00 PM
SwING UNdER THE wINGS Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum | 28210 West Park Highway | Ashland $75 | 402-944-3100 | http://sacmuseum.org/
February 24 5:00 PM –9:30 PM
5TH ANNUAL TEAM JACk FOUNdATION GALA PRESENTEd BY FAT BRAIN TOYS Team Jack Foundation The Embassy Suites Hotel | 1040 P Street | Lincoln $2,650 | 402-925-2120 | www.teamjackfoundation.org
February 24 – 25 9:00 AM –4:00 PM
I LOvE MY dOG ExPO Domesti-PUPS Lancaster Event Center | Pavillion I | 84th & Havelock Avenue | Lincoln Admission: $8; children under 10 (& dogs) are FREE 402-465-4201 | www.ilovemydogexpo.com
March 1 7:30 AM –4:00 PM
YP SUMMIT Greater Omaha Chamber CenturyLink Center Omaha | 455 N. 10th St. | Omaha Early Bird Ticket: $150 (First 200 tickets sold.) Single Ticket: $175 402-346-5000 | www.OmahaChamber.org/Events
March 4 9:00 AM –11:30 AM
14TH ANNUAL wALk & ROLL FOR dISABILITIES Meyer Foundation for Disabilities Oak View Mall | 3001 S 144th Street | 2nd Floor Food Court | Omaha $30 for short sleeve tshirt | $35 for long sleeve tshirt 402-979-6591 | www.mfdisabilities.org
March 18 4:00 PM –7:30 PM
CELEBRATION OF SPIRIT dINNER Notre Dame Sisters St. Robert Bellarmine Social Hall | 1802 Pacific St | Omaha $85 per person / $680 per table | 402-455-2994 | www.notredamesisters.org
March 24 6:00 PM –9:30 PM
CELEBRATING COMMUNITY OTOC Omaha Together One Community Kaneko | 1111 Jones St | Omaha $25 Advance Ticket; $30 at the Door | 402-616-9189 | www.otoc.org 77
mquarterly • SPrING 2018
coNtINued
73-80-STD-218-SMALL-REDO.qxp_- 2/2/18 2:59 PM Page 78
The information in this section appears as supplied to us by the organizations presented. ALH Publications, Inc. accepts no responsibility for the accuracy or integrity of any of the information provided. Please double-check for updated details with event organizers.
community CALENDAR
Learn more details about any of these events by searching our extensive Community Calendar at mQUARTERLY’s website: http://www.SpiritofOmaha.com/Metro-Magazine/Community/Calendar/
save the date
CONNECT with over 100 nonprofits and learn more about their mission and how you can help! Order your copy of The Giving Guide & Event Book 2018 today at mQUARTERLY’s SpiritofOmaha.com.
April 7
May 4
5:00 PM –9:00 PM
CREIGHTON ATHLETICS LEAdERS FOR LIFE LUNCHEON Wayne and Eileen Ryan Athletic Center at Creighton
11:30 AM –1:00 PM
THE HEART OF CAMP GALA Carol Joy Holling Camp Embassy Suites Conference Center – La Vista | 12520 Westport Parkway | La Vista $100 | 402-944-2544 | www.caroljoyholling.org/gala
Ryan Athletic Center/ D.J. Sokol Arena 701 Florence Blvd | Omaha $105 | 402-280-5577 | http://gocreighton.com/athleticevents
April 13
May 17 4:00 PM –6:00 PM
5:00 PM –9:30 PM
BUSINESS ExCELLENCE AwARdS Greater Omaha Chamber
kICkS FOR A CURE First National Bank of Omaha Embassy Suites Conference Center – La Vista | 12520 Westport Parkway | La Vista Banquet ticket - $125 | 402-210-9446 | http://www.kicksforacure.org
Embassy Suites Conference Center – La Vista Single Ticket: $35 (Member) VIP Table: $850 (Member) 402-346-5000 | www.OmahaChamber.org/Events
April 14
June 10
7:00 AM –10:30 AM
7:00 AM –12:00 PM
kEEP kIdS ALIvE dRIvE 25 LIvE FORwARd! RUN-wALk TO REMEMBER Keep Kids Alive Drive 25
BLAzING TRAILS FOR BRAIN INJURY RACE/wALk/ROLL Brain Injury Alliance of Nebraska
Skutt High School | 3131 S. 156 St. | Omaha $30 thru 2/28 | $35 thru 3/31 | $40 thru 4/10 | $45 day of 402-334-1391 | www.KKAD25.org
Zorinsky Lake Park – Shelter 5 3808 South 154th St | Omaha $35 per person | 402-304-8103 | http://runsignup.com/Race/NE/Omaha/BlazingTrailsforBrainInjury
April 17
June 13 5:30 PM –8:30 PM
6:00 PM –9:00 PM
HOPS FOR HARMONY
OMAHA BUSINESS HALL OF FAME GALA Greater Omaha Chamber
Papillion Area Lions Club | Werner Park 12356 Ballpark Way | Papillion $40 in advance and $50 at the door | 531-301-5010 | www.projectharmony.com
Holland Performing Arts Center | 1200 Douglas St. | Omaha Single Ticket: $250 | 402-346-5000 | www.OmahaChamber.org/Events
June 15
April 18
7:00 AM –4:00 PM
11:30 AM –1:00 PM
BUSINESS ON THE GREEN Greater Omaha Chamber
AT EASE USA ANNUAL LUNCHEON CenturyLink Center Omaha
Tiburon Golf Club Individual Player: $175 (Member) Foursome: $750 (Member) 402-346-5000 | www.OmahaChamber.org/Events
455 N. 10th Street | Omaha $50 per person | 402-689-7750 | www.ateaseusa.org
June 29
April 19
11:00 AM –8:00 PM
6:00 PM –9:00 PM
ALS IN THE HEARTLANd 2018 GOLF CLASSIC ALS in the Heartland
NIGHT OF INSPIRING HOPE Fresh Hope for Mental Health Embassy Suites in the Old Market | 555 S. 10th Street | Omaha $100 | 402-932-3089 | www.nightofinspiringhope.com
TBA | Please visit www.alsintheheartland.org for more info & regular updates. 402-592-2374 | www.alsintheheartland.org
April 28
July 22
8:00 AM –11:00 AM
8:00 AM –11:00 AM
BCAN wALk TO ENd BLAddER CANCER Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN)
HEAd FOR THE CURE 5k RUN/wALk - OMAHA Head for the Cure Foundation
Chalco Hills Recreation Area | 8901 South 154th St | Omaha $25 Adults | $5 Children (under 18 years) | 301-215-9099 | http://www.bcan.org
Lewis & Clark Landing | 345 Riverfront Drive | Omaha $15 - $40 | (816) 218-6876 | http://www.headforthecure.org/omaha
May 4
September 6
11:30 AM –1:00 PM
5:00 PM –9:00 PM
BREw HAHA: A BENEFIT FOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF OMAHA
2018 wOMEN'S POwER LUNCHEON Habitat for Humanity of Omaha
Stinson Park at Aksarben Village | 2285 S. 67th St. | Omaha $50 in advance (General Admission); $100 (Patron Party) 402-884-5957 | http://habitatomaha.org/brewhaha/
Hilton Omaha | 1001 Cass Street | Omaha $75 | 402-884-5957 78
mquarterly • SPrING 2018
73-80-STD-218-SMALL-REDO.qxp_- 2/6/18 1:01 PM Page 79
RESERVE YOUR SPACE EARLY & SAVE!
Connect@SpiritofOmaha.com
recruit us TO MAKE YOUR walk/run ONE OF OUR
M.A.D. 25 EVENTS
don’t miss this:
The Giving Guide & The Event Book 2019 Email “TGGEB19 EARLY BIRD!” to CONNECT@SpiritofOmaha.com
BLUE JE
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receive priority promotion in our
sAve the DAte and scene departments in every issue of
mQuArterly prior to and following your important events receive priority promotion on our
For more information visit: nebraska.wish.org
sociAl MeDiA sites such as our fAceBooK page receive priority promotion for your run/walk events with our
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• Be a part of something
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101 Things to Love about the metro™ includes fabulous places to dine, great places to shop and fun things to do, and living well in the Omaha Metro area. We want to include YOUR FABULOUS PLACE! •
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TOP REASONS TO LOVE OMAHA!
Email “SEND 101 Info!” to Sales@SpiritofOmaha.com or TEXT “SEND 101” to 402.208.4591 to learn more! • Distribution begins in June 2018 and runs through May 2019
Email Subject: “TGGEB19 EARLY BIRD!” 79
mQuArterly • sprinG 2018
continueD
73-80-STD-218-SMALL-REDO.qxp_- 2/2/18 2:59 PM Page 80
THE power OF COMMUNITY SERVICE
andee hoig
A SPEAKER WITH inspiration AND impact!
TAKE YOUR ORGANIZATION’S community service EFFORTS TO the next level!
“
ANDEE IS AN enthusiastic AND knowledgeable SPEAKER. ANDEE’S EXPERIENCE IN WORKING WITH BOTH THE NONPROFIT AND CORPORATE SECTORS OVER THE past 25 years WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING OUR AGENTS LEARN innovative WAYS TO TAKE THEIR COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES TO THE next level. GIVING BACK IS A must FOR EVERY BUSINESS AND ANDEE delivers WHEN IT COMES TO HELPING ORGANIZATIONS CREATE AND implement STRATEGIC GIVING PLANS AND NONPROFIT PARTNERSHIPS.
”
~ MIKE RIEDMANN PreSIdeNt, NP dodGe reSIdeNtIal SaleS dIvISIoN
• Devise a fresh new approach to step up your community involvement and impact • Create and implement a powerful giving strategy • Connect with the community with greater purpose and impact Andee will show you how to connect with the community on a deeper level, and create greater impact in the community while creating an exceptional giving culture that engages employees and clients through THE power OF COMMUNITY SERVICE!
“
I believe THAT BUSINESSES & ORGANIZATIONS (BOTH LARGE AND SMALL) HAVE AN incredible OPPORTUNITY TO create THE GREATEST impact IN BUILDING STRONG COMMUNITIES THROUGH GIVING BACK. I LOOK FORWARD TO serving YOU AS YOU SERVE OTHERS .
”
~ ANDREA ‘ANDEE’ HOIG PreSIdeNt & ceo, alh PuBlIcatIoNS, INc.
to speak to both large and small audiences or provide one-on-one consulting. • Andee Tois available learn more or to schedule your event with Andee call: 402-706-8260 or Email: ahoig@spiritofomaha.com Request a full bio with all of Andee’s speaking topics
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