Aug/Sept 08 - Her Magagzine

Celebrating, Empowering, Inspiring... the Women of Omaha.

WOrking FrOm hOme Perfect Plan or a Workaholic Trap?

have a Summer Party

With an Asian Flair

Fashion Faux Pas the Blousy Blouse

August/September 2008 • www.heromaha.com

Omaha magazine • 5921 S. 118th CirCle • Omaha, ne 68137 PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID OMAHA MAGAZINE LTD

In suppOrt Of:

Complimentary, Take and Share

We turned a boy who couldn’t eat broccoli into one who wouldn’t eat broccoli.

When Caleb Parker turned seven, his body refused to process many foods. His pain, weight loss and complications led the family to Dr. Thomas Attard and a team of gastroenterology specialists at Children’s Hospital in Omaha. The diagnosis was Crohn’s Disease, a condition in which the immune system attacks the digestive tract. Diet consultation, medications and bone health assessments allowed Caleb to return to school and eat normally. You might say we made even broccoli

a little easier to digest.

Visit ChildrensOmaha.org for information on how Children’s Hospital can help your child. For a pediatrician, family physician or pediatric specialist, call 1.800.833.3100.

in this issue

August/September 2008, Volume 7 / Issue 4

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letter FrOm the editOr

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health NEW TECHNOLOGIES: Diagnosing and Treating Ovarian Cancer

Celebrating, Empowering, Inspiring... the Women of Omaha. published by

omaha magazine, ltd

Omaha'S Big give Non-Profit Profiles

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Beauty g.i. Cream bentle enough for a woman but made for a man

publisher

todd lemke

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a letter FrOm the girl SCOutS SPirit OF neBraSka

editor

sandy lemke assistant editor

61

a letter FrOm yWCa Omaha

linda persigehl

on th

matt jensen photography by

Now : check out heR MagaziNe oNliNe. usiNg

minorwhite studios (bill sitzmann & scott drickey)

flipbook techNology to give you a whole New MagaziNe ReadiNg expeRieNce.

contributors

suzanne smith arney judy gilliard susan meyers girl scouts ywca

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FOOd COver Take Some Tips From Tokyo!

art director/graphic design

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FaShiOn Faux PaS

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COmmunity

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account executives

gwen lemke • vick i voet greg bruns • jessica buckley alicia smith for advertising information

(402) 884-2000 Send $9.95 for a one-year subscription (six issues) to P.O. Box 461208, Papillion, NE 68046-1208. www.heromaha.com Comments? Story Ideas?

Send your letter to the editor: letters@heromaha.com Her Magazine is a community magazine. A special community of women. Please enjoy and share your issue of Her. Our advertisers make Her possible. So make sure to thank and support them as often as you can. Do you know a woman role model, mentor, activist, leader, artist, business owner, model, adventurer, survivor, or volunteer?

Let us know and we may share her story with the Her community of women. Her is your magazine; for the women of Metropolitan Omaha.

Blousy Blouses

Mi Casa, Mi Office

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52

her aPPrOved

Feature

Women's Suffrage

Lasses On The Links

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Beauty

art

august/september 2008

Owned and managed by Omaha Magazine, LTD Her Magazine is published bi-monthly by Omaha Magazine, LTD, P.O. Box 461208, Omaha, NE 68046. No whole or part of the contents herein may be reproduced without prior written permission of Omaha Magazine, LTD, excepting individually copyrighted articles and photographs. Unsolicited manuscripts are accepted, however no responsibility will be assumed for such solicitations.

EYE Want Dramatic Lashes!

Diane Mattern

On the COver: Taylor Tracy and Tori Tracy of Agency 89 Model & Talent Management; Photo by Scott Drickey www.heromaha.com

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editor’sletter

EDiTOr: SaNDy LEMkE

Dear Readers,

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his issue is full of interesting reading so I won’t keep you. Make sure you dig in to the Omaha’s Big Give profiles of area charities. Inside are opportunities of how you can “Pay It Forward!” Summer is a great time to get into the volunteer spirit. Here you can review dozens of ideas of how you and your family can make a difference.

We all have our favorite little boutique and Pilates class and girls night out and hair care products mecca. Now HER Magazine has a fun, short ballot for our picks. See page 49 for more about the HER APPROVED ballot. We’ll publish the results in an upcoming issue!

Make plans NOW to attend an event that will help you accomplish 5 things. 1) Get out and support The Durham Museum. 2) Get your holiday shopping done in early November. 3) Get a free subscription to HER Magazine. 4) Have fun with your girlfriends. This should be #1! 5) Get holiday entertaining and cooking tips from experts and so, much more! It’s the Holiday for HER event November 6 at The Durham Museum. See the announcement on the inside back cover! I know it’s early but I want you all to mark your calendars, iCals, Blackberries, whatever it takes. Let’s all go!

Great news in our health article: new technologies in ovarian cancer screening and treatment are giving hope to patients such as Donna Behlen of Lincoln, a four-year cancer survivor. Behlen has turned her experience into a one-woman crusade to help other women learn the symptoms of this disease and raise awareness among medical professionals. Get all the scoop on this important health news on page 7.

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STOry By SUSaN MEyErS PhOTOS By MiNOrwhiTE STUDiOS

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Outlook Brightens for Ovarian Cancer Early symptoms often confused with GI problems

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Women’s Health, a partner of The Nebraska Medical Center. “Today we have better chemotherapies, new regimens like targeted therapies and better surgical techniques to treat ovarian cancer.”

Behlen, now a four-year survivor of the disease, has turned her brush with cancer into a crusade to help other women become familiar with the symptoms of the disease. Behlen is president of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition of Nebraska, which works to educate and raise an awareness of ovarian cancer among women and medical professionals.

“The early symptoms of ovarian cancer are often so vague and diffuse that it can be hard to diagnose and often times is attributed to irritable bowel syndrome,” says Behlen. continued on page 9

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august/september 2008

hen Donna Behlen of Lincoln went to her internist with complaints of bloating and stomach pain, she was not prepared for the news she was about to hear. A CAT scan revealed that Behlen had ovarian cancer, a gynecological cancer that is far less common than breast cancer, but can be much more fatal.

However, thanks to medical advances and earlier detection, women with ovarian cancer, are now living longer than ever before, leading many medical experts to now call it a chronic condition. “Many patients are living for five to 10 years or more with the disease in a chronic state,” says Steven Remmenga, MD, gynecological oncologist at The Nebraska Medical Center, who sees patients at the Olson Center for

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health As a tumor grows in an ovary, it exerts pressure on the bowel, bladder and other organs in the abdominal area and may cause some vague symptoms that can be easily confused with other conditions.

These include: abdominal pain or swelling, bloating, frequent urination, constipation or diarrhea, indigestion, a feeling of pressure in your pelvis, unexplained weight loss or gain, a feeling of fullness even after a light meal, abnormal bleeding from your vagina and painful intercourse. “Any uncomfortable symptoms in the abdomen and pelvis area that last a week or more should be checked out by your physician,” says Noelle Gillette Cloven, MD, gynecological oncologist at Nebraska Methodist Health System.

Early detection is a woman’s best chance for a positive outcome.

While the odds of developing ovarian cancer are slim -- approximately one in 70 women will develop ovarian cancer compared to one in eight for breast cancer, more women will die of ovarian cancer than all gynecological cancers combined. The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 21,650 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2008 and 15,520 women will die of the disease.

Unfortunately, there are no standard screenings available to reliably detect ovarian cancer early. If suspicious symptoms persist, screening for ovarian cancer should include a physical examination, including thorough breast and pelvic examinations, a mammogram, abdominalpelvis ultrasound scans and a CA-125 blood test. A CA-125 blood test may detect a protein antigen that is often found at high levels in women with ovarian cancer, however it produces many false positive results and is not considered a reliable screening tool. In fact,none of these tests are nearly as sensitive as physicians would like, missing

dr. noelle gillette Cloven, gynecological oncologist at nebraska methodist health System.

continued on next page

Focusing on women’s health.

Methodist Health System is the leader in women’s health services—from Methodist Hospital, the place that delivers more babies than any other in the region, to the comprehensive breast health care at Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center and Jennie Edmundson Hospital, to Methodist Physicians Clinic Women’s Center, the largest and most experienced OB/GYN practice in the area. Building has already begun Methodist Health on the new Methodist Women’s Hospital, an entire facility and medical System is proud to be a member of campus devoted expressly to care for women. Methodist Health System Spirit of Women, offers a wide-ranging list of women’s health services. But in each corner of devoted to helping women lead the system, you’ll find that the focus is one important aspect of treating healthier lives. patients—The meaning of care.

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Dr. Linda Sing Radiology Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center

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august/september 2008

The meaning of care.

9

health

dr. henry lynch, Creighton university medical Center

one-third of early ovarian tumors, says Remmenga.

Ovarian cancer generally develops after menopause and in women older than 60. Approximately 10 percent of cases appear to have a link to family history and genetics, while the remaining 90 percent often have no clear link. Other risk factors may include late menopause, women who have never been pregnant or have given birth to their first child late in life. A history of ovarian or breast cancer may also increase your risk. Long-time use of oral contraceptives may offer protection by as much as 40 to 50 percent, says Dr. Cloven. Giving birth to one or more children before the age of 30 and breast-feeding may also reduce your risk.

Genetics counseling should be sought by women who have a strong family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer in a first degree relative—mother, sister or daughter—or more than one second or third degree relative, says Henry Lynch, MD, geneticist and medical oncologist at Creighton University Medical Center. Depending on their cancer pedigree and the results of counseling, these women may consider being tested for mutations in cancer-associated genes, such as the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Women who carry the BRCA1 gene have a 40 to 60 percent chance of developing ovarian cancer while women with the BRCA2 gene carry a 15 to 20 percent risk of developing ovarian cancer, says Lynch.

Genetics has also been found to have an impact in women who have hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer, also known as Lynch syndrome – named after Henry Lynch who discovered the link.

Approximately 12 to 15 percent of women with Lynch syndrome will develop ovarian cancer, says Lynch.

Women found to carry a genetic mutation, should consider having continued on page 13

august/september 2008

From treatment of illness and minor injuries to regular check-ups and preventive care, Creighton Family Healthcare board certified physicians provide expert care. Best of all, we’re in your neighborhood and appointments often can be scheduled the same or next day. Evening and weekend hours available by appointment.

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Dundee 119 North 51st Street 402.449.5960

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To schedule an appointment, call the clinic conveniently located near you.

Most insurance plans accepted. www.heromaha.com

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health prophylactic surgery, says Dr. Lynch. This refers to removing targeted organs even before cancer is found as a preventive measure in highrisk individuals. For ovarian cancer, this involves the removal of the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes once a woman has passed her childbearing years. “Prophylactic surgery is 90 to 95 percent successful in terms of preventing ovarian cancer,” says Lynch.

“Getting a trained specialist in gynecologic oncology is very important when it comes to treatment of ovarian cancer,” says Dr. Remmenga. “Having your surgery done right the first time can dramatically increase your survival and outcome. For instance, for every 10 percent of tumor removed, there is an additional 5.5 percent increase in survival time.”

A gynecologic oncologist has advanced training and board certification in the field of gynecologic oncology and is specially trained to detect and treat ovarian cancer. Proper staging of ovarian cancer is critical, as surgery needs to be very aggressive from the beginning.

Statistics show that patients treated by gynecological oncologists have the highest survival rates.

Behlen, whose cancer was found in stage three, underwent a complete hysterectomy performed by Cloven. This was followed by six weeks of chemotherapy and an additional 12 rounds of maintenance chemotherapy.

As a four-year survivor, Behlen says she feels blessed. “I’m still here and I’m still fighting,” she says. “Now it’s time for me to give back.”

Behlen says her work with the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition gives her a sense of purpose and personal satisfaction. “It helps me

to help other people,” says Behlen. “Everyone was there for me, so I want to provide that support for others who need it.”Behlen lists her personal number on the coalition website: www.ovarian.org, to offer herself as a source for other women who need to talk to someone.

The Nebraska chapter of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition is sponsoring a walk to raise awareness of ovarian cancer scheduled for Sept. 20, 9 a.m., at Zorinsky Lake. To learn more about “The Walk to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer,” go to www.ovarian.org. H

dr. Steven remmenga, gynecological oncologist at the nebraska medical Center who sees patients at the Olson Center for Women’s health.

Specialized Women’s Care

designed with you in mind.

As a woman, you know that nothing is more important than good health. And when it comes to taking care of you, no one offers you more personalized care than the Olson Center for Women’s Health.

Remember, annual checkups are the best way to safeguard your health. For an appointment or more information, please call 1.888.898.8662 today or go to www.OlsonCenter.com

august/september 2008

Specialists in every aspect of gynecologic care are located in a beautiful environment expressly designed for your comfort and privacy. From routine exams and reproductive health to infertility and incontinence issues and gynecologic cancer, you’ll see nationally known physicians who specialize in your particular condition because the Olson Center is part of UNMC Physicians, leaders in medicine.

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F

IC SP RGAN KIN O Y R T YOUR S R FOR SUMME THIS

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C & J PhotograPhy

Big givers:

Melissa Murante

it’s all about the girls! Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska is a place where girls share fun times with friends, old and new, and the focus is always on what girls need and want. it’s a place where every girl, age 5 – 17, will find a sense of belonging and can be herself in a safe and nurturing environment.

Through the experience of fun and educational programs, camping, field trips and many other statewide troop activities, girls work together with caring adults and discover that they have the ability to succeed.

Girl Scouting also encourages social conscience and service to the community. By planning and carrying out projects that benefit their communities and other people, girls learn that they have the compassion and ability to make a difference in the world. we are proud that Melissa Murante (pictured) serves as chief development officer for Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska. her many years in fund development, her history as a born and bred Nebraska girl, and her commitment to the Girl Scout mission, make her the perfect ambassador to our volunteers and donors throughout the state.

Our Mission: Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

Pay it forward: Generous supporters, like you, make the difference in the lives of so many. your gift to Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska will help our girls reach their full potential to become the leaders of tomorrow and will strengthen programs to ensure the level of excellence that we offer each of our Girl Scout members. if you have only the gift of time, keep in mind that volunteers are the heart and soul of Girl Scouting and time can be the greatest contribution. No matter what you have to share, your gift can change the life of a girl.

For more information contact: mmurante@girlscoutsnebraska.org, 402.558.8189, ext. 206. www.girlscoutsnebraska.org

Brag Lines: This year Girl Scouts merged all five existing councils in Nebraska forming the new: Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska, the largest girl serving organization in the state. with more than 17,000 girl and 6,000 adult members in 92 Nebraska counties (and Carter Lake, iowa), we are reaching girls in every community from the Pan handle to the Missouri river. we are here to meet the needs of girls in today’s fast changing world, providing them the tools to be successful leaders – now and throughout their lives. www.heromaha.com

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The Stephen Center

2723 Q Street • Omaha, NE 68107 402-731-0238

Stephen Center Emergency Shelter The Emergency Shelter at the Stephen Center works with homeless men, women and children. as the area’s only dry shelter, sobriety and a drug-free environment are the hallmarks of this program. The Emergency Shelter provides a gateway to a variety of supportive services including the opportunity to enroll in the Stephen Center hErO Substance abuse Treatment Program or Transitional Living opportunities. Our emergency shelter houses as many as 20-25 children and their mothers at any one time as well as up to 40 men and 20 single women. Each person is treated with dignity and respect as Stephen Center staff and volunteers work with each person individually to develop and implement a plan for success in emerging from homelessness and regaining a healthy and happy life of independence from drugs and alcohol.

Big givers: The Stephen Center partners with the community, families, and individuals to overcome homelessness, addiction and poverty.

Stephen Center, inc. has served the homeless and low-income men, women and children in Omaha since 1984. Founded by Sharon and Dick McNeil who were determined to focus on the particular needs of the poor in south Omaha. with the help of many friends and volunteers they opened Stephen Center in a building that had been a former bar with a colorful history. Stephen Center is the only “dry” emergency shelter in Omaha, focusing on assisting those who have made a commitment to overcome the life destroying effects of drugs and alcohol. Stephen Center operates three distinct programs: Stephen Center Emergency Shelter, Stephen Center hErO Program and Stephen Center Transitional Living Program. Del Bomberger has served as Executive Director of Stephen Center since September of 2002. Organizational oversight is provided by the Stephen Center Board of Directors led by Board President Tom Friehe and is supported by the Stephen Center Guild led by Guild Chair kim Christensen.

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www.heromaha.com

Stephen Center Hero Program â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Help, Hope, Heroes housed in the recently constructed John L. hoich Center for recovery, the hErO program is a state-licensed substance abuse treatment center. Treatment and residence in the hErO program is extremely affordable making access to treatment available to a wide variety of men and women. This evidenced-based, twelve-step supported program provides a wide array of treatment opportunities that go far beyond simple 28 days recovery programs. Clients have the opportunity to remain in the program for as long as necessary while regaining employment, re-establishing family relationships and preparing themselves for lifetimes of sobriety and drug-free success. The program recognizes the need for and provides treatment options for those with a co-occurring mental illness as well. hErO program staff work closely with families, drug-courts and other professionals providing additional services to clients. hErO graduates have the opportunity to apply for housing in the Stephen Center Transitional Living Program where they can live for up to 24 months while fine-tuning their newly acquired life skills in a supportive environment.

Board of Directors: Tom Friehe Board President Sally Sapikoski President Elect Mary Hawkins Board Secretary Tim Paymal Board Treasurer Del Bomberger Executive Director Kim Christensen Guild President Reba Benschoter James Frost

James L. Hanson Shawntell Hurtgen Mary Rahal Ken Shimek Jim Steier, Jr. Troy Wilhelm Father Carl Zoucha

Pay it forward: A list of urgently needed items is maintained on the Stephen Center website at www.stephencenter.org. A call to Bev Hoschar at 715-5442 can provide an interested individual with information regarding getting involved at the Stephen Center in a volunteer capacity. Financial donations of any size are always welcomed and can be made via the website or by sending them to Stephen Center at 2723 Q Street, Omaha, NE 68107.

www.heromaha.com

17

4939 So. 118th St. (402) 451-0787 www.nchs.org

Little girl touching NCHS sign outside of Durham location Taylor Focht at Sand in the City volunteering

Models at our Babes in Toyland Holiday Fashion Show organized by the NCHS Family Guild

Big givers:

NCHS Executive Director, Karen Authier

Since 1893, Nebraska Children’s home Society (NChS) has provided safe and loving care to over 20,000 children. The private, non-sectarian, non-profit organization continues its dedication to children and families by providing statewide adoption services, pregnancy services, lifelong education and support services for pregnancy clients, birth parents, adoptive parents and children adopted through NChS. in addition, Nebraska Children’s home Society provides foster care in the Omaha area as well as early childhood programs.

Nebraska Children’s home Society has 10 offices located across the state with two in Omaha with their main office on 4939 S. 118th Street. NChS Executive Director is karen authier.

One of the most unique aspects of Nebraska Children’s home Society is that they are the only agency in the nation that does not charge fees for any of their adoption services. This is because NChS considers the child their main client. The organization is only able to continue their adoption services at no charge through the generous support of the community.

Pay it forward:

Omahan’s can help continue the mission of Nebraska Children’s home Society by supporting one of their upcoming events: • HomeGrown on October 17th – Wine & Beer Tasting, Photo Exhibit at Nomad organized by the B.R.A.N.C.H. (Building Revenue & Awareness for Nebraska Children’s home) Board of NChS. • Babes in Toyland Family Fashion Show – December 4th • Sand in the City® 2008 – Join the committee or put a corporate team together!

For upcoming special events, please contact kathleen al-Marhoon, Special Events Manager at 451-0787 or kalmarhoon@nchsfoundation.org. we also have a great need for volunteers to help during the office hours with administrative help. we are looking for individuals that can come in on a weekly/ monthly basis. For more information, contact the NChS Foundation at 451-0787.

Donate through your time, talent and treasures!

Brag Lines: NChS is excited to announce that they are celebrating their 115th anniversary this year on September 1, 2008.

Our largest fundraising event of the year is our Sand in the City® event held at Miller’s Landing on the Omaha Riverfront during the first weekend in June. The 3-day event consists of a 20-team corporate sand sculpting contest where teams build 15-ton sand sculptures, Sand Blast Preview Party and a family fun weekend open to the public on Saturday and Sunday. The event raised more than $90,000 for Nebraska Children’s home Society this year!

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www.heromaha.com

10831 Old Mill Rd. #400 330-2449 BigOmaha.org

Big givers: Big Brothers Big Sisters is changing how children grow up in our community. Big Brothers Big Sisters is the oldest and largest youth mentoring organization in the United States, and has been transforming lives in the Omaha/Council Bluffs metro area for nearly 50 years. The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands (BBBSM) is to help children reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships with measurable impact. The majority of the children are from single-parent families where the father is absent through abandonment, death, or incarceration.

BBBSM is an incorporated 501(c) 3 organization that is a local affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of america and provides long-term mentoring services to at-risk youth, ages 7-17, in the seven counties of the Omaha/Council Bluffs metro area. The agency serves boys and girls on a one-to-one basis and matches each with a trained and fully screened mentor. Last year 1,885 children had a Big Brother, Big Sisters, or Big Couple through BBBSM’s school-based and community-based mentoring programs.

Nancy Thompson, CEO/Executive Director is the face of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands.

Pay it forward:

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands hopes to serve 10 percent of the at-risk youth in our service area by 2010 with quality, one-to-one mentoring. in order to increase the number of children served while maintaining program quality, Big Brothers Big Sisters needs more volunteers, especially men, and monetary contributions so Big Brothers Big Sisters can support the Bigs, Littles, and parents involved in our programs. Big Brothers Big Sisters also needs advocates to encourage others to become involved and support mentoring in our community.

Brag Lines:

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands was selected as Big Brothers Big Sisters agency of the year for mid-sized agencies at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of america national conference in 2007.

Thousands of children in the Omaha/Council Bluffs metro area have benefited from the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program. Big Brothers Big Sisters nationally researched mentoring program has proven positive outcomes. research reveals that children with Big Brothers and Big Sisters stay in school, stay away from drugs and crime, and don’t become teen parents. having a special friend and mentor who is a role model for them adds an additional caring adult to help them grow up to lead happy and healthy lives.

Upcoming events include the following: Friends of Mentoring Luncheon Featuring Dr. John C. Maxwell on September 16, 2008 Bowl for kids’ Sake-annually in april/May Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands 50th anniversary activities throughout 2009 www.heromaha.com

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Siena/Francis House Homeless Shelter 1702 Nicholas Street • Omaha, NE 68102 402.341-1821 www.sienafrancis.org

Big givers: Founded in 1975, the Siena/Francis House is Nebraska’s largest shelter, with two facilities at 17th & Nicholas Streets in downtown Omaha. We provide emergency overnight shelter to men, women and children, as well as food to the homeless through our Meal Provider Program, clothing, and outreach services through our Day Services Program.

Exercising a policy of unconditional acceptance, the Siena/Francis house is dedicated to providing all of our services to the homeless with respect and dignity, including those viewed as “most difficult to serve”— the chronically addicted and mentally ill homeless persons who may not currently be in treatment or taking medication. all of our services are provided at no cost to our guests.

The mission of the Siena/Francis house is directed toward a concern and care of the poor following the example of the scriptures. This mission extends beyond merely answering physical needs to the acceptance and affirmation of the human person, the creation of an atmosphere of hospitality, and the provision of purpose and meaning in the lives of people who struggle for survival.

Siena/Francis is a 501 (C)(3), tax-exempt organization, led by Executive Director Mike Saklar.

Pay it forward:

The Siena/Francis house and the services we provide are only made possible because of the generous financial support from individuals and families from our community. This is the most common way for Omahans to help us care for the homeless of our community. also, our evening dinner is prepared and served by volunteers from our community. we are always looking for volunteers to help in this capacity.

Brag Lines: The Siena/Francis house operates the State’s largest in-patient addiction recovery program, our “Miracles”Treatment Center. we recently completed construction of a facility addition, which substantially increased our capacity to provide emergency shelter beds for men. By the end of the 2008 summer, we will also have completed a facility renovation of our older facility, which will double the number of beds available in our women’s and children’s emergency shelter and double the number of beds available in our women’s addiction recovery program. in 2007, the Siena/Francis house served 312,436 meals and provided 128,670 nights of shelter to nearly 6,000 persons and families. also in 2007, our staff helped 177 men, women, and families attain housing. and we know that the vast majority of these persons and families are still in their homes today.

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www.heromaha.com

Open Door Mission 2828 N 23rd E • Omaha, NE 68110 402-829-1505 www.opendoormission.org

Big givers: Since 1954, Open door mission has been extending an open door to hungry and homeless men, women, and children in the heartland. Society’s most vulnerable are offered nutritious food and quality care without expectation or exception.

Candace Gregory, Open door mission’s President/CEO, is a national advocate for the homeless. She uses her extensive experience in community prevention programs to help end the cycle of homelessness and poverty. Candace longs to build a bridge of hope to others, and develops innovative ways to make it happen through partnerships and collaborations.

Pay it forward:

Nearly 90 percent of all funding comes from individuals. Eighty- two cents of every dollar donated to Open door mission’s general fund is used toward making positive changes the lives of men, women, and children. Please, visit www.opendoormission.org today to discover how life-changing opportunities can be found when you share your time, talent and treasure!

Brag Lines: Open door mission’s key programs include: • Emergency Services, offered to men, women, and children. These include safe shelter beds, nutritious meals, clean clothing, personal hygiene products, case management, and more.

• Recovery Services, are offered to men, women, and children. The New Life Recovery Program includes individual and family counseling, case management, chemical dependency evaluations, and addiction counseling, classes addressing life-skills, anger management, life-altering issues, GED preparedness, computer classes, and more. The Journey to work Program includes classes targeting basic skills needed for long-term employment preparation and success in the work place. Classes include GED readiness, interview and resume preparedness, work ethics, workplace issues, and vocational skills training.

• The Timberlake Outreach Center targets the working poor in our community and offers a wide variety of preventive measures designed to help struggling families remain in their homes. These measures are provided at no cost and include clothing, furniture, appliances and household goods, plus life-skills classes, GED readiness, ESL classes and case management.

• After-Care Programs and Permanent Supportive Housing provide additional stabilization for program graduates, and offer the supportive network needed to ensure long-term success for each person and family. an estimated 3,500 volunteer hours are logged every month at Open Door Mission! Many volunteers have been serving for years. They offer a variety of skills and abilities: teaching English as a second language, providing learning times for children, preparing and serving meals, landscaping, sorting donations, and working at handyman jobs around the campus. www.heromaha.com

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Boy Scouts of America Mid-America Council 12401 West Maple Road • Omaha, NE 68164 402.431.9BSA kkassebaum@mac-bsa.org • www.mac-bsa.org

Big givers: The mission of the Boy Scouts is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. Scout Oath: On my honor i will do my best, To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.

Scout Law: a Scout is: Trustworthy, Loyal, helpful, Friendly, Courteous, kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and reverent The Mid-america Council is proud to have over 33,700 upstanding young Scouts as their local representatives.

Lloyd E. roitstein is the Scout Executive/President.

Pay it forward:

help youth realize the exciting opportunities that await them in Scouts, and the life-long benefits that membership will bring. you can also contribute to the success of The Boy Scouts of america by supporting Scout charities that come your way, whether they are popcorn sales or Friends of Scouting donations. These contributions will benefit Omaha and surrounding cities for years to come. Volunteer. Let us know your skills and we can match them to one of our needs.

Brag Lines: The Mid-america Council has a strong tradition as one of the nation’s premier Scout Councils. The Council continues the tradition of instilling timeless values of character, citizenship and leadership through education-based skills and activities. Currently, there are over 33,700 Scouts and over 9,580 volunteer leaders throughout 58 counties in Nebraska, iowa and South Dakota. These Scouts and volunteers spend thousands of community service hours in contribution to our communities every year. Scout service projects include renovating and beautifying community structures and landscapes, collecting thousands of items of food for those in need and assisting other non-profit organizations.

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www.heromaha.com

Easter Seals Nebraska 638 North 109th Plaza 800-650-9880 www.ne.easterseals.com

Big givers: Easter Seals Nebraska (ESN) helps individuals with disabilities gain greater independence in their everyday lives and workplaces, and strives to ensure they have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play in their communities.

Easter Seals Nebraska is a terrific investment for philanthropists and business folks alike: • It uses donor dollars to draw additional funding into the state from federal sources, allowing it to grow and serve more individuals with disabilities.

• In many cases, it assists individuals with disabilities to get off taxpayer benefit systems (like Social Security Disability Insurance) and obtain gainful employment.

• It provides low interest loans to help Nebraskans with disabilities become more mobile and independent, again increasing employment outcomes.

Pay it forward:

People have usually heard of Easter Seals Nebraska, but they’re not always sure what it does or how they can help. here are some fun ways to support Nebraskans with disabilities through ESN:

• • • • • •

Attend/sponsor Easter Seals Nebraska’s Wine Event.

Help secure donations for auctions held at the Wine Event.

Participate in the Presidents Council Campaign ($1,000+).

Designate Easter Seals Nebraska through employee giving campaigns.

Join the Legacy Gift Program.

Cover costs for equipment modifications/assistive technology (AT) for farmers, ranchers or others with disabilities re-entering the workplace.

• Provide camp scholarships.

• Give a Lily Pin to all the women in your life (specify donations for large: $23, or small: $18).

• Collect Easter Seals Nebraska’s unique Precious Moments figurines.

• Volunteer for office or event duties.

• Donate needed items for camp.

Brag Lines: Our lending programs have provided over $1.5 million in low interest loans to qualified Nebraskans with disabilities for the purchase of aT devices and aT services, promoting opportunities to improve mobility and secure employment.

Our Camp, respite and recreation programs offer week-long summer camps and weekend respites for individuals with disabilities in an outdoor environment, providing a change in their normal daily routine, while affording family members a needed break.

Our Volunteer Leadership & Top Contributors: Chairman – John Herdzina, Abrahams Kaslow & Cassman LLP First Vice Chair – Larry McChesney, TSP architects/Engineers Treasurer – Patrick Lacy, Dutton & Associates P.C. Secretary – Dr. David ambrose, Univ. of Nebraska at Omaha Past Chairman – Steve robinson, First westroads Bank

Dr. Lynne Baldwin, Baldwin Hackett & Meeks, Inc. Jerry Banks, Lozier Corporation Mike Conrad, Nebraska knights of Columbus Jerry Crouse, Tenaska Larry Gomez, Omaha Chamber of Commerce Frank Hayes, Hayes & Associates

Shane Jacobsen, NP Dodge insurance Nizar Mamdani, Nebraska Medical Center Jack McSweeney, Century 21 Midlands andy Nelsen, aC Nelson Enterprises Steve ritzman, american National Bank Greg Schnackel, Schnackel Engineers, inc. www.heromaha.com

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Pregnant & Need Help?

EPS is only a phone call away

554-1000 We are here for you. h Pregnancy Tests h 24-Hour Hotline h Limited Medical Clinic h STD Screening h Counseling h Referrals h Material Resources h GED Program h Dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Program All FREE and confidential

6220 Maple Street Omaha, NE 68104 Office: 402-554-0121 www.essentialps.org

500 S. 20th Street 402-642-6164 www.ocm.org

Big givers: Omaha Children’s Museum is where children learn and grow through play. research shows that play is central to the cognitive, physical and emotion development of children. The museum provides a unique environment that is ideal for development – uninterrupted, self-directed play.

The mission of the museum is to engage imaginations and create excitement about learning. The museum is led by Executive Director Lindy J. hoyer, who has over 22 years of experience in the field of children’s museums.

Pay it forward:

Omahans can support Omaha Children’s Museum in a number of ways – by attendance, memberships, donations, volunteering or spreading the word about the museum’s mission.

The museum relies on cash donations to support programs and exhibits offered to the community. Sponsorships help in a variety of ways from providing funding for open labs to underwriting for nationally recognized traveling exhibits.

The most important way people can support the museum is to realize and promote the importance of play in the lives of children. it is critical that children are encouraged to develop socially, cognitively and physically through play. There’s no better place to do this than Omaha Children’s Museum!

For more information on Omaha Children’s Museum, please visit www.ocm.org.

Brag Lines: The museum features exhibit spaces and programs that make learning an interactive and fun experience for children and adults alike. Newly renovated permanent exhibit spaces include the Charlie Campbell Science & Technology Center, the Creative Arts Center and Imagination Playground.

In the Charlie Campbell Science & Technology Center, science comes to life with the Super Gravitron, Inventor’s Workshop and Science Showplace. The Creative Arts Center features endless creative opportunities with a wide range of arts activities including the artist-in-residence Studio. imagination Playground is an area designed especially for early learners, with a kid-sized grocery store, two-story farmhouse and fire-rescue area with water play.

Omaha Children’s Museum has grown immensely, with over 240,000 visitors each year and has garnered a number of awards, including a prestigious association of Science and Technology Centers Leading Edge award for visitor experience.

The museum also offers events for families with special needs. Carefree kids Nights bring families with children who have weakened immune systems to enjoy the museum for an evening of play in a clean, safe environment. autism Nights are a special time for families with an autistic child to explore the museum. The donor supported welcome Fund provides memberships to families who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford them. www.heromaha.com

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11620 M Circle 896-6331 www.safenebraska.org

A day at the Council’s Motorcycle Training Range

Sarpy County Sheriff Bike Patrol at CycleFest

Council’s fleet of driver’s education vehicles

Council holds a pilot class for national CPR program

Big givers: The unique mission of the National Safety Council, Greater Omaha Chapter (a non-profit, non-governmental 501 (c)(3) organization), is to promote safety and health by providing programs, resource services and education to reduce both the personal and economic loss associated with injuries, accidents and health hazards in the Greater Omaha area. we have a proven track record for planning, implementing, and evaluating health and safety programs and we annually train almost 50,000 individuals in more than 80 programs. accredited by the National Safety Council, the Council is annually recognized for excellent and innovative community safety programs. we received recognition for 10 programs in 2007, including a best performance for our pediatric first aid/CPr programs.

Through the leadership of the National Safety Council, Greater Omaha Chapter, our 5 county area was designated a Safe Community by the world health Organization (whO) on May 17, 2007. Greater Omaha was the 4th designation in the U.S. and the 113th in the world to receive this designation.

Our partners are government, law enforcement, firefighters, emergency services, health care, schools, businesses and residents in the area. it is all these partners together who make up this organization, which champions safety and health in Pottawattamie County in iowa and Douglas, Sarpy, washington, and Cass counties in Nebraska.

Led by a 52 member volunteer board of directors and president/CEO kay Farrell, a staff of 124 (102 are part-time instructors with education, skills and certifications that allow them to teach the wide range of courses from behind the wheel driver education to teens, motorcycles safety training, behavior modification programs, defensive driving programs, first aid/CPr, and occupational safety and health training) and hundreds of volunteers carry out the mission. Ultimately, the collective goal is to make Greater Omaha a safe place to live, work, learn and play.

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www.heromaha.com

Brag Lines: Our greatest thrill was to be able to have the Greater Omaha area recognized as a Safe Community by the world health Organization. This occurred because we have all the indicators in place to truly become a ‘Safe Community’ … we aspire to be a Safe Community. we have a ldeadership team in place to consider all aspects of safety; we have partners all across the community working on safety issues. in addition, it was amazing to learn that in Douglas County we’ve helped reduce motor vehicle crashes by 42 percent and resulting injuries by 47 percent since 1998. That’s amazing! it has taken a combination of engineering, enforcement and education.

The education part - that’s us. while we have three primary fundraisers — Golfing for Safety, Soiree, and Liberty Safety ride — it’s not uncommon that we would have 80 events within a month reaching our community through programs and events. They include: Driver’s Education, Family Safety Day, Safety and health Summit, Motorcycle Safety Classes, First aid/CPr, Traffic Safety, Behavior Modification, Child Passenger Safety, workers Compensation, Critical issues Breakfast Series, Movement improvement Tai Chi and others.

Ride participants at the Inaugural Liberty Safety Ride Families and volunteers enjoy Family Safety Day

Greater Omaha area receiving ‘Safe Community ‘ designation from the World Health Organization

Pay it forward:

Our wish would be for an injury-free world. working with our entire community — youth, the elderly, schools, parishes, businesses, health care organizations, government — we can save lives. Together we can concentrate on the biggest challenges at the moment: falls among youth and the elderly, car crashes that take the lives of our teens, and the growing injuries and fatalities for those who ride motorcycles. The entire community can help us get closer to an injury-free Omaha and surrounding areas, and eventually the world, by serving as a Council volunteer, providing financial support for our many programs, services and events, and by taking advantage of the safety education opportunities we make available to businesses and individuals.

Events: Soiree – October 3, 2008 (Embassy Suites, LaVista/Omaha) Event Description: Soiree’ (Safety Outreach: Investing in Resources for Essential Education), is an annual fundraising event for the National Safety Council, Greater Omaha Chapter featuring an evening of music and fine dining. The entertainer headlining this year’s event is Eddie Money, a rock singer and songwriter with a string of Top 40 and Platinum albums.

Soiree will benefit the F1rST program. “F1rST- Fall intervention reaching Seniors Together” is a community collaborative that is developing and presenting initiatives to reduce the trauma, injuries and deaths caused by falls in our older population. Statistical evidence predicts that one third of adults over 65 will fall each year. in our area that is 24,000 to 28,000. Of those who fall, 20 – 30% suffer moderate to severe injuries that reduce mobility and independence and increase the risk of premature death.

Family Safety Day -- October 5, 2008 Event Description: Family Safety Day is in observance of Fire Prevention week, but encompasses more areas of safety than fire safety. The event will focus on many areas of safety including bike and passenger safety, fall prevention, motorcycle/scooter safety and other areas of interest to families. The event is open to the public at no cost, and includes food, refreshments, games and entertainment. Family Safety Day will host a number of entertainers, one of which is the everpopular String Beans.

www.heromaha.com

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PO Box 45618-0618 • Omaha, NE 68145 • 402-203-0202 www.midwestheartconnection.com Leila Smith

Seth Guffey

Megan Connelly, executive director

Big givers:

Daniel Vance

Midwest heart Connection is a non-profit organization designed to provide information, resources and support to individuals with congenital heart disease (ChD) and their families. The group primarily serves Nebraska, and has approximately 300 members.

Founded by mothers of children with ChD, Midwest heart Connection is passionate about raising awareness of ChD so individuals understand the needs of those with ChD and increase funding for pediatric cardiology research. Together, we can help children with heart disease survive, live longer and lead an improved quality of life.

The members of Midwest heart Connection understand the physical, emotional and financial toll of seeing a loved one with congenital heart disease. For years, Midwest heart Connection has offered ChD patients -- young and old -- and their families hope and a helping hand as they navigate the medical maze of the No. 1 occurring birth defect.

Facts:

it is estimated that 40,000 babies with ChD are born in the United States each year.

ChD is the most frequently occurring birth defect, and is the leading cause of birth defect-related deaths. at least eight of every 1,000 infants born each year have a heart defect. That translates to an estimated 250 infants born with ChD each year in Nebraska.

Scientists have identified at least 35 different congenital heart defects. Chromosomal abnormalities, genetic predisposition and environmental factors are thought to play a role in their occurrence.

Brag Lines: Midwest heart Connection distributes surgery day care kits to every family at Children’s hospital whose child has heart surgery, has established a fund for research and support and has provided funding to the Children’s hospital staff for continuing education in pediatric cardiology. The group also has sponsored Tshirts for Camp Braveheart, donated funds for medical equipment needed to care for children with ChD and funded Children’s hospital’s Love Bugs program, designed to meet the developmental and care needs of ChD patients with long-term hospital stays.

Each February, Midwest heart Connection sponsors a Congenital heart Defect awareness Banquet for ChD families complete with “child-focused” activities. Twice a month, the group caters in and serves meals for ChD families who have a loved one at Children’s hospital. all proceeds from Midwest heart Connection’s annual fall fund-raiser, hearts of hope, are used to improve awareness, detection and treatment of congenital heart disease, as well as support those with ChD.

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www.heromaha.com

8502 West Center Road 877-633-1800 www.nedonation.org

Big givers: Currently in the U.S., almost 100,000 people wait for a life saving organ. in Nebraska, there are about 500 people on the waiting list. Everyday 18 people die waiting for an organ, and every 13 minutes a new name is added to the list.

Nebraska Organ recovery is the Federally Designated Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) for the State of Nebraska and Pottawattamie County, ia. Our mission is to maximize the recovery and quality of organs and tissues for transplantation while maintaining sensitivity, compassion and respect for people of all cultures.

Our organization provides education to the public through health fairs, public education, speaking engagements including Junior high and high School classes, drivers education, community organizations, and religious groups. we also provide clinical education to hospitals throughout the state. To arrange a speaker or request more information, contact Stephanie Lochmiller, Public relations Coordinator at 402-733-1800 or email at StephanieL@nedonation.org.

Pay it forward:

One of our awareness campaigns is workplace Partnerships for Life. Companies can contact us for brochures, paycheck stuffers, and donor cards. These companies then use these items to educate their employees about donation and give them the opportunity to sign up on the donor registry. we are also willing to come and present at employee meetings to educate staff. we encourage people to sign up to be a part of the Nebraska Donor registry by marking "yES" to being a donor when they renew their driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s license, or by registering online at www.nedonation.org.

Brag Lines: Lily, the child in the photo above, was born with a life threatening benign liver tumor. By 12 months, she was so ill that she required the help of a ventilator to breathe. her only hope for survival was a liver transplant.

Matthew, (also pictured above) was a 2 and a half-year-old boy from rising City Nebraska, who was involved in a drowning accident, and despite efforts to save his life, Matthew was pronounced brain dead. Matthewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parents unselfishly asked if organ donation was a possibility. Less than a month after the transplant, Lily was sitting up, eating, breathing, and laughing on her own. Today she is a healthy young woman, with plans to marry late this summer. Matthewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family and Lily's family are still close to this day.

One organ donor can save 8 lives. One tissue donor has the potential to enhance over 50 lives. Since our conception, we have transplanted almost 3,000 organs, and recovered tissue from almost 1,400 donors who potentially reached 70,000 recipients. we also help donor families deal with the grief process and eventually, help them contact their recipient, if both parties agree. www.heromaha.com

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7110 F St. 402-595-1326 www.projectharmony.com

Dr. Suzanne Haney, Medical Director

From left to right: Executive Director Gene Klein, and Board President Lisa Mellen with newly appointed board members Dan McGinn and Barry Dejong

Big givers: Project harmony responds to child abuse One Child at a time. The collaborative, child-focused approach ensures that children are not further victimized by the systems intended to protect them. Professionals from Project harmony, Child Protective Services, law enforcement and the medical community come together at One Place, so that a child only has to tell of his or her abuse One Time. while the organization has been modeled from other Child Protection Centers across the country, it is among a very few nationwide which co-locates its investigative and medical staff with professionals from law enforcement and human service agencies under the same roof. Since 1996, this non-profit agency has provided medical exams and forensic interviews to our community’s most vulnerable children. The majority of the children present with sexual abuse, however physical abuse and neglect are also evaluated. in 2007, Project harmony served over 2,000 children. Unfortunately, more than 50% of the children served were under the age of six.

Pay it forward:

Project harmony relies on the generosity of the community to sustain its medical evaluations, forensic interviews and advocacy services for children. Financial contributions, volunteer opportunities, and participation in special events offer many opportunities – at many levels - for community involvement. On Friday, September 19th the Project harmony Service League will hold its 5th annual “halfway to St. Patrick’s Day” Celebration! For details on this fun and affordable event and to learn more about Project harmony go to www.projectharmony.com

Brag Lines: Project harmony is nationally recognized as a leader in the field of child abuse expertise. Gene klein, Executive Director of Project harmony since 2002, has had more than 20 years of experience in serving children and families through nonprofit agencies. in april, Lisa Mellen of Gallup was elected to serve as the chair of the Board of Directors. She brings to the agency terrific community leadership and fundraising experience, as well as having been among founding members of Project harmony’s Board in 1996. Suzanne haney, MD, joined the staff in May as Medical Director. Dr. haney comes to Omaha from Norfolk Va. with extensive fellowship training in child abuse and neglect. “Dr haney will be a terrific resource for the community and for victims of child abuse” said Gene klein. “Pediatrics is creating a new sub-specialty in child abuse, and Dr. haney is one of the first physicians in the country to be eligible for this distinction.”

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www.heromaha.com

4920 S. 30th St. Suite 103 402.502.8855 www.oneworldomaha.org Dr. Kristine McVea, M.D, M.P.H, Chief Medical Officer and Andrea Skolkin, Chief Executive Officer Eloise Poyner, APRN/RN/Women's Health

Big givers: Oneworld Community health Centers, located in the historic Livestock Exchange Building, along with satellite locations, gives big to the community offering medical, dental and behavioral health care with special attention given to the underserved.

Oneworld provides high quality, affordable health care throughout a lifetime, including care for infants, children, teens, adults, families and seniors.

The Center is the leader in Omaha providing primary health care in both English and Spanish as well as other languages. Oneworld’s health care is holistic and patient centered, including support services such as the wiC (women, infants and Children) food program, breastfeeding classes, social work, care management and diabetic support groups. Last year Oneworld provided health care to over 13,000 individuals; 65% were not covered by any insurance although over 87% of these families had at least one parent working.

Pay it forward:

we love volunteers! we appreciate those who have provided their time and/or financial support so that the people in our community can have the health care they need.

Our on-going donation needs are: bassinets, diapers, new car seats, baby items and carbon dioxide monitors as well as financial donations to support patient care and medication costs. we are also in the process of starting a Guild to help with our ever growing fundraising efforts.

Brag Lines: Everyone is welcome at Oneworld! whether you need an annual exam, a teeth cleaning, have a minor injury or chronic illness, or maybe you just feel slightly blue and don’t know what to do, Oneworld is the place to go. with gas and grocery prices on the rise, your health shouldn’t be neglected. Oneworld works with patients without insurance, those on Medicare and Medicaid and most insurance providers.

Our physicians, nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants, midwives, dentists, therapists and staff are the best and brightest in the community. we are highly educated and experienced, compassionate and caring, and extremely devoted to providing first-class quality care to our patients.

Oneworld has a great sense of community and enjoys partnering with other organizations in the Omaha Metro area. if interested in joining us as a partner, contact the development department. This year, Oneworld was not only visited by President George w. Bush, but we were also named the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce NonProfit of the year as well as Organization of the year by the South Omaha Neighborhood alliance.

Oneworld Community health Centers inc., in partnership with the community, provides culturally respectful, quality health care with special attention to the underserved. www.heromaha.com

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3300 N 60 St. • Omaha, NE 68104 402.829.9260 • www.ccomaha.org

Providing help. Creating hope. Serving all.

Big givers: Catholic Charities provides services to all people regardless of race, religion, age or income. in 2007, Catholic Charities helped more than 75,000 people, making us one of the largest service providers in the State.

Through our many programs, Catholic Charities reaches out to those in need — whether they are faced with domestic violence, mental illness, substance abuse, unplanned pregnancy or other emergency situations. Our programs provide sanctuary in times of overwhelming hardship, while opening doors for promising futures.

Pay it forward:

Catholic Charities “quietly” serves Omaha’s lost hungry, addicted, abused and forgotten people. we need the support and help of the Omaha community regardless of religious a liation.

Senior Directors Shelley Schrader and Jean Sassatelli head up the many Catholic Charities programs.

Volunteers are always needed. we serve a large hispanic community, so bilingual people are in great demand.

Financial support is greatly appreciated since the majority of our clients have serious economic di culties. To donate or o er your support, please go to www.ccomaha.org or call kiley kiser at 402.829.9217

Brag Lines: nothing is more powerful than the magnitude of the individuals we help on a yearly basis. in 2007 we served:

• 5,066 people suffering from addictions.

• 5,755 woman and children experiencing Domestic Violence.

• 65,670 individuals utilizing our food pantries, family enrichment and Christmas programs, microbusiness training programs, and immigrations services.

• 450 couples, teenagers and kids finding assistance through our adoption, pregnancy and mentoring moms counseling and support services.

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www.heromaha.com

HEARTLAND FAMILY SERVICE Since 1875 In eastern Nebraska call (402) 553-3000 In Southwest Iowa call (800) 422-1407 www.heartlandfamilyservice.org

“If you have been blessed, you can make a dIfference to those who are less fortunate. you become one good person, doIng one good thIng. It works.” — peter tulIpana, presIdent and ceo

Big givers:

Since 1875, heartland Family Service has helped children who are removed from unsafe homes; teens who made the wrong decisions about alcohol, drugs or crime; low-income families—mostly women and children—who fall into homelessness; and many, many more who need help to get back on track.

Eighty percent of the clients we serve have annual incomes of less than $20,000. They are the frail, the abused, the disheartened and the vulnerable residents of our community. But when you give people a hand-up instead of a hand-out, they have a chance to build on their own success. in our 130 years of supporting local families, we’ve learned that helping people help themselves is the only kind of help that works.

Pay it forward:

when you look at everything that’s going wrong in our community, it’s easy to feel helpless. Like there’s nothing that one person can do that will amount to any good.

But there is. when you support an agency you can trust, an agency that is already doing so much good in the community, it makes a true difference. you can make a difference: Volunteer to help • Donate needed items • Make a contribution ThESE arE ThE PEOPLE whOSE LiVES yOU TOUCh: Please note that the names, photos and some details of our client stories are changed to protect their privacy.

Coming together at the Seams Andrew found support for his career interests at our Steve & Cheryl Wild Children’s Emergency Shelter. The staff helped to prepare him for the “real world” he will enter when he is no longer a ward of the state. (Search www.heartlandfamilyservice.org for “andrew.”)

Sandy Sleeps Better now Sandy woke up frequently in the night to the sound of her father attacking her mother. They finally had to escape to our Safe haven shelter for domestic abuse victims. (Search www.heartlandfamilyservice.org for “Sandy.”)

Brag Lines: First recipient, 2005

www.heromaha.com

33

1004 Farnam Street, Ste. 200 P: 402.930.3000 www.allourkids.org

Big givers: all Our kids, inc. is a mentoring and scholarship program that serves more than 500 disadvantaged youth from Omaha Public Schools. its mission is to help more at-risk youth to graduate from high school, pursue post-secondary education and become employable, productive citizens. Since all Our kids began in 1989, forty-five students have graduated from college with either an associates or Bachelors Degree and seven have Masters Degrees. in 2007, all Our kids and the winners Circle merged to form The Partnership For Our kids, a grassroots organization that now serves over 4,000 of Omaha’s at-risk youth from kindergarten through high school.

Brag Lines: The group mentoring model, the scholarship endowment program and the “community of caring” created by the Partnership For Our kids are some of the elements that make all Our kids unique among youth-serving organizations in Omaha. Group mentoring includes a team of eight volunteer mentors, matched with 25 disadvantaged youth who meet twice a month for after-school sessions led by all Our kids staff members. These meetings include age appropriate, research-based curriculum in the areas of career exploration, college access, life skills education, youth leadership development, time management and academic goal setting. The students and mentors also participate in service learning projects, field trips to local businesses, as well as cultural and recreational events.

Pay it forward:

The people of Omaha understand that youth around the city need more positive role models to help guide them to a successful future. Mentoring is an effective way for volunteers to give-back to the community because it matches caring adults with kids in need to help them stay on track and graduate from high school. research indicates that students with mentors are more likely to stay in school and less likely to engage in delinquent behavior. Mentors provide them with encouragement and guidance, creating a safety net to promote positive outcomes. Volunteer mentors can play an important role in improving public education and they can gain insight into the urban world of today’s youth. if you are interested in becoming a mentor or would like more information about all Our kids, please contact Sarah Lamprecht at 930-3002 or slamprecht@allourkids.org.

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www.heromaha.com

10832 Old Mill Rd., Ste 2 Omaha, NE 68154 402-344-2242 www.lls.org/ne

Big givers: The Nebraska Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is part of the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services. More than 823,000 individuals have a blood cancer. Every five minutes someone new is diagnosed. Every ten minutes, someone dies. Founded in 1949, The Society is relentless in its pursuit of their mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. The Nebraska Chapter is supported by a 23-person board of trustees and headed by Pattie Gorham, executive director.

Team in Training: train Endure Achieve Matter

The Society’s Team in Training Program is the world’s largest endurance sports training program, training participants from all walks of life — from novice to seasoned athlete — for marathons, triathlons or century bike rides. in exchange for raising funds, participants receive: four to five months of personalized fitness training by certified coaches, a supportive group of teammates, and lodging and airfare to the event of their choice. Upcoming events and destinations include: Walt Disney World Marathon/Half Marathon, Orlando, FL • PF Changs Marathon/Half Marathon, Phoenix, AZ The enormous success of this program has helped make possible advances in blood cancer therapies and treatments that have prolonged and enhanced the lives of hundreds of thousands of patients. TNT has prepared more than 360,000 people to achieve their dream of completing a marathon, half marathon, triathlon or 100mile (century) bicycle ride. TNT participants have raised over $850 million to support research and patient services! Sign up today to join the T E a M!!!

Contact Julie Petersen, Campaign Manager, at julie.petersen@lls.org for more information or visit our website at www.teamintraining.org/ne or 402-344-2242.

Light the Night: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is hosting its annual fundraising walk Light the Night in September. The walk is in support of cancer survivors, family and friends, and evokes hope, joy, camaraderie and memories of loved ones.

Nationally in 2007, Light the Night raised $40 million net for research and patient services. More than 1800 people in Nebraska participated in last year’s event.

This year we anticipate more than 250 communities across the United States and Canada will participate. The Nebraska Chapter is expected to raise over $230,000 in 2008, making it our largest fundraising walk ever!

Please turn out in support of Light the Night at these locations: Check-in begins at 6 p.m., along with food, festivities and entertainment.

Thursday, September 11, 2008 at Holmes Lake, Lincoln • Thursday, September 18, 2008 at Heartland of America Park in downtown Omaha you can also support Light the Night by becoming an event sponsor, forming a fundraising team, making an in-kind donation, or becoming a balloon sales partner.

This year’s event will honor three individuals: 2008 LTN honored heroes Jenny hansen and Tyson Dennison; and 2008 LTN Memorial honoree Johna Jaye kozak. Contact Paula Cooper,Campaign Manager, paula.cooper@lls.org for more information. Or visit the website at www.lightthenight.org/ne (402)344-2242. www.heromaha.com

35

8990 West Dodge Rd. #205 Omaha, Ne 68114 398-9928 www.dvccomaha.org

Big givers: The Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, founded in 1996 by the women’s Fund, is consistently true to its mission: Pull domestic violence “Out of the Shadows”; unite the community against it and Stop the violence. Domestic violence continues to take a devastating toll on victims, their families and our community. in Douglas County alone, there are over 1,000 domestic violence-related 911 calls a month. Our community grieves for 57 domestic violence homicide victims killed since 1997. Seven of those victims were children. These inexcusable acts of violence take a tremendous toll and affect our lives forever. we are keenly aware that many victims live in fear and silence every day. we must speak for them. in response, we declare, “The Silence Stops here”.

Pay it forward: The Domestic Violence Coordinating Council is a non-profit 501c(3) agency. we ask you for your time-please volunteer. we ask you for your gifts of money-please give what you can. we ask to draw upon your experience and expertise-please become a council member. Most of all, understand the importance of your role in breaking the silence of domestic violence. Please visit us at www.dvccomaha.org to learn more about the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council.

Brag Lines: The DVCC is a strong platform on which the community stands united in the fight to end domestic violence. The following successes illustrate our commitment to end domestic violence: • The “Silence Stops Here” Campaign initiated in 2006.

• Statewide training for criminal justice professionals in partnership with • The DVCC helped to bring in over a million dollars in grant funding to our the attorney General’s office. community last year.

• Strangulation awareness is included in all educational efforts.

• The founding of Group Hope in 1997. Group Hope, composed of survivors, • We are working toward a Family Justice Center that will serve as a ‘one stop personifies the voice of those victimized and reaches out to others. shop” for victims of violence and their children.

• Expert witness testimony is offered across Nebraska from the DVCC Train• March 26, 2008 DVCC Awards Ceremony raised over $9,000. ing and Education Director.

• July 29, 2008, Meals To End Domestic Violence. The DVCC partnered with • Education for incarcerated women was instituted in 2007. local restaurants to support the fight against domestic violence.

• Assisting employers with policy and procedural changes to address domestic violence in the workplace.

36

www.heromaha.com

6824 J St. • Omaha, NE 68117 • 402-331-1213

Big givers: as the costs of gas and food increase, more people struggle to keep their children fed. The Food Bank helps bridge the gap and supply food to the hungry, every day. The Food Bank is a central clearinghouse through which the food industry and community may donate surplus food. it is then distributed to more than 360 member agencies in 77 counties in Nebraska and 16 counties in western iowa. The generosity of our community makes this possible.

Pay it forward:

No one deserves to be hungry. yOU CaN MakE ThE DiFFErENCE! • Donate your time to sort food, deliver food or pack backpacks with food • Sponsor a child in the BackPack or Kids Cafe programs • Organize a food drive at work, church or in your neighborhood • Donate funds – For every $1 donated, The Food Bank can distribute $14 worth of food.

Brag Lines: The Food Bank distributes between five and seven million pounds of product every year, helping feed over 300,000 people in need.

The Food Bank’s nine kids Cafes provide 400-500 hundred evening meals Monday through Friday in after-school programs across the metropolitan area. This next school year, 1,000 kids in nine different schools will take a backpack filled with “kid-friendly food” (that is, no can opener or cooking necessary) home with them Friday afternoon so they will have something to eat Saturday and Sunday. They call this The Food Bank for kids BackPack Program. This summer, The Food Bank Fresh Truck begins driving through neighborhoods without grocery stores giving out fresh fruits and vegetables to kids and seniors alike. www.heromaha.com

37

38

www.heromaha.com

august/september 2008

neBrasKa KiDney assoCiation

Nebraska Kidney Association 402-932-7200 www.kidneyne.org

Big givers: The Mission of the Nebraska kidney association is to improve the lives of all Nebraskans through advocacy, education, early disease detection and patient services.

The Nebraska kidney association accomplishes its mission in several ways: advocating for better health policies on the local, state and federal level; funding research; providing information and education to the general public, professional community and those impacted by kidney disease and organ donation; conducting free kidney screenings throughout the state; and providing services to kidney and transplant patients and their families.

The E-face for the organization is the CEO, Tim Neal.

Pay it forward:

First, we covet your prayers. Second, if you would like to volunteer your time, we ask that you go to our website and match up your interests with what we have available (www.kidneyne.org). Third, if you are in a position to help financially, we gladly welcome that as well. Donations may be made by cash or check; we also accept Visa, MasterCard, american Express and Discover. if you prefer, you may give online by visiting our website and using our secure Paypal account. Thanks in advance for your generosity! help save lives!

Donate your unwanted cars, trucks, boats or rVs. Call 888-642-8543 today!

Brag Lines: we have a nearly 40-year history, and formerly were part of a National Organization. in July 2007, we became an independent state charity. we are proud and pleased to say that 100 percent of every dollar entrusted to us stays in Nebraska to support the programs and services that we offer. what makes us great are the people! we have a wonderful staff, board and volunteers that help us multiply our efforts. with diabetes and high blood pressure being the leading causes of kidney failure (with 1 in 8 being impacted), there are 150,000 Nebraskans at risk of developing chronic kidney disease. Everyone knows their blood pressure and their cholesterol level; the next step is for everyone to realize what their GFr (Glomerular Filtration rate) is. This can be done with a blood test in a doctorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office, or we offer two free screenings in Omaha, every March and November. we award research grants for two investigators trying to find a cure or the cause for kidney disease. we believe that research conducted today will have an impact 10 to 15 years from now. www.heromaha.com

39

2901 Fontenelle Blvd.

402-451-5403 www.holynameomaha.org

Big givers: The mission of holy Name Catholic Parish calls on its members to foster the total growth of parish and school, while embracing the community in which we are centered. as a state-accredited pre-k through 8th grade school, holy Name educates children of diverse backgrounds to be academically prepared, compassionate toward others and rooted in the Catholic Christian community.

Since 1918 our organization has provided outreach services to families in need of assistance. holy Name remains as a stabilizing force for the surrounding neighborhood in northeast Omaha. we assist families of all faiths.

Pay it forward:

Volunteers are awesome and always needed. if you would like to volunteer please contact us 402-451-6622, holynameparish@cox.net and visit our website at www.holynameomaha.org we are also always in need of donations! The school and administrative offices go through tons of paper. Cash gifts to use toward supplies, programs and campus projects are the most treasured.

Brag Lines: holy Name relies on an extensive list of volunteers that includes parishioners, neighborhood partners, school families and others that support us through our outreach efforts.

Through the school, which had a high school until 1989, we have many faithful benefactors. we constantly strive to achieve new partnerships with other Omaha community organizations, and we write grants to fund stand-alone projects. holy Name has been supported through the Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Memorial Foundation, The Scott Foundation, Target, inc. Creighton University, The heider Foundation, The Beaumont Foundation, University of Nebraska at Omaha, The Dillon Foundation, Best Buy, Sharing Our Strength Federal Summer Feeding Program, and many more.

The greatest gifts we give to the greater Omaha community are twofold; providing an excellent, faith filled education to thousands of Omaha's children and the supports we provide through rent, utility assistance and food through our St. Vincent de Paul chapter. This chapter, one of the oldest in Omaha, remains in the top five in the monetary support provided to families.

The holy Name Campus is an Omaha Parks and recreation designated Sun Dawg site. This program is complimented by our summer feeding program, which serves over 40,000 free breakfast and lunch meals to children up to age 18 during the summer months, and our on-site day care program, which is approved to accept Title XX funding.

The work of holy Name housing centers on helping people with low income to become homeowners, as well as building and maintaining homes in Northeast Omaha so that applicants have affordable homes to purchase.

40

www.heromaha.com

1904 Farnam, Suite 500 402-348-1069

Big givers: • • • • • • • •

These Omaha organizations and law firms are major donors….

Baird holm Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska Cline williams Erickson Sederstom First Data Corporation First National Bank of Omaha Fraser Stryker Gross welch

• • • • • • • •

husch Blackwell Sanders kiewit Foundation koley Jessen kutak rock Lamson Dugan & Murray Lozier Foundation McGrath North Mutual of Omaha

• • • • • •

Omaha Community Foundation Sherwood Foundation Stinson Morrison United way of the Midlands wells Fargo Bank William & Ruth Scott Family Foundation

These people volunteer…..over 125 attorneys across Nebraska handle cases for us!

Pay it forward:

we promote justice, dignity and hope by helping those who have nowhere else to turn. By providing free civil (no criminal) legal aid we help low income families be self-sufficient.

One-sixth of Nebraska’s population has incomes low enough to qualify for assistance. For a family of four, for example, this means earning less than $26,500. in Omaha nearly 120,000 of your and my friends, neighbors and family members qualify. we can help you achieve your giving goals. Each $500 invested in us pays the costs of a case to provide shelter for a family, protect a child from abuse, give a homeless person a new start or save a home for an elderly person.

Brag Lines: we have contributed to Nebraska communities and families for 45 years.

Last year we closed nearly 10,000 cases affecting 25,000 people. There were over 16,000 referrals to other organizations for additional service.

For every dollar Nebraskans invests in us there is a $4 economic return to the community. in 2007, we generated over $1,000,000 of economic return in Omaha. we have 34 attorneys in 7 offices across the State providing legal aid to Nebraskans regardless of where they live.

Our attorneys are recognized as the experts in their areas of law. www.heromaha.com

41

Uncle Brent’s 1971 class ring. Go Bullfrogs!

Necklace from ex, ex, ex, ex, ex-boyfriend.

The ring you’ve been eyeing for years.

Grandma Cleo’s old, broken brooch.

TURN YOUR OLD JEWELRY INTO SOMETHING NEW. Trade in gold and platinum for big savings on new jewelry. For a limited time, Borsheims is offering great trade-in and cash values for your precious metals. Stop by the customer service department or visit borsheims.com for more details.

120 Regency Parkway | 402.391.0400 | borsheims.com

4980 S. 118th Street • Omaha, NE 68137 402-896-3884 • www.mosaicinfo.org

Big givers: Mosaic, headquartered in Omaha, serves over 3,000 people with disabilities in 14 states and in Great Britain, romania, and Tanzania. “in partnership with people who have disabilities, Mosaic provides supports and advocates that all may experience God’s gift of wholeness of life.”

Mosaic is an affiliated social ministry organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in america, a recognized service organization of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and a member of Lutheran Services in america. Mosaic is also a member of the american Network of Community Options and resources (aNCOr).

Pay it forward:

in the last year the Omaha program was blessed by the support of over 300 volunteers in a variety of roles (committee members for fund-raising special events, home maintenance and repair volunteers and people who befriend an individual who Mosaic supports). To learn more about volunteer opportunities, contact rita Forney at 403-896-9988 x 101 or rita.forney@mosaicinfo.org.

Donors empower Mosaic by providing items and activities that would not otherwise be available, due to limited government funding. The sole form of income for many people with developmental disabilities is Social Security.

Mosaic has a need for a variety of donations to support people. at the Omaha program, the greatest need is for vehicles, like wheelchair-accessible vans. Daily living items needed are paper products, towels, bed sheets, grocery gift cards, kitchen essentials, and cleaning products.

Brag Lines: at Mosaic, we provide a variety of services to meet the needs of the individuals we serve. Our supports include meaningful day activities, job coaching, medical and residential services.

Mosaic is the first organization to be awarded the Basic Assurances® Network Certification from The Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL), which evaluates services and supports for people with disabilities in the areas of health, safety and welfare. recently, Mosaic earned the “Transformational Systems Change” award from Lutheran Services in america for innovative system-wide changes. Mosaic partners with The Gallup Organization using Gallup’s Q12® survey to elicit feedback from all employees regarding each unit’s strengths and opportunities, and involves all employees in the planning process. Mosaic also received the 2007 Better Business Bureau (BBB) integrity award.

Check us out at www.mosaicinfo.org. www.heromaha.com

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PO Box 540243 • Omaha, NE 68154 • 402-312-7241 • www.MyAngelsAmongUs.org

Big givers: angels among Us is a non-profit charitable organization whose mission is to financially assist families with a child battling cancer. Currently, angels among Us helps those families living in or being treated in Nebraska.

Typically when a child is diagnosed with cancer, not only is the news to the parents devastating emotionally, but it soon can become financially difficult, as one parent usually must quit work or minimally reduce hours to be with the child during cancer treatments. in the case of a single parent, the situation can be even worse. By providing financial assistance to those who qualify, angels among Us hopes to help the parent(s) focus on the child, rather than finances. To ensure proper use of our funds, all payments are made directly to the creditors.

Cathleen Bauer – President / Founder (cbauer_angels@yahoo.com) kelly walsh – Vice President kim Bessey – Marketing / Fundraising Coordinator

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www.heromaha.com

Pay it forward: Omahans wishing to help Angel Among Us are encouraged to: - Make monetary donations - Volunteer to put on your own fundraiser for angels among Us - Spread the word and raise awareness about angels among Us - Volunteer for upcoming events

-

Donate printing services for quarterly newsletters, brochures, fliers, etc.

Cover mailing costs for the above Donate printer/copier ink help fund rent for office space ($400/mo.)

Brag Lines: Since November 2006, angels among Us has helped 44 families with over $165,000 in living expenses (June 2008). angels among Us raised $59,000 in 2006, and $212,000 in 2007.

First Data resources adopted angels among Us in 2007, putting on various fundraisers, gift matching donations, paying the office rent for angels among Us’ first year, helping with printing newsletters, brochures, fliers and various mailings, as well as providing angels among Us with numerous amazing volunteers to help with creating newsletters, help with our second annual auction, as well as many other things.

JEO Consulting held a golf scramble for angels among Us on Friday June 13, 2008 raising $27,000 for our mission. in celebration of their 90th year, all Makes Office Equipment gave away a $25,000 office Makeover. in December the votes were in and angels among Us found out we won. all Steel, hon and all Makes Office Equipment provided a $25,000 Office Makeover for angels among Us and in March of 2008 it was completed. it gives angels a more organized office. a big thanks to all who participated in making this possible. kETV, Falcone homes and TLConcepts chose angels among Us as the beneficiary of the 2008 Showcase home Tour taking place in September. The Showcase is featured in the Sanctuary development off west Center road and 229th Streets. The home will be open to the public to see for three weeks in September. angels among Us will be holding their third annual live / silent auction and dinner, “a Night among angels”, on Saturday November 15, 2008, at the Georgetown Club.

For information on sponsorships, to donate auction items, or to purchase a seat for the event, please contact Cathy at 402-312-7241.

Many people in the Omaha and surrounding areas have made product donations and monetary donations, and volunteered countless hours to help spread awareness and the need for our cause to others. thIs ad Was spOnsOred by prOfessIOnal envIrOnmental CleanIng servICe www.heromaha.com

45

High Standards Cleaning

We can help...

Our mission is to provide our customers with the most cost effective and detailed cleaning services available.

High Standards will consistently work with you to ensure sparkling service year after year.

Residential & Commercial

We now sell SINGER! Purchase a SINGER and

receive FREE Owners classes!

Go to our website for full class schedule or to get on our web newsletter & coupon list!

Bring in this ad for 20% off ONE non-sale item expires September 30, 2008

Other Store Hours:

Mon.-Thurs. 11-6pm • Fri.-Sat. 11-5pm

156th & Dodge • 504-1345 • www.sunshinestitches.com

Elizabeth Malcolm owner/operator

High Standards Cleaning

Es

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402-597-2620

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Professional Landscape Installation

august/september 2008

46

5830 S. 142nd St. • Omaha, NE 68137

402-813-3970 • amasterpiecedesign@cox.net • Owner: Mike Tipton www.heromaha.com

fashion faux pas

STOry By SaNDy LEMkE PhOTO By SCOTT DriCkEy

Fashion

Pictured: Tori Tracy and Taylor Tracy of Agency 89 Model & Talent Management

Fau

xP as

What is This? august/september 2008

L

ook at any fashion and beauty magazine. For years, the message has been crystal clear: thin is in. Thankfully, the scary skinny trend looks to be over.

So, why are designers and retailers selling us blouses that make us look pregnant? Why are we buying them? It’s a manufactured trend, a cruel joke perpetrated by the clothing industry.

Really, does this style flatter anyone?

One stylish woman, whose children are grown, remarked: “when I was younger, we called those maternity blouses.”

HER Magazine hereby officially designates these blouses a Fashion Faux Pas. Here’s to shopping with a clear head and a keen sense of what flatters your body type. H

47 www.heromaha.com

community

STOry By LiNDa PErSiGEhL PhOTOS By MiNOrwhiTE STUDiOS

mary Jo Short, avOn

ann gredys, educational Consultant

Becky Phipps, travelex

Working from Home: Perfect Plan or a Workaholic Trap?

W august/september 2008

orking in your home office in your pajamas. Breaking for a walk with the dog. Missing out on the drive-time traffic.

For those confined to an office cubicle all day, working from home might seem like the ideal. But in reality, a home-based business offers its own set of challenges. We visited with three home-based professionals to learn their experiences, both good and bad.

48

Ann Gredys, educAtionAl consultAnt Ann Gredys has always had a love of teaching. For nearly 20 years, she worked as an educator in various public school districts. What she didn’t like was the grueling schedule of teaching. Her solution: AMG Educational Services, a home-based educational consulting business she founded in 2005.

“As a teacher, you’re on the clock 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and often bring work home with you in the evenings,” Gredys said. “You scarf down your lunch, and you barely have time for bathroom breaks.

“Now, I’m in charge of my own time. I have flexibility in my schedule and I set appointments as I choose. I appreciate life more, and for the first time, I’m at peace in my career.”

Gredys, who has a master’s degree in special education and is completing her Ph.D., works with students who have special needs, including those with behavioral disorders, learning disabilities, and her www.heromaha.com

specialty, children with Asperger’s, a form of autism. She also tutors and contracts with schools to provide teacher training on classroom management, curriculum design, and school improvement plans.

Gredys said finding time for all the paperwork associated with owning her own business proved difficult, requiring her to block out “office time” in her schedule. Marketing her business in order to grow, and budgeting created a challenge, she said. Networking with other businesswomen and taking an entrepreneur class have helped her address these needs. She’s also had to learn to say “no” when she’s overscheduled, delegate more chores to her kids, 12 and 16, and ask her husband to help out more with dinner duty and chauffeuring the kids around.

And, “so I don’t walk around the house looking at all that needs to be done,” she’s hired a cleaning service.

The advantages of working from home, however, outweigh those challenges. “I have a mother who had breast cancer, and because of this job, I was able to take off an entire month to take care of her,” Gredys said. “I’m able to pick my kids up school, and I can take entire days off to spend with them. If a friend calls me to go to lunch, I can adjust my schedule. And I can go exercise whenever I want.”

Becky PhiPPs, sAles reP Since November 2005, Becky Phipps has worked as a new sales repcontinued on page 50

Our AnnuAl It’s

her APPrOveD! survey. We’re AskIng the lADIes Of OmAhA tO. It’s just fOr fun! We WIll rePOrt the reADers’ selectIOns In the jAnuAry Issue. the

PleAse

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Out yOur bAllOt. It WIll be InterestIng tO see WhO WIns!

the tOP vOte-getters WIll be OffIcIAlly her APPrOveD!

the cAtegOrIes Are: beAuty cOunter beAuty sAlOn chIlDren’s clOthIng custOmer servIce DAnce stuDIO DAy cAre DermAtOlOgIst fAmIly PrActIce fAmIly restAurAnt gIft shOP gIrls nIght Out gym hAIr PrODucts retAIler hAIr sAlOn hOuse WAres shOP InterIOr DecOrAtOr jeWelry stOre kArAOke lunch sPOt meDIcAl sPA men’s clOthIng RemembeR

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mOjItO museum nAIl sAlOn neIghbOrhOOD grOcery PIlAtes clAss PreschOOl PrIvAte schOOl senIOr PhOtOgrAPher shOe stOre sushI tOy stOre vegetArIAn restAurAnt vIDeO gAme stOre WeDDIng cAkes WeDDIng PlAnner WeDDIng recePtIOn sIte WeIght lOss center WIne bAr WOmen’s clOthIng WOrk At hOme cOmPAny

issue to see who came out

heR aPPRoVeD!

community continued from page 48

resentative for Travelex. The United Kingdom-based firm is the largest non-bank foreign currency provider worldwide, and provides travel insurance and global business payment services.

Phipps splits her workweek, half at the Travelex office near 120th and Blondo streets and half from home. Because her sales position requires travel to Orlando, Dallas, Toronto and the East Coast, Phipps jumped at the chance to spend more office hours at home.

“I try to balance my work and travel time,” Phipps said. “For every two days I’m traveling and out of my own bed, I try to get a full day working at home.”

Travelex provided all the technology for her home office, Phipps said.

To improve efficiency, she opted to bundle her home Internet, phone and fax lines. She also rents a post office box to insure all business documents mailed to her home remain secure.

Without workplace interruptions, Phipps said she often gets more accomplished working from home. “There are days when, except for getting up to let the dog out, I don’t move from my desk until 2 p.m.”

Being there to care for her dog, Bianca, a 15-year old cocker spaniel, is one of the perks of being home, as is being able to throw in a load of laundry or get a head start on dinner between phone calls.

“There are times, though, when I miss the interaction with people, and the water cooler talk. Sometimes I’ll find myself talking out loud to myself,” she admitted, laughing.

Still, if she could work from home full time, she would.

“The ability to multi-task, both personally and professionally, that working from home gives you is fantastic.”

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august/september 2008

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50 www.heromaha.com

MAry Jo short, AVon sAlesPerson When Mary Jo Short began selling AVON 21 years ago, she based the business out of her home. Short’s business, much like that of AVON itself, has grown exponentially, both in product lines and customers globally.

Today, she serves 500-plus customers, and oversees a team of 200 sales reps. While being home-based worked for nearly a decade, it eventually became too much. Twelve years ago, Short dove into the venture full time and leased office and storage space about two miles from her home.

“Before I moved the business, there would be times when I’d have customers knocking on my door as late as 12 p.m. to pick up orders,” she said. “Customers would be calling at all hours. It became difficult to meet all the demands.”

Today, she keeps regular office hours Mondays and Wednesdays.

She has calls for orders directed to her office phone, checks voice mail several times daily, and makes home deliveries, working around her customers’ schedules. She said she tries to make herself readily available, but sets limits.

“AVON is great because they allow their salespeople to run their business on their own terms,” Short said. “It’s a wonderful business because of the diversity of clientele and people you work with. And you get a warm feeling from having helped empower others.

“But running your own business, especially a home-based business, does put you at risk of becoming a bit of a workaholic. I often find myself working from 7 a.m. to 8 or 9 p.m. You’re doing what you want, and you’re doing it for yourself. But it’s a lot of work. People don’t realize that an AVON business is more than just selling a tube of lipstick.” H

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feature

photos by bill sitzmann

photos by scott drickey

story by linda persigehl

Mary Sothan, in the driver’s seat

Golfer Girls

august/september 2008

D

52

uring his 10 years as a golf professional, Brit Ward has seen a shift. He has seen more young golfers - 10, 12, 14 years old - on the course in recent years. Of those young golfers, he sees a lot of girls, and some of these girls are on their way to being really good.

“The girls I’m seeing today on varsity and junior varsity high school teams are more competitive,” he said. “Their swings are better, they’re putting in more practice time, and they’re definitely more serious about the game.

“Just maybe their coaches are catching on to the true potential of these girls and grooming them for success.”

Ward, who has served as head pro at Eagle Run Golf Course since 2006, credits the increased participation and dedication to the game to the increased media play professional women’s golf has received in recent years.

“The sport overall has become more prestigious, especially the women’s side. And good marketing by the LPGA, and stars like Annika www.heromaha.com

Dani Suponchick’s got that Maverick Mojo

Sorenstam are creating a new generation of girl golfers – girls with true athleticism.”

Younger role models, including Natalie Gulbis and Paula Creamer, have breathed new life into the game and helped convince a whole lot of young girls that they, too, can achieve greatness on the links. Greater accessibility to youth golf clinics and junior golf leagues have enabled many to hone their skills. Kids as young as 6 can participate in most clinics; junior leagues at 8.

Ward said while girls may lack the physical strength of their male counterparts, they often make up for it with other skills.

“Girls seem to benefit more from lessons than boys, generally speaking,” he said. “They’re more of a blank slate…they take direction better, and when they see success, they are more repetitive in that skill, which makes them more consistent.

“While girls may not have the muscles to propel the ball as far, they can shoot scores comparable to boys by shoring up their short game… often called the great equalizer.”

Framing Art,

Framing Memories play more and gain more knowledge in how to handle difficult situations. The thing I have to work on the most is building my confidence that I can score well.”

As a youth instructor at Ironwood Golf Course, Suponchick is helping kids as young as 6 learn the skills they need to succeed in golf. “It’s awesome to see little girls playing golf, being given the same opportunities that boys are given,” she said.

With a declared major of exercise physiology, Suponchick hopes to someday go on to work in sports medicine, helping other athletes heal from injuries and excel in their sport.

Eighteen-year-old Mary Sothan began playing golf with her dad at Eagle Hills Golf Course in Papillion at age 8. She enrolled in group lessons and golf camps in her tween years, and made the girls varsity golf team at Papillion-LaVista South High School as a freshman.

During her senior year, Sothan garnered golf scholarship offers from Concordia College in Seward and Doane College in Blair.

She also received offers from other Division I and II schools in Iowa and Oklahoma. She eventually decided on the University of Nebraska at Omaha, opting not to play college golf competitively, but rather to focus on her studies. But the skills and lessons she’s learned through golf are not lost.

“Each time I played, I met new girls, which allowed me to make a lot of friends on the course,” Sothan said. “It probably helped me socially.

“And golf definitely taught me mental skills.

There are a lot of mind games in golf. I’ve learned to not get psyched out, or caught up in how others are playing, but instead focus on how well I play and do my best. It’s definitely built up my confidence.”

That belief in herself, along with her ability to remain focused, will help her perform well at college, she said.

“I think those things will help me concentrate more on my studies,” Sothan said. With a declared major in biology, Sothan anticipates that she will need it. “I hope to go into the dentistry field.”

No doubt whatever paths these girls take, they’ll be well served by what they’ve gained through golf. H

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Playing golf teaches one many life lessons, Ward said, including how to pick yourself up, move on and focus on the next task. It also can pay big dividends for girl golfers, if the commitment is there, he said. “If you can get your game to the level where you shoot in the high 70s or low 80s, you can pretty much write your own ticket to some Division 1 and most Division II schools,” Ward said. And those scholarships are out there for the taking. According to the Wall Street Journal, only one-third as many girls as boys play competitive golf in high school, yet more total golf scholarships are available for girls, thanks to Title IX mandates.

Omahan Dani Suponchick is one such athlete who found success in golf. She is a sophomore at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, playing on the Division II school’s girls’golf team.

Suponchick earned a combination scholarship - part academic, part athletic – to attend UNO. The scholarship covers about 75 percent of her college expenses. Suponchick first began playing golf at age 10, going out to Platteview Country Club Sunday nights with her family to play a few holes. As a freshman at Papillion-LaVista South High School, a friend asked if she wanted to go to a golf team meeting, and she decided it give it a try.

“It was a sport I hadn’t played much, and I thought it would be no pressure… just for fun.” After her first year, she saw herself improving and began to envision herself playing beyond high school.

After seeing her play at several high school events, UNO Girls Golf Coach Tim Nelson recruited Suponchick to play for the team. During her first year, she averaged a score of 85 on a 6,000-yard course, helping UNO qualify and win the Division II regional tournament in Grand Forks, N.D. The team went on to compete at nationals in Houston, Texas.

Suponchick said being on the golf team has allowed her the opportunity to play with girls from throughout the Midwest, the South and even Canada. It’s also helped her develop her “mental tool box” – skills that will serve her well not only in golf, but also in life. “I definitely have learned perseverance, and how to deal with good days and bad. I’m still learning how to handle the stress.

“I think the game will only get easier as I

EOE

53 www.heromaha.com

beauty

STOry By SaNDy LEMkE

Lash FreedOm

august/september 2008

H

54

ow would you like to relax for an hour and wake up to luxurious, lush lashes? Beautiful dreams are coming true at Creative Hair Design at 12025 Pacific Street.

lAsh extensions Sonia Spanheimer, licensed esthetician at Creative Hair Design, has been performing eyelash extensions for two years. This procedure is getting more popular. “I just did two today,” said Spanheimer, who added that clients who get the procedure don’t need to wear mascara on their upper lashes (no extensions are placed on the lower lashes).

Spanheimer added, “the lash extensions come in all colors, sizes and lengths. One client did green for St. Patrick’s Day and purple for Easter!”

Each individual lash gets painstakingly lengthened. Glue is used to secure the extension. “It takes about an hour,” said Spanheimer. “Clients relax in one of our private treatment rooms on a comfy bed. They wear protective eye padding. Some people fall asleep, some like to chat.”

Freedom from mascara is not free. Eyelash extensions run $250, which may explain why the regular clientele for this service is mostly middle-aged women and brides. The first fill is complimentary, and subsequent fills are $40. Fills are necessary every 3-4 weeks. www.heromaha.com

eye wAnt…hollywood eyelAshes LovelySkin.com has a keen eye for new developments on the beauty scene. Their new eyelash conditioner from Jan Marini has one sales executive in our office fluttering. “I love it I love it I love it” says Gwen Lemke. "My lashes are longer than they have ever been."

Dr. Joel Schlessinger, Board Certified Dermatologist and General Cosmetic Surgeon and president of LovelySkin.com said about Jan Marini: “We have noticed a huge improvement in eyelashes with the new products for eyelash growth. In fact, this is one of the most exciting new treatments we have available to us and one that we look forward to seeing a significant public interest over the next few years.

With the use of these new products, we can see definite improvement in eyelashes of people who have battled thin or minimal eyelash growth over the years. Additionally, it can result in longer and more lush eyelashes due to the use of prostaglandins and peptides.

The Jan Marini company started this phenomenon and has been on the forefront of research into this. Marini Lash, 23 oz., $160.00 oPen your eyes to A new sePhorA in VillAGe Pointe Look into Omaha’s new Sephora, the ultimate beauty playground, at Village Pointe Shopping Center. The second Sephora in the metro, (the first is at Shadow Lake Towne Center inside JCPenney), the Village Pointe location is 5,200 square feet and will induce makeup maven mania. Customers can learn tips and trends from Sephora “cast members,” browse over 13,000 products from over 200 brands such as Anastasia, Bare Escentuals, Carol’s Daughter, Laura Mercier, Make Up For Ever, Nars, and Stila; innovative skincare lines like Bliss, Cosmedicine, Fresh, Korres, Lancome, and PerriconeMD Cosmeceuticals; select fragrance offerings from Fracas, Marc Jacobs, Pink Sugar, Stella McCartney, and YSL; and specialty hair care lines like GHD, Ojon and Oscar Blandi. Plus, Sephora has its own collection of makeup, skincare, bath and body products, tools and accessories. sePhorA’s winninG wink-MAkers The Sephora Flirt-It Lash Duo is a natural look with finely graduated lashes. Sephora experts advise: use the half strips for day for a cat-like lift. Meow! Use the full-length strips for evening for full-on fabulous flutter. Includes a tube of lash adhesive. Sephora’s Flirt It Lash Duo, ($8).

Single-handedly flash the lash. Sephora’s Lash Placement Kit ($10) includes a handy contoured tool to apply and remove lashes with ease. A soft, antibacterial storage stand retains the curve. One hand, one tool, one fabulous way to add wow. H

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This is a major skincare breakthrough. This is currently the only agent known to provide systemic photoprotection. Most would take two capsules every four hours in bright sun or twice a day in moderate sun.

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beauty

STOry By SaNDy LEMkE

august/september 2008

WarPaint

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Pampe r Yours elf with

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cincando’s Combat-Ready Balm G.I. Cream and Lip Balm are providing relief to U.S. troops stationed in Iraq. “I passed it around to everyone in the unit,” says Marc Popchak of the 876th Engineering Battalion stationed in Iraq.

“If you put that balm on overnight, the next day the sand flea bites were just gone!”

All natural with organic ingredients, the products soothe sunburn and many other types of skin issues. Sara Damelio, creator of Combat-Ready Balm, donates dozens of care packages containing the products to U.S. troops. Says Damelio, “I’m delighted that my product is useful to our servicemen and women. It was intended to provide skin relief to different people with varying skin conditions without the use of harsh chemicals and preservatives.”

In addition to her personal Combat-Ready Balm donations, $1 from each sale goes to Fisher House, an organization that supports military families by providing a “home away from home” for family members whose soldier may be hospitalized at a military medical center. If you would like to make your own donations, go to www.skincando.com and click on “Donate Combat Ready-Balm To Our Troops.” Damielo then sends a thank-you note to the soldiers and mentions that the gift is from you.

Damelio is an organic beauty specialist and a licensed esthetician. It took her two years and about 1,000 batches to get the mixture just right. All Combat-Ready products are made to order by hand by Damelio herself.

Combat-Ready products are available at www.skincando.com and locally at the Organic New U Spa at 17785 Mason Street.

Skincando Combat Ready Balm, 2 oz., $25.

Skincando Combat-Ready Lip Balm, .15 oz., $10. H

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art

Diane Mattern Putting the Boing in Life!

mattern chooses her endeavors for their play value.

august/september 2008

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ischievous eyes peek at me from under a tousle of long bangs. The face is sunburned, the hair is kinky and green. Yes, green, as in Boston fern. The face belongs to one of the garden pots at the entrance to Diane Mattern’s studio where she shapes surface bonding cement into rounded pots. Some get an elfin face—each one unique. Others, left whole, are globes. Imprinted with leaves and vines, the world they reveal is the garden. They come in a range of sizes, and vary in color and texture. But all have an organic sensibility, a lighthearted agenda, and the touch of the artist’s hands.

Mattern herself has some of these characteristics—natural, ingenuous, and playful. www.heromaha.com

Like her metal pieces she is both stubborn and flexible. It seems a combination of skill and magic when she locks a 3/8” steel rod into a vise and bends it into curls as easily as she might curl a tress of baby hair around her finger. These long, coiling shoots are patinaed or painted and bundled, becoming the irresistibly ebullient sculptures she calls Boings.

All this takes place in a 2200 square foot bay filled with wheeled work tables; tools called band saw, belt sander, drill press, pneumatic hammer, oxyacetylene torch, winch, wire feed welder, chop saw, a propane forge; and bags of cement, bottles of patina, rods of different sizes; copper, steel, and aluminum sheets. The office has file

cabinets, a coffee pot, and two glass kilns.

The space is big enough for individual offices, too, and nascent dreams of an artists’ colony.

Several artists work in the bay/studio, and Scouts come in for workshops. The principals are Mattern and Peggy Ritschel. In fact, it was Ritschel who inspired Mattern and others (many women) who have taken her classes at Metro. (Ritschel’s sculpture, Reaching, graces the roundabout entry at Village Pointe).

Mattern is one of 47 regional artists selected by jury for participation in Art on the Pointe, a fine arts fair at Village Pointe, September 13 and 14. “Her work is graceful,” says Ritschel. “She loves doing it and that comes through. People come to fairs looking for Diane’s work.” Mattern does love sculpt-

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Mattern’s work can be seen at Art on the Pointe in September, and at Old Market Artists Gallery, Dundee Gallery, Cooper Studio & Gallery in Ashland, and at www.dianemattern.com.

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august/september 2008

ing, and she loves the chance to live a self-directed life. She can work around the demands of a large family, set goals and make them come true.

“I’ve lived in shifts,” says Mattern, “corporate, landscaping, art.” Laid off from her first career in advertising, she established her own landscaping business. “I always loved playing in the dirt,” she admits. Over the years, though, the physical demands added up, and at the same time she became increasingly aware of her clients’ desire for complementary garden art. Her classes switched from horticulture to art. Mattern’s initial hesitancy in Ritschel’s welded sculpture class soon turned to admiration, then friendship, and finally professional collaboration.

Her eyes, which are the color of her palest green patina, light up when she says, “I like a challenge. But I want my sculpture to be accessible and fun. I play with line, texture, color. Each sculpture is unique, and can connect you to nature.” Mattern loves watching orioles, and may be thinking of them when she shapes a bird bath or feeder. One particularly challenging—and rewarding—undertaking was creating Trees of Knowledge with North High School students for the Bemis Center’s TEAM project. It is now installed at the Charles B. Washington Branch Library. H

144th & W Center Road (below Old Chicago) Omaha, NE (402)330-6158

59

message from

Theresa Cassaday, Chief Communication Officer Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska

Warren Buffett

Gives Nebraska Girl Scouts Financial Scoop

august/september 2008

I

t’s not every day that you get a chance gS: What is the best advice you could to sit down and ask Warren Buffett for give to a new investor?

WB: I wouldn’t just jump into the water financial advice. In fact, most people until I thought I knew how to swim. I read (unless you are blessed to own Berkshire every book the Omaha library had about stock – or you are Bill Gates or Bono), will investing by the time I was 11. You’re not never have a chance to sit down with Wartoo young to start preparing. ren Buffett at all.

That was not the case on July 1, when five Girl Scout Gold Award recipients got to gS: How do you decide which nondo just that. It was the coming together of profit organizations will get donations marketing, young minds and a mentor befrom you? yond compare. This group met to discuss WB: You want to get tied in with people money, charitable giving and what it means you think are really going to get the job to be a Girl Scout, all while enjoying a round Billion Dollar Smiles. done. It’s the one that really does someWarren Buffett shares a thin mint Cookie Blizzard and good advice thing for you and that really grabs your of Blizzards at Dairy Queen. And not just any Dairy Queen, this meeting took place at with six nebraska girl Scouts at a local dairy Queen. Pictured: Back interest as well as your money. row (l-r) kim ellicott, Bartley; alexandra killings, Bellevue; and BilMr. Buffett’s all-time favorite DQ on 114th lie Beckman of Petersburg, Front row (l-r) molly maloy, Omaha; Warren Buffett; katina talley, Friend; and amy Watson, alliance. and Dodge, right here in Omaha. gS: I read that you bought your first This may all leave you asking, “How does stock when you were 13. Do you remember Scouts which includes in-store programs on one get Warren Buffett to hang out with Girl what it was? And what is it worth today? what it means to own and manage a busiScouts?” First, you start off with a national WB: Actually I bought the first stock when ness, and in this case, inviting Gold Award marketing promotion. This year Girl Scouts I was 11, I bought at $38.25, and it went recipients (the highest achievers in Girl of the USA and Dairy Queen teamed up for a down to $27. My sister bought some because Scouting) to meet with Warren Buffett, the partnership that spawned their first co-enI did…she was very unhappy with me and go-to guy on financial investments. deavor: the Thin Mint Cookie Blizzard. If you kept reminding me…I sold it at $40 and then The questions, which were prepared before were lucky to enough to try one, you know it went to $210…if I had been a little more the Blizzard-fest with Mr. B., were devised that this is a match made in gastronomic patient I would have gotten off to a much by the girls and his answers - nothing short heaven. And for those of you who don’t better start. of pearls. In keeping with the Girl Scout Law, know, Mr. Buffett is CEO of Berkshire Hathaand being a sister to every Girl Scout, we are way which owns International Dairy Queen. sharing with you our Gold Award questions gS: What financial suggestions do you Is it starting to make sense now? and Warren Buffett answers: have for college students?

However, it isn’t promotional marketing WB: Don’t be too hard on your parents that drives the Girl Scout organization; rather (laughter).

The biggest is to avoid credit gS: If you were reviewing resumes for proit is the leadership development of the girls cards.

Interest rates are very high on credit spective employees, what qualities would that is at the forefront of all we do. With that cards…If I borrowed money at 18 percent, I’d you look for? in mind, GSUSA wanted to be sure that when be broke.... so, if I had one piece of advice for WB: The biggest thing I look for is if they we attach our name to something such as young people generally, it would be just to have a passion for what they are doing…if a Dairy Queen Blizzard, it comes back to a avoid credit cards. they jump out of bed in the morning thinkvaluable experience for our girls. That is why If only we could follow Warren’s advice… ing about doing it and they have fun…you DQ launched a national campaign for Girl meet you at the library? H just can’t miss.

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EVERy ISSuE, HER MAGAZINE BRINGS yOu AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE GIRL SCOuTS – SPIRIT OF NEBRASKA. yOu CAN HELP, GET INVOLVED! www.heromaha.com

Trust children to tell you what they like - we do!

Paint the Town Orange

P

lease join the YW Partners November 10 – 14 for a week-long celebration of YWCA Omaha’s dynamic impact on women and children in our community. Join the fun at participating restaurants and retailers, and don’t miss the centerpiece of the event on Wednesday, November 12—a luncheon with inspiring

mavis (mrs. Jay) leno, speaking in Omaha november 12

EVERy ISSuE, HER MAGAZINE BRINGS yOu AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM y WCA OMAHA. yOu CAN HELP, GET INVOLVED!

Every peach, plum, nectarine, pluot, grape, mandarin, navel and cherry variety in the Treehouse Kids program has been selected by “professional kid researchers” – actual children who participate in our ongoing fruit research, and tell us which varieties are their favorites.

When you buy Treehouse Kids fruit, you know it has already been approved by kids for kids. And, when you give kids fruit they like, it’s a winning proposition: they eat more fruit, and they learn to enjoy a healthy lifestyle habit!

Available exclusively at

august/september 2008

speaker and women’s activist Mavis Leno.

The wife of comedian Jay Leno, Mavis is a world leader in her efforts to end domestic abuse and international suppression of women. In that role, she serves as chair of the Feminist Majority’s Campaign to Stop Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan and is a fierce advocate against abusive behavior at home, as well.

Leno joined the Board of Directors of the Feminist Majority Foundation in 1997, after playing an active role in the effort to defeat Proposition 209, the anti-affirmative action initiative on the 1996 California ballot. She assumed her role as Chair of the Campaign to Stop Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan in 1997, less than one year after the Taliban’s brutal treatment of women began. She testified on gender apartheid in March 1998 before Senator Diane Feinstein of the U.S.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and consistently urged the Clinton and Bush Administrations, as well as the U.S. Congress, to do more to restore women’s human rights in Afghanistan.

Her involvement in the Feminist Majority’s Campaign was also instrumental in defeating the energy company UNOCAL’s efforts to construct an oil pipeline across Afghanistan that would have supplied the Taliban with over $100 million and dramatically increased their control in the region. She is currently a leader in the effort to make the restoration of women’s rights a nonnegotiable element of a post-Taliban Afghanistan, and has been at the forefront of insuring that the plight of Afghan women is included in the world’s reporting of the war in Afghanistan.

Past television appearances include “Larry King Live,” “The Today Show,” “CNN with Paula Zahn,” “Hardball with Chris Mathews,” “MSNBC Nightly News” and “The Tonight Show.” Mavis has also been featured in articles in Time, Newsweek, the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, Vanity Fair, US, and People.

A brilliant and compelling speaker, she shows audiences that when you have a strong voice and a cause you believe in, you can make a difference and make the world a better place for everyone. Her speeches are a primer on both the advancements that have been made to protect and extend the rights of girls and women, and the steps that still must be taken to achieve true gender equality around the globe. We hope you’ll join us for this important event to be held the downtown Embassy Suites. For more information or to receive an invitation, please email ivetteh@ywcaomaha.org. H For more information or to join YW Partners, please contact Vice President of Membership Erin Pogge at epogge@lernerco.com.

Children have their own standards for flavor and a unique perspective on the fruit eating experience. That’s why Ripe ‘n Ready created the Treehouse Kids brand.

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61 www.heromaha.com

COLUMN By JUDy GiLLiarD

Feel free to email any culinary questions to chefjudy@cox.net

Summer Party

AsiAn BBQ ChiCken Thighs

1 cup soy sauce, low sodium 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce 1/2 teaspoon five-spice powder 8 each chicken thighs, without skin

with an Asian Flair

mix soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and five- spice powder in a large plastic bag. place chicken thighs in bag, coating all sides of chicken, seal and refrigerate up to 24 hours or as few as 15 minutes. cook on the outdoor or indoor grill, medium heat until thoroughly cooked.

I

t’s mid-summer hot and you’re looking for something different for a summer gathering…I have the answer. A party with an Asian twist!

We are finding more and more chefs are including Asian flavors in their cuisine. I have followed suit by always keeping hoisin sauce, low-sodium soy sauce, pickled ginger and fivespice powder in my pantry.

To serve with my Asian party I am serving a sparking sake, Gekkeikan Zipang. It’s is naturally carbonated sake, which has a sweet yet refreshingly light flavor. This along with a French sparkling wine, Louis Bouillot Brut, and for beer drinkers, Kirin, a Japanese beer. For dessert, green tea ice cream.

To set the mood, a Zen table setting with simple black and white with a centerpiece. Use a line of small while vases with a single red flower in each. Keep the music light and classical: Handel’s Water Music and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons are perfect. H www.cookwithjudy.com

PHOTO By BILL SITZMANN

AsiAn ChiCken sAlAd 1 head lettuce, iceberg, cut in 1” pieces 2 cups poached chicken, cut into chunks 4 ounces spinach leaves, stems removed and sliced into strips 1/2 cup romaine lettuce, cut in 1” pieces 1/2 whole red bell pepper, ribs removed and cut into strips 2 each scallions, sliced 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil 1 1/2 tablespoons prepared chili sauce 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger 3 tablespoons slivered almonds, toasted in large salad bowl, combine lettuce, chicken, spinach, sprouts, pepper, and scallions. in a small mixing bowl, mix together remaining ingredients except almonds; whisk well. toss dressing and toasted almonds into salad mix right before serving.

AsiAn Beef sTir fry 1 pound sirloin steak, thinly sliced 2 each red and green bell peppers, sliced 1/4” thick 1 medium onion, sliced 1/4” thick 1/2 cup dry sherry 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce 1 teaspoon five-spice powder 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1 cup beef broth 1 tablespoon cornstarch 8 ounces snow pea pods, fresh 3 scallions, thinly sliced

august/september 2008

spray a nonstick pan with oil spray. add meat to pan and stir-fry meat 3 minutes. remove from pan. add peppers and onions to pan and stir-fry for 3 minutes. add meat back to the pan. add sherry and stir-fry until liquid almost evaporates -- 1 minute. add soy sauce and beef broth to pan. dissolve cornstarch in 1/2 cup water and slowly add to the pan, stirring constantly to avoid clumps. mix in the five-spice powder and black pepper. stir sauce until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. add snow peas and stir until warmed (you want them to be crunchy). garnish with sliced scallions.

62 www.heromaha.com

It s ladies night at The Durham Museum, so get a jump on your holiday shopping and enjoy some great tips on how to survive the holidays in style.

• Enjoy a holiday-themed fashion show with styles from locally owned boutiques such as Carol Fosse Contemporary Apparel, Deniz Shoes and Accessory Salon, Kajoma s Fashion Boutique, Pura Vida Blue, The Other Woman and more...

• Pamper yourself with massages and holiday relaxation tips from the professionals at Absolute Serenity Day Spa • Purchase unique gifts from some of the area s most talented artists, including jewelry, pottery, blown glass, and other one-of-a-kind gifts

thursday, 11.06.08, 5 - 9 PM • Get a holiday make-up and hair makeover from the experts at Seven Salon • Look like a pro in the kitchen this holiday season after a cooking demonstration with Karl Marsh CRC, Executive Chef for Omaha Steaks, and Judy Gilliard, food talk show host of Judy a la Carte on NewsRadio 1110 KFAB • Learn how to make the holidays sweet with delectable dessert ideas and gourmet chocolates from the masterminds behind the patisserie and cafe Sweets of Eden

Admission: $10 members, $15 non-members Cost of admission includes complimentary subscription to Her Magazine Media Sponsor:

Event Sponsor:

• Membership has its privileges: During this event, members will enjoy 20% off all items in the gift shop and 10% off at the candy shop and soda fountain • Top it all off with some wine and drinks served

by Johnson Brothers and great food compliments of the Durham On-Track Guild, Omaha Steaks and Sweets of Eden Bring your friends and enjoy A Holiday for Her.

801 SOUTH 10TH STREET OMAHA, NE 68108 402.444.5071 wwww.durhammuseum.org

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