Health

Wheels of Courage Car Show Supports Cancer Patients at Methodist Jennie Edmundson

This year’s Wheels of Courage Car Show is slated for June 26 at Quaker Steak & Lube in Council Bluffs, to support Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital’s Charitable Patient Care Fund. So, if you’re a car enthusiast and have a vehicle you would like to show, this is the event for you! Go back to the Rock ‘N’ Roll era and see gorgeous classics cars, including vintage vehicles and hot rods. More than 200 cars are expected to participate in the 2021 show, and a registration fee of just $20 will put you and your favorite show car in the line-up. Register by June 18 to receive a free T-shirt. The event will include 13 judging categories, plus special awards. Judging begins at 12 p.m., and awards will be presented at 3 p.m. Bring your family out to enjoy this FREE fun event!

The Jennie Edmundson Hospital Foundation is indebted to the longtime support they have received from large and small communities across southwest Iowa and the Omaha metro area. All proceeds from Wheels of Courage will benefit Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital’s Charitable Patient Care Fund, which helps Jennie cancer patients in their times of need. For more information about registering your car or becoming a sponsor, go to jehfoundation.org or call (712) 396-6040.

NAM Launches Fourth COVID-19 Pulse Poll to Measure Pandemic Effects on Nonprofits

The Nonprofit Association of the Midlands (NAM) launched the fourth iteration of its COVID-19 Pulse Poll in late March and is encouraging nonprofits to participate in this important survey to help measure the ongoing effects of the pandemic on the region’s nonprofit industry. NAM first measured the impact of COVID-19 on the nonprofit community in March 2020, and information gathered through each poll provides comparative analysis about how nonprofits were faring last year compared to today. The results also identify trends and provide government, philanthropy and corporate sector leaders with access to valuable data at a time when the demand for nonprofit services is higher than ever. NAM is encouraging nonprofits in Nebraska and Southwest Iowa to complete the survey, at www. surveymonkey.com/r/NAMPulsePoll4, by April 7.

The last COVID-19 Pulse Poll, conducted in October 2020, indicated that the pandemic has had significant budgetary implications for area nonprofits. Approximately 75% of the 248 nonprofit survey respondents reported budgetary implications related to the pandemic’s strains on the economy, estimating a combined total revenue hit of $54 million by October 2020, up $42 million from their estimates in April 2020. While demand for nonprofit services increased, nonprofits were restricted in their ability to respond due to the immediate need for supplies, staffing, volunteers, and resources from government, philanthropic, and business entities.

NAM is a state association that represents more than 650 nonprofit organizations in Nebraska and southwest Iowa. The Association strengthens the collective voice, leadership, and capacity of nonprofits to enrich the quality of community life throughout Nebraska and Western Iowa. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, this is the fourth online Pulse Poll that NAM has completed. For more information, visit nonprofitam.org or contact Hannah Young at Hannah@nonprofitam.org.

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UNMC App by Deepta Ghate is First to Show What Glaucoma Patients See

Deepta Ghate, MD and associate professor in the University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the Truhlsen Eye Institute, collaborated with students from the University of Nebraska at Omaha College of Information Science and Technology to develop an app that allowed ophthalmologists to see what their glaucoma patients see. The app was then studied on 12 glaucoma patients. In the study, participants used the app on an iPad to modify “blur” or “dimness” to match their perception of a two-by-two meter wall-mounted poster at one meter distance. They looked at various scenes and recorded what they saw. Patients could modify the scenes so ophthalmologists could see what the patient sees and compare and validate the vision of the patient.

One of the problems with glaucoma is patients don’t know they are losing their vision. Their central vision is perfect, often 20/20, but the glaucoma is continuously causing a loss of peripheral vision so slowly that, normally, it isn’t noticeable. The app can show patients they have lost vision even when they think they’re vision is fine. Learn more at www.unmc.edu/eye.

Walk Together, But Apart, in 2nd Virtual AHA Greater Omaha Heart & Stroke Walk

With the coronavirus pandemic continuing to keep Americans distanced, the American Heart Association (AHA) is embracing the new normal and moving its iconic Greater Omaha Heart & Stroke Walk to a virtual platform for the second consecutive year—but with an exclusive twist. Presented locally by Union Pacific, this year’s participants will be invited to walk the brand new, never-before-seen Lake Cunningham trail, as it will be available to AHA Heart & Stroke Walk participants only for the week of the walk! On Saturday, June 5, Heart & Stroke Walk participants and teams will remain physically apart but together in their efforts to celebrate heart and stroke survivors, encourage physical activity, and raise lifesaving funds for AHA, the leading voluntary health organization focused on heart and brain health for all. Get moving at home and around your neighborhoods, follow along with the fun on Facebook (@HeartNebraska), take a walk outside, get the whole family involved with an indoor dance party, try out some new strengthening exercises, create an at-home circuit workout, or do whatever gets you moving for heart health! “While we are not able to be together in-person for this year’s event, we’re still focused on our main goal—funding groundbreaking research through the passion of walking together to change lives,” said 2021 Heart Walk Chair Chad Beeson, who is president of Tetrad Property Group. “I am honored to serve and play a role in the promise of a better future for younger generations to live a longer, healthier life.” The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. To register for the virtual Greater Omaha Heart & Stroke Walk, visit www.OmahaHeartWalk.com. Download the Heart Walk mobile app and encourage friends and family to join in via email or social media. On the day of the event, everyone is encouraged to wear their Heart Walk shirts and post pictures and videos to document their activity using #OmahaHeartWalk. Money raised funds research, advocacy, CPR training, and promotion of better health.

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CenterPointe Providing Beacon of Hope via Programs More Tailored to Youth, Families

Among the newer services offered at CenterPointe’s outpatient facility are ones specifically tailored to providing a beacon of hope to youth and their families. That includes outpatient therapy, family therapy, Parenting Magic 1, 2, 3, and group therapy. For all youth and family services, walk-ins are welcome, or you can call to make an appointment. And when it comes to results, nothing speaks louder than firsthand stories from people who have already participated in CenterPointe’s Youth and Family Program, like this one:

“I came to CenterPointe after being hospitalized,” an individual participant said. “There was a lot of buzz going on in my head, and I was really struggling with day-to-day functioning. Coming home from the hospital, even with the partial programs provided, seemed daunting. Having a supportive network of peers and staff to meet with so often, when coming out of such a vulnerable place, was exactly what I needed in order to adjust back into my surroundings. The skills I learned during my time in the group continue to help me see things through a different lens and give me new options on how to approach my mental health.”

CenterPointe is a nonprofit organization that offers a broad continuum of nearly 40 care programs for the disadvantaged, individuals and families facing homelessness, and those with mental health challenges. For more information, visit centerpointe.org. To make an appointment for youth and family services programs, call (402) 475-5161.

Clearwater Counseling Observing Stress Awareness Month with Stress Coping Tips

Clearwater Counseling, PC is observing Stress Awareness Month throughout April to help inform people about the dangers of stress and harmful misconceptions about stress in society, as well as offering information about successful coping strategies. Clearwater encourages individuals to be aware of their mental health and stress by way of mindful exercises, including practicing meditation, maintaining self-care, and speaking to a professional mental health provider when needed.

Stress can be debilitating at times and, unfortunately, can affect anyone. In fact, nearly everyone feels occasional stress. It’s important to note that people who are stressed—especially those prone to chronic stress—are more susceptible to a variety of ailments, from headaches and insomnia to high blood pressure and heart disease. Clearwater Counseling works with clients who are struggling with a variety of mental health diagnoses, including depression, relationship issues, stress, grief/loss/trauma, addiction and recovery, codependency, anxiety and phobias, parenting problems, sexual abuse and incest, physical abuse and violence, and more.

Clearwater Counseling, PC is a private practice offering mental health services to children, adolescents, and adults in the Omaha and Grand Island areas. They work to treat mental health diagnoses through personalized and compassionate counseling practices that promote growth, development, and well-being to further enhance quality of life. To learn more about staff, services, or resources, visit clearwatercounselingpc.org. To schedule an appointment with Clearwater Counseling, please call (308) 210-8487 or email info@ clearwatercounselingne.org.

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Red Cross Honors Local Citizens with 20th Annual Heroes of the Heartland Awards

The American Red Cross Serving the Omaha-Council Bluffs Metro area recognized four area citizens with Heroes in the Heartland Awards on March 9 via a virtual event celebrating the 20th anniversary of the awards. The four winners were recognized for extraordinary acts and services to the community. The Heroes were nominated by peers and the general public, and then chosen by a committee of community members. The 2021 Heroes are: • Shelly Schwedhelm is the executive director of Emergency

Preparedness and Infectious

Disease at University of

Nebraska Medical Center and holds leadership roles with the

Bio Preparedness Team. She has led many of UNMC’s efforts in responding to the pandemic and is a strategic advisor on the allocation of resources. • Dennis Svoboda, who jumped into action when a member of his exercise group collapsed.

Svoboda, a lieutenant with the

Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office, started CPR, while others called 911. He continued compressions for about seven minutes until first responders arrived, helping ensure a full recovery for the individual. • Dan Schreck, who stepped up to do everything he could to help when blood collection faced challenges during COVID-19.

From hosting blood drives through

Church of Jesus Christ LDS in

Papillion to connecting the Red

Cross with additional prospective hosts, he has helped to ensure additional drives were held and increased donations were collected. • Scott Gray, the Omaha Police

Deputy Chief who was inside an Omaha HyVee when gunfire was heard. He ran toward the shots and, along with a bystander, tackled the individual who had fired shots outside the building before walking inside and firing again. Fortunately, no one was hurt by the gunfire and the suspect was apprehended. Video stories on each of the four Heroes and their acts and services were produced and shared during the virtual event and are available on the Nebraska Red Cross YouTube channel. Heroes in the Heartland is the signature celebration and the primary annual fundraiser for the American Red Cross of the Omaha-Council Bluffs Metro Area. Funds raised during the event support the Home Fire Campaign, through which the Red Cross helps to prepare for, prevent, and respond to disasters. Donations ensure that the Red Cross can offer help and hope to those in the community affected by emergencies. The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. For more information, please visit redcross.org or follow them on Facebook (@NEIARedCross) or Twitter (@neiaredcross).

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