Nonprofi t

Wear Yellow Nebraska Hosts Registration & Gear Pop-Up at Twisted Vine Wine Bar

It’s time to start thinking about the 2021 Wear Yellow Ride, Run & Walk and purchase your own awesome one-of-a-kind Wear Yellow Nebraska gear, so mark your calendars for the event Registration and Gear Pop-Up at the Twisted Vine wine bar on May 18. From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., you will have the chance to register for the annual event, buy your gear, and then head on in for your favorite wine, craft beer, or handcrafted cocktail and enjoy some live music! Twisted Vine is located at 123 N. Washington St. in Papillion and promises an evening of networking and fun in preparation for the 18th Annual Wear Yellow Ride, Run & Walk. Wear Yellow Nebraska is a 501(c)(3) nonprofi t organization with a clear focus on niche initiatives that offer cancer survivors support in ways that were not previously being addressed and for people who would otherwise fall through the cracks, truly caring for an individual’s special circumstances. They organize the Wear Yellow Ride, Run & Walk to fund the Wear Yellow Cab Ride program powered by Lyft, as well as other initiatives that support a mission to make a difference for cancer survivors. Your registration fee will provide two rides to a fellow Nebraskan who is fi ghting cancer but does not have adequate transportation to or from their treatments. To learn more or register for the event, go to wearyellownebraska.org, email contactus@ wearyellownebraska.org, or call (402) 965-1699. Or better yet, turn out for the Registration & Gear Pop-Up at Twisted Vine on May 18!

RISE Academy Welcomes New Board Members

RISE Academy recently welcomed four new board members, including Naomi Hattaway, Dr. Mark Foxall, W. Todd Wallace, and Ava Thomas. They will help guide the mission and activities of RISE in bridging the journey from incarceration back into the community via character development, employment readiness, entrepreneurship, and case management. Hattaway is passionate about community building, diversity and accessibility in online and physical spaces, and affordable housing so folks can thrive, not just survive, in the places they call home. The founder of I Am A Triangle, an international social network, Hattaway now consults nonprofi ts and organizations on inclusive program design, equity and housing solutions. Dr. Foxall is a professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Nebraska Omaha where he received his Ph.D. He joined the staff at the Douglas County Department of Corrections in 2000 and began serving as their director in 2011 until his retirement in 2018. Johnson is a cogent thought leader and community-growth professional profi cient in organizational leadership, team building, workforce psychology and the science of strengths-based career development. He is past global channel leader of entrepreneurship and job creation at Gallup and is current senior vice president of economic development at the Greater Omaha Chamber. Thomas is the President and Publisher of the Lincoln Journal Star and has over 25 years of experience in the industry, having worked her way up from a classifi ed ad-taker to the president of the company. For more information about RISE Academy, visit seeusrise.org.

42 Strictly Business MAY 2021

Turn Out for Wheels of Courage Car Show to Support Patients at Jennie Edmundson

Mark your calendars for June 26 to attend the FREE 2021 Wheels of Courage Car Show at Quaker Steak & Lube in Council Bluffs to support cancer patients at Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital. Bring your whole family out to enjoy some fun, as you head back to the Rock ‘N’ Roll era to see gorgeous classics cars, including vintage vehicles and hot rods. If you’re a car enthusiast and have a vehicle you would like to show, Wheels of Courage is defi nitely for you! 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 lineup. Register by June 18 to receive a free T-shirt. The event will include 13 judging categories, plus special awards, with judging beginning at noon and awards being presented at 3 p.m. 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 benefi t 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.

Businesses Benefi t from Donating Surplus Foods to Saving Grace for Redistribution

More than 50 vendors provide the nutritious perishable food that Saving Grace rescues and redistributes to nonprofi t agencies for their clients. These food donors provide their surplus fruits and vegetables, dairy products, meats, prepared, and packaged meals and more to feed the hungry rather than throwing it in the dumpster. Donating perishable food to feed the hungry is easy, and it makes good business sense: • Businesses may receive a tax deduction for their donation. • Dumpster fees are reduced, as there is less waste. • Donating food rather than tossing it supports a business’s sustainability plan. • It’s great for engagement, as employees feel good about donating food to feed the hungry rather than throwing it away. • The community benefi ts. Nonprofi ts receive the food, free of charge, and their clients have access to fresh, healthy foods. Less food in the landfi lls is good for the environment. “In our industry, your heart breaks when you have to throw the food away, knowing there are people out there who really need it,” says Jennifer Snow, chef and co-owner of Catering Creations, a food donor since 2014. “Our partnership allows us to give back to our community and help families.” Saving Grace’s donors include grocery stores, wholesalers, restaurants, convenience stores, event centers, caterers, schools, and other food vendors. Twenty of these businesses have provided their surplus food to Saving Grace for fi ve or more years. Visit savinggracefoodrescue. org/food-donors/ and support these businesses that donate food to Saving Grace. Food vendors interested in learning how they can donate their excess perishable food can call (402) 651-0887.

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Have Coffee with Candace May 26 to Get the Inside Scoop About Open Door Mission

Take your lunch break for virtual Coffee with Candace at noon on May 26 to get an inside look at the compelling work of Open Door Mission in the Omaha community. Mission President and CEO Candace Gregory will be live on Facebook and YouTube for the May episode of the 30-minute show to help, amid so much change in the world today, stay on top of and be encouraged by what God is doing at Open Door Mission. Candace will provide updates, as well as interviews with special guests. See how you can get involved by hosting a drive, volunteering, and more. Grab a cup of your favorite coffee, bring your questions, and enjoy this look at Open Door Mission. Open Door Mission is a Gospel Rescue Mission that meets the needs of individuals and families while inspiring HOPE for lasting change. Each day, Open Door Mission’s campus offers 917 safe shelter beds to homeless men, women, and children, serves about 4,750 nutritious meals, and provides preventative measures to more than 1,000 people living in poverty. For more information, visit opendoormission. org, call (402) 829-1538, or email Kristen Dineen at kdineen@ opendoormission.org. Tune in to Coffee With Candace on Facebook (@OpenDoorMission) or their YouTube channel at youtube.com/ channel/UCVsNXyy3mZOOkWgwG-C6seg.

A Few Spots Remain for Participation in Omaha Home for Boys Golf Classic June 9

A few spots remain open for participation in the annual Omaha Home for Boys (OHB) Golf Classic on Wednesday, June 9. Presented by RBC Wealth Management, the Classic will tee up at Tiburon Golf Club in Omaha, with check-in at 10:30 a.m., followed by lunch and a shotgun start at noon. The day concludes with a dinner, raffl e, brief program, and awards. Proceeds from this fun-fi lled day benefi t the more than 1,300 youth, young adults, children, and families served by OHB every year! “We always have such a great time at the Golf Classic every year, and Tiburon is just such a beautiful course,” said OHB Chief Development Officer Lori Bechtold. “We’re really looking forward to seeing everyone on June 9 and raising funds for the youth and families here at OHB.” The Omaha Home for Boys equips youth, young adults, and families with the skills they need to become self-suffi cient and productive members of the community. Programs include Inspiration Hill Residential Living, Jacob’s Place Transitional Living, Branching Out Independent Living, Supportive Housing, and clinical services, in addition to support services in the form of education and scholarships, Youth Mart, and Valley View 4-H. Register for the four-person Golf Classic scramble tournament at OHB.org or by contacting Lori Bechtold at (402) 457-7014 or giving@ohb.org.

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NALA Rescues 40+ Cats, Nearly 60 Dogs and Puppies in Months of March, April

Nebraska Animal Loving Advocates (NALA) have been busy saving dozens of animals in need this spring, including rescuing more than 40 cats in March and 56 additional animals, including dogs and puppies, in April. They saved all of the cats from Western Nebraska, and several of them were pregnant. Dozens of adorable animals are available for fostering and adoption, and NALA is seeking loving homes to take them in. Take a look on their Facebook page (@nalarescue) and see photos of all the beautiful souls looking for forever homes! The sweet faces of these puppies, kittens, and full-grown dogs and cats will make your day, and you’ll literally find new ones looking back into your eyes every day, dreaming of a safe, loving place to live—and melting your heart. In 2020 alone, NALA found forever homes for more than 675 homeless animals, including nearly 70 dogs and cats that the rescue organization saved just in time for a Christmas they would never forget! Nebraska Animal Loving Advocates is a nonprofi t 501(c)(3) animalrescue organization led by founder Angie Hospodka and her army of 80+ volunteers. Their mission is to revolutionize, through education, the way people think about animals and animal rescue. NALA educates people about the dangers of puppy mills and the realities of backyard breeders, in their effort to provide loving homes to all the dogs and cats they encounter, including the feral, the unwanted, the damaged, and the lost. NALA believes that every living creature not only deserves love but also has so much love to offer. NALA approaches this mission through their core values of love for all living things and faith that our culture can change, and together we can create a world where rescues are no longer needed. If you are interested in adopting, fostering, volunteering, or donating, please visit www.nalarescue.org.

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Angels Among Us Gears Up for Annual Bland Cares Golf Outing Set for July 12

Angels Among Us is excited to announce that their 11th Annual Bland Cares Golf Outing will tee up on Monday, July 12 at Champions Run. Online team registration now is open at myangelsamongus.org, and the event is expected to sell out quickly. All major sponsors have been secured, but Angels Among Us is still has some corporate team spots available. Angels Among Us is grateful for major sponsors: Pillar Restaurant Group will provide lunch for the day; Anchor Roofi ng is the Golf Cart Sponsor; REDiTECH took on the Beverage Cart Sponsor; Truck Center Companies is the Putting Green Sponsor; and Gregg Young Automotive Group is providing a hole-in-one opportunity on the course. The Angels Among Us golf event is always a huge success, thanks to such extensive community support. Angels Among Us is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to provide fi nancial and emotional support to any family whose child is battling pediatric cancer living in or being treated in the state of Nebraska. Register for the Bland Cares Golf Outing at myangelsamongus.com and turn out for a fun day on the golf course to support local pediatric cancer families. For more information about ways to make an impact and get involved in the Angels Among Us mission, please contact Aly Theilen at alyssa@myangelsamongus.org.

Make a Difference in the Community by Participating in the JDRF One Walk

If you or your business is looking to make a difference in the community, JDRF has a perfect opportunity via their 2021 One Walk, which is set for Sunday, October 10. The JDRF One Walk will bring together people across Nebraska and southwest Iowa to change the future for people living with type 1 diabetes (T1D). This fun, family-friendly event gives people with T1D and their friends, families, and coworkers the opportunity to raise money for life-changing T1D research. Companies of any size can participate in this fl agship community event. By being part of the JDRF One Walk, corporate partners can enhance their recognition and goodwill in the community, provide employee engagement opportunities to promote team building, and receive marketing exposure across the entire state of Nebraska and throughout southwest Iowa. The JDRF One Walk is your chance to show the world that together, we can conquer T1D. For more information on becoming a corporate sponsor or registering a team, please call (402) 397-CURE (2873) or email Chris Dunn at cdunn@jdrf.org. Help them turn Type One into Type None and get more information or register for the One Walk at walk.jdrf.org/omaha.

Cornhusker Bank’s One Day Without Shoes to Benefi t Stephen Center, Needy Residents

Clean out your closets and find gently used shoes! It’s time for One Day Without Shoes, Cornhusker Bank’s annual shoe collection drive to benefi t Stephen Center. The collection drive will run through May 8. One Day Without Shoes is a collaborative effort with local businesses who volunteer to help the bank collect new and wearable used shoes for free distribution by Stephen Center. “The look on the faces of our clients when we provide them with shoes is priceless, providing them with joy they may not have felt in a very long time,” said Stephen Center Shelter Director Lori Koch. Cornhusker Bank started One Day Without Shoes in 2011 to benefi t the Lincoln community. In 2020, the event expanded to Omaha, and a partnership was formed with the Stephen Center. The drive in September 2020 collected more than 2,000 pairs of shoes and $350 in monetary donations. All shoes and cash donations collected in Omaha will stay in Omaha for distribution. Gently worn and new shoes can be dropped off at one of the collection sites during the two-week campaign. A complete list of collection sites can be found at cornhuskerbank. com/Day-Without-Shoes-omaha.aspx. Located in South Omaha, Stephen Center serves the homeless, addicted, and those in poverty. The campus includes a homeless emergency shelter, inpatient/outpatient co-occurring treatment and permanent supportive housing for disabled and low-income individuals. In 2020, Stephen Center provided services to 1,278 men, women, and children and served more than 200,000 meals to people experiencing homelessness, addiction, and poverty. For more information, visit stephencenter.org or call (402) 715-5442.

44 Strictly Business MAY 2021

FAMILY, Inc. Launches Baby Reads Library Partnership to Bridge the Economic Gap

Through its Raise Me to Read program, FAMILY, Inc. recently partnered with Council Bluffs Public Library to launch a Baby Reads program to help bridge the economic gap that extends to children’s vocabularies. Research shows that children’s vocabulary skills are linked to their economic backgrounds. By three years old, there is a 30-million-word gap between children from the wealthiest and poorest families, and a recent study shows that by 18 months, children in different socioeconomic groups display dramatic differences in their vocabularies. The FAMILY, Inc. Raise Me to Read library partnership aims to give families the tools they need to help their children succeed. Baby Reads promotes preventive early literacy tools to new parents by giving them increased library access. The program is available to anyone who is eligible for a Council Bluffs Public Library card and has a child under one year of age. When you sign your baby up for a library card as part of Baby Reads, you will receive a free board book, a one-time waiver of all fi nes and fees on your own library account, and access to all of the library’s wonderful resources. Raise Me to Read is an Iowa West Foundation initiative that is part of FAMILY, Inc. and the national campaign for Grade Level Reading. It seeks to improve student’s reading profi ciency by the end of third grade through targeted approaches in the three key areas of school: readiness; attendance; and out-of-school learning. Students who don’t reach this milestone are four times more likely to drop out of high school. For more about FAMILY, Inc, visit familyia.org, and for detail about Baby Reads, please visit raisemetoread.org/swi-baby-reads.

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Mosaic Seeks Expansion of Team to Provide Full Continuum of Service to Meet All Needs

Mosaic is looking to expand its care team in Omaha to continue providing the full continuum of services for its clients, including people with disabilities, mental and behavioral health needs, and autism, as well as aging adults. Services are tailored to meet individual needs and goals, allowing people to live as independently as possible. Openings for the growing team currently include a Registered Nurse/Licensed Practical Nurse, Certifi ed Medication Specialist, and Direct Support Associate. Services available through Mosaic include 24-hour residential support, autism services, behavioral health and autism, day services, mental and behavioral health services, Mosaic at home, services in the community and homes, and supported living. The Mosaic team is a team of problem solvers and connectors who are passionate about services and partnerships that create meaningful lives in caring communities, giving a voice to people’s needs. Mosaic harnesses data and processes technology to provide highquality services to as many people in need as they can, and adding another nurse, medication specialist and support associate will help them continue to build relationships to drive outcomes for communities, funders, families and, most important, the people they serve. If you’re interested in learning more about Mosaic or joining the team, visit mosaicinfo.org or contact Tabatha Ingram at (402) 235-8203 / tabatha.ingram@mosaicinfo.org.

NAM Promotes Spring Giving Days Across Nebraska to Help Give Back to Nonprofi ts

The Nonprofi t Association of the Midlands (NAM) is promoting Spring Giving Days to communities throughout Nebraska to give back to nonprofi t organizations that strengthen economic development, education, health, and cultural awareness every day. Nonprofi ts are essential to the quality of life in Nebraska communities, with many communities in the state relying on donations and giving days as effective forms of fundraising. Between 2018 and 2019, charitable giving days across Nebraska and southwest Iowa grossed more than $16 million for local nonprofi ts, but many communities were unable to host any in 2020, due to COVID, so the need is greater than ever in 2021. Nonprofi t organizations work tirelessly year-round to help their communities and need support of residents statewide during Spring Giving Days to make an impact. You can make a difference this year by supporting nonprofi ts with an online donation. NAM is promoting the following Spring Giving Days in Nebraska this month: Spring into Giving Day in Custer County (Broken Bow), May 1; Wyobraska Gives in Scottsbluff, May 4; Fremont Area Big Give, May 4; North Platte Giving Day, May 5; Columbus Big Give, May 4-8; Go Big Give in Grand Island, May 6; Give Hastings Day, May 6; Norfolk Area Big Give, May 25; and Give to Lincoln, May 25. NAM is a state association that represents more than 700 nonprofi t organizations in Nebraska and southwest Iowa. NAM strengthens the collective voice, leadership, and capacity of nonprofi ts to enrich the quality of community life throughout Nebraska and Western Iowa. For more information about Spring Giving Days, visit nonprofi tam.org/givingdays.

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Assistance League of Omaha Reopens Thrift Shop, Encourages Community to Shop Local

With the business climate looking up as people get COVID vaccinations and pandemic restrictions loosen a bit, Assistance League of Omaha® (ALO) has reopened their Thrift Shop at its new location, 8502 W Center Rd., and is encouraging the community to shop local—not just at ALO but throughout Metro Omaha. While the ALO Thrift Shop is still operating on a shortened schedule, open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays, they are having sales and discounts on different items every week, including items as low as $1-$2 each. The Thrift Shop carries women’s and men’s clothing, shoes, and accessories, as well as a large assortment of decorative and seasonal items and a large display of books, cookbooks, and miscellaneous items. Assistance League of Omaha is a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofi t organization that has operated in Omaha since 1976. They offer six different programs that are directed at Omaha area children in need, assault survivors, women in recovery, literacy programs, Operation Bear Hug, and teen parents. Please consider becoming a part of the solution by becoming an ALO member. They will be offering the next new-member class in late July. To inquire about membership, please contact Jeanne Smay at smayj@cox.net or the Assistance League offi ce at (402) 342-4288. To learn more about their mission and accomplishments, visit ALOmaha.org.

Kids Can Community Center Celebrates 113 Years with Plans to Construct New Building

Kids Can Community Center is celebrating its 113th anniversary since fi rst opening their doors to serve Omaha as Social Settlement in spring 1908. With the anniversary comes the announcement that they are planning construction of a new center and asking Omahans to join together and donate toward the next chapter of this organization through their “Get In Gear Capital Campaign” to raise the public funds needed to complete the project. With a mission to educate, engage and inspire kids through early childhood care and out-of-school programs, Kids Can has been in their current building at 49th and Q Streets since 1964. According to CEO Robert Patterson, however, they have been overdue for change. “This building has served us well over the years, but we are ready for the next chapter of this amazing organization,” Patterson said. “I am proud to announce our capital campaign for a brand-new building that will not only double our capacity but improve the quality and depth of our programs.” Kids Can won’t be going too far, though. In fact, they will be moving just down the street to 48th and Q Street: “The new center will foster an environment truly suited to the needs of the families we serve, including an innovative STEM room, greater classroom and community capacity, and infant childcare for the fi rst time in our history,” said Kids Can parent and Board Chair Krista Eckhoff. The mission of Kids Can Community Center is to educate, engage, and inspire children through early childhood education and outof-school experiences. Originally founded in 1908 as Social Settlement Association, the organization has evolved to meet the continually changing needs of children and families in the community. For more information, visit www.KidsCan.org. Get details about the Get in Gear Capital Campaign and make your contribution at kidscan.org/capital.html.

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