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Former Residents Tell Their Stories: |
THE TWIG is a publication of :
The Omaha Home for Boys
4343 North 52nd Street
Omaha, NE 68104
The Omaha Home for Boys is a member of the National Fellowship of Child Care Executives and the National Association of Homes and Services for Children.
Founded in 1920, The Omaha Home for Boys is licensed by the State of Nebraska and is governed by 70 Trustees and our Board of Directors of 30 who serve as volunteers without financial remuneration. Annual operating and financial statements are prepared by certified public accountants and filed as public information with the Nebraska Department of Social Services.
The Omaha Home for Boys 75th Anniversary History
Books are available. To receive your copy contact Marsha Cussen at
1-800-408-4663 today! To read the Home's complete history, click on
the history book to your right. Also available is the Home's new
video -- "A Vision of Caring".
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HOME? If you have a question about the Home, would like to receive our financial statements, or we can help in any way, call us at our new toll free number 1-800-408-4663.
The question is asked over and over, “Where do the boys living at the Home
come from?” More important than where they
come from is where they go after leaving the Home.
To say we know where every boy who ever came to the Home went from here would be unrealistic. However, of the more than 5,000 boys who have come through the doors of The Omaha Home for Boys, a great many do keep in contact with the Home and with each other.
Because of you, the Home can concentrate on helping these young men be the best they can be when they leave. Throughout this newsletter you will read stories of boys who, after leaving the Home, have gone on to devote their talents and lives to helping others.
Take a moment to think about Valentine’s Day. It’s Valentine’s Day and you’re in the first grade. You remember it. Your day was filled with silly sentiments and as many candy hearts as you could eat. Kevin Orr remembers Valentine’s Day 1959.
That day was the first day that Kevin Orr came to The Omaha Home for Boys. Kevin still remembers that day like it was yesterday, “I still remember everything about that day,” he says. “The snow on the ground, who brought me, the brick on the Cottage. I constantly remind our staff that the first time a boy comes to the Home—that visit—is so important.”
Kevin Orr, director of Youth and Family Services for The Omaha Home for Boys, knows what it’s like to come to a strange place, not understand the whole system, and feel somewhat alone.
When Kevin entered the Home as a first-grader, the focus of caregiving at that time was that “we kept a boy forever. It was a different time, the approach was all residential care, very strict.”
Kevin grew up at the Home, went to school, graduated, and entered college, taking courses during the day and working at night. He earned his bachelor’s degree in education and his master’s degree in human services. When the chance came for him to work at the Home, Kevin realized that working here would give him a great opportunity to teach—and learn.
Kevin has made a lot of memories along the way: memories of Christmas parties, the 4th of July, lots of fun at holidays, staff who have come and gone, laughter and tears along the way.
When his son, Joshua, turned seven, Kevin looked at him and reflected. He thought about what other parents go through. He thought about the awesome responsibility of parenthood.
Parents need to know that all families at some time need help. The parents are not alone. There are a number of avenues for help and support and you need to find the right one for you.”
In the last 40 years there have been many changes at the Home. Kevin says some of the major changes involve a change in focus. “We have moved from focusing on custodial care to realizing the need is broader than that. We try to work with the whole family. We work with the boys on what skills they will need to have when they leave the Home.
“Kids nowadays are more damaged; more and more come from broken families; there’s a devaluation of families; they are exposed to more, and they are used to instant gratification. Kids learn by making mistakes, and as adults we tend to forget that.”
Even though the Home has changed in the years Kevin has been associated with it, the one word Kevin uses to describe the
Home is consistent. “The Omaha Home for Boys is consistent with its policies and approaches in serving boys. We are continually growing and we have expanded our presence in the community, state, and beyond. We are not only providing tremendous care, but we’re also part of a broad collaboration of ideas and training. We have dedicated staff who are truly making a difference!”
While Kevin was being interviewed for this article, his two-way radio rang. A look of concern crossed his face as he took the call. It was from one of his staff members who was at the high school. Together they discussed the issues a youth from the Home was facing. Kevin was there, listening, sharing, helping through a tough situation.
Since 1959 Kevin has changed in many ways. He has two children, Joshua and Sarah, who are the absolute center of his attention. He manages a staff of varied schedules and skills. He worries about kids and the problems and situations they face on a daily basis. He wants to make sure The Omaha Home for Boys is equipped to meet the needs of those boys who come here . . . on Valentine’s Day or any other day of the year.
I was reading a letter not long ago from Jeff. Jeff is a former resident who was able to go on to college thanks to your help. Without the guidance he received at the Home, the role models and love, Jeff would not have made it to college. He even doubts he would have made it through high school. The things he wrote … the feelings he shared … his thankfulness … made me catch my breath. I found myself saying outloud, “What a great kid!”
Of course I was proud of the Home when I read Jeff’s letter. I was proud of our staff and proud of our donors, who make it all possible. But most of all, I was proud of Jeff … for working hard, setting goals, and mostly, for saying thank you.
Being sincere … being true to yourself and others … is an important quality to have. Saying thank you, and meaning it, is something we work hard to teach every boy here at the Home.
And that sincerity grows to take on larger meanings:” sincerity in life, in your pursuits, in your dreams.
In this issue of the Twig Newsletter, you will read a number of stories about boys and men who are sincere. They are sincere in their thanks to the Home for giving them the chance for a better life. They are sincere in their thanks to the men and women who helped mold them and helped them grow into the people they are today. And they are sincere in their thanks to you … our dedicated friends and donors … for making it all possible.
Sincerity is important at The Omaha Home for Boys. We teach it. We feel it. And I say to you, with all sincerity, thank you for caring enough to share.
Larkin and Racine Birdow really enjoy being House Parents and it shows! When asked to share what their boys are involved in, they jump at the opportunity.
“We are proud of our boys and their accomplishments. They really follow through on things and no matter how hard it gets, they stick with it.” You can be proud of these boys too!
At the Bruner Cottage:
The
mission of The Omaha Home for Boys is strengthening youth and families, and this
goes far beyond the care and support that is given while they live at the Home.
Dave James, Successful Living Educator, shares, “We’re always working at
enhancing our aftercare. The Scholarship Program available through the Home is
just one opportunity to communicate, encourage, and be a part of helping them as
they make decisions and further their education. So the scholarship program is
really more than just scholarships; it’s very definitely a relationship
builder.”
During the past year 35 youth have been involved in the Scholarship Program. These youth are enrolled in colleges and programs throughout the United States.
A few of the Scholarship Program students include:
Boys living at The Omaha Home for Boys attend the Omaha Public Schools. Involvement in school activities is encouraged. Many participate in extracurricular activities, including drama, sports, band, and ROTC.
This year the Home is proud to have nine young men enrolled in the ROTC program. Most of the youth became involved because they plan to continue their relationship with the military. We want to share with you some of their achievements in this fine program.
| T.J. – Rank: 1st Seargant Rifle Team Cord, Saber Team Cord, Orienteering Team Cord, Courtesy Patrol Cord, Expert Marksmanship Badge, Sons of the American Revolution Medal, 3rd Place Pistol Team Medal Robert – Rank: Cadet Private Chris – Rank: Private William – Rank: 2nd Lieutenant |
James – Rank: 2nd Lieutenant Rifle Team Cord, Pistol Team Medal, Expert Marksman, Marksman with Rifle, Most Improved Cadet, Drill Team Cord, Honor Guard Medal, Color Guard Cord, Saber Cord/Arch Tim – Rank: C/SSG Robert – Private, 1st Class |
When the boys find out that I was at the Home, they look at me and say, ‘You, really?”
“I encourage them to make the Home what they need it to be to work for them,” says Kelly, the Farm Assistant working with Mike Pallas at Cooper Farm and with the 4-H program.
“Every boy who comes back to the Home will look at you and say, ‘I did not realize how good I had it.’” Kelly understands that sentiment. His first year at the Home was really tough. Kelly was 13 and didn’t want to be here. During his first year he did everything he could not to succeed. Then, “I made it what I wanted it to be, and after that things went great!”
Kelly graduated in 1987 and came to work full-time for the Home in July of that year. Currently, he is also taking classes in welding. Another role that Kelly enjoys is that of mentor. Kelly is working with a youth who lives at Jacobs’ Place, the Transitional Living apartments of The Omaha Home for Boys.
When he was told about the position available at the Home, Kelly figured he could help. He knew firsthand what some of the boys were going through, and he enjoyed working with Mike Pallas at the Farm.
One of the things Kelly likes best about his work now is watching a youth complete a project. He encourages the boys, telling them to “realize that the Home is here for you, take advantage of what it offers, do good while you’re at the Home, and then use the Scholarship Program."
When asked to share the most valuable lesson he learned while he was at the Home, Kelly responds, “Respect for others.” Kelly has a great respect for Mike and the rest of the staff as well as the boys he works with. Kelly also has great respect for his grandparents. Every week he enjoys spending time with them.
When asked what word he would use to describe the Home, with thought Kelly says, “Home.” To those who made this Home possible for him Kelly adds, “Thanks for giving me a chance.”
Once you meet Kelly, you know that giving him that chance was well worth it!
Arturo: “To Me the Home Is Family”Keep on trying, worry about yourself, and do what you’re supposed to do.” Good advice from someone who knows how hard, yet beneficial, that can be.
Arturo came to The Omaha Home for Boys when he was in the eighth grade. Now he works at the Home as the Grounds & Maintenance technician. As a role model to the youth, he realizes how important it is to accept and give advice. “Everyone needs advice; the boys learn from me and I learn from them. No matter how old you are, you still need advice and a role model.”
Role models were abundant during Arturo’s time as a boy at the Home. When asked who had an impact on him, he is quick to reply. “Mr. Heller, Mr. Auxier, Ms. Brooks. Mr. Heller and his family would have me in their home on the weekend and take me fishing. He was a father figure to me. Mr. Auxier encouraged me in sports. He was at every game that I played in and has always been there for me. Ms. Brooks helped me so much with my schoolwork, I owe her my high school diploma.” Arturo graduated in 1997 and is earning his degree in criminal justice at night while working during the day.
Working with the boys and learning together is what Arturo enjoys most about his work. The hardest part of his job is when the boys have problems and he can’t help them totally solve them. His advice to the boys at the Home is, “Get along with everybody, keep your head up, respect others, and if they don’t respect you back . . . it’s on them.”
The Home afforded Arturo things he might not have had otherwise—having his own “space,” nice clothes, and being involved in sports. One of his favorite memories is being able to attend a two-week wrestling camp in Estes Park, Colorado.
To the men who were role models and to those who supported the Home financially, Arturo says, “Thanks, I appreciate what you did to help me become the man that I am. The statement may sound corny, but it’s true: ‘As the Twig Is Bent, So Grows the Tree.’”
Unconditional love.” That’s what Gary and Sue Williamson said when they were asked what boys living in the Home crave the most. “The boys know we love them no matter what,” explains Sue. “We tell them we may not approve of their behaviors, and they may get in trouble, but that’s not going to stop us from loving them.”
And that unconditional love makes all the difference in the
world. Gary and Sue are House Parents at The Omaha Home for
Boys. To be exact, they are Alternate House Parents.
House Parents are the most important and influential staff members at the Home. They are charged with implementing the Home’s behavioral treatment program and providing a family environment while meeting the physical, emotional, social, academic, and spiritual needs of the residents. House Parents are responsible for providing a loving home environment; teaching and living as role models; counseling the youth on all matters; acting as disciplinarians when necessary; maintaining the home/cottage; and working with the administration of the Home. They have a tough job, to be sure.
Alternate House Parents have it even tougher. Every six days our House Parents get to take some time off to recuperate. During that time, a three-day period, Alternate House Parents live in the home/cottage with the boys. “Having to move every three days can be pretty tough,” says Sue, “but we also get to work directly with more boys!” All House Parents at the Home start off as Alternates. This gives them a chance to hone the skills they learn in training. And, like all Alternate House Parents, the Williamsons will be glad when they get the chance to apply to be regular House Parents.
Experienced Parents
Gary and Sue met at a dance 25 years ago. When asked how they met, Sue laughs and says, “I chased him ’til he caught me!” For the next 20-plus years Gary worked as a mechanic and then a production manager in a factory, and Sue worked as a beautician, eventually owning her own shop. But those were never really their “jobs.” Over the years the Williamsons have had 28 children live in their home: Two children of their own, two adopted children, six exchange students, and 18 foster children.
Gary said, “When I was 12 I worked for a man who really showed me what it meant to be a mentor, to be a father. He changed my life. He showed me how to live the right way. If I can do the same for these boys, then I’m making the biggest difference anyone can make.”
Sue feels the same way. “Gary and I both missed things as children. We know what it’s like to go through tough times as a young person. That’s why we help.”
It gets exhausting working with so many children and teens for so many years. But they just laugh. “Sure it can get tough. But working here at the Home has been the hardest job we’ve ever had … and yet, he most rewarding job we’ve ever had. We wouldn’t change it for anything.”
Like most of the House Parents, Gary and Sue felt “called” to work at the Home. “We’d been working with about 90 children in our church youth group,” Gary explains, “and we felt some kind of change was in the air. We prayed about it. Then we saw the ad in the paper, and here we are!”
Here to Stay
And thank goodness they are here. Since joining the Home in September 2000, the Williamsons have worked with a number of boys. They’ve seen great progress and that keeps them motivated. According to Gary, “When you see a youngster who’s two years behind in school finally ‘get it,’ and he buckles down and finishes high school on time and even goes to college, that’s quite a feeling!”
When asked about working together, Gary and Sue share that it definitely takes two to carry the load. Teamwork and a sense of humor make all the difference in the world. “If we couldn’t laugh with each other … and at each other … we couldn’t do this job!”
How long do the Williamsons think they’ll be at the Home? “We’re here to stay,” they both agree. And the rest of us at The Omaha Home for Boys would not want it any other way!
Ruth’s wish was that these funds be directed to you in memory of her infant son that she lost at birth. She remained childless through her ninety-two years of life.”
Ruth remembered The Omaha Home for Boys in her estate plan. But it was those few words in the letter from her minister that touched me so. The Home was able to help fill an important void in Ruth’s life. Because of that, and the 
good work being done here, she wanted to remember the Home in her estate plan. Ruth made a legacy gift to help ensure that the Home will be here to help … today and in the future.
From time to time I am lucky enough to visit with friends of the Home from all across our nation. We talk about what the Home is doing to change lives for the better. We talk about the husbands and fathers we’ve helped to raise.
Inevitably, I am asked, “What can I do to help?”
For an answer, I ask folks to please consider three things. First, continue to give when you can. Your regular giving means so much and truly makes a difference.
Second, share the Home with your friends and family. Let them see our newsletter on your table or send them a prayer card in the mail. The Home can never have enough good friends!
Finally, when you plan your estate, remember us last. Thinking about estate planning–and our own mortality–is not easy. Talking about it can be just as tough. But the fact is, our mortality is the one thing we all have in common. Planning for the future is important. I want you to decide how the assets you have worked a lifetime to build up are utilized in the end. I want you to take care of yourself, your family, and those closest to you first.
Then, think of The Omaha Home for Boys and what we do for children and youth. I certainly want you to remember the Home … but I want you to remember us last.
If you have any questions, or if I can be of any assistance, please feel free to call me at 800-408-4663. Thank you.
Some wills don’t work. For example, if your state requires the signatures of two disinterested witnesses and a beneficiary of your will signs as a witness, your will may not work.
A will that’s out of step with your other estate planning documents may not work either. Let’s say your will dictates that your entire estate is to pass to your spouse, and yet your life insurance policy indicates a different beneficiary. Will your will supercede your policy and redirect the insurance proceeds to your spouse? Probably not.
An out-of-date will that fails to take full advantage of current estate tax law may not work well either. It could cost thousands in added taxes. Nor can you feel confident in a will that has not been updated to reflect major changes in your family life or financial affairs.
The Home wants you to have the peace of mind that comes from a valid estate plan. We want you to have a will that works well for you. And, frankly, one that works for us—one that includes a bequest to The Omaha Home For Boys.
When you name The Omaha Home For Boys in your will (or living trust), you make one final gift—your crowning gift—to a mission you have supported during your life. You declare in your Last Will and Testament that you believe in the Home and that you want a portion of your accumulated assets to be invested in furthering the work we do for needy children and youth.
If you have arranged for an estate gift through a will or other transfer document, please let the Home know. We want to thank you while you are here. We want to express appreciation for your confidence in our future. We want to honor you for your prudent planning. Of course, if you wish, we will treat news of your bequest plans anonymously.
As always, the Home urges you to consult with an estate planning attorney or other qualified advisor regarding a will, a living trust, or whatever else may best suit your needs. Sound professional help will contribute to your peace of mind—and that of your family.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Todd Simpson at The Omaha Home for Boys at 800-408-4663.
GIFT
ANNUITY RATE CHART
The following chart is based on a
gift of $5,000:
|
|
Age |
Annual Return |
Charitable Deduction |
|
|
|
65 |
6.7% - $335 |
$1,514 |
|
|
|
70 |
7.2% - $360 |
$1,743 |
|
|
|
75 |
7.9% - $395 |
$1,975 |
|
|
|
80 |
8.9% - $445 |
$2,222 |
|
|
|
85 |
10.4% - $520 |
$2,444 |
|
|
|
90 |
12.0% - $600 |
$2,760 |
|
American Council Gift Annuity Rates as of July 1, 2001
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HOME? If you have questions about the Home, would like to receive our financial statements, or we can help in any way, please call us at our toll free number 1-800-408-HOME.