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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.
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The OHB Video - "A Vision of Caring" |
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The Home's video, "A vision of Caring," is avaialable for viewing in your home of presenting before clubs or groups. If you would like to borrow a copy please let us know at 800/408/4663 and we will make sure you receive the tape. |
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The solider had been missing for 15 years. He had fallen through the ice on a remote river in the Alaskan wilderness, forgotten by most except his grieving family. But Jeff, U.S. Army Specialist and Omaha Home for Boys alum, was destined to make a difference.
While camping with his five-year-old daughter two
years ago, he spotted a rag flapping on the mud flats 40 feet out after
the tide had receded. It was dangerous to investigate, but Jeff has
never left anything half done—that’s the kind of man he is. With the mud
sucking at his feet, he pulled on the rag and the soldier’s remains
surfaced. Jeff knew the tide would come in before authorities could be
summoned, so he gathered the remains in his coat and said, “C’mon,
buddy, let’s get you home.”
He received the Army Commendation Medal for his unselfish act, but that didn’t mean as much to Jeff as returning a son to his family in Ohio. “Now, maybe they can find some peace and say a final good-bye,” he says.
Focused on Fun
When Jeff arrived at The Omaha Home for Boys in 1994, he was 16 and
focused on having fun. Hanging around with the wrong crowd and poor
grades had been a part of that “fun.” Jeff gradually found his footing
at the Home with new friends and mentors.
Dave DeCamp, a tutor at the Home, was determined to help Jeff see that learning could be fun. Of course, Jeff was as skeptical of that as any teenager, but when he caught up on a whole year of algebra in two weeks, he started to believe! Success started to make a difference in Jeff’s attitude that year as he went on to achieve top scores in English and geography.
Jeff
still credits the Home’s Successful Living Educator, Dave James, with
his achievements. “He’s such a good listener that you rarely see that he
guides while listening!” Jeff says. “I still call him when I have a
problem. He’s been an exceptional mentor in my life.”
After graduation, Jeff moved to the Home’s Transitional Living program at Jacob’s Place, where he met his future wife, Yvette. He continued his education in community college and joined Students in Free Enterprise, a non-profit organization that initiates community service. Jeff could have chosen to do a simple service project, but that’s not his way.
One New Year’s Eve in Omaha, Jeff and a buddy, Pete (also an alum of the Home), posted white crosses wherever anyone had been killed or disabled by a drunk driver. All the local television stations and “Good Morning America” covered the event. Jeff wasn’t looking for fame—he just wanted to make a difference.
Standout Soldier
In 2000, Jeff was managing a Jiffy Lube while juggling college and a
young family when an Army recruiter drove in. The Army seemed to be the
kind of life that would fit with the things he had learned at The Omaha
Home for Boys, such as honor, responsibility, and service. Jeff jumped
in with both feet and landed at Fort Richardson, Alaska.
True to form, Jeff has gone the extra mile with the Army too. He competed in the Soldier of the Month Board Exams, in which soldiers are judged on uniform, confidence, presentation, and answers to a battery of questions about the Army.
Even though many of his competitors outrank him, Jeff has won his last three competitions, culminating in being named U.S. Army Alaska Solider of the Year in February. The next step in the competition will be against the winners of the Pacific Coast states, Hawaii, and Japan.
Jeff knows his road to success started in Omaha. “I would like to thank The Omaha Home for Boys, its donors, teachers, and staff. The Home has made a big difference in my life, and I am grateful,” he says.
At The Omaha Home for Boys, donors like you make a difference in boys’ lives every day . . . but you should be most proud of the way the boys keep passing that difference on.
Personally Speaking Let’s Take a Moment to Discuss . . . A Circle of Caring.
One
of the very best aspects of my job is talking to friends and donors and
finding out how they came to support The Omaha Home for Boys. The
stories are wonderful testaments to why so many people—just like
you—care enough to share with children and youth.
The other day I was talking with Fred from the West Coast. Fred grew up in Omaha and knew about The Omaha Home for Boys. But what really hooked him on the Boys’ Home was a young man he met one night riding on a bus in Okinawa, Japan.
Fred was a twenty-something Navy man. He sat down on the bus next to a young airman. The conversation began, as it does for so many servicemen and servicewomen, with Fred asking where the young man was from.
“I grew up in Schuyler, Nebraska,” the airman shared, “but I really consider The Omaha Home for Boys my home.”
Fred and the airman talked on as they rode through town. Clearly, the Home had made an impact on the young airman. And he made quite an impact on Fred.
Today, Fred is helping to make an impact on needy children and youth who live at The Omaha Home for Boys. The circle of caring is complete.
Treatment
Center Opens
The Omaha Home for Boys, along with Catholic Charities and the
Child Saving Institute, recognized the need for alcohol and drug
treatment for youth. This vision was shared by The Walter and Suzanne
Scott Foundation, which contributed $1 million last year to help bring
this collaborative project to the Omaha community. Journeys: Recovery
Solutions for Today’s Youth began in February and immediately filled all
available openings. The Omaha Home for Boys is proud to help fill an
urgent need and get kids back on the right track to healthier lives.
Anderson
Cottage Adopts Family for Christmas
A church bulletin board read, “Single mother with four children
needs help to make Christmas special.” The boys at the Anderson Cottage
responded to this plea by voting to “adopt” this family for Christmas.
They had a great time shopping for ingredients for a delicious Christmas
dinner and gifts for the family of three girls and a baby boy. The boys
delivered more than 30 presents and got in the spirit of the season by
wearing Santa Claus hats. Josh reported it was nice to be giving instead
of just receiving. “Some of our own families get gifts this way, and it
was nice to be on the other side,” he says.
Two
Boys Receive Student of the Month Awards
The Combs Cottage and Anderson Cottage were celebrating last fall
when Jack, 16, and Mike, also 16, received Student of the Month awards
from their high school. Only 36 students each year receive this award,
which requires nomination from teachers for good citizenship as well as
good academics. Congratulations to Jack and Mike—we’re proud of you!
Swimming to Success
Josh, 13, described himself as “happy but tired” following a school swim
competition. He and his teammates competed against eight other schools,
placing second in the 50-meter freestyle relay, while Josh finished
third in the individual 50-meter freestyle. He received two medals for
his efforts. Congratulations to Josh on his excellent performance!
House Parents Corner
Spencer and Renaye McGuire: A Place in Their
Hearts for Kids
Working as House Parents for The Omaha Home for Boys is more than a job; it is a way of life. Certainly, that is the case for Spencer and Renaye McGuire, who have been House Parents at the Home for just over a year.
“It’s been an interesting year,” laughs Spencer. “The job’s been demanding . . . but rewarding too!”
Being
able to help youth, while at the same time spending more time with wife
Renaye and son Israel, are high on Spencer’s list of benefits of working
at The Omaha Home for Boys. “This is the toughest job I’ve ever had,
even tougher than the oil fields. But making a difference in these kids’
lives makes it all worthwhile.”
Ranch Hands
Spencer and Renaye are natives of Abilene, Texas. They met in
high school, but neither expected a relationship to develop. Then, about
two years later, mutual friends invited Renaye and Spencer over at the
same time. The rest is history.
Spencer was working for Coca-Cola as a technician. His job was challenging and rewarding, but he still felt unfulfilled. Renaye was working as a phlebotomist at a local clinic. “I loved my job,” she says. “Meeting lots of people and working in the medical field was always interesting.” Still, not long after they were married, Spencer suggested they consider a career change.
“The friends who introduced Renaye and me worked at a children’s home in Texas. I was there visiting quite a bit of the time, and I got to know some of the kids and thought, This is a job I could love!”
Renaye agreed and the two were quickly hired by a boys’ ranch in Texas. “The ranch was very different from The Omaha Home for Boys,” Spencer says. “The program was entirely different.”
Even so, it was a great way to build experience working with youth. After a year and a half, Renaye and Spencer were looking for more opportunities to help youth when they happened across a banner ad for the Boys’ Home on ChristianNet.com. After a few phone calls and a visit to the Home, the McGuires were ready to make the move.
Living Out of a Suitcase
Currently, the McGuires serve as Alternate House Parents.
Alternates provide support when other House Parents are off duty or on
vacation. Just like the other House Parents, the Alternates live in the
cottage with the boys 24 hours a day.
“Being Alternates has allowed us to work with a large number of boys,” Renaye says. “In fact, we’ve spent time with the boys in every cottage here at the Home!” But being Alternates can also be tough, especially with a young son, since it requires moving from place to place every few days and living out of a suitcase. “Israel’s done real well here at the Home,” says Spencer of his and Renaye’s five-year-old son. “It’s wonderful to see him interacting with the other boys.”
One of the McGuires’ favorite aspects of working at the Home is being able to help out other House Parents who need a breather. “House Parenting is a high-stress job,” Spencer explains. “If we weren’t able to give our coworkers some time to themselves, we’d probably all be burnt out by now.”
Stress or not, you can tell that the McGuires love their job. “I’ve just always had a special place in my heart for kids,” Spencer says with a smile. “All children need good role models.”
The Home is lucky to have House Parents like Renaye and Spencer McGuire, dedicated adults who are truly making a difference in the lives of today’s youth.
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Why Are House Parents Important? The Omaha Home for Boys offers a residential program, placing boys with a married couple who live in the same cottage as House Parents. This “family” environment is what makes the Boys’ Home so unique. House Parents are the most important and influential staff members at The Omaha Home for Boys. They are in charge of implementing the Home’s treatment program and providing a family environment to meet each boy’s daily physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. |
Finding It Is Part of the Fun!
The Anderson Cottage started a tradition of having each boy follow clues in a “scavenger hunt” for his birthday present. The other boys love coming up with clues and hiding them for the birthday boy. House Parent Sue Williamson laughingly admits it is getting harder and harder to top each birthday gift hunt!
Planning
has to begin early, but other cottages and staff across the campus are
eager to help. Luckily, there is no shortage of creative ideas.
Take Brad’s birthday celebration last December.
Brad had to pop a balloon to get his first clue—by sitting on it. He
then dug in the mulch outside of the cottage for his second clue, which
led him to the Recreation Center—with his entire cottage following along
to join in the fun. Once there, Brad needed to retrieve a golf ball . .
. conveniently resting at the bottom of the swimming pool! 
Undaunted, he quickly changed, got permission to dive off the board (Brad is always the showman), and seconds later emerged with the ball. His next assignment was to make a hole in one, still wearing his swimsuit. To everyone’s delight, Brad eventually discovered his present tucked between the wrestling mats.
Other notable birthdays have included the boys performing for their clues. One boy had to go to the Administration Office and sing “I’m a Little Teapot.”
The Anderson Cottage is busy preparing for this year’s birthdays. As you might imagine, Sue and her husband, Gary, have no problem lining up volunteers to help or getting the boys to make their birthday “wish list.”
“We put a lot of thought into making birthdays special,” Sue says. “They should always be full of love, laughter, and good friends.”
The Omaha Home for Boys Celebrates National Mentoring Month
Thank them and pass it on.” This was the theme for National Mentoring Month in January. The Omaha Home for Boys celebrated the value of mentoring by hosting a breakfast. Many dignitaries attended, including Mike Fahey, mayor of Omaha, and the mayors of nearby Bellevue, Council Bluffs, Papillion, and Ralston.
All were there to honor the recipients of the “Six Who Share” program, including one of the Home’s mentors, Tom Petrie. The program, sponsored by a local television station, recognizes individuals for providing purpose, direction, and guidance to area youth.
Lisa Fisher, coordinator of mentoring for the Home and president-elect of the Midlands Mentoring Partnership, summed up the value of mentoring by asking everyone to remember those who mentored them and to “pass it on.”
Passing
It On
Scott Mitchell Sr. is thanking those who mentored him and passing it on. Scott was a boy at the Home in the late 1960s. During that time, he recalls the influence some of the Home’s staff had on him. “At that time they weren’t called mentors, but that is what they did for us,” he says.
Scott went on to college and then became a police officer. He now owns a private investigation company and is “passing it on” by mentoring boys from the Home. Thank you, Scott!
Guaranteed for the Rest of Your Life
For the rest of your life, The Omaha Home for Boys will send you a check every quarter, or annually if you wish. The amount will be the same every time, regardless of how the economy is doing. You can count on it because we back our commitment to you with the full assets of the Boys’ Home.
This is possible through a charitable gift annuity. Year in and year out, it is the most popular life-income planned giving vehicle available.
The total amount you receive every year is determined in advance and depends on several things, including your age and the amount you give to establish the arrangement. For example, if you’re 75 years old, you will receive more than someone 10 years younger who gives the same amount.
Furthermore, for the rest of your life, you will enjoy the satisfaction that your arrangement with The Omaha Home for Boys will someday provide the Home with needed financial resources. By letting us help you with lifetime support today, you enable us to serve children and families tomorrow.
The IRS favors these arrangements and provides the donor with an income tax charitable deduction. This is just one way the government encourages the private sector to support the charitable community.
Would you like to learn more about charitable gift annuities and how they can benefit you and the Boys’ Home? To receive a free report on how a gift annuity might work for your individual circumstances, call 1-800-408-4663 and speak with Todd Simpson or Shirley Lang. In just a few days you will receive the report, including a tailor-made illustration for your consideration.
The Home hopes to hear from you soon so that you can start to receive your annuity checks . . . for the rest of your life.
GIFT
ANNUITY RATE CHART
The following chart is based on a gift of $5,000:
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OHB rates based on the American Council Gift Annuity Rates as of January 1, 2003
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.
