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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 Steve Bauer 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, or we can help in any way, call us at our new toll free number 1-800-408-4663.
The Home has
seven boys participating in our Valley View 4-H Program this year.
William, Tim, Joe, Darrell, Jose, James and Brian meet at the Cooper Memorial Farm every Saturday for two and a half hours to work with their calves and sheep. As soon as school is out they will be adding Tuesday and Thursday afternoons to their schedules to concentrate more time on their 4-H projects.
The weigh-in for project entries to compete in the local and county fairs was held March 14. This is the official beginning of a long term commitment by these boys to train, clean and care for their animals. A path that ends in August and September with competitive judging of how their work and dedication have progressed.
The Home will host an Animal Grooming Clinic in May. This overnight event brings 4-H Clubs from the surrounding area together for a Friday night picnic followed on Saturday by a workshop in grooming calf and sheep projects for Fair judging.
Kelly Armbrust, Cooper Farm Assistant, will be demonstrating the proper technique for preparing an animal for the show ring.
The 4-H Program, with its focus on teaching life skills, character building and moral responsibility, has always been an integral part of activities at the Cooper Farm.
1998 May Twig Table of Contents
Stormy Weather, a Young Man’s Dream
Some people just have a fascination with weather, they chase storms, sing in the rain … Josh is one of those people. His ambition is to be a Weatherman.
Josh lived at the Home from 1991 to 1993. Even then he was very interested in what the weather was going to do. He watched the weather channel regularly.
He has been in the Transitional Living Program since September of 1996.
Transitional Living is a program designed for young men and women between the ages of 17 and 21 to prepare them for independent living and a career.
Josh works full time as a computer
operator for Data Processors International.
After he leaves work at 3:30 p.m., Josh makes a mad dash for his classes at Metro Community College. He attends classes four days a week, taking primarily college prerequisite courses.
Now, Josh’s dream of becoming a Weatherman is closer to coming true. He has been accepted at Creighton University to study Meteorology. He plans on graduating in the year 2001 with a degree in Atmospheric Sciences. Then he will transfer to Oklahoma University at Norman for two years to finish his Meteorology Degree.
Josh will remain in our Transitional Living Program until he moves into the dormitories at Creighton this fall. Josh is a polite and pleasant person. He has a wonderful girlfriend and they do many things with her family. Even though Josh seems to be intrigued with storm clouds, the sun is shining on this hard working young man.
1998 May Twig Table of Contents
SPEAKING
PERSONALLY
Let’s take a moment to talk
about . . .
Connecting with Boys . . .
Changing Lives through Relationships and Opportunities
You can see the
change in a boy when he starts "settling in" at the Home. He begins
to feel comfortable. People around him care about him and what he’s
doing. He is learning many things, feels good about himself and he is
being accepted for who he is. He realizes he is somebody.
Leaving home is not easy for a youngster regardless of the situation, but for many of our boys there is a feeling of relief at being rescued from a life of fear, abuse and anger. They are no longer facing a situation where they receive little or no affection.
Developing relationships with House Parents, other boys in the cottage, Counselors and Educators build self-esteem and hope.
Thanks to the support of friends and donors, the Home is helping to build that self-esteem … and much, much more. A new cottage is under construction right now. Changes in the grounds are making more recreational activities available. The Youth and Family Services Building and Conference Center has opened the Home to families and community organizations throughout the area.
With more resources available, the number of successes will certainly increase, but still some boys can’t be reached. We work with them and their families to the limit of our capabilities. From there we can only hope that a youth may take away something from The Omaha Home for Boys that will help him later in his life.
Sometimes it takes years, but it does happen. I always love hearing from a boy who lived at the Home, letting us know that he is using what he learned here and is doing well, or he is ready to attend college or trade school and is applying for OHB scholarship funds.
There are many cases where a boy leaves the Home and the circumstances don’t look promising for him … and then we hear from him or about him that after struggling for some time he is doing all right.
Success in the youth care field can be a very long term project with many ups and downs. Whenever we hear of a former resident being successful we are excited. When we see current boys making progress and learning things they never dreamed possible, we know it’s all worth it.
In this issue of the Twig a number of boys are featured that we are very proud of. They are truly enjoying their successes.
Fortunately as our services expand, so does the number of young people who can benefit from them. All of the hard work our boys put forward, the effort our staff contributes and very importantly the part our friends like you play, make everything … and anything possible.
1998 May Twig Table of Contents
Another Successful Year – Annual Trustee Meeting Highlights
On January 13, 1998, The Omaha Home for Boys’ Trustees and Board members met for the Annual Trustee Meeting. While the more than 30 Board members meet monthly, Trustees – of which there are over 70 – meet only twice each year at the Annual and Semi-Annual meetings.
Highlights of this year’s Annual meeting include:
The Annual Meeting also saw the
leadership torch pass from President Ken Lundgren to new President
Phil Lorenzen. Lundgren completed a second term as President in 1997
with more than 15 years of service to the Home. During his
Presidency, Lundgren focused on the Home’s Parent Training and
Mentoring Programs, as well as Cooper Village and community outreach
efforts.
New President Phil Lorenzen has served on the Home’s Board of Directors for 10 years. He’s worked on countless committees and served on the Executive Committee for four years as Secretary and Vice President.
"Phil and I have worked together for the Boys’ Home since 1988. His dynamic and enthusiastic leadership will take the Home to a new, even higher level of service for youth and families." said Lundgren.
1998 May Twig Table of Contents
Children should not have to live a nightmare . . . many do every day. In addition to abuse, neglect, abandonment, many children also live with the nightmares of crime, drugs, violence and gangs as a part of everyday life . . . but not everywhere.
Not at Larkin and Racine Birdow’s home on the campus of The Omaha Home for Boys. For years Larkin worked with kids. Through coaching and directing the sports and recreational activities in Great Bend, Kansas, Larkin was helping many young people.
Then, an opportunity arose to take
over a youth shelter – the Barton County Young Men’s Organization –
Larkin and Racine jumped at it. Along with their three children,
Brandi, Bronson and Lark, the Birdows took over a program working
with adolescent and teenage boys who were literally one step away
from jail. For these boys, Larkin and Racine were their last chance.
Within three years, the shelter had made a dramatic turnaround and was operating smoothly. About that time the Birdows read an ad for House Parents at The Omaha Home for Boys and wanted to learn more.
Laughing, Larkin admits, "During the drive to Omaha I knew I wasn’t going to leave Great Bend. Racine and I had good jobs, we loved our community and our children were entrenched in school. There was just no way." Then they stepped on the Boys’ Home campus.
Larkin and Racine are Christians, and Racine notes that, "We really feel the Lord brought us to OHB. We knew that any change at this stage in our lives, not to mention our children’s lives, would be a big step. When we decided to visit the Home, we both prayed a lot for guidance. Then, when we stepped on the campus we both felt like we were coming home."
That feeling was mutual, according to Director of Youth & Family Services Kevin Orr, "The Birdows were excellent House Parent prospects. They’d both been in youth care and actually run their own shelter. I knew the training would go quickly for them."
In March, 1997, Larkin and Racine moved with their family to Omaha and became House Parents at the Home.
With great pride Larkin tells of the three boys from their cottage on the Honor Roll, and of the boy who was named his Jr. High’s student of the month! At the same time, Racine was on the phone talking with a potential employer for one of the older boys in the cottage, helping to set up a job interview.
But, not all days are good ones. When a boy is discharged from the Home, you ask yourself, "Could we have done anything more?" You can see the hurt in her eyes and understand her frustrations. Even so, the number of boys the Birdows reach far outweighs those they can’t.
"When you hear from a boy years later, and they’ve graduated from college or they’re getting married, you can hear them thanking you in their voice. That’s what makes all the difficult times worthwhile."
When asked what they’d say to people considering becoming House Parents, Larkin says simply, "You can’t just ‘talk’ about doing something to help youth, you need to do it. Just know that you can make a difference in young people’s lives. And if you do, maybe someday they’ll make a difference to someone else."
1998 May Twig Table of Contents
To follow up on an article in the January Twig, Craig reported from Hastings College on his Interim Study trip to Europe. As expected the trip proved to be an experience of a lifetime for this college sophomore majoring in Theater.
The trip began in
Paris and the Louvre. Other highlights of the "City of Lights" were
seeing the Cathedral at Notre Dame, the Palace of Versailles and
Bastille Square.
The group of Hastings’ students traveled on a tour bus to their destinations. After a day of scheduled touring, their evenings were free to explore the myriad of sites.
From Paris the group moved on to Florence, seeing the Academy of Fine Arts which is the home of Michelangelo’s "David" and the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
On the way to Rome the group stopped in Assisi and witnessed a festival celebrating the life and works of St. Francis. St. Francis was the patron saint of animals, so the Village was filled with animals from all over the countryside.
Rome was the
ultimate destination for Craig. St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican
Museum and one of the largest exhibits of the work of Henri Matisse
filled the students’ time. Craig had the good fortune to tour the
lesser known parts of the city with a friend of a friend from Omaha.
All of the experiences on the trip will take time to fully appreciate.
Craig wanted to make sure that everyone at the Home, and all of you, the people who make this all possible, were aware of how grateful he is for the chance to see and learn firsthand about the art and culture of Western Civilization.
A BIG Thank You!
1998 May Twig Table of Contents
Geoff Remembers Being in the Shoes of a Boy at the Home
The Omaha Home for Boys has varying degrees of impact on the young men who live with us. A major surprise came from a young college Junior last Christmas, when our Education Director received a letter from Geoff.
Geoff sent $60 to provide a Christmas gift of $1.00 for each boy during the annual Christmas Dinner. He remembered receiving gifts during that special time of year and felt strongly about sharing with others.
Geoff left the Home in August of 1992 after successfully completing the Family Home Program. He graduated a semester early from his Illinois hometown high school in January, 1994.
He went on to Harper College in Palantine, Illinois, and received his two year Associate of Arts Degree.
Geoff has since transferred to Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, Illinois, where he is currently a Junior majoring in Sociology.
During his second semester at Northern Illinois, Geoff moved back to Wheaton to live with his foster mother. His biological grandmother had suffered an illness and needed special care.
He now attends classes all day on Tuesday and Thursday and works at the International House of Pancakes on weekends as a waiter.
Geoff’s grandmother is feeling much better thanks to his devoted attention.
Because Geoff successfully completed the Family Home Program, he was eligible to receive scholarship funding for his education. He has been making good use of this valuable benefit provided by friends of the Home.
Geoff recalls one thing that influenced his life the most while he lived at the Home. It was attending church every week. He said church is a major factor in his success at school and achieving his goals.
He is an active member of his local church and is seriously considering the ministry as a part of his future. He would like to combine his spiritual convictions with his study of Criminal Justice.
There is no doubt Geoff’s heart is in the right place.
Continue studying and caring, Geoff, everyone is rooting for you!
1998 May Twig Table of Contents
Mark is a quiet 8th grader at Monroe Junior High. In January he received the Model Mustang of the Month award. He has been at the Home for a little over a year and has made the Honor Roll three semesters in a row.
Truly an amazing educational turnaround for a young man who missed 29 days of school his last semester at home.
Mark has reached Level Four in the Family Home Program. That means he has earned many privileges, such as attending off-campus outings.
Recently, his House Father took Mark
and two other boys to the mall to shop. The boys were on their own
during their shopping trip. All three of the boys had earned
privileges that showed they could be trusted in a public social
setting and they were capable of behaving in a responsible manner.
Mark frequently helps out around his cottage and does assigned paying jobs on campus like working on the lawn crew and in the kitchen.
Being recognized as a Model Mustang of the Month at Monroe Junior High is an honor that is recommended by the teaching staff for students "showing excellent citizenship and maintaining a positive attitude in all aspects of school life."
The letter from school to Mark’s House Parents said, "You have every reason to be proud of him." They certainly are … so are all of us. Keep up the good work Mark!
1998 May Twig Table of Contents
Good Neighbors are Valued Friends
Last summer the Recreation Department at The Omaha Home for Boys opened its doors to youth in our neighborhood. The Good Neighbor Program was scheduled to run for two months, but good things are hard to stop!
The concept was really quite simple.
Increase utilization of the Home’s recreation facilities while
providing a structured, supervised recreation program for area youth
in the 4th to 8th grades. Youth living in a block long set of
apartment buildings located across the street were hand delivered
flyers.
Initial sign-ups for the Good Neighbor Program brought in eight young people – two boys and six girls.
Monday and Wednesday mornings from 9:00 - 11:00 the group came to the Recreation Center to participate in an assortment of recreational activities. They played kick-ball, pool and ping-pong. New games like frisbee golf were offered. Each session ended with a dip in the swimming pool and a trip to the game room for pop or a candy bar.
July–the scheduled end of the program–came too fast for both the youth and staff. So the program was extended to mid August. Numbers had increased from the original 8 to 12.
When August came, no one was ready to call it quits. Why not try maintaining the program into the school year? Thursday evenings from 6:30 - 8:00 became the new meeting time. Now, neighborhood youth would be mixing with the residents of the Home.
The idea worked. By March, there were 25 youth ranging from grade four to juniors in High School involved in the program. An average of 15 youth participate every Thursday. Interest in learning to swim grew into a formal Learn to Swim Program during the winter months. Five of the young men earned "full privileges," which meant they could come to the Recreation Center any time it was open.
Looking back, it is amazing how far the program has come. What started out as a simple summer recreation program has grown into a year-round relationship. That is what really matters.
The Good Neighbor Program grew naturally due to positive experiences and relationships developed between the area youth and staff of the Home. It’s wonderful to see the neighborhood youth on our basketball court or in our swimming pool on Friday and Saturday nights instead of on the streets.
Even more rewarding is seeing neighborhood youth and our residents visiting or joking about things they have shared. In short–understanding what it feels like to be a Good Neighbor.
1998 May Twig Table of Contents
Planning for the Future...
The first eight
months for me at the Home have been jam-packed with meeting many of
you through telephone calls, letters and personal visits. I am
excited and inspired knowing so many people share a common interest
in the mission and purpose of The Omaha Home for Boys.
Recently, much of my attention has been focused on answering questions and helping friends and donors with their wills. Remember, good intentions are ill planned without the advice of your financial consultant and attorney. Your attorney ensures your will is in legal form.
A person’s will is a responsible act of personal stewardship. It can be the instrument through which families are protected, peace of mind is achieved and important gifts are made. The distribution of your estate can be a satisfying expression of your values, hopes and faith, if time is taken now to prepare for the future.
Making your will is simple.
A charitable bequest to The Omaha Home for Boys through your will can be made in a number of ways.
Making a gift to The Omaha Home for Boys really depends on your own unique circumstances. Your financial advisor or attorney can be very helpful in planning such gifts.
Let’s assume you want to experience the joy of becoming a gift maker to The Omaha Home for Boys. You know such gifts enable the Home to continue helping at-risk and needy youth. The Omaha Home for Boys can offer a variety of gift making plans–wills, endowments, life income gifts and more–and can ensure that needy youngsters will be served. You’ve worked hard to be able to make this gift, so it’s nice to know that your support will continue to do the good works you want into the future.
Thank you for your positive support through your prayers and gifts to the Home.
Respectfully,
Bill Martin, Planned Giving Administrator
1998 May Twig Table of Contents
The Omaha Home for Boys’ Charitable Gift Annuity
A Gift Annuity with The Omaha Home for Boys is an easy way to provide yourself with a secure income for the rest of your life and make a charitable gift that gives you additional tax benefits.
Here are the current rates, based on your age, for Gift Annuities. The following chart is based on a gift of $5,000:
|
Age |
Annual Return |
Charitable Deduction |
|
65 70 75 80 85 90
|
7.20% - $360 7.70% - $385 8.40% - $420 9.40% - $470 10.50% - $525 12.00% - $600
|
$1,944 $2,105 $2,278 $2,476 $2,733 $2,953
|
The chart below shows you two examples of how a Gift Annuity actually provides you with an even greater return because of the tax savings involved. At the bottom of the chart you see the Effective Rate of Return from your gift.
|
Donor: |
Jane, age 90 |
Bob, age 75 |
|
Gift amount: Annuity rate: Annual income: Amount eligible for deduction: * Income tax savings:** Net cost of $10,000 investment: Effective rate of return:
|
$10,000 12.00% $1,200 $5,929 $1,838 $8,162 14.70%
|
$10,000 8.40% $840 $4,612 $1,430 $8,570 9.80%
|
* at 8% Federal midterm rate and quarterly payments
** in 31% tax bracket