The Omaha Home for Boys...
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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, 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. | ||||
A Little Structure ... and a Smile ... Goes a long way
“Not a day goes by without our seeing that smile,” says Diana
Rugg, House Parent at the Combs Cottage where 13 year old
Amos lives.
“That smile tells everyone he’s got personality plus!”
But Amos has not always smiled so easily.
Like almost all the boys who have lived here, when Amos came to live at The Omaha Home for Boys he needed love, role models and structure. He got plenty of that and much, much more.
Thanks to his loving House Parents, mentor and counselors, Amos is making a mark here at the Home and in junior high school ... a very good mark! In fact, because of his straight A grades and excellent citizenship, Amos was named Model Mustang of the Month for February at Monroe Middle School. The Model Mustang is awarded to only those students who have exemplary performance and are role models for other students.
Even more exciting, grades and citizenship have earned Amos the right to participate in an educational field trip to Washington D.C. in early June. The trip, part of the Adventures in America program offered by American Student Travel, Inc., will have stops in Washington, Amish Country, Gettysburg and Philadelphia.
But
school is not the only area where Amos excels. He’s also a starter on
his 8th grade wrestling squad. Through mid-March, Amos was 4-0 in his
116 pound weight class with only the city tournament left to go.
Even with all the school and extra-curricular activities Amos still has time to participate in 4-H, act as an “ambassador” for the Home (giving tours of his cottage to visitors), work with the lawn crew and in the dining hall. Working gives Amos a chance to learn personal finance skills and he keeps his own checking account in balance with his wages.
Although Amos is doing extremely well here at the Home, he still misses his family a great deal. His two little sisters and little brother mean the world to him, and Amos is working hard for the day when he can reunite with his siblings once again.
A little structure, and a great smile, have helped Amos make tremendous strides in his young life. His future is very bright indeed!
Hwendo Na Bua
(Our Culture will not Disappear)
By Kendall Corrie, House Father
The Omaha Home for Boys witnessed a moving exhibit of sights and sounds from another culture.
Super Anges – a dance troupe from the West African Country of Benin – provided a wonderful opportunity for the boys to experience another culture through their presentation of traditional African dance.
The dance troupe is composed of multi-lingual students, engineers, business owners and professors.
These
ambassadors of culture, community values and goodwill showed
extraordinary talent and unbound energy throughout their performance.
Through the harmony of drums, voices, other instruments and dance,
Super Anges gave life to the spirit of family and culture. Their joy
was infectious.
All who attended the exhibition, which seemed quite foreign at first, quickly became mesmerized.
A number of boys and House Parents joined the dancers on stage and all shared in the spirit of Hwendo Na Bua (our culture will not disappear)!
SPEAKING
PERSONALLY
Let’s take a moment to talk about . . .
The lessons we all must learn
Life is a lesson. Strangely, it seems the more you learn, the more you have left to learn!
These “life lessons” come in different shapes and sizes. Sometimes we do not even realize they are a lesson until years after we have learned them.
Here at The Omaha Home for Boys, the boys learn many lessons. Some are in school. Some are from House Parents and other role models. Some are from each other. But regardless of where they learn them, the lessons here at the Home will help them succeed in life.
Maybe the lesson is as simple as a boy realizing that he can achieve good grades if he works hard. Or the lesson could be about self-confidence through a job well done.
Other lessons are deeper. They might learn the importance of being a loving father from an alumnus. Or they might learn about true giving from a little kindergartner. They might even learn that life is truly what you make of it. That’s a lesson we could all benefit from.
The life lessons and skills the Home teaches young people can be put to use every day for the rest of their lives. These skills will make them better husbands … better fathers … better neighbors … better co-workers.
You would be amazed at the number of positive stories we hear from young men who have lived at the Home. They grow here – physically, mentally and emotionally – and go on to teach their own children the lessons they have learned. They may not like the rules while they are here, but many times they go on to use the same rules with their own children.
Youngsters are not the only ones to learn life lessons from The Omaha Home for Boys. Our volunteers and staff are working every day with other agencies, parents and young adults to reach even more needy families and youth. The result is simple, the more life lessons we can successfully teach, the more families and individual lives the Home can positively touch.
That is why, after all, The Omaha Home for Boys is here.
Quiet on the set! Kids Perform Radio Drama
“Quiet on the set!” hollers the director. Actors and the sound effects crew take a deep breath and wait.
The director raises his hand and motions for action. The recording tape begins, video cameras roll and the 1930’s inspired, hands-on, radio drama begins.
The Announcer, the Home’s own educator, Dave James, steps up to a microphone. He is joined by student actors from the Home, Cooper Village (our partner program), Uta Halee Girls Village and Sarpy County Juvenile Court. Nearby, the sound effects crew keeps pace providing the climatic noise to capture the atmosphere of the production.
In October, 1998, The Omaha Home for Boys hosted a radio drama
program created by California storyteller, author and
educational consultant, Joe McHugh, as an innovative
approach to teaching history, reading, and radio techniques in the
classroom. What came to life most however, was watching the students
learn to cooperate, listen, express themselves, and build their
self-esteem.
Joe explains that “kids today are in the visual age of TV, movies and Nintendo. This is something completely different. We are not trying to duplicate reality. Radio drama is an art form designed to trigger imagination. And I consider the imagination to be the life blood of the mind and personality.”
Both teachers and students involved are enthusiastic about Raven Radio Theater. 15 year old, Brian, reveals “we really had to work together as a team. I was nervous, but learned a lot and I think I like acting.”
After the kids performed the drama based on the immigrants who came to California seeking a better life during the Great Depression, mentors from the Omaha community shared their family stories and experiences during the 1930’s.
Recently, we had the pleasure of hearing from an alumnus,
Joseph Calabro, Sr. (1983-1985).
“The main reason I wanted to write was so that you could share my letter with some of the boys at OHB. I want them to know that the future can be very bright. It will take some work and determination, but you can make of it what you want if you try hard enough. As I am well aware, your past can put many doubts in your head about what the future holds. But if you keep a positive attitude, study hard in school and everything you do, you can succeed.”
Joseph is true to his word. Living in St. Louis with his wife, Tracy of 6 years, and two sons Joe, Jr. and Paul, Joseph is a police officer with the St. Louis Metro Police Department in the Traffic Safety Division. He has received several awards for his duties including: Officer of the Month and Officer of the Year in 1997. Ironically, the most satisfying aspect of his work is with inner-city kids. “I somewhat know what they are dealing with since a lot of them remind me of some of the boys I knew at OHB.” Said Joseph.
Reflecting on his own childhood, Joseph takes the greatest pride in being a father. He now realizes how important it is for a child to have a positive father figure in their life.
In October 1998, Joseph had the privilege of meeting Pope John Paul II, during a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and Rome. He and his family were chosen to be one of five groups to present the offertory gifts at the Papal Mass while the Pope was visiting St. Louis in January 1999. You may have seen him on TV.
Family, faith and perseverance seem to best describe Joseph – One of our Boys at the Home. We are proud of Joseph and will continue our mission of helping needy boys and families.
1998 Annual Recap ... A Tremendous Year
On January 12, 1999, The Omaha Home for Boys’ Trustees and Board members met for their Annual Meeting. While the more than 30 Board members meet monthly, Trustees – of which there are over 70 – meet only twice each year.
The Omaha Home for Boys enjoyed a tremendous year in 1998. Highlights from the Annual Meeting include:
A 22% increase in residential care placements.
1998 was truly a tremendous year for The Omaha Home for Boys. With the help of our dedicated friends and donors, we hope to make 1999 even better!
Annual Report on Services Highlights
House
Parents’ Corner
“I didn’t know ... ‘til I had them!”
“When we got married two years ago I didn’t know if I wanted kids,” laughs Sherri Vandenberg, “now I’ve got a bunch ...”
Paul and Sherri Vandenberg, from the Omaha-Council Bluffs area, are one of the newer House Parent couples to work at The Omaha Home for Boys. Even though they have only been on staff for just over a year, they have already made a tremendous difference in the lives of needy and neglected youth.
Paul and Sherri met through mutual friends in 1991 and quickly began a relationship. After working and going to college, the long time sweethearts decided to tie the knot in 1997.
Paul continued his career in sales and customer service with a
large firm in Omaha. Sherri worked with an accounting firm as an
administrative assistant and was continuing her education. But life
in corporate America just was not what the Vandenbergs wanted.
“Paul really wanted to work with kids,” Sherri notes, “he was ready to get out of the rat race and really make a difference.” Paul saw an ad for a similar youth home and suggested the couple look into it. “Sherri was pretty hesitant ... after all, we were talking about a major lifestyle change.”
Sherri suggested they speak with a family friend who worked at the Home, to learn more about the House Parent position. They met with administrative staff and long-time House Parents Bob and Diana Rugg and asked a lot of good questions. Then, they sat down and made a list of the pros and cons. The aspect that sold Sherri was the fact they would be working side by side. Paul did not need to be sold ... he was gung ho from the start!
In April, 1998, the Vandenbergs joined the Home as House Parents.
“I can’t imagine ever doing anything else,” says Paul. “I thought about going back to school and becoming a teacher, but the impact I’m having right now is even more important.” Paul smiles when telling about the trials and tribulations of being House Parents. “It’s always interesting,” he laughs. Sherri laughs too.
When the conversation shifts to the needs of the boys, they both get very serious. “Sometimes I get discouraged,” admits Paul, “when a boy who’s been doing great makes a silly mistake. But other times I’m proud, like the time Jeff made a bully at school stop picking on one of the smaller boys from the Home.”
“But it’s worth all the sleepless nights and frustration,” says Sherri, “more than worth it. When we see a boy – like Jeff – do well at the Home and then do well after he leaves the Home, you just know you’ve changed a life ... maybe saved one!”
When asked what they would tell prospective House Parents, the Vandenbergs smile and note “the boys are just kids, and like kids everywhere they just need structure and love. The Omaha Home for Boys helps provide the structure; as House Parents, your job is to teach that structure in a loving, caring, disciplined manner.”
While it is true that the Home does provide the structure and programs to help the youth grow and mature, it is the House Parents – like Sherri and Paul Vandenberg – who truly make the difference in young lives. For some of the boys, that difference is the most important help they will ever receive.
For the Vandenbergs, the simple truth lies in Sherri’s comment, “I didn’t know if I wanted kids, now I’ve got a bunch and I love every minute of it!”
Mount Crescent Ski Trip - In February the boys
enjoyed the annual ski trip to Mount Crescent, Iowa. The trip had
been canceled twice already because of warm weather, so imagine the
joy when a late season blizzard closed schools and helped make the
ski trip a success! Thirty-nine youth and 15 staff and family members
enjoyed the outing.
OHB Grapplers - Congratulations to the boys
participating in wrestling this year. One boy, Kevin from the Scott
Cottage, wrestled for the High School team while five other youth
(Amos from the Combs, William and Timmy from the Bruner, Steffen from
the Foster Patton and Brandon from the Buck) grappled for the Junior
High team. Way to go boys!
Sewing Ladies
Breakfast - In February, the Home recognized the dedicated
efforts of almost 20 loving volunteers from area Eastern Star Masonic
Chapters by holding a breakfast in their honor. The ladies were
acknowledged and thanked with breakfast and a memorial corsage and
then given a wonderful cottage tour by 13 year old Amos.
Congratulations Matt - Fifteen year old Matt of the
Neef Cottage was honored with membership in the 100% Club at Monroe
Middle School. In the first quarter Matt had no tardies, no
detentions and all passing grades! Great job, Matt!
Baseball and Soccer stars - Congratulations to John
of the Neef Cottage for making the Benson High Soccer team and Seth
of the Anderson Cottage for making Benson’s Baseball team. If the
boys keep this up soon OHB will have starters on all school sports
teams.
Straight A’s for Ron - Ron, a 14 year old in the
Shrine Cottage, had a perfect straight A report card at mid year. Way
to go Ron!
Tajikistan Visitors - Last December two
representatives from charitable organizations in Tajikistan visited
The Omaha Home for Boys fund raising department to learn more about
how western Charities operate. The visitors – from the Academy of
Sciences and the Center for Citizenship Education – shared lots of
stories and goodwill with the Boys’ Home staff. Tajikastan was part
of the now dissolved Soviet Union and has been in the grip of civil
conflict and war for a number of years.
Multi-sports - Steffen of the Forster Patton
Cottage not only participated in wrestling, but he also played
basketball for his 8th grade team this year. Keep up the good work
Steffen!
Winter Wood Cutting - There is
nothing like sitting by a warm fire with loved ones. That’s why Farm
Manager Mike Palas and four House Fathers, combined with 20 hard
working boys, cut six cords of wood for cottages to burn. With some
elbow grease the job was done in less than three hours.
4-H Weigh-In - The Home’s Watson 4-H facility was
the site for the official 4-H weigh-in last March. The weigh-in
marked the beginning of the 4-H season. Twenty-two youth from the
Home and surrounding care facilities were involved.
Campus Construction - Be sure to check in the next
issue of the Twig for a report on some major campus renovations – the
new Arboretum, Multi Purpose Sports field and Recreation Center
remodel.
Thanks for the Easter Basket cards - The heartfelt
notes and words of encouragement sent to the boys were most kind. The
boys send their love to all of you who care so much. Thank you for
making our Easter brighter.
PLANNED GIVING
DEPARTMENT
Planning for the Future......
Easter is past
and we are moving ahead into the fullness of Spring. In Omaha, the
Boys Home is moving ahead too! The recreation center renovation will
be completed in late Spring. There is excitement in the air as the
boys are nearing the completion of another school year.
Many of you supporters have been regularly communicating with the Home. Recently a person asked “Why do I need a will?”
If you are asking the same question, I hope the following will help you understand the importance of having a will.
Why A Will?
I have a will. Two months ago I couldn’t say that. It took the death of a close friend to wake me up. Now I’m wondering why I procrastinated so long.
Let me tell you about my will.
My will reflects my wishes. Instead of the courts appointing an executor (personal representative), my son will act as executor, and without bond. My will makes provision for family members in a way state statutes would not. My will establishes a trust to benefit my spouse and reduce estate taxes. My will lets me disburse money to my children and grandchild in an orderly and prolonged manner. My will identifies several charities to receive special bequests. In short, my will allocates my assets according to my desires.
My will is legally valid. I went to an attorney who specializes in estate planning. She knew the right questions to ask and the best way to accomplish my goals. I was tempted to take a short cut and use one of those will documents you can get at a stationery store. I even thought of just sitting down and writing out my will on a piece of paper, a sort of do-it-yourself project. I’m sure glad I didn’t fall into that trap. After all, why do a will and then spend the rest of your life wondering whether it is truly valid?
My will is up-to-date. This is because I only recently created it and it reflects my current situation. But life never stays the same. Within a few years, new estate laws may arise. Family members may develop different needs. The composition of my estate may change. As my attorney says, “An out-of-date will could be as harmful as having no will at all.”
My will can be amended. The document is not locked in concrete. I can change it easily, either by adding a codicil or by simply having it redrafted. The important thing is that I have a workable will in place now.
My will is safely stored. I have a copy of my will in my files at home, but I keep the original in a bank safety deposit box. I don’t want to lose this important document through fire or theft. I also made sure my personal representative knows how to find my will.
My will provides peace of mind. For years I lived with a nagging apprehension about what would happen if I died without a will. Those feelings are gone. I now have a sense of well-being about these matters, an inner calmness. Creating my will took a little time and effort and it cost a few dollars, but it was well worth it all.
If you do not have a current, valid will or comprehensive living trust, we at The Omaha Home for Boys urge you to care for this very important matter. Making plans will benefit your loved ones and possibly the boys here at the Home too. I hope you will consider remembering the Home as you make your estate plans.
Bill Martin, our Planned Giving Administrator, can assist you by providing information about wills and charitable bequests. Feel free to call him at 800-408-4663.
GIFT ANNUITY RATE CHART
FOR 1999
The following chart is based on a
gift of $5,000:
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Age |
Annual Return |
Charitable Deduction |
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65 |
7.0% - $350 |
$1,940 |
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70 |
7.5% - $375 |
$2,105 |
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75 |
8.2% - $410 |
$2,275 |
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80 |
9.2% - $460 |
$2,475 |
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85 |
10.5% - $525 |
$2,730 |
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90 |
12.0% - $600 |
$2,955 |
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American Council Gift Annuity Rates as of July 1, 1998
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.