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The Omaha Home for Boys...

2000 September Twig Newsletter

Ready for the World ... the 2000 Graduates! President's Column ... Let's talk about Life's Firsts OHB Presented the Golden Spike Award! Congrats Andree ... More graduation news I Grew Up a Lot -- Mark's Shares his Story Home Happenings

A League of Their Own ... OHB's Instructional Baseball Program OHB and College World Series Memories Sent from Heaven ... with Rakes! (Boys help neighbor clean yard.) A Mentor is ... Planned Giving Department Gift Annuity Rates

  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 OHB Video - "A Vision of Caring"
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.

Ready for the World
You remember how you felt when you graduated from high school, that pang of excitement mixed with a healthy dose of fear. You thought you knew more than your parents, definitely more than your teachers, and found out later that perhaps they weren't so wrong after all.

This spring the Home had four graduating seniors. Four young men...four dreams for the future. Excited about turning the tassel from the left to the right, these boys shared their thoughts on the Home and a little advice.

Adam-Keep Focused

A shy smile and squared shoulders are what you first notice about this future Marine. When asked what his thoughts were on the Home, Adam commented, "Structure . . . lots of adults trying to help kids get back on track. Peers helping peers." Adam strongly encourages friends of the Home to "keep up what you're doing because it's helping kids get ready for the real world." His advice to the rest of us is to keep focused.

Jeremy-Invest

Jeremy appears to be pretty quiet, but a smile and quick comment are not far away. His House Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fisher, are sad to see him leave but beam with pride as he poses for pictures in his cap and gown. Jeremy plans to go home to western Nebraska and work. He is thankful to the Home and how it helped him out, especially with school. When asked for his advice he said, "Invest while you're young." Good advice from someone so young. We wish Jeremy the best.

Steve-Don't Run

Steve has his sights set on a degree in culinary arts. He didn't have just one word to sum up his thoughts on the Home but said, "Hard but worth it!" When asked for his advice to others he quickly responded, "Don't try running cause you'll always come back." Pretty profound advice from a recent grad. We wish Steve the best with his plans for the future.

Jim-Pleasurable

When you see Jim you just know you want to talk with him. Usually he's wearing his big cowboy hat and he always looks ready to visit. But Jim wasn't always that approachable. He came to the Home unable to control his anger and not doing well in school. That has changed! Jim plans to work as an auto mechanic after graduation. When asked to sum up his experience at the Home in one word he said, "Pleasurable." To Jim the Home means family, lots of friends and having rules, but that's comforting. His advice to the rest of us is to follow the rules and be honest. Jim summed it up for all of the graduates when he said, "Thank you, thank you a lot."

Graduation doesn't come easy and it takes many people working together to make it a reality. Thank you for your part in helping to make the year 2000

a very special one in the lives of our graduates.

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Speaking Personally
Let's take a moment to talk about … Life's Firsts.
Life is full of "firsts." All of us have experienced them … our first baseball game, our first date, graduation, our first job, our first child. In many ways, our initial experiences-our firsts-dictate how we live our lives.

What would your life be like if your first-time experiences were bad? What if on your first day of school you were made fun of because your clothes were badly mismatched and needed washing? What if at your first dance your date came to the door to pick you up and heard your parents yelling and fighting?

Firsts like these might cause a great deal of harm. They might cause a youngster to withdraw, to lose whatever self-worth they had.

Here at the Home we work hard to make sure the boys have positive firsts, and seconds, and thirds, etc. In many cases, the Home itself is a positive first...a first step towards a successful life.

Boys come to the Home from all over, from different environments, different backgrounds, different parental situations. They come to us in need of structure, guidance and love. The Home's long-time Education Services Supervisor, Alan Berk, said it best when he said, "All kids want to know the boundaries. If they know where the boundaries are, and if you're consistent in the penalties for overstepping them, you'll find the kids are much more at ease, and do a much better job too!"

They come from all over with one goal-to be successful. When I see boys being successful...like Drew working on the campus newsletter or Jeremy walking across the stage for his diploma...I know these are firsts that will follow them for the rest of their lives. And I know these first-time experiences will help shape them, mold them into better husbands, better fathers and better citizens.

For all you do-your encouragement, support and help in giving the boys positive firsts-I want to say thank you. And God bless you!

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The Omaha Home for Boys presented with the Golden Spike Award
Since 1979, the Omaha Chamber of Commerce, North Council and Economic Development Council have jointly presented 19 Golden Spike Awards to companies that have made outstanding contributions to the Omaha economy. The Golden Spike was selected as the symbol for the program because of the part the opening of the Transcontin-ental Railroad played in the early development of Omaha and because transportation has continued to play a major role in maintaining the city's economy.

This year the Chamber awarded the Golden Spike to The Omaha Home for Boys. Dedicated to serving youth and families since its founding in 1920, the Home has experienced unprecedented growth in programs, facilities and employment during the past decade.

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Congrats, Andre!
Andre entered the Home in August 1998 and graduated from high school this July. His House Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bale, are so proud of him and the accomplishments he's achieved. After graduation Andre will be entering the Marine Corps. Best of luck and congratulations, Andre!

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I Grew Up a Lot

Mark came to the Home planning to stay a short time. When it became evident that he would be staying longer, he had to determine how to make his stay successful.

With a reflective look on his face Mark says, "When you make a commitment to staying it's easier. Some of my best memories are of the friendships I made while I was at the Home-many of these friendships remain today."

Today, Mark beams from ear to ear as he holds his certificate of degree in hand, a degree in construction management from the University of Nebraska that has helped him secure a wonderful job with a construction firm.

Mark entered the Home at age 14. His mother died when he was 11 and his dad later remarried. He rejected his family situation and he and his parents butted heads. "I never got into any legal troubles, mainly just family issues," he recalls.

Mark shares easily the life lessons he learned while at The Omaha Home for Boys. "I've always been pretty serious, but my time at the Home helped me become more realistic. I've accomplished so much more from being at the Home than I could have otherwise. I grew up a lot! I remember a quote that either Mr. Orr or Mr. York used to share with us: 'The Home is what you make it. If you're bitter and don't try, the Home won't be much to you. But the Home wants you to succeed'".

Mark sits quietly as he ponders what he would like to say to the boys living at the Home now. After a few moments he shares, "I wish they'd realize what they can accomplish if they will just try." And to the faithful supporters of the Home he adds, "I know it's a vast network of people who help give to the Home. I can't thank them enough for the opportunities I've gained. I would just like to say a heartfelt thank you, I am so grateful."

Mark is living in California, working at a great job and engaged to be married. Looking toward the future, Mark takes a look at his past. "Communication is huge. I want to have a better relationship with my children as a father than I had with my dad. My mom and I were very close, and when she died it was like, 'What do I do now? I'm not a daddy's boy.' I grew up a lot!"

Listening to Mark makes you proud of him and all that he's achieved. But it makes you even more proud to be a part of the Home and know that the Home wants all the boys to succeed. Seeing them do that is worth it all.

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Home Happenings
The Spring Picnic brings smiles, tears and stories only a family can share. This year's picnic was especially important to 13 boys who completed the program and were preparing to leave the Home. Proceeding with excitement and a little apprehension are Rob, Kevin, Jim, Brandon, Andre, Adam, D.J., Steve, Jeremy, Scott, Amos, Damien and J.R. We wish all of them the very best on life's journey.

Buffet Award to OHB Tutor. Ms. Phyllis O'Brien was "honored and very grateful" for the award sponsored by Warren Buffet. The Buffet Award is given annually to 10 teachers who stand out in their abilities and efforts to help our community's children. A parent said of Ms. O'Brien, "On any given day before or after school there are always students in her room working on assignments, talking to her or just being in a safe place. She has an honest love of all children and believes they can reach high places when given a chance." Ms. O'Brien retires from teaching this year but the Home is pleased that she will continue to tutor the boys. Congratulations, Ms. O'Brien!

I Love a Parade! Hot weather and parades seem to go together, and the participants in the 4-H program at the Home get lots of both. During the summer they not only compete at fairs with their projects but they ride horses in several parades.

GPA's Are on the Rise. During 1999 the average GPA (grade point average) for boys entering the program went from 1.09 to 2.79 after their third semester in the program.

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 A League of Their Own
Most folks in their forties or over can reflect back on a day when things seemed simpler, not quite so rushed or hectic. A time when the family really did sit down together each evening for a meal and talked about how the day had gone.

Those were the days when Little League baseball was really Little League baseball. Very few of the youngsters playing at that time owned batting gloves. Sponsors, or parents, didn't put out hundreds or even thousands of dollars for the team to travel to seven or eight tournaments. The term "select" was used only when a youngster was choosing his favorite flavor of pop after the game, win or lose.

At The Omaha Home for Boys this summer we took a step back in time. The idea of an instructional baseball program had been in our minds for many years, and the new multipurpose field was just the catalyst needed to get the plan out of our minds and onto the field. Who should participate? Certainly, the participants needed to be younger than the mostly middle and high school residents of the Home. A search of local elementary schools turned up 31 eager fifth-and sixth-grade boys ready, willing and able to learn the game of baseball and have a little fun at the same time. Add a couple of long-time teachers and coaches to run the program, and the rest just took care of itself.

Practices were designed to teach the boys the fundamentals of baseball. Games were played with players rotating positions every inning or two to give them an opportunity to play each position. Teams were rotated each week of games to keep things from becoming too competitive. Above all, it was a great deal of fun!

Players and their families were invited to a picnic with the Florida State Seminoles baseball team, who were in town for the College World Series. The players also took a trip to Rosenblatt Stadium with the coaches to watch the Omaha Golden Spikes, the AAA farm team of the Kansas City Royals, in action. They also spent lots of time in our Recreation Center enjoying the gym, game room and swimming pool.

There was something special about seeing those neighborhood kids later playing basketball in their driveways while wearing their OHB baseball T-shirt. The same shirt will work for lots of activities, and you can bet there will be quite a few proudly wearing them to school.

Now it makes us wonder, is baseball the only way to reach out and help these young people? Or is it just the beginning?

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The Omaha Home for Boys and the CWS Create Memories
Most of us have a story or two we can tell about our youth. Something we remember fondly that stays with us throughout our lifetime. Sometimes these stories get a little better with age. You know the type-the fish gets a little bigger, the hit gets a little farther. For the last eight years, however, young men at The Omaha Home for Boys have created special memories that won't need much embellishment.

These memories are thanks largely to the College World Series. About eight years ago the local Lions Club inquired about bringing a College World Series baseball team to the Home for a visit. The Lions Club was one of the sponsoring organizations in Omaha that hosts the individual teams competing in the series each year. What sounded like a good idea has become a tradition that has created memories for many young residents here at OHB.

The annual trip starts with a meal. Players and residents sit down together and have an opportunity to talk a bit and get to know one another. Following the meal, residents adopt players and take them on tours of the facilities. The tours end at the Recreation Center, where players hang out with residents shooting hoops, playing ping-pong or pool, and signing autographs.

Thanks to donations of tickets, the boys then are able to attend all of the games that this team participates in throughout the CWS. Many have been lucky enough to walk by the dugout and have their name called out by their adopted player, asking how they are doing. That is a special moment, one that a youngster doesn't forget.

We have had some eventual National Championship teams visit. We also have had some teams visit who did not fare quite so well. But rest assured, the memories created are always the same. These players are all champions in the eyes of the young people whose lives they touch for just a short moment.

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Sent from Heaven...with Rakes!
In north Omaha there is a house with a clean yard. The yard was not always clean. Just a few weeks ago it was a jungle of weeds, thistles and trash. Then came a group of boys from The Omaha Home for Boys.

Mary, the homeowner, is an elderly woman battling lung cancer. She's on oxygen and confined to a wheelchair most of the time. She was not able to get out to keep her yard up, and the weeds moved in and took over.

At the same time Dave and Carolyn Bale, House Parents at The Omaha Home for Boys, were looking for a project for their cottage. They wanted the boys to have the experience of meeting and helping others while at the same time working to make their community a nicer place to live. So Carolyn made arrangements with the Helping Hands Project in Omaha, and the boys went to work helping Mary.

"Mary said we were Heaven sent," laughs Carolyn, "Heaven sent with rakes!" The boys and their House Parents filled the Home's one-ton farm truck to the brim with weeds, yard waste and trash. After two Saturday afternoons, the yard was 95 per cent done.

Talking with the boys, you can sense their pride in what they have accomplished together. Dale, a 15-year-old, said, "I felt pretty good about myself … and pretty tired." Andre, who left for the Marines in late July, noted that "I like helping people out." Jonathan, an aspiring photojournalist, said, "I liked meeting Mary, but not her impressively big Rottweiler!"

But perhaps Adam, who got poison ivy the first time the boys worked at Mary's house, said it best: "It felt really good to make a difference in somebody's life."

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A Mentor Is...
Mentors play an important part in the life and success of the youth at The Omaha Home for Boys. The first annual Mentor/Volunteer reception was held at the Home in April. Twenty mentors and 30 volunteers were recognized with a dinner and an award. The reception included a brief testimony given by a current mentee, Drew. His words were truly an honor to all of the Home's Mentors:

"Mentor" is a six-letter word with so much meaning. Simply, mentor means "teacher." In the 18th century, a mentor was someone who taught young boys to work their chosen profession. Nowadays, a mentor is so much more. A mentor still teaches, but he or she teaches more than just how to do a job. They teach about life. Through sharing experiences with a mentor, one can learn consequences of certain actions, or just laugh about silly mistakes someone has made. A mentor is a person who is there to confide in, a person who cares about you.

Mentoring is a very honorable thing to do, and let me tell you, I know it isn't easy. Many mentors don't know the child they are going to mentor before they begin. These people are extending an arm to those around them and inviting anyone who needs a friend to approach. That takes a lot of courage and a lot of caring. Finding the time in a work-filled day to talk to or take someone out may be one of the most mind-boggling parts of mentoring that I can think of.

Above all else, a mentor helps with self-esteem. When someone takes time out of their busy schedule to speak to you and compliment you, your heart swells inside of your chest and it is impossible not to smile.

I know firsthand what it is like to have a good mentor. I would like to thank my mentor, Fred Schott, and all of the other mentors for taking time out of their busy lives for us. A mentor is not just a teacher; a mentor is a life preserver. Thank you!

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IS IT TRUE YOU CAN GIVE AND RECEIVE AN INCOME?
Your Gifts Can Provide Your Family Income for Life

Many of us are hesitant to make a significant gift because we need it for our retirement years. Giving away our assets is something most of us find difficult to do because we depend on our assets to sustain us.

What many people are discovering is that they can give an asset and receive an income for life. Not only that, they will receive an income-tax deduction and avoid estate taxes as well, since they have given away the asset. Also, the bonus for such gifts is that many individuals receive a higher income through their gift arrangement than they currently are receiving.

How is this possible? Let's say you gifted $10,000 to The Omaha Home for Boys to create a charitable gift annuity. The $10,000 that you have is currently in a bank CD earning very low interest. Depending upon your age and other factors, you would be able to significantly increase your income. Second, a person would be able to receive a charitable deduction (not for the full $10,000, because it represents part gift and part investment determined by the IRS). Also, you would be pleased to know that your income on an annual basis would not be fully taxed as the gift portion was not taxable.

The advantage of a charitable gift annuity or similar trust arrangement is that the donor receives a lifetime income, typically for his or her life as well as their spouse. These arrangements can be set up for brothers, sisters or other individuals for their lifetime.

The charitable gift annuity agreement itself is fairly simple and easily understood.

A person can receive increased tax deductions if they were giving appreciated property, since the donor can deduct the fair market value of the gift, even though they paid much less for it. This avoids capital gains taxes compared to selling the appreciated property. The capital gains taxes are prorated on the future life of the donor and allow the donor to earn an income on the entire amount of the appreciated asset.

These gifts really allow donors to gift their assets and yet receive an income-perhaps a higher income-as well as receive a charitable deduction.

Even though fall just began, December is right around the corner! And it is not too early to start thinking about tax preparation.

I know...I know...like you I really do not want to spend my time contemplating year-end planning. But, the fact remains that tax planning is crucial in this day and age. Year-end planning is especially important to those taxpayers who made a profit on the sale of investments in 2000.

Planning your taxes is often a dreaded experience. Yet there are ways to ease that burden. Dedicated friends can give to organizations and causes that they support, thereby increasing their deductions through charitable giving. As their year-end giving increases, so do their deductions, thereby decreasing their taxable income.

As you plan for your 2000 taxes I hope you'll consider The Omaha Home for Boys one of those worthy causes that you will support. And if you have any questions on how you can make a gift or a planned gift to the Home, please feel free to call me at (800) 408-4663. Thank you.

Sincerely,

R. Todd Simpson, CFRE
Director of Development

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GIFT ANNUITY RATE CHART FOR 2000
The following chart is based on a gift of $5,000:

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.

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