Nebraska is a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family. There are a number of reasons for this, but near the top of the list has to be the numerous non profits that operate in our community. Non profits help make our community better in so many ways: they give the homeless shelter and a hot meal, they give underprivileged children a chance to thrive, they raise money to research and fight disease and so much more. However, non profits cannot do it alone, and business owners have a unique opportunity to help them carry out their missions. By supporting non profits with either time, treasures (money) or talent, business owners are setting a standard not only for their employees, but for the community as a whole. Business owners can do this by supporting a non profit as a company, as an individual or by encouraging their employees to support non profits.
Choosing a non profit to support can be a difficult choice. While we would like to be able to give to every non profit that approaches us, this is simply not possible. The good news is, giving a non profit can be done in a number of different ways. Do you or your employees have some time to volunteer? Many non profit organizations would rather have your time than your money. As a business owner, you can give a few hours off a week to your employees with the understanding that they will use this time to volunteer at their chosen non profit. If your schedule is packed, consider writing a monthly or yearly check to the organization of your choice or support them by donating items to their fundraisers.
Not sure which non profit you should support? Take some time to really think about what’s important to you. While non profits all have an admirable mission, it’s likely that some provide services that are closer to your heart than others. Has someone in your family been affected by breast cancer? Have you always been an advocate of homeless animals? Are underprivileged children the group you want to help the most? By finding what cause you truly want to support, you will not only be able to choose a non profit, but you’ll also know that you will be giving from the heart.
If you need further help choosing, please take a look at some of the wonderful non profits operating in our area:
Good Neighbor Community Center
Good Neighbor Community Center is committed to helping people help them. This is done by providing basic and emergency needs to low income families in Lincoln. Those in need of food have a chance to get non-perishable food once a month and perishable food three times during the week; Mondays, Wednesdays, and Sundays with the Feeding America and Food Net programs. Families also have a chance to come and shop for clothes, household items, and personal care items every 60 days. Middle East North Africa Hope Project is a program that helps immigrants and refugees with English classes, Health classes, Citizenship classes, computer classes and assistance with job searches.
Needs: Clothes and household items, personal care items, English/Computer teachers and money for operating expenses
Contact: Tom Randa at 402.770.3671 Ext. 104 or email: tom@gncclincoln.org.
Junior Achievement
www.jalincoln.org
A want versus a need. How to balance a checkbook. Don’t you wish that someone had taught you those things as you were growing up? Now there is someone. YOU. All we need is your enthusiasm, life experience, and a willingness to teach children about how you took chances and shot for the stars. It’s Easy! Junior Achievement provides the training, materials, curriculum, and a classroom ready to meet you.
The Commitment: Your commitment could vary from five to eight classrooms sessions ranging from 30 to 45 minutes in length. It all depends on the grade level of the program you choose. You can choose your classroom based on a number of factors. We’re flexible!
Contact: Kelly Pargett, 467-1741.
CEDARS
Since 1947, CEDARS has been entrusted with the care of children in our community who have been the victims of abuse, neglect or homelessness. CEDARS brings children into a safe and stable environment where we work to either bring the child safely back home or find a new home for the child. CEDARS is currently seeking partners who are willing to serve with us as foster parents for children in need of a safe and loving home.
To find out how you can “Help Kids in Crisis and Build Strong Families”, visit our website at www.cedarskids.org or call 402-434-KIDS (5437).
Easter Seals Nebraska
The Lincoln Seniors Transportation Program–run through Easter Seals Nebraska–addresses social transportation needs of ambulatory individuals age 65 on up, in Lincoln, Nebraska. Volunteer drivers and $12 participant donations (per round-trip ride) help cover some costs Additional support is made possible in part through Lincoln Community Foundation, representing the following Funds: Sheila Graf Care for Older Adults, Jennings and Beulah Haggerty Older Adults Field of Interest (FOI), Helen Clough Older Adults FOI, Asa and Mabel Waters Endowed. The savings to seniors plus the relationships built through this program are immeasurable.
Interested volunteer drivers: please contact Jim at (402) 441-6143.
Lincoln Lutheran
High school is a time of change and preparation. As teens enter adulthood, their values, skills, and knowledge are formed into a foundation that will support them throughout life. At Lincoln Lutheran, we provide students with an academically strong education while developing a Christian worldview that prepares them for college and life.
Lincoln Lutheran also provides a challenging curriculum for students in grades 6-12 through distinct middle-school and high-school programs. Our current enrollment for the upcoming school year is 370, providing the best of both worlds-small student to teacher ratio and a variety of college preparatory classes.
Visit our website at www.lincolnlutheran.org.
Friendship Home
Formed in 1978, Friendship Home is Lincoln’s only specialized emergency and transitional shelter program for battered women and their children. Friendship Home offers the vital services and safe shelter women and children must have in order to leave a violent home. In 2011, Friendship Home served over 1,600 women and children through its various programs and services. If you need help, call 402.437.9302. A trained advocate is available to talk every hour of every day.
Needs: Seeking volunteers to work with children and to walk in our Safe Quarters drive October 14
Contact: Tracy at 402-434-0167
YWCA of Lincoln
www.ywcalincoln.org
The YWCA of Lincoln works to create a community for women of Lincoln, Nebraska of all ages. YWCA Lincoln has been a leader and driving force for human empowerment in the Lincoln community since its founding in 1886. The enterprise that now serves more than 5,000 persons each year began with twelve couples who wanted to provide protection for women and aid them in achieving self sufficiency.
St. Monica’s Behavioral Health Services for Women
St. Monica’s is committed to the recovery of women of all ages through empowerment, stability, and self-fulfillment. We offer substance abuse treatment for women in a gender-specific, loving atmosphere. Our trauma-informed approach helps us address substance abuse at the root cause with a variety of residential and outpatient programs for women of all ages, including a home for mothers and their children. St. Monica’s has been serving women for nearly 50 years. Fees for our services are based on a sliding scale; no woman is turned away based on inability to pay.
Needs: St. Monica’s generous supporters help us help women develop healthier lives for themselves and their families.
Contact: (402) 441.3768
Fresh Start: A Home Where Women Can Grow
Fresh Start is a transitional shelter that empowers homeless women to change their lives by recognizing and utilizing their strengths to overcome barriers to self-sufficiency. Women who are homeless for any reason can come to Fresh Start and work on changing their lives. The Fresh Start program balances encouragement with accountability to the goals that the women identify for themselves. Staff is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week to help these women take positive steps and move towards a better future.
Please visit www.FreshStartHome.org or call 402-475-7777 for more information and to find out how you can get involved.
The Nebraska Safety Council
“Accidents” are the fifth leading cause of death for Nebraskans and the leading cause of death for ages 1-44. Accidents are preventable.
The Nebraska Safety Council’s mission for over 50 years is providing safety education. We assist businesses in providing a safe workplace for their employees through training and education; teach driving safety for all ages through classroom and hands-on learning and provide resources to promote safety in the home and in our communities.
We want you and your family to work..drive..live safe!
Visit our website – nesafetycouncil.org to learn how we can be a resource for your safety.
Contact: Nebraska Safety Council – 402/483-2511
Child Advocacy Center
The Child Advocacy Center is a non-profit organization providing a safe, child-friendly location for conducting forensic interviews and medical evaluations for abused children in southeastern Nebraska.
We respect the courage it takes for a child to talk about the abuse; nothing is more important to us than creating a safe and supportive environment.
We work as part of a team with law enforcement, Health and Human Services, medical personnel, mental health providers, and prosecutors. We strive to operate in a work environment that is marked by honest, responsible, and open communication. An environment in which the very best decisions for the safety of children are made every day.
Needs: We invite you to get involved by volunteering your time or financially supporting our work.
Contact: Rebecca Christensen at 402.476.3200 or rebecca@smvoices.org
WasteCap Nebraska
WasteCap Nebraska’s mission is to partner with business leaders to implement resource conservation strategies that improve profitability, community goodwill, and employee pride. WasteCap assists businesses through “green team” training, peer-to-peer networking, recycling technical assistance and sustainability planning. Community programs include a speakers’ bureau, fluorescent lamp and electronic scrap take-back programs, and a Guidebook of recycling service providers. Last year, members saved more than $100,000 through waste prevention, recycling and service discounts.
Needs: Seeking leading businesses that would like to increase their contribution to a healthy environment and society and a sustainable economy.
Contact: Rozz Beckman at (402) 436-2383 or rbeckman@wastecapne.org
The League of Human Dignity
www.leagueofhumandignity.com
The League of Human Dignity is a consumer-based, nonprofit organization promoting independence for people with disabilities. We provide advocacy and services that help consumers remain in their homes for as long as possible and avoid having to live in nursing homes.
The League believes that people with disabilities have the same rights as anyone else to live and work in their communities; to access benefits, services, resources and facilities; and to contribute freely according to their potential. They should never be forced to live in institutions.
For more information, call the League at 402-441-7871
Community Services Fund
www.communityservicesfund.org
Community Services Fund Offers Strength in Donor Choice with 7 New Agencies
Community Services Fund added seven new member agencies to their workplace giving federation:
Clinic with a Heart
Cornhusker Place
Lincoln Arts Council
Lincoln Community Playhouse
Nebraska Association for the Education of Young Children
Nonprofit Association of the Midlands
The Groundwater Foundation
In the 2012, a total of 37 charity options are available for donors. “Community Services Fund believes there is strength in donor choice,” said, Kiersten Hill, Executive Director. “Adding more agencies dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in our state, helps donors support a variety of missions.”
Community Services Fund encourages donors to designate to the agencies they choose as part of campaigns in more than 50 workplaces throughout Nebraska.
The Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Lincoln
The Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Lincoln provides perpetual support of all Catholic schools, parishes, and social service agencies throughout one of the most fruitful Christian institutions in America. Supporting the Catholic Foundation means caring for the woman escaping domestic violence in Lincoln, providing high-quality education for a child in Hastings, supporting new vocations to the Church in Seward, and building community in Lawrence. The Foundation offers a variety of options for donors who are can be assured of their lasting impact through our prudent investment management. The Catholic Foundation – Good News for Lincoln.
For more information call 402.488.0921 or visit www.dioceseoflincoln.org
City Impact
City Impact is an organization in the heart of Lincoln that exists to see lives transformed from the inside out. Youth leadership programming helps urban youth identify their strengths and discover how to take personal responsibility for their lives. Mentoring and tutoring programs bring volunteers and children/teens together right where they live, preparing them for a fulfilling future.
Fostering long-term relationships in our under-resourced neighborhoods is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty.
Needs: Monthly mentors, weekly reading tutors during the school year and weekly faith program volunteers
Contact: Rachel Hiser, 402-477-8080 or rhiser@cityimpact.org
Follow what’s happening at: facebook.com/cityimpactlincoln
Short Bowel Syndrome Foundation
The Short Bowel Syndrome Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) organization that educates, supports, and advocates for those patients that live with Short Bowel Syndrome. The Mission of the SBS Foundation is to educate, support, and empower patients who live with the condition and the caregivers who help patients to manage Short Bowel Syndrome. SBSF empowers patients and their families to live fuller lives by connecting them to necessary resources, creating a lifeline of hope. People with SBS and their families come first in everything that we do. Inspiring patients through an educational website and through social media to better cope with their condition.
The Hope Venture
www.thehopeventure.org
We need your help!
Like you, we live in the Lincoln area and we care about people. We believe together we can bring help and hope to some of the poorest people in the world. A registered 501c3 non profit, The Hope Venture does tangible compassion projects in India & Africa.
We’ve distributed goats, outfits, and backpacks of school supplies. We’ve built a school, drilled water wells, provided vocational training, and are feeding 100 children everyday in the slums. We work with trusted partners and together we are changing entire communities. Please check us out and get involved!
Current need: We are seeking partners who will invest in changing lives with us, starting at a simple $5. Consider having your business make a difference in people’s lives all over the world!
Contact: Cynci at info@thehopeventure.org or 402-802-8296
Voices of Hope Services
Voices of Hope provides 24-hour-a-day advocacy and case management services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, incest, stalking and related forms of abuse. Our services include the 24-hour crisis line (402-475-7273), 24-hour victim advocacy at hospitals, and daily walk-in services. We also offer support groups, counseling, safety planning, assistance with protection orders, basic needs provisions, and on-campus services at UNL and SCC-Lincoln. Last year, we answered over 10,000 crisis line calls and provided face-to-face services to over 2,000 victims. Our free and confidential services are available to women and men.
For more information, go to our website at: www.voicesofhopelincoln.org.
Matt Talbot
Matt Talbot is Compassion in Action! Since 1992 Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach has provided daily hunger relief to Lincoln’s working poor and homeless. In 2000 the organization initiated a wide array of outreach and advocacy programs that work to prevent homelessness. Such programs include life skills training, transitional housing, case management, drug & alcohol counseling and a variety of health outreach services. With a small staff team and thousands of volunteers Matt Talbot provides over 100,000 meals and 21,000 outreach and prevention services annually.
To learn more please visit www.mtkserves.org or call 402-477-4116.
CBMC
For the past eight-two years, CBMC men have been called to purposefully develop caring relationships, within the business community. As trust and friendship develop (through committed, weekly time spent together), effective and interactive material is covered that “reaches a man right where he is to help him become the man God designed him to be. This involves encouraging, equipping and enabling business men to understand and cope with life issues that are holding them back and grow to become mature and complete. We are so privileged to be taking a part in our Heavenly Father’s “Movement of Discipleship”.
To become involved or obtain information, please go to http://lincoln.cbmc.com, www.cbmc.com or call 402-730-6599.
Leadership Lincoln
Since 1985, Leadership Lincoln has provided individuals from diverse backgrounds with the knowledge, experiences, skills and leadership tools that prepare them to become effective leaders within the community. Leadership Lincoln then connects those individuals to agencies, organizations, governmental commissions and community projects to become actively engaged in strengthening and transforming Lincoln. Leadership Lincoln’s core values of servant leadership, ethics/integrity, diversity/equity, collaboration and reflection form the framework for all of its programs: The Fellows, Executive Series, Youth Leadership Lincoln and Project A.L.L.
Learn more at www.leadershiplincoln.org or on Facebook at Leadership Lincoln, Inc.
The Cat House
The Cat House is Lincoln’s only no-kill cat shelter. Staffed by volunteers, it was started in 1998 as an alternative to kill shelters.
Volunteers find caring, permanent homes for stray, neglected, abused, and unwanted cats; provide shelter and medical care to all cats in their care, regardless of age, health, or behavioral issues; promote spay/neuter as the only humane means of reducing the number of unwanted cats; educate the community about the care and welfare of all cats; and work with city officials and caregivers to maintain a trap-neuter-return (TNR) program for feral cats.
See www.thecathouse.org, www.facebook.com/thecathouse, or call 402-441-9593.