The Partnership For Our Kids News Blog

Meet The Newbies!

2012-02-08T11:32:00.000-08:00

A brand new year brings many brand new faces to The Partnership For Our Kids staff!

Teri Corcoran is the agency’s new vice president of administration and
development. She comes to the Partnership as a former major gifts officer from Creighton University. Teri will be responsible for overseeing the areas of development, recruitment, human resources and fiscal management. and she is
excited to work for an agency that is helping to empower young people to succeed.

Mary Yori is another Creighton University transplant and will be serving as the Partnership’s coordinator of in-kind services. Mary will spend much of her time researching and securing in-kind donations and sponsorships to benefit the agency’s programs.

Dan Corral is another new addition to the staff and he will be serving as a bilingual program specialist for the group mentoring team. Dan is a recent graduate of the University of Nebraska at Omaha and is planning to wed his fiancé this June.

Kara Warner is extremely familiar with The Partnership For Our Kids as an student alumna of the agency’s mentoring program. Kara is the first alumna to join
agency as a staff member and she is excited to start giving back to the program that she says gave her so much.

Kara is now working for the Partnership as a program specialist for the group
mentoring program. The student has literally become the teacher!

Find out more about the Partnership staff by visiting Partnership TEAM.

We Know You Are Smart!

2012-01-27T13:41:00.000-08:00

“Are you smart?”------“Yes!”
“Do you know you’re smart?”------“Yes!”
“We know you are smart too!”

This familiar chant of positive reinforcement is one that rings through The Partnership For Our Kids elementary school classrooms as a means of getting students excited about achieving their academic goals.

The staff and teachers of Miller Park Elementary, and many other Omaha Public Schools have added a new spin to this idea of positive reinforcement and academic encouragement. They now use it as a way of preparing for state tests. A recent Omaha World Herald article paints a picture of the pep rallies and pizza parties that Miller Park and several area schools have been holding in order to psych students up to score well on the upcoming state tests. Miller Park Principal, Lisa Utterback believes that the motivation will give the students the confidence they need to do well. "Our kids know that this is their time to show what they know," she says.

For the full Omaha World Herald Article, click here

Dine Out For The Partnership For Our Kids!

2012-01-11T07:44:00.001-08:00

Dine out with The Partnership For Our Kids during the month of January. Thanks to generous restaurant partners, Julio’s and Portovino Ristorante, you can support the Partnership by going out to eat! From the Pancho Goldberg Enchilada Platter to Penne Bolognese, whatever you order will benefit the 5,000 students that participate in our programs.

On Tuesday, January 17th, join us at Julio’s West, 123rd and Center Sts, for Taco Tuesday! Stop in between 5p.m. and 9p.m. and a percentage of any purchase you make will be donated back to The Partnership For Our Kids! If you don't have time to dine-in, Julio's will also donate back a percentage of the proceeds on all take-out orders!

Also be sure to swing Midtown Crossing's newest restaurant, Portovino Ristorante anytime throughout January a portion of the proceeds will also come back to support our programs.

Finally, an excuse to eat out for a great cause!

For more information, call 402-930-3000.

Thank You Clothes For Our Kids Supporters!

2012-01-06T06:22:00.000-08:00

This past fall, Partnership Administrative Assistant, Jennifer Arnold received a note from Janice Burris a school counselor and Partnership program liaison at Jackson Elementary. Burris had a small request regarding her monthly stipend. “She asked if we might be able to substitute her usual check with a gift card to Plato’s Closet,” Arnold explains. “She mentioned that her students were in need of warm clothing for the upcoming winter months and she would feel better knowing that they were taken care of rather than have the extra spending money,” Arnold continues.

Moved by Burris’ generosity, Arnold reached out to the Partnership’s staff, volunteers, corporate connections and community contacts in hopes that they would support an impromptu clothing drive. “I felt an urgency to help this selfless woman and her classroom, and before I knew it, the idea grew from helping one classroom of students into helping four of our target schools,” Arnold says.

The response to Arnold’s initial appeal was something of a holiday miracle. “We had an overwhelming response. First National Tower, Omaha State Bank, Burlington Capital and Solution One each hosted a clothing bin at their offices,” Arnold says. With the multi-location drop-off sites, Arnold says that more clothing was collected that she ever thought possible. “The office we used to sort the clothing was overflowing into the hallway, and many of the items were brand-new with the tags still intact.”

Arnold wasn’t the only one pleasantly surprised by the community’s outpouring of generosity. “We are so appreciative of the effort and we welcomed the opportunity,” says Jackson Elementary Counselor, Janice Burris. “Our student population has a great need for weather appropriate clothing, especially during the winter months,” Burris explains. “All of the donated clothes went to great use.”

“All of the schools we dropped off at were so excited to receive the donations,” adds Arnold. “Some of them even designated rooms for the clothing donations so students can stop by whenever they might be in need throughout the year.”

To learn how you can contribute to the students and families served by The Partnership For Our Kids, visit us at www.thepartnershipforourkids.org/donate.shtml

The Reason For The Season: A True Story of Giving

2011-12-16T05:13:00.000-08:00

The following is an excerpt from the blog of local OPS second-grade teacher, David Cumming. As an educator, Cumming's primary goal is to teach his students the lessons that will prepare them for life, but as the story below reveals, it is Cumming's students that have taught him the most valuable of life's lessons.

My principal recently released the demographic breakdown of our school for the current school year. If you’ve read some of the blogposts prior to this one, you know how proud I am to work in a culturally diverse school. Diversity is the reason I teach where I teach.

Anyway, over 40% of our students are African-American. The second highest percentage is Hispanic (Mexican, Guatemalan, and Honduran). Followed by Asian, Caucasian, Native American, African and mixed race. We’re sort of like Walgreens. We have a little of everything.

Needless to say, we’re diverse. But like I’ve written about before, there is one common thread that links all of the students together. It’s the chain that bonds them together.
Poverty.

Of our 268 students, 99.6% qualify for our free or reduced lunch program. I’ll save you the long division. We have one student in the entire school that doesn’t qualify for free or reduced lunches.

Now I could take you on a journey through the daily struggles of poverty. But I don’t know anything about living in poverty. I’ve never come close to experiencing it personally. I wouldn’t be able to do much more than retell stories I’ve heard students tell.

I could try to influence you to do something to help those living near you who are in desperate need of help. But that’s not what I’m going to do either. You’re probably already aware of people in need and places to serve.

Instead, there’s a lesson to be learned from these children living in poverty. It catches me off-guard time and time again. My students love to give.

Despite not having much to give, they give. It doesn’t matter that they are coming from homes that qualify for free or reduced lunches. They give.
And you know what, they never give begrudgingly. They never give as if their mom or dad is making them give. They never give to satisfy some sense of guilt. They give because they want to. They want to show that they care about you.

Last week, one of my students brought in a plastic sack filled with what appeared to be an object the size of a NBA basketball wrapped in layers of newspaper. On the top layer of newspaper, it was evident that he’d had a little trouble figuring out exactly how he wanted to address the gift. After a few attempts that had been scribbled out, he’d written “Merry Christmmas” in black ink. He proudly gave it to me and told me it was for “Ms. Tiffany” (my wife) and me. I gladly accepted the gift and told him I was anxious to see what it was.

Fearing that the other students might make fun of what was underneath all of the newspaper, I waited to open the gift until my students were at music class. When I began to open the gift, I found the newspaper to be carefully wrapped and taped. I peeled back layer upon layer. The basketball-sized gift kept getting smaller and smaller with each piece of newspaper I removed
.

Finally, I reached the center of the newspaper and found the gift my student so eagerly gave. It was a well-worn, stuffed, pink bunny. Why he thought I needed it, I’m not exactly sure. But I appreciated it nonetheless.

I wish I could say that the well-worn bunny was some long, lost treasure that I’d been searching for. Or that it was at the top of my Christmas list. It wasn’t.
But I appreciate everything that it symbolizes.

It reaches far beyond the tradition of giving Christmas gifts. It’s about sacrificing something of value (your time, your possessions, your talents) for the benefit of someone else.

Despite his circumstances, this boy gave up something he had in order to try to make someone else’s day better. You may not have a worn out, slightly filthy, pink bunny that can make a difference in someone’s life. But you certainly have something to give. So do it.

Give.

A Letter To Santa-The Partnership For Our Kids Holiday Wish List

2011-12-02T12:40:00.000-08:00

Dear Santa,

This letter is on the behalf of the 5,000 students that participate in The Partnership For Our Kids programs. You are so generous to children all over the world, but if you can find room in your sleigh, there are just a few things that we would really love to have for our students:

1. Fifty additional volunteers so that each Partnership student could have a goal buddy or group mentor of their own.

2. Monetary donations. We try to provide each of our students with the high quality curriculum, academic services, career exploration tours, door-to-door transportation and an overall amazing experience, and monetary donations help us to give them all that they deserve.

3. Tickets to local events. We love to give our students, their families and their mentors and goal buddies a chance to have fun together outside of the classroom. Tickets to local events like the symphony, the ballet, plays and sporting events provide students with unique learning experiences as well as a chance to spend time with their mentors and their families.

4. Career Exploration Tours and Field Trips. Career exploration is promoted in our program from elementary school through high school. Tours and hands-on experiences are invaluable to our students and serve as inspiration for what their future can be.

5. Healthy Snacks. We believe in good nutrition for our students and try to supply them with healthy snacks to fuel their minds and give them energy to keep going strong. Healthy, non-perishable treats, like 100 Calorie Snack Packs, bottled water and fruit juice drinks are always appreciated!

6. School Supplies. We want to give our students all the tools they need to succeed in their academics. School supplies such as notebooks, folders, pens, calculators and backpacks help our students to start their school year off on the right foot.

7. Art Supplies. Paint brushes, paints, markers, canvases, construction paper and more would be great for our students to express themselves creatively.

Thanks for reading this letter Santa. Have a wonderful holiday season and a happy 2012!

Sincerely,
The Partnership For Our Kids

*If you can help Santa grant one of the requests from The Partnership For Our Kids wish list, visit www.thepartnershipforourkids.org/donate.shtml or call 402-930-3000.

Clothes For Our Kids!

2011-10-27T09:42:00.000-07:00

Although the blistering heat and long days of August sunshine were only a couple of months ago, the brisk air of fall has already set in and it won’t be long before bone-chilling temperatures of a typical Nebraska winter are here to stay. While for many kids the winter season is a fun time filled with snow-ball fights and down-hill sled races, for those who do not have enough cold-weather gear, the early morning wait for the bus, or the walk home from school can seem like a frosty form of torment.

As a way to help more students avoid this scenario, The Partnership For Our Kids is introducing Clothes For Our Kids! , a clothing drive benefitting students in need at Partnership schools. During the entire month of November, the Partnership will be collecting new and gently-used clothing at three local drop-off locations, which include The Burlington Capital Building, 1004 Farnam Street; Omaha State Bank, 132nd and Maple and First National Tower, 1601 Dodge St. Clothing items can be dropped off in the designated bins during regular business hours, Monday through Friday. Needed items include winter coats, hats, gloves and scarves as well as warm sweaters, sweatshirts, jeans, and boots, all sizes are accepted.

The items collected will be distributed to Belvedere and Jackson Elementary Schools and Monroe and Norris Middle Schools during the first week in December.

To find out more details or for questions, contact Jen at 402-930-3000 or email jarnold@thepartnershipforourkids.org

Let’s Celebrate Student Success!

2011-10-13T08:46:00.000-07:00

Attention parents and student supporters! Mark your calendars to attend the Partnership’s upcoming first quarter Winners Circle Celebrations! The students have been working hard all quarter long to achieve their math, reading and life skills goals and now it is time to celebrate their great accomplishments! Students who meet their first quarter goals will receive a medal of honor and will be entered to win a prize.

Parents, we know you have been working just as hard to support your student in their efforts to reach their goals, so we haven’t left you out. All parents who attend their child’s Winners Circle Celebration will be entered in a drawing for a chance to win from a selection of fabulous family prizes such as passes to CoCo Key Water Resort, pizza parties and more! Please consult the schedule below for the date and start time for your student’s school celebration.

Belevedere Academy-Thursday, November 3rd at 6 p.m.
Conestoga Magnet-Wednesday, October 26th at 6 p.m.
Field Club-Tuesday, November 3rd at 6 p.m.
Fontenelle- Tuesday, November 1st at 6 p.m.
Franklin- Thursday, October 27th at 6 p.m.
Howard Kennedy- Wednesday, October 26th at 6 p.m.
Jackson- Tuesday, October 25th at 6 p.m.
Kellom-Wednesday, November 2nd at 6 p.m.
Martin Luther King- Wednesday, November 2nd at 6 p.m.
Miller Park- Tuesday, October 25th at 6 p.m.
Mount View- Thursday, November 3rd at 6 p.m.
Saratoga- Thursday, October 27th at 6 p.m.

Giving Back With Taste!

2011-10-07T13:50:00.000-07:00

Have you tried the CRAVE CARES menu yet? For the entire month of October, CRAVE Restaurant in Midtown Crossing will be giving back a percentage of the proceeds from every item ordered off of their delicious CRAVE CARES fall menu. Check out the yummy selections to choose from at CRAVE MENU.

Show your support for the Partnership this month by eating at CRAVE! Stop in and order from the October Crave Cares menu, or simply add a contribution to your final bill. Be sure to drop in this Tuesday, October 11th between 5 and 9 p.m. for CRAVE's one year anniversary celebration. Ten percent of all proceeds will go back to The Partnership For Our Kids and there even be a few anniversary specials!

For more information about donating to the Partnership, visit http://www.thepartnershipforourkids.org/donate.shtml

The Journey of a Thousand Miles

2011-09-29T08:08:00.000-07:00

Outbursts of violence among local teens are growing progressively more frequent. The Nebraska Crime Commission documented a 21 percent increase in juvenile arrests in Nebraska over the past two decades and these numbers continue to climb. Last weekend, two teenagers, one just 14-years-old, were killed by gunfire in separate instances in northeast Omaha within a six-hour span.

In the wake of so many tragic incidents, we are all searching for a way to get these young people out of the line of fire and on to a more promising path. Although this may seem like an overwhelmingly long and rugged journey, every journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Here are three steps that we hope you will add to your own journey of a thousand miles:
Step 1. Support Partnership ProgramsThe average cost of a student participating in the Partnership programs is $1,500 per year. While at first blush this might seem like a large figure, comparing it to the staggering average annual cost to incarcerate one individual in the juvenile justice system of $43,000 puts things into a whole new perspective. Donating to the Partnership is fast and easy as a click of your computer mouse! Make a contribution online through our secure Paypal account. Click DONATE for more information.

Step 2. Volunteer as a Goal Buddy or a Group MentorThe volunteers who serve as positive role-models bring out the best in Partnership students, who are over-flowing with potential and personality. “Before I joined, I didn’t really care about school, but they pushed me and molded me into a mature individual who cares about education and wants to give back,” says Hollyn, a Partnership student alum. Hollyn recently received her CNA degree and is employed full-time in Omaha.
To learn how you can start making a difference as a volunteer, click VOLUNTEER for more information.

Step 3. Share Your Experience“I feel so good when I return to work from my time with the students. It’s a very rewarding experience,” says a current Partnership volunteer. Partnership supporters know first-hand the amazing feeling they get from their personal experiences of being involved in our programs. Sharing that experience is a powerful and moving way to motivate others to join the journey.

Volunteer Spotlight: Marvelous Monroe Mentors

2011-09-23T08:36:00.000-07:00

The Partnership For Our Kids is so lucky to have such amazing volunteers! The time and energy each devotes to their students is a testament to just how much they care. One of these groups of true-life superstars, volunteer at Monroe Middle School!

“The best group of mentors, EVER, work with the Monroe 8th graders,” says Partnership Program Specialist, Amber Nawroth. “They are amazing and show up to every after-school meeting ready to truly bond with their mentees and make a difference in their lives.”

Each of the five volunteers in the Monroe group are at very different points in their lives, ranging from college classes to retirement. Mike Janda is a student at Creighton University, who hopes to pursue Dental School after getting his undergraduate degree. Bev Fleckten is a retired research coordinator from UNMC and loves spending time with her grandchildren and doing outdoor activities. Mary Green is the director of the Dundee Community Garden and is a leader of the Omaha Sierra Club. Bryce Montalbo is a recent college grad and is preparing to attend medical school next year. The newest member of the Monroe team is Josey Corritore. Josey is originally from Waterloo, Nebraska and grew up riding and showing horses, competitively and although she no longer does it competitively, she still enjoys riding for fun. Despite their varied backgrounds, the one thing this group does have in common is the commitment they have to their students.

“They are not only committed to their mentees inside the classroom but they’re also invested in their social lives as well,” says Nawroth. From apple-picking adventures in Nebraska City, to sporting events, ice-cream socials, bike rides and beyond, these marvelous mentors have kept their mentees active and exploring a side of their community they don’t always get to see.

Although the students love getting to go out with their mentors, it seems that the things they most enjoy are also the simplest. Monroe 8th grader, Danessia says the biggest thing her mentor has taught her is the importance of reaching out to others. “You should always try to help someone in need,” she says. Fellow student, DeaDrean says the thing he has appreciated most about his mentor is that he doesn’t try to pretend to be someone he’s not and he stands up for what he believes in. “He encourages us to be our best,” says DeaDrean.

The Partnership would like to extend a special thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers, who are making a difference in the lives of students every day!

To learn more about volunteering with The Partnership For Our Kids, click on VOLUNTEER

A Craving For The Community!

2011-09-16T13:18:00.000-07:00

Have a desire for something delicious and guilt-free? Consider local midtown restaurant, Crave for a tasty bite! Their menu features a wide variety of selections from sushi to sandwiches and everything in between.

Why the random restaurant review, you might ask? During the month of October, The Partnership For Our Kids will partner with Crave in their community outreach initiative, Crave Cares. Each month, Crave selects a local charitable organization to promote and raise funds for with their unique Crave Cares menu.

Show your support for the Partnership during the month of October by stopping in and ordering from the October Crave Cares menu, or simply add a contribution to your final bill.

For more information about donating to the Partnership, visit http://www.thepartnershipforourkids.org/donate.shtml

Thank You Lincoln Financial Group!

2011-09-08T14:06:00.000-07:00

A special thanks to Lincoln Financial Group for inviting The Partnership For Our Kids to participate in the company’s first annual volunteer fair! The volunteer fair was held at the Lincoln Financial Group’s Omaha campus over the lunch-hour on Thursday, September 8th. Approximately 200 Lincoln Financial employees attended the fair. The purpose of the fair was to give Lincoln Financial employees an opportunity to find more ways to become actively involved in their community.

Community involvement is extremely important to Lincoln Financial Group and the company utilizes multiple avenues of giving back locally. One of Lincoln Financial Group’s prime philanthropic efforts is through the work of its foundation. The Partnership For Our Kids was awarded a $5,000 grant from the Lincoln Financial Group’s foundation earlier this summer. Thanks to the grant award, Partnership high school students were able to participate in career exploration workshops and site visits throughout the summer months.

To learn more about career exploration activities at the Partnership, visit
http://www.thepartnershipforourkids.org/aokcareer.shtml

I Want To Be A Super-Role Model

2011-08-26T14:10:00.000-07:00

“I feel that the whole concept of the program is great. It inspires the students to do their best and be the best they can be. So often kids are recognized for what they do wrong. It is great to see their faces full of smiles and receive hugs and cards for recognizing and rewarding them for doing something good,” says one Partnership volunteer about The Partnership For Our Kids programs.

Despite all of the reports about neighborhood shootings and robberies that consume the 6’o’clock news, many local kids are finding ways to improve themselves, their schools and their communities, with a little help from some truly amazing volunteers who serve as positive role models and mentors of the Partnership.

“Whether they realize it or not, our goal buddies and group mentors are making an extremely powerful impact on these kids, just by being a consistent presence in their everyday lives,” says Partnership Recruitment Manager, Jessica Warren. “The hard part is having enough of these great folks to go around for ALL of our students. Warren says currently there is a volunteer deficit for the Partnership’s middle school student groups. “Middle school is an especially tough time for most kids, so it is crucial to have that extra encouragement and positive reinforcement present,” she says.

Warren goes on to say that becoming a volunteer with the Partnership is a simple process and volunteers are given all of the tools they need to work with the students. “All they need to do is just show up and spend time with the students, and our staff takes care of the rest,” Warren says.

To find out how you can become a volunteer mentor or goal buddy with The Partnership For Our Kids or to learn more about our programs, visit: http://gettoknowmeomaha.com/

Summer Break?!

2011-08-18T07:00:00.000-07:00

It’s official-school is back in session, but what a busy break it has been at the Partnership!

The Partnership kicked off the summer on a bittersweet note as former agency president of fourteen years, Julie Hefflinger retired from the organization and new president, Deb Denbeck was welcomed to the helm on June 20th. "I feel very blessed and fortunate to be following in the footprints of someone I have great respect for," Denbeck said. "Julie has done an amazing job of building a strong team and a program that is so needed in the Omaha area."

As Denbeck settled in to her new role, not a moment was wasted as students were
immersed into a multitude of activities including educational workshops such as “Cops and Kids”. Students who participated in the workshop learned more about their local justice system and received a first-hand look at trials in action at the Douglas County Courthouse. Students also got to explore their artistic side during a tour of Omaha’s Hot Shops, where they witnessed a glass-blowing demonstration and had an opportunity to paint their very own pottery. Summer tours even included a trip to Moylan Tranquility Iceplex where students got to cool off from the heat and glide around the rink with their fellow classmates and friends.

In addition to student events and outings, the Partnership also prepared for an end of the summer fundraiser celebration. The Partnership For Our Kids teamed up with vinNEBRASKA and Midtown Crossing to host the Summer Wine and Food Festival, “An Evening Escape”, on July 30th on the Midtown outdoor promenade. More than 350 guests enjoyed sampling fabulous wines from both vinNEBRASKA and local distributors. They also sampled extraordinary food from Midtown restaurants and bid on unique day-trips and dream-destination packages. Nearly $50,000 was raised to benefit the students of the Partnership.

While it has been a busy season, there are many more exciting activities planned for the 2011-2012 school year. Be sure to check our online events calendar for more details!

Dine With A Purpose-August 24th

2011-08-10T11:30:00.000-07:00

Does it get any better than a mouth-watering burger and a heaping pile of fries?

How about being able to help 5,000 Omaha students, while you indulge in this tempting treat?! The Partnership For Our Kids is teaming up with Blanc Burgers and Bottles for an evening of great food for a good cause! Dine out with us at Blanc Burgers and Bottles, located in Omaha’s Midtown Crossing, on Wednesday, August 24th between 4 and 9p.m. and a portion of your purchase will be donated back to The Partnership For Our Kids.

For more information, please call 402-930-3000 or visit www.GetToKnowMeOmaha.com.

It's Not To Late For An Evening Escape!

2011-07-08T11:07:00.000-07:00

Join The Partnership For Our Kids at the Summer Wine and Food Festival, "An Evening Escape", July 30th at Midtown Crossing!

Click here for more information!

Happy 4th of July!

2011-07-01T08:38:00.000-07:00

Looking for something to do this 4th of July weekend? Check out these family-friendly activities happening throughout the Omaha metro area.

Bank of the West Celebrates America, July 1st
Free concert featuring, Cheap Trick and 38 Special. Fireworks to follow.
Location: Memorial Park, Omaha NE
Cost: FREE

Omaha World Herald Fireworks Night, July 2nd
Ameritrade Park, 1200 Mike Fahey ST
Fireworks following Home Run Derby
Cost: $12

Ralston 4th of July Parade and Fireworks, July 4th
Parade starts at 1pm at 8th and Highland STS;
Fireworks at Lake View Golf Course, 9:30pm
Ralston, NE
Cost: FREE

Bellevue 4th of July Fireworks and Family Day Activities, July 4th
Bellevue Downtown Park, NE
Games and family activities; 2pm-10:30pm
Cost: Activity pricing varies

The Partnership Has A New President!

2011-06-24T11:08:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week, Deb Denbeck began her new position as president of The Partnership For Our Kids.

Denbeck, who comes to the Partnership from Creighton University, is taking over for Julie Hefflinger, who is retiring from the Partnership this week, after 14 years of service.

Denbeck is honored to have been selected for this position. "I feel very blessed and fortunate to be following in the footprints of someone I have great respect for," says Denbeck. "Julie has done an amazing job of building a strong team and a program that is so needed in the Omaha area." She feels that the Partnership's work to continue providing quality role models and mentors is paramount to helping more Omaha students succeed.

Inspiring commitment to achieving greatness among young people is something that Denbeck knows a lot about, having devoted 21 years of her life to coaching collegiate volleyball. Denbeck has also served as a volunteer mentor for the Partnership’s group mentoring program.

In addition to her coaching and mentoring experience, Denbeck has an extensive background in education as well as fundraising and development. She is very passionate about the power of an education and she says the thing she is most looking forward to about working at the Partnership is having an opportunity to help more young people succeed. "We need to be strong advocates for today's youth--they are our future," she says.

To learn more about Deb, check out our team page

Announcing A New PFOK Addition

2011-06-17T09:48:00.000-07:00

Meet the newest member of the PFOK team, Jennifer Arnold.

Jennifer will be serving as the Partnership’s administrative assistant. She will be responsible for providing assistance to the Partnership’s executive team, helping with event and meeting planning logistics, assisting with the new hire process, ordering office supplies, and ensuring that the office runs as smoothly as possible.

Jen is happily married and has two beautiful boys, Joshua and Cole. She and her family house what she refers to as “a small petting zoo,” consisting of 3 dogs, a snake, lizard and fish and various other critters that her boys bring home.

In her spare time, Jen enjoys summer bike rides and camping on the weekends, decorative painting, reading and evening walks.

To learn more about Jen, view her profile on our website “Teams” page

2011-06-09T10:13:00.000-07:00

Order in the court!

This week Partnership middle school students visited the Douglas County Courthouse to learn more about the justice system. “Students enjoyed getting to explore the court room and were excited to sit in the jury box and the witness stand,” says Program Specialist, Ramey McNamara.

In addition to exploring the courtroom, students also heard the history of the courthouse and had an opportunity to chat with Judge Larry Barrett. Belvedere sixth grader, Maurice was shocked to find out how many cases appear before the judge on a daily basis. “Judge Barrett told us that there are usually 20 people that come through, and that’s just in the morning,” says Maurice. Maurice added that he was also surprised to learn how much he discovered about the courts from the tour. “Students definitely understood the court system better when we left,” says McNamara. “They walked away with a lot of great knowledge.

To learn more about Partnership For Our Kids summer outings, visit our events page.

What’s Coming Up At The Partnership!

2011-05-31T07:45:00.000-07:00

School is officially out and it is time for a lazy summer season, right? Wrong! The Partnership has a jam-packed summer full of activities, workshops and tours. Here is a peek of just some of what is coming up:

Women Leaders Luncheon-Thursday, June 2nd Attention leading ladies! Learn more about how you can connect with youth of the Omaha community at the Partnership’s upcoming Women Leaders Luncheon, June 2nd. The luncheon will be held from 12-1:30p.m. at Omaha Country Club and will present upcoming opportunities to volunteer with students in the Partnership programs. For more information, call 402-930-3008.

Volunteer Appreciation Reception-Thursday, June 9thWe’d like to give a huge THANK YOU to all of our amazing volunteers. We would not exist without you, and we appreciate all that you do! A special reception will be held in your honor on June 9th. It will take place at Security National Bank, 1120 S 101st St., from 4:30-6p.m. Current volunteers, please drop by and say hello. No reservation necessary!

Student Activities:City Sprouts Workshop- June 1st-24thSeventh grade students will participate in Omaha’s City Sprouts program, June 1-24. They will get a chance to learn about healthy eating, community sustainability and how community gardens can play a part in achieving both!

Iceplex Tours-June 2nd, 7th and 17th Partnership students will go on one of the coolest tours in the city this summer-literally. Sixth through eighth graders will tour Tranquility Iceplex and learn about the intricacies of running an ice complex. Tours will take place June 2nd, 7th & 17th.

Cops and Kids Workshop- June 9th & 10thOn June 9th and 10th, sixth grade students will get a chance to learn more about the justice system through the eyes of a police officer. An Omaha police officer will speak to Partnership students about duties as a law enforcement officer and proper police procedures. Students will also tour the Douglas county courthouse.

For more upcoming event information, visit the events page on our website

Golf For Our Kids, A Swinging Success~ Thank You Supporters!

2011-05-18T12:17:00.000-07:00

The Partnership For Our Kids would like to thank the generous sponsors and supporters of Golf For Our Kids. Nearly $30,000 was raised and will benefit 5,000 students participating in the Partnership goal setting and group mentoring programs. “The Partnership For Our Kids programs effectively address an urgent and critical need for a segment of our community’s children,” says Golf For Our Kids Honorary Chairman, Bob Bates. “This program not only gives them hope but develops them into well adjusted and productive people.”

More than 120 golfers from 30 metro-area businesses and corporations hit the Omaha Country Club fairway on Monday, May 16th for the 18-hole scramble tournament. Honorary chairpersons for the event were Bob and Judy Bates and John and Anne Nelson. The tournament’s official golf chairmen were Dick Holland and Mike Yanney and Jim Siedlecki from WOWT Channel 6 served as emcee and media chairman.

Despite the amazing skill displayed on the course, and some extremely close calls, the 2011 Chevy Equinox hole-in-one prize, donated by Gregg Young Chevrolet, remained unclaimed by any of the tournament participants. This didn’t discourage players from giving it their all and ending the day with some pretty remarkable final scores. The first place team, with a combined foursome score of 59, included players Brian Csipkes, Dennis Hein, Kelly Karmazin and Jeff Engdahl from accounting firm, Seim Johnson Sestak and Quist, LLP. "Our strategy was just to have fun," says Seim Johnson foursome member, Dennis Hein.

*Keep an eye out for information to come on the Partnership's upcoming summer event, "An Evening Escape" Summer Wine & Food Festival.

2011 Golf For Our Kids Tournament Sponsors and Supporters
Thank You For Your Support!

Event Sponsors:
Bob and Judy Bates
John and Anne Nelson
SilverStone Group

Meal Sponsors:
Omaha Steaks, International, Inc.
Union Pacific

Hole Sponsors:
Bob and Judy Bates
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Burlington Capital Group
Coventry Health Care
Creighton University
Godfather’s Pizza
Gregg Young Chevrolet
HDR
McGrath North
Mutual of Omaha Bank
John & Anne Nelson
Omaha Steaks International, Inc.
Seim Johnson Sestak & Quist, LLP
SilverStone Group
Tetrad Corporation
Union Pacific
UNO Athletics
Valmont Industries, Inc.
WOWT Channel 6

In-Kind Sponsors:
Addy’s Sports Bar and Grill
Central States Indemnity
Creighton University Athletics
DJ’s Dugout, Downtown
Eileen’s Cookies
Godfather’s Pizza
Hy-Vee
Omaha Country Club
Scheels
Sign IT
Tetrad Corporation
UNO Athletics
Upstream Brewing Company

Participating Foursomes:
Access Bank
Baird Holm
Bob and Judy Bates
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Burlington Capital Group
Coventry Health Care
Creighton University
First Comp Insurance
Five Points Bank
HDR
Richard Holland
McGrath North
MECA
Mutual of Omaha Bank
Mutual of Omaha
Nelson/SilverStone
OPPD
Omaha Public Schools
Omaha Steaks, International, Inc.
Omaha Track Materials
Seim Johnson Sestak and Quist, LLP
Sonburst Communication
The Partnership For Our Kids
UNMC
University of Nebraska Foundation
WOWT Channel 6
Gail and Mike Yanney

Fifth Grade Goes To Work

2011-05-05T13:42:00.000-07:00

Typical fifth grade field trips usually involve a trip to the zoo or a musical performance, but The Partnership For Our Kids has put a career exploration twist on this tradition to inspire more students to start thinking about their future profession possibilities.

This spring, fifth grade students in the Partnership’s goal-setting program toured the twelve local corporations where their goal buddies work. “The students who participate in career exploration discover the day-to-day activities involved with a particular career as well as the type of education necessary as well as its job market outlook for the future,” says Goal Setting Program Director, Beth Smith. Smith adds that using the corporations where goal buddies work as the student field trip destinations is also another way that the students can come to better understand more about who their goal buddies are outside of the classroom.

Program Coordinator, Kris Morgan believes these field trips have been eye-opening experiences for many of the students. “While visiting Union Pacific, one student said he wanted to work on motors when grew up. The student was thrilled to hear that Union Pacific has a need for machinists and mechanics,” she said. “Now he has a lead on a possible career that he may never had considered before.”

The companies that the students toured include: Carlson Hospitality, Center Trophy, Douglas County Youth Center, First Comp, Leo A. Daly, Metro Community College, Mutual of Omaha, Omaha World Herald, OPPD, Union Pacific and Wells Fargo.
Students in the Partnership’s mentoring program will also soon be diving into career exploration field trips and workshops as part of the organization’s summer programming. Summer tours will include Offutt Airforce Base, Rotella’s Italian Bakery, the Nebraska Humane Society, and many others.

For upcoming tour and workshop details visit our online events calendar or check out our events page postings as more information becomes available.

Celebrating Success with The Partnership For Our Kids Goal Setting Program

2011-04-28T08:42:00.000-07:00

The school year is nearly complete and while some students are day-dreaming about swimming pools and sleeping late, the students in the Partnership’s goal setting program are working hard to achieve their fourth quarter goals and finish the year with a celebration of success!

“A lot of the students are expressing confidence in their goal progress, and some have already met one or two goals,” says Program Coordinator, Kris Morgan.
Several students are also trying to find ways to show appreciation to their goal buddies for encouraging them throughout the year. “Many classrooms created cards for their goal buddies, thanking them for their time, support, and dedication,” Morgan says. She adds that the students are eager to attend the upcoming Winners Circle celebrations. School-wide fourth quarter celebrations will take place on the afternoons of May 10th-19th.

Sixth-graders in the goal-setting program are especially looking forward to the biggest celebration of their goal-setting careers-The Winners Circle Sixth Grade Recognition Program with the Mayor! This special ceremony will take place on May 11th at the Holland Performing Arts Center and will begin at 10a.m. It is open to family members, friends and supporters.
For details, consult our events calendar.

Change For Change

2011-04-21T06:11:00.000-07:00

How old do you have to be to change the world?

Miss Fischer’s sixth-grade classroom at Fontenelle Elementary School has decided to take on this challenge by completing one act of kindness at a time. The Partnership For Our Kids would like to recognize these outstanding students for being leaders of change!

It began as a simple World Studies lesson. Fontenelle sixth-grade teacher, Anna Fischer wanted to motivate her students to begin thinking about the world outside of themselves. “I created a presentation about atrocities that have taken place around the world, due to hate,” says Fischer. After showing her students the presentation, the students began to brainstorm ideas of how they could help start making a difference.

As a class, Fischer and her students decided the first step of their plan for change would be to collect money for charity. They started by putting the $50 check they had earned for achieving their second quarter Winners Circle goals into a donation fund. “Other people need it more than we do,” says Fontenelle sixth-grader, Aleeah about their decision to donate the money.

Fischer’s students reached out to other classrooms, challenging them to join their fundraising efforts through their own classroom collections. “The original goal was to double the $50 check,” explains Fischer. “We currently have almost $400 and we are still raising money.” She adds that her students have even inspired her to do more.

She reveals that when one of her students brought in $40 donation from her own money, it really struck a chord in her. “A sixth-grader giving that amount of money away to charity reminded me that I need to have a more giving heart,” she says.

In addition to collecting money, Fischer’s students have also been working to promote more change by doing good works in the community. At a service trip to the Open Door Mission, a student from another school asked Fischer why she and her students were helping that day. “My students chose to come here,” Fischer explained. “Instead of doing what else?,” the student asked. “Instead of having a pizza party,” replied one of Fischer’s students, matter-of-factly. “I was so proud of them,” Fisher says.

Spring Into Action With The Partnership For Our Kids

2011-04-14T08:05:00.000-07:00

The sun is out, the snow is gone and just like spring flowers are popping up all over the city, so are the latest Partnership For Our Kids activities! Here is a preview of what is coming up:

Omaha Storm Chasers - Partnership For Our Kids Night - April 22nd
Kick off the baseball season with the Storm Chasers and The Partnership For Our Kids! The Storm Chasers will take on the Memphis Redbirds at 7p.m. at Werner Stadium and one of our students will be throwing the very first pitch! Come root for both your home teams! Oh, did we mention there would be fireworks?

IMAX Double Feature - April 28th, 6p.m.
Join us for an evening at the Lozier IMAX theater on Thursday, April 28th. We'll be presenting our 'Get to Know Me' film on the giant screen and afterwards, we will also screen the 3D baby-animal documentary 'Born to Be Wild' narrated by Morgan Freeman. This event will be free to the public but is geared toward potential volunteers. Learn more at www.gettoknowmeomaha.com.

Ride to Success Kick-Off Event – May 6th
Thanks to an amazing new partnership with Greenstreet Cycles and a grant from Specialized Bicycle components, the Partnership group mentoring program has exclusive access to a fleet of 30 brand new bikes!

Beginning with a ribbon cutting on May 6th at 3:30p.m., classrooms will go on supervised bike rides across the Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge. .Outside of classroom visits, all Partnership For Our Kids mentors will be able to check out bikes for students to go on their own group rides beginning in early May. Learn more at www.gettoknowmeomaha.com.

Sixth Grade Recognition Ceremony - May 11th, Holland Performing Arts Center
On May 11th, sixth grade students in the Partnership’s goal-setting program will be recognized by Omaha Mayor Suttle for achieving their math, reading and life skills goals. This special ceremony will take place at the Holland Performing Arts Center and will begin at 10a.m. For more information, call 930-3000.

Golf For Our Kids – May 16th, Omaha Country ClubGolf For Our Kids will swing into action on May 16th with a shot-gun scramble at the elite Omaha Country Club. In addition to a gorgeous day of golf on the green, participants will receive a fabulous barbeque lunch, an opportunity to perfect their game with an OCC golf-pro, a chance to win an exclusive sports fan raffle package, team awards and much more!

Golf For Our Kids is sponsored by SilverStone Group, John & Anne Nelson and Bob and Judy Bates. Foursomes and corporate sponsorships are still available starting at $1,000. Click here to download a registration form, or call 402-930-3026 to learn more!

*All proceeds will benefit The Partnership For Our Kids’ goal-setting and mentoring programs.

Giving Time and Heart

2011-04-08T06:24:00.000-07:00

Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart. ~Elizabeth Andrew

Time is a resource that is always in high demand and it seems that there is never enough of it to go around. So in order to give one’s time away, there had better be a really good reason for doing so, right?

Partnership group-mentor, Kristin Nolan actually has five good reasons for donating her time. Their names are Geovany, Mirna, Francisco, Herlin and Jennifer. Nolan has been a Partnership group mentor volunteer with students at South High School for a year and a half and she truly feels that it has been time well spent.

“I really enjoy getting to know the students. I learn something during every meeting! The topics being discussed apply to my life as well, which is very motivating,” says Nolan.

While Nolan feels that she is the one who benefits from the time she spends with her group of students, her dedication and giving spirit have been invaluable gifts for the Partnership staff and students alike. “It’s easy to notice the enthusiasm and energy, [Nolan] brings to her group,” says Partnership Bilingual Program Specialist, Nick Sasada. “She is invested in the future success of her students.”

Nolan’s commitment to the Partnership has even reached beyond the classroom. “Kristin has gone out of her way to bring her students to special events, she has made special efforts to reach out to her mentees’ parents and has even helped us promote our organization to the community,” Sasada says.

Nolan credits her passion for helping students to those who encouraged her in her own teen years. “Everyone goes through struggles in their lives and without someone to talk to and support your dreams, life is very lonesome,” she says. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without the role models and mentors I have in my life!”

The students in Nolan’s group love having her in their lives and they think of her as both a role model and a companion. “She is a great person, “says Mirna, a ninth-grader in Nolan’s group. “She takes the time to listen to me and I look up to her.” Fellow group mentee, Geovany, agrees. He feels like Nolan truly understands who he is. “Its like hanging out with a friend,” he says.

*To find out more about how to volunteer with The Partnership For Our Kids, visit VOLUNTEER or call 402-557-6392

A Volunteer Workforce Equals A Wealth of Value

2011-03-30T07:35:00.000-07:00

It has been said that money makes the world go round, but believe it or not, according to a study done by Johns Hopkins, volunteers actually make up a far more significant share of the workforce of nations than has been commonly acknowledged.

Data generated by the Johns Hopkins Comparative Nonprofit Sector Project in 37 countries (Salamon et al, 2004) revealed that approximately 140 million people in these 37 countries engage in some volunteer activity in a typical year. To put this into perspective, if all of these volunteers represented the population of a country it would be the 8th largest country in the world. The study goes on to show that even when estimated conservatively, these volunteers make $400 billion in contribution to the global economy.

As National Volunteer Month kicks off this Friday, The Partnership For Our Kids would like to extend a special thank-you to all of our volunteers for their hard work, devotion and commitment to kids. You are truly worth your weight in gold!

*Attention all current Partnership volunteers! Be sure to check the mail for a special volunteer event invitation coming to you soon.

Homework Help, It’s As Easy As A-B-C!

2011-03-17T06:03:00.000-07:00

It is 10p.m. and that Geometry homework is not going so well. What if solving those problems was as simple as having a library card and internet access? Although it may sound too good to be true, a free online service being offered through the Omaha Public Library and Tutor.com is making homework help as easy as A-B-C.

A. Obtain a library card.
A student must be 14 or older to apply for a library card without a parent’s consent, so students in grade 8 or below will need a parent signature on the application.

B. Log on to Tutor.com.Students can connect to Tutor.com through the Omaha library website, omahapubliclibrary.org, through any Omaha public school website and even on Facebook by searching Tutor.com, Omaha.

C. Connect with a Tutor!Once a student is on the Tutor.com site, he or she can select the subject area that they need help in and a qualified tutor will walk them through the problem live on the spot!

Not only does Tutor.com offers homework assistance, but it is also a great resource for test preparation, research and even GED and citizenship test support—all for FREE! Tutors are on staff between 2 p.m. and midnight each week and are eager to make your homework turn from disaster to done, quicker than you can say A-B-C.

Thank You Gregg Young Chevrolet!

2011-03-10T07:06:00.000-08:00

Thank you Gregg Young Chevrolet for making The Partnership For Our Kids this week’s “Go The Extra Mile” award recipient! The Partnership was selected to receive this honor in recognition of the exemplary service the agency provides to Omaha’s disadvantaged youth. Partnership staff and students were presented with the award during a ceremony, Wednesday afternoon, at Lewis and Clark Middle School.

“Going The Extra Mile is a unique opportunity to showcase great organizations, like The Partnership For Our Kids, that might not otherwise receive recognition for the extraordinary work they are doing in our community,” said Gregg Young Chevrolet representative, Bob Holland. “Winning this award means the world to our organization,” said Partnership President, Julie Hefflinger.

*Watch for coverage of the award presentation and a special interview with Partnership President, Julie Hefflinger and group mentoring program volunteer Ben Larson, which is scheduled to air on WOWT Channel 6 during the 6 p.m. news broadcast this Friday, March 11th.

Competing For The Partnership!

2011-03-04T11:55:00.001-08:00

The spirit of competition can drive people to accomplish some amazing feats and that spirit was alive and well during The Partnership For Our Kids first annual fund drive. Partnership staff made the task of raising annual funds a little more interesting with a team competition. Each team developed their own community fundraisers and spread the word to family and friends. “I think this fund drive only scratched the surface of the creativity, ingenuity and persistence our staff has to offer as fundraisers,” said team leader, Nick Sasada.

Collectively, the team competition raised nearly $6,000 of the $38,000 fund drive grand total. “Our staff has been fully committed to raising funds for our organization. Without their dedication, we wouldn’t have raised as much as we did.” says Partnership Development Director, Nicole Everingham. Team fundraisers included office jeans days, a restaurant night at Julio’s West, holiday photo sales and a community bowling event at Maplewood Lanes.

The Partnership For Our Kids is currently planning a spring golf fundraising event that will be held at Omaha Country Club on May 16th. Foursomes and sponsorships are available, call Nikki at 402-930-3026 for more information or to reserve your foursome.

* If you would like to make a monetary or in-kind donation to The Partnership For Our Kids, visit thepartnershipforourkids.org/donate.shtml, or call 402-930-3000 to see how you can help.

Saving Service Programs

2011-02-24T07:00:00.000-08:00

This week the National Mentoring Partnership released a legislative alert regarding a potential bill that would drastically cut funding to government programs and would eliminate the Corporation for National and Community Service. See the full story below and learn what you can do to save service programs:

Mentoring Legislative Alert
February 2011
Save Service Day

This past weekend, by a vote of 235-189, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1, a continuing resolution that will cut government programs by $100 billion for the rest of this fiscal year. This bill eliminates the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and would zero out funding for the Mentoring Children of Prisoners program. We need your help now to ensure these harmful cuts to mentoring do not become law.

As you may know, Congress is in recess, and the Senate has not yet voted on this bill (and after they vote, the bill will still need to go to the President), so there is time to act. Therefore, Friday has been designated a "Save Service Day."
We are joining forces with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Voices for National Service and several additional service-related organizations in reaching out to our members. We ask you all to contact your Members of Congress this Friday, February 25, by phone or e-mail — or by scheduling a meeting — to explain the necessity of service programs.

We need your help in contacting your Senators right away and telling them to pass a Continuing Resolution that restores funding to CNCS and the Mentoring Children of Prisoners program. You can find contact information at: www.senate.gov.
If you choose to reach out by phone, we encourage you to state the bill number (H.R. 1), the title of the legislation (Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act of 2011) and why restoring funding to Mentoring Children of Prisoners and CNCS is important to you.

We understand that this is a difficult time for our economy and a difficult time for funding all programs. We ask that you encourage your Senators to fund quality mentoring programs. We certainly do not want to see tax-payer dollars wasted on bad programs.

If you choose to reach out by e-mail, you can click here to write your Senators: (www.capwiz.com/mentor/issues/alert/?alertid=30007506&type=CO)
Then, on Friday, please call or e-mail your Senators again in honor of Save Service Day. With programs across the country reaching out en masse, we hope to make a major impact.

Thank you very much for your support and efforts. Together, we can save mentoring programs across the country.

What Do I Want To Be When I Grow Up?

2011-02-18T07:20:00.000-08:00

The Partnership would like to extend a special thanks to all of the local corporations that participated in the 2011 Partnership For Our Kids Career Fair. One hundred and fifty middle school students crowded the Teacher Administration Center (TAC) cafeteria on Wednesday afternoon to learn about the many career opportunities that Omaha has to offer. Professionals from more than 20 different career fields took time to answer student questions and demonstrate what it takes to succeed in their professions.

“It’s essential for students to start planning for a career at an early age because it allows them to set their life goals and plan accordingly,” says Partnership Bilingual Program Specialist, Alma Orellana. “When students have a plan in place, it keeps them on track and gives them the drive to continue working toward their dreams.”

Because of events like the Partnership Career Fair, students like eighth-grade Marrs student, Sabir, already have their future career paths planned. Sabir says that attending the career fair has helped him to discover the necessary requirements it will take for him to reach his dream of becoming a lawyer.

Thanks to a new $25,000 grant from Mutual of Omaha, The Partnership For Our Kids plans to spark inspiration among even more students with career preparation workshops and curriculum. Partnership Development Director, Nicole Everingham is hopeful that the career curriculum will continue to encourage more students to dream big. “We want student to recognize that they can dream of becoming anything they want to be and receive the appropriate education to support their career dreams.”

*To learn more about career exploration with The Partnership For Our Kids, visit CAREER EXPLORATION .

2011 Partnership Career Fair Corporations
Briley Homes
Clarkson College
Coventry Health Care
Creighton Athletics
Douglas County Corrections
First Data
First National Bank
Metropolitan Community College: Culinary Arts
Omaha County Attorney, Mike Jensen
Omaha Public Schools:
Fullerton Elementary School
Walnut Hill Elementary School
Methodist Hospital
Morgan Pet Clinic
Nebraska State Troopers
Omaha Fire Department
Omaha Police Department
OPPD
Omaha School of Massage
Omaha Storm Chasers
Qwest Communications
Radio Lobo
SAC Federal Credit Union
University of Nebraska at Omaha Alumni and Recruitment
West Corporation

Committed To My Students

2011-02-10T06:28:00.000-08:00

For Miller Park sixth-grade teacher, Ericka Boston, teaching is not simply her job, it’s who she is. With the countless hours spent creating new study aids and classroom projects, her work day rarely ends when the bell rings, and according to Boston, she wouldn’t want it any other way.

“I love teaching and I love children,” she says. Boston adds that her passion for education has been something she has had for as long as she can remember. “Growing up, I loved playing school and I always had to be the teacher,” she recalls. In addition to playing school with her friends, Boston says that her experience as a student also contributed to her desire to teach. “I was a slow learner and I believe it has made me the effective, patient educator I am today,” she says.

Her classroom is dotted with signs of her pay-it-forward character, from the many gifts and cards made by former students, which decorate her desk, to the wall of “Praise Buckets”, which Boston designed to encourage her students to express random kindnesses and appreciation for their fellow classmates.

One thing that Boston says has been helpful in motivating her students in the classroom is the Partnership’s goal setting program. “It serves as a great way to build the bridge between school and home, expressing the importance of goal setting and communication between student, teacher and family,” explains Boston. She also says that the program serves as another layer of positive reinforcement for the students. “They realize that there are people out there besides family and school staff that genuinely
care for them.”

Not only is the program a wonderful means of inspiration for the students, but Boston says that it is also a great motivator for the teachers as well. Classrooms that have 80% of students earning their reading and math goals are awarded $50 checks from the program. For many teachers like Boston, who often pay for classroom extras out of their own pocket, this $50 check can be extremely beneficial. Of course, because the check is earned by the classroom as a whole, Boston ensures that her entire classroom votes on how the money should be spent. “I’ve had classes decide to donate these funds to charities, buy classroom supplies and even donate it as scholarship money to a very committed college student who served as our teaching assistant!”

Boston’s belief in the Partnership’s goal setting program and her love of teaching is obvious, but her commitment to education goes beyond her classroom. In addition to the many hours she dedicates to her students, the single mother of two is also working to earn a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, while simultaneously studying to achieve certification through the National Board For Professional Teaching Standards. Although her hectic load may seem nearly impossible for most, Boston makes it look effortless with her positive personality and infectious smile that spread to her students, co-workers and everyone she comes in contact with.

*To see the complete list of schools served by The Partnership For Our Kids programs, visit STUDENTS.

Hungry To Help?

2011-02-04T06:37:00.000-08:00

Are you hungry to help The Partnership For Our Kids? Stop by Julio's West,2820 South 123rd Court on February 8th, between 5-10p.m. and Julio's will donate 10 percent of your purchase back to the Partnership! Click here to check out Julio's extensive menu of tasty south-of-the-border treats.

Congratulations Kutak Rock, Advocate of the Year!

2011-01-27T07:44:00.000-08:00

The Partnership For Our Kids is so proud to congratulate Kutak Rock, LLP, winner of the 2011 Midlands Mentoring Partnership Advocate of the Year award!

For nearly two decades, Kutak Rock has generously supported The Partnership For Our Kids not only through pledges and sponsorships, but through the time and talents of their staff. Kutak Rock attorney, David Jacobson, Esq. has served on the Partnership’s board of directors since 1993, helping to steer the organization through almost twenty years of growth, development and change.

For the past three years , five additional Kutak Rock attorneys have dedicated themselves as volunteer mentors to a group of Partnership students. These devoted individuals have gone above and beyond the typical group mentor responsibilities, supporting their students and watching them grow from rambunctious sixth-graders to maturing young men and women. The Kutak Rock mentor team has worked extremely hard to open their students’ eyes to new opportunities, from career exploration to better understanding the laws of the justice system.

Kutak Rock was presented with the Advocate Award on Wednesday at the Midlands Mentoring Partnership Annual Mentor of the Year Recognition Luncheon, held at the Holiday Inn Convention Center, 3321 S. 72nd St. Partnership volunteer mentor, Kasey Cappellano accepted the award on behalf of the firm and expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to share in the honor.

In addition to the presentation of the Advocate of the Year Award, the MMP Mentor of the Year award was presented to TeamMates mentor, Elaine Bankey. Bankey has been mentoring for more than 20 years and currently mentors ten students. When presented with the award, Bankey gratefully accepted and assured the crowd that anyone can become a mentor. “If you can breath and walk, you can love a kid, and you will be well loved in return.”

*To find out how your corporation can become a supporter of The Partnership For Our Kids, visit www.thepartnershipforourkids.org or call 402-930-3000.

Beyond Law and Order

2011-01-20T14:03:00.000-08:00

Mentoring program alum and scholarship recipient, Shantel Thompson, has always had an interest in the law, but “studying criminal minds and discovering why they act the way they do,” is what she says is the real reason she decided to pursue a degree in Criminal Justice.

Thompson recently landed an extremely competitive internship with the Federal Probation Office. “They only hire two new interns per semester,” Thompson says. She feels that the international criminal law program she participated in really helped to give her an edge over her competition. Thompson believes that her persistence was also a key factor.

As part of her internship, Thompson is mentored by an on-duty probation officer and receives a combination of field and office training. “We follow an offender from the time they commit the offense through sentencing, treatment and probation,” she says. So far, Thompson has really enjoyed seeing the process in action and feels right at home with her co-workers. “They are easy to talk to,” she says. “From the chief probation officer to the janitor, everyone really makes me feel like I am part of the team.”

Thompson plans to go on to obtain a Master’s degree in Psychology as well as a degree in law. Thompson advises younger students to go after what they love and work hard to get there. “You don’t want to go to a job everyday that you don’t like,” Thompson says. “Do what you want to do, and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t.”

Get Out And About With The Partnership!

2011-01-12T08:35:00.000-08:00

If cabin fever has got you down, The Partnership For Our Kids has just the cure!

The Partnership For Our Kids Charity Bowl, Saturday, January 15th, 1-3p.m.
Bowl those winter blues away and support a good cause at the same time! On Saturday, January 15th from 1-3 p.m., the Partnership will host a charity bowling event at Maplewood Lanes 3030 N. 101st St.

Enjoy an afternoon of friendly competition, raffle give-aways and player awards. Participants can pre-register as individuals or as teams of up to six for $20 per player . The cost covers two hours of bowling, shoe rental, pizza and soda.

To register, contact Latavia Adams at 557-6379 or email ladams@thepartnershipforourkids.org
* Lanes are limited so be sure to call and reserve your team’s spot right away!

The Partnership For Our Kids Restaurant Night At Julio’s West, Tuesday, February 8th, 5-10 p.m.

Eat tacos for the Partnership!?

On Tueday, February 8th from 5-10 p.m., The Partnership For Our Kids will host a restaurant night at Julio’s Tex Mex Grill, 2820 S 123rd Ct. Julio’s will donate 10 percent of the profits made that evening directly to The Partnership For Our Kids, so be sure to bring your appetite!

Julio’s is Omaha’s premier Tex Mex restaurant, serving more mouth-watering south of the border combinations than you can handle! For the gringos, Julio’s also serves a wide variety of burgers, sandwiches and soups.

For more information on The Partnership For Our Kids Restaurant Night, contact Nick or Yolanda at 930-3000 or email nsasada@thepartnershipforourkids.org and ywilliams@thepartnershipforourkids.org

President Obama Recognizes The Power of Mentoring

2011-01-06T09:04:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week, President Obama issued a proclamation deeming January as National Mentoring Month. This year marks the 10th anniversary of National Mentoring Month and according to Obama, the support and encouragement mentors provide for today’s youth is in demand now more than ever.

“Across our nation, mentors steer our youth through challenging times and support their journey into adulthood. During National Mentoring Month, we honor these important individuals who unlock the potential and nurture the talent of our country, and we encourage more Americans to reach out and mentor young people in community,” he stated.

The theme of the 2011 Mentor Month Campaign is “Help Them Get There. Become a Mentor.” The campaign’s primary focus is viewing mentoring as a strategy for improving academic achievement. As part of the campaign a National Mentoring Summit will be held on January 25th at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. The Summit’s purpose is to shine a light on how mentoring helps keep kids in school and out of trouble.

Locally, the Midlands Mentoring Partnership has many events and seminars planned for National Mentoring Month. Visit MMPOMAHA for more details.
*For more information about becoming a mentor with The Partnership For Our Kids, visit:VOLUNTEER.

Holiday Hearts Warm Winter Weather Blues

2010-12-15T14:06:00.000-08:00

The winter weather months have officially hit the Midwest and thanks to the holiday spirit of some volunteer elves, many Partnership students will be able to brave the cold temperatures without fear of frost bite.

Volunteer goal buddies from OPPD gave out more than cheer this month, providing homemade fleece scarves and goodie bags for all the students in their Belvedere classrooms. “The students were thrilled,” said Program Coordinator, Kris Morgan. “One boy expressed how excited his mom would be to see his new scarf,” she added.

Partnership volunteers from FirstComp also contributed to the giving spirit by doing a corporate-wide drive for winter apparel. More than 430 hats, gloves and scarves were collected and distributed to the students of Kellom Elementary. Earlier this year, FirstComp volunteers also organized a school clean-up day, donating plants and mulch and volunteers to landscape and beautify Kellom’s grounds.

Friday December 17th, volunteers from First National Merchants Association will run “Operation Elf”, a drive to collect toys and gifts for the students and families of Saratoga Elementary. If you wish to contribute to the cause, you may drop off donations at the school this Friday. Thanks to all those who are dedicated to aiding the students and families of the Partnership that are in need this season!

If you wish to make a donation directly to The Partnership, you can do so through our website, www.thepartnershipforourkids.org or by calling 402-930-3000.

Welcome Ramey and Cassie!

2010-12-09T06:21:00.000-08:00

The Partnership For Our Kids welcomes Ramey McNamara and Cassie Scheidies as the newest program specialists for the Partnership’s mentoring program.

Ramey McNamara will be working with the 6th and 7th grade students at Belvedere Academy, Miller Park Elementary and McMillan Middle School. She says she is most excited to be a part of her students’ lives from elementary school through their high school graduation. Cassie agrees, and adds that she is eager to see her students setting goals and working toward success. Cassie will be working primarily with middle school students at McMillan, Beveridge and Monroe Middle School.

When the ladies are not working, they are both active volunteers in the community. Cassie spends time working with her church and Ramey volunteers with Douglas County as a court appointed special advocate. In addition to volunteering, Ramey likes attending sporting events, movies and playing bingo. Cassie enjoys playing poker, hiking and taking walks with her dogs.
To find out more about Ramey and Cassie, visit the Partnership website's Team Members page

The Big Event Three-peat: Proudly Sharing the Spotlight!

2010-12-01T09:11:00.000-08:00

The results are in!

For the third year in a row, the Partnership’s vinNEBRASKA Wine Event was honored as Metro Magazine’s Best Food and Wine Event for 2010! The Partnership happily shares this award with Lutheran Family Services, whose special event, “Wicker and Wine, 2009”, tied for first place. The award announcements were made Tuesday night at Metro Magazine’s “Big Event”, held at Henry Doorly Zoo. This is the fourth annual presentation of “The Big Event Awards Celebration” and Metro Magazine’s twentieth year of existence.

In addition to receiving this award, All About Omaha was also nominated as a finalist in the category of Best Event Under 500 in Attendance for the 2010 Torchlight Ball, honoring the Partnership’s Winners Circle program. A special thanks to all who voted and to those who continue to support The Partnership For Our Kids in all of our ventures!

Partnership Volunteer In The News

2010-11-18T08:29:00.000-08:00

It is no secret that The Partnership For Our Kids has the best volunteers in Omaha, but it is always exciting to see when these amazing individuals are recognized for their many wonderful contributions to the community.

Last week, Bob Herrera, Winners Circle captain for Jackson Elementary, was honored as “Latino Partner of the Year” by the Heartland Latino Leadership Conference. Herrera has been assisting with organizing the conference since 2000. As an information services manager for Mutual of Omaha, his participation with the event has helped to track its evolution. Today the conference draws more than 500 participants, provides scholarships and offers an opportunity for Latino merchants to show their wares.

It’s not surprising that Herrera says his favorite part of being involved with the planning and implementation of the conference is witnessing the excitement of the students that attend. “The students come and get inspired; they leave more motivated,” he said.

The Partnership For Our Kids wishes to extend a special thanks to Captain Herrera for his commitment to the Winners Circle program and for his outstanding service to the entire Omaha community!

A Note of Thanks

2010-11-10T14:58:00.000-08:00

The Partnership For Our Kids is extremely thankful for our volunteers. Their commitment to the students enrolled in our programs is simply amazing. What is perhaps even more astounding is that these devoted volunteers take the time to express how much they love doing what they do. Below is one of the many notes of appreciation submitted by our volunteers:

I want to thank you for the opportunity of being a "Goal Buddy" at Belvedere! This is such a tremendous program and a priceless opportunity to be involved in the lives of the youth of Omaha.

When I left Belvedere yesterday, I spent a long time reflecting and being thankful. As a former teacher, especially as a former BELVEDERE teacher, my heart is touched by the commitment and hope that is exhibited by the Winners Circle program and the goal buddies. There is no greater gift than love and I saw this yesterday on the faces of the goal buddies, the staff, and especially on the sweet faces of the students.

I want to commend all of you on your work and dedication. Thank you, again, for allowing me to partner with you in making a difference in the lives of our Omaha youth!

Suzi Yokley-Busby-UNO, BBF Engagement and Attendance Initiative
Belvedere Goal Buddy

Being A Bookworm Pays Off!

2010-11-04T06:17:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the Omaha Public Library’s Summer Reading Program, 337 Winners Circle students spent their summers getting lost in exciting adventures, solving mysteries and flying away to fantasy-lands; all without even leaving the city. In addition to providing students with a great way to stay entertained, reading programs like the one sponsored by the Omaha Public Library are also helping to battle summer learning-loss, often referred to as the “summer slide.”

It is estimated that school summer breaks will cause the average student to lose up to one month of instruction, with disadvantaged students being disproportionately affected (Cooper, 1996). Researchers also conclude that two-thirds of the 9th grade reading achievement gap can be explained by unequal access to summer learning opportunities during the elementary school years, with nearly one-third of the gap present when children begin school (Alexander, Entwistle & Olsen, 2007).

Winners Circle students that participated in the Omaha Public Library reading program this summer, were rewarded for their efforts by having their name printed on the “Summer Reading Honor Roll” plaque and each student also received a brand new book to read. Summer readers were also recognized for their efforts at all first-quarter Winners Circle celebrations this month.

TD Ameritrade Helps Partnership Students Celebrate Fall

2010-10-28T15:09:00.000-07:00

Thanks to a generous sponsorship from TD Ameritrade employees, a group of 17 sixth-grade students in The Partnership For Our Kids mentoring program were able enjoy a cornucopia of autumn activities at Vala’s Pumpkin Patch, Monday, October 25th.

“My favorite part was the haunted house,” said Daniela, one of the students. “It was fun even though it wasn’t very haunted.” Along with spooky ruins, students explored a large corn maze, watched pumpkins being fired from a large cannon, jumped on inflatable ‘pillows’ and fed llamas, goats and camels. Four TD Ameritrade employees also joined the fall fun, assisting program staff members as additional chaperones for outing. “It was fun to hear the volunteers interact with the students,” Partnership Development Director Nicole Everingham said. “I also think we broke a few eardrums with the haunted house and the screaming,” she added. At the end of the evening, students roasted hot dogs over a campfire and ate s’mores, many of them for the first time.

More than 95% of the over 500 students in the Partnership’s mentoring program qualify for free and reduced lunch, an indicator that places these students near or below the federal poverty line. Students below the poverty line are six times more likely to drop out of school than their peers. The dropout rate in the Omaha Public School district is currently above 30%. By taking a targeted approach focusing on life skills, career exploration, graduation and college access, the mentoring program has worked with students for over 20 years, with more than 85% of students graduation and more than 90% of graduates going on to college or trade school.

The Partnership For Our kids is currently looking for 90 new mentors to work with teams of four students in a classroom setting twice a month between 3pm-5pm. Each meeting is facilitated by two staff members who plan lessons, provide student snacks and arrange student transportation. Other volunteers and their small groups are also present in the meetings. For more information on volunteering, visit www.thepartnershipforourkids.org.

Have You Become A Fan?

2010-10-28T06:15:00.000-07:00

Have you become a Facebook fan of The Partnership For Our Kids yet? We are so excited to have more than 200 Facebook fans and we want to keep the momentum going. To make things easier for our fans, beginning December 1, 2010, we will officially dissolve our individual program fan pages for All Our Kids and Winners Circle and will begin exclusively sharing all updates through our Partnership For Our Kids fan page.

If you haven’t taken a minute to ‘like’ us yet, now is your chance! Visit: www.facebook.com/PartnershipForOurKids and start receiving instant news and events updates. We are constantly posting student stories, pictures and videos posts so that you can be the first to know what we are up to. Fan page friends also receive notices of upcoming training opportunities, community events and much more. Join us today!

Dr. Chambers, Ak-Sar-Ben Court Difference-Maker!

2010-10-23T08:16:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to The Partnership For Our Kids Chairman of the Board, Dr. Ward Chambers for his recent induction into the Ak-Sar-Ben Court of Honor! Dr. Chambers was selected by the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation and the Women’s Ball Committee as one of three 2010 Ak-Sar-Ben Court of Honor Difference-Makers. Chambers was recognized for his lifetime achievements in the area of professions.

Known and respected for his exceptional work in cardiology, it might be surprising to learn that Chambers’ first career path was not medicine. His initial degree was in electrical engineering from the University of Missouri, Columbia and he worked for Collins Radio for a year before accepting a position as a physiology research assistant at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Chambers went on to earn his medical degree from UNMC , where he also did his internal residency. He then received his cardiology training at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and went on to practice cardiology at Bishop Clarkson Hospital and UNMC.

For the past eight years, Chambers has been spending much of his time in Afghanistan, where he is working to improve health care and medical training in the country’s two most premier medical schools; Kabul University Medical Center and Afghan National Army Medical Center.

In addition to his international work, Chambers also serves in a variety of local leadership positions including UNMC’s director of community outreach and multicultural affairs, active member of the Williams Prepared Place and Iowa Western Community College Foundation boards of directors and of course as the chairman of The Partnership For Our Kids board of directors.

Thank you Dr. Chambers for your service and dedication to your profession and for the difference you make in our community!

To read more about all of the 2010 Ak-Sar-Ben Court of Honor Difference-Makers, click here.

Get To Know Me – Movie and Lunch Event for Young Professionals

2010-10-14T07:03:00.000-07:00

Attention Young Professionals!

Looking for a great way to spend your lunch hour? Join The Partnership For Our Kids and Film Streams on Wednesday, November 17th, from 12 p.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Ruth Sokolof Theater, 1340 Mike Fahey Street (just around the corner from the new downtown ballpark).

Enjoy a free lunch and a short biographical film, featuring a day in the lives of two Partnership For Our Kids students. Guests will also have an opportunity to preview upcoming Film Streams trailers and learn more about volunteering with The Partnership For Our Kids.

All attendees must pre-register! Register online here email us at mentor@thepartnershipforourkids.org or call 402.930.3095.

Make it a group outing! Invite your friends to attend by sharing our event on Facebook.

Omaha, A City That Cares!

2010-10-07T07:02:00.000-07:00

With hundreds of non-profit organizations that are serving the local community and working to make the quality of life better for its citizens, it is no exaggeration to say that Omaha is a city that cares. It’s also no secret that it is the city’s volunteers that keep these compassionate service agencies up and running. What might be surprising to learn is that Omaha’s volunteers are as diverse in age, background and talents as the community in which they live.

This fall, Mutual of Omaha employees stepped outside their cubicles and teamed up with students of The Partnership For Our Kids as part of Mutual of Omaha’s Month of Caring initiative. "Corporate citizenship and volunteerism have great emphasis in Mutual's culture. We hope through this effort, employees will realize the win-win experience of volunteerism and remain an active volunteer in their communities," said Christine Johnson, president of the Mutual of Omaha Foundation.

Together, Partnership students and Mutual of Omaha volunteers worked to assemble care packages for local counseling and support agency, Heartland Family Service Children’s Emergency Shelter. This service project not only gave Mutual of Omaha volunteers an opportunity to help their community in a hands-on way, but it also gave them a chance to see that serving the community is something that is taken seriously by even Omaha’s youngest citizens.

For Mutual of Omaha volunteer, Aaron, participating in the service project with the Partnership students was an opportunity to gain a new perspective. “As adults we get caught up in our daily lives and tend to forget some of the things that are important,” he said.
Currently, The Partnership For Our Kids is still in need of 130 volunteers to serve as mentors and Goal Buddies. If you would like to find out how you can help, visit http://www.thepartnershipforourkids.org/volunteer.shtml or call 402-930-3000.

*To see video footage of “Kids Serving Kids” visit The Partnership For Our Kids YouTube channel.

Motivating Momentum

2010-09-29T06:28:00.000-07:00

The Partnership For Our Kids is dedicated to inspiring kids to achieve their dreams. A big part of this inspiration comes in the form of Winners Circle captains. Captains not only get the whole school excited about achieving goals, but also share their personal journeys to overcome challenges and achieve success.

Terrance Mackey, a new captain at Mount View Elementary, couldn’t be more excited to start motivating students. “I am looking forward to helping them achieve their goals and become more productive youth,” says Mackey. Growing up, Mackey had many role models that encouraged him and he feels that it is important to pass on that encouragement to someone else. Mackey was born and raised in North Omaha and spent much of his time at the North Omaha Boys Club. These days, Mackey has dedicated his life to helping local youth. In addition to being a Winners Circle captain, Mackey works for the Douglas County Youth Center and volunteers as head of the North Omaha Boys and Girls Club Football program.

To learn more about Winners Circle Captains, visit, http://www.thepartnershipforourkids.org/wccaptains.shtml

Have You Voted Yet?

2010-09-21T12:27:00.000-07:00

Have you voted for The Big Event? The Partnership For Our Kids has been nominated for Metro Magazine’s “The Big Event” contest and we need your votes! The Partnership’s programs have been selected for nomination as “Best Wine Event”-All Our Kids vinNEBRASKA Wine Event and “Best Under 500 Attendance”-All About Omaha Torchlight Ball benefitting Winners Circle Educational Program. To cast your vote, simply click on the link: https://www.spiritofomaha.com/Metro-Magazine/The-Big-Event-2010-Ballot/ and fill out the ballot.

As a special bonus the first 1,000 online voters receive a free six-month subscription to Metro Magazine, and all voters are automatically registered to win two tickets to the exclusive 2011 “Charity of Choice” Event. Voting end September 30th, so don’t miss out on this great opportunity to help the Partnership and win great prizes!

The New Face of The PFOK

2010-09-16T08:27:00.000-07:00

Meet the new faces of The Partnership For Our Kids! These three multi-talented ladies are wonderful additions to the staff and we are so excited to have them joining us. Welcome aboard, ladies!

Yolanda Williams is the newest Program Coordinator for the Winners Circle team and she will be working with the staff and students of Howard Kennedy, Fontenelle and King Elementary Schools. Outside of work, she is extremely involved in the arts as a multi-media artist. Some of her favorite mediums are oil and acrylic paint, screen printing, ceramics and sculpture. She also enjoys performing arts and is a talented singer, dancer and rapper. In addition to her talents as an artist, Yolanda is a great mom to her three children, Keired, Rachaun and Brianni.

Oanh Heiser officially joined the Partneship’s recruitment team this week and will primarily be working to recruit Goal Buddy volunteers for the Winners Circle program. A self-proclaimed adventure seeker, and social butterfly, Oanh loves to travel, hang out with friends and learn new things. Her life’s aspiration is to be an old soul, and still be young at heart.

Also joining the Partnership’s ranks this week is Laura Cady. Laura will be working as a Bilingual Program Specialist for the All Our Kids South Omaha Pilot Project. Laura is excited to serve as a positive influence in the lives of her students and especially loves the many opportunities they are given as participants in the Partnership’s programs. “Being a part of an organization that gives at-risk kids the opportunity to attend and do well in college is amazing,” she says. Before joining the Partnership, Laura spent time studying, living and working abroad in both Spain and Costa Rica. In her spare time she loves to cook, travel, and spend time with family and friends.

*To learn more about Yolanda, Oanh,Laura, and the rest of the Partnership team, visit:

The Partnership For Our Kids Extreme Web Make-Over

2010-09-10T06:55:00.000-07:00

The official Partnership For Our Kids website received an extreme make-over this summer and we are thrilled to finally show it off! The site not only has a fresh new look, but also has many exciting new features.

Two of the most useful elements of the newly made-over site are the Frequently Asked Questions section, which contains the answers to dozens of the most commonly asked questions our staff receives, and the Partnership calendar, which showcases pertinent information for future volunteer/student event. The calendar events can also be filtered by agency program, depending an individual’s particular interest.

The new site also incorporates pages for each of the Partnership’s programs, Winners Circle and All Our Kids. Both program pages include information on historical background, opportunities available, and resources for teachers, parents and volunteers. In addition, potential volunteers and donors can apply or contribute securely online with just a few clicks of their mouse.

Some of the most fun aspects of the site can be found in the multi-media section, which allows visitors to view program video shorts, flip through a virtual photo scrapbook and link to the agency’s Facebook page, which contains even more updated news and pictures!

For even more Partnership information and updates, sign-up for our quarterly e-newsletter, http://www.partnershipforourkids.org/newsletter.shtml

For Immediate Release: Local Child Service Program Seeks 200 Volunteers to Aid Omaha's At-Risk Youth

2010-09-08T08:06:00.000-07:00

September 8, 2010

Contact: Jessica Warren
The Partnership for Our Kids
402-557-6392
jwarren@allourkids.org

September 2010, OMAHA, Neb. — The Partnership For Our Kids, a local organization serving more than 4,500 disadvantaged Omaha youth, is in need of 200 additional volunteers to serve as mentors and Goal Buddies during the 2010-2011 school year. “Our students are living in a poor economic climate that has been hit even harder in recent years, putting student’s futures at risk unless we get the volunteers needed to serve as positive role models,” said Partnership For Our Kids Recruitment Specialist, Phil Jarrett. “What makes The Partnership For Our Kids programs so special is the targeted focus on improving student performance through personal interaction with our volunteers.” Last year 93 percent of the organization’s elementary school participants met their academic goals and 83 percent of the Partnership’s graduating class is now enrolled in college or trade school, which Jarrett said is proof that the efforts made by Partnership volunteers are making a difference.
The two major volunteer opportunities offered by the Partnership include becoming a Goal Buddy for the Partnership’s Winners Circle program or becoming a group mentor for the All Our Kids mentoring program. Goal Buddies, visit elementary classrooms twice a quarter, providing students with extra support and encouraging them to achieve academic and life skill goals. Volunteers choosing to become group mentors meet with sixth through twelfth grade students, after school in a classroom, which is facilitated by a trained program staff member. Volunteer time commitments range from 2-4 hours a month and all volunteers are asked to participate in the program for a minimum of one year. “Free time might be an expense many cannot afford these days, but what little we have should be invested wisely. We encourage any potential volunteer to come see what our program does and how bright our student’s futures can be with their help,” said Jarrett. Community members who would like to learn more about becoming a volunteer for The Partnership For Our Kids should call 402-557-3095 or visit, www.thepartnershipforourkids.org.

The Partnership For Our Kids was formed in 2007 when two established Omaha youth serving organizations, Winners Circle and All Our Kids joined forces to help more disadvantaged students have a brighter future. All Our Kids was created in 1989 as a pilot mentoring program consisting of 20 seventh graders at McMillan Middle School and mentors from the business community. Winners Circle began as an “Adopt-a-School” relationship between Tire’s Inc. and Belvedere Academy in 1993 and grew into a goal-setting program in 1996. Today, the Partnership serves over 4,500 students in 22 Omaha Public Schools.

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For more information on The Partnership For Our Kids or to schedule an interview, call 402-930-3002, or visit our new website at: www.thepartnershipforourkids.org

The Partnership For Our Kids Works To Improve Unsatisfactory Statistics

2010-09-01T09:40:00.000-07:00

A study about high school graduation rates of black males has been getting a lot of attention lately. The report by Schott Foundation for Public Education states only 47% of all black male high school students are graduating on time. Reasons given for these low graduation rates are poor classroom experiences, lack of resources and lack of positive role models. Luckily, with the help of programs like those offered by The Partnership For Our Kids, students are being given more opportunities to prove these disappointing statistical statements false.

“What makes The Partnership For Our Kids programs so special is the targeted focus on improving student performance through personal interaction with our volunteers,” says Partnership Recruitment Specialist, Phil Jarrett. Partnership staff and volunteers provide student participants with academic support, goal setting skills, career exploration and college access. Currently, 85 percent of Partnership students are graduating from high school and of that percentage, 90 percent go on to pursue college or trade school. In a 2010 survey of The Partnership’s Winners Circle program students, 71 percent feel they are more successful because of the program.

Sadly, with a national economic downturn, being able to provide the volunteers needed to help Partnership programs run effectively has become more challenging. Currently the Partnership is looking to recruit 200 more volunteers to serve as Goal Buddies and mentors. “Free time might be an expense many cannot afford these days, but what little we have should be invested wisely. We encourage any potential volunteer to come see what our program does and how bright our student’s futures can be with their help,” says Jarrett.

Community members who would like to learn more about becoming a volunteer for The Partnership For Our Kids should call 402-557-3095 or visit, www.thepartnershipforourkids.org

Winners Circle Welcomes New Captains

2010-08-26T07:28:00.000-07:00

The school year has officially started and The Partnership For Our Kids is pleased to announce that we have four fabulous new Winners Circle Captains joining our amazing team of volunteers!

Mark Jimenez
Mark Jimenez, a former Winners Circle Goal Buddy, has accepted the role of Co-Captain at Kellom Elementary. Jimenez truly enjoys volunteering for an organization dedicated to the success of children. “I like the fact that Winners Circle works to encourage and support younger children in setting and pursuing goals in and outside of the classroom.”

In his professional life, Jimenez has been in banking for the past 12 years and for the last five, he has served as a branch manager for Great Western Bank . As a child, Jimenez spent time on the island of St. Vincent and the Dominican Republic, where his parents were missionaries. “I've been blessed by more people than I could mention, who have encouraged or mentored me,” he says. “This is my opportunity to give back to our young people at an age when they need encouragement and support the most.”

Cameron Lind

Another former Goal Buddy, Cameron Lind, has taken the position of Captain at Field Club Elementary and has great respect for all of his fellow Winners Circle volunteers. “They volunteer because they sincerely want to make a difference in the lives of the kids,” he says. Of course, Lind’s favorite part of Winners Circle is the students and he takes particular pleasure in helping them celebrate their successes. “There are very few things in life more satisfying than the smile of a child, and we see those smiles when they share with us their success in reaching their goals.”

Professionally, Lind works as a Talent Management Specialist at Omaha Public Power District. A teacher to the core, Lind has held a variety of professional positions which have allowed him to utilize his unique skills, including director of youth programs at the American Lung Association, teaching positions through Omaha Public Schools, Iowa Western and Metropolitan Community Colleges, and diversity/leadership training with First Data Corporation. Lind has a lot of talent as an actor and has appeared in numerous community theater productions and over 50 local and national commercials and training films.

Maria Valentin

Maria Valentin is brand new to the Partnership and is serving as a Winners Circle Captain at Jackson Elementary. Valentin loves that Winners Circle allows her to be a positive influence in the lives of Omaha youth. “It creates an opportunity for me to motivate and empower students so they can see themselves living a successful life.

When Valentin isn’t volunteering with Winners Circle, she works in the ConAgra Foods Corporate Community Affairs Department. Valentin has more than 18 years of experience in community relations, management and volunteerism and is eager to share her professional experiences with Winners Circle students.

Ronald Jefferson
Ronald Jefferson Jr. will be serving as a Winners Circle Captain at Field Club Elementary and is excited for his new role with the program.

Growing up, Jefferson attended school in the OPS district and obtained his Bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Jefferson currently works at Omaha Public Power District as a programmer, assisting in maintaining and creating enterprise systems. Jefferson is active in his church, serving as the band leader at Ambassador’s Worship Center and was recently married this past June. Jefferson says he is eager to be able to encourage, support, and reward the accomplishments of Omaha youth and is proud to be a part of the Winners Circle program.

Raising The Bar

2010-08-18T06:51:00.001-07:00

Each school year students and staff of The Partnership For Our Kids work to achieve bigger and better goals and the 2010-2011 academic year will be no different. This fall, All Our Kids will be raising the student GPA requirement from a 2.0 to a 2.5. “It has been something that we have discussed for a while now, and after seeing that our students were able to consistently average over a 2.5 GPA, we felt it was appropriate to raise our bar to better prepare them for success,” explains All Our Kids Program Director, Phillip Burrell. Burrell says he believes this new benchmark will really help students to make an easier transition into college.

Program staff members are confident that this new challenge will be well received by the students. “Although it will take a little extra effort on the students’ part, I think they realize the work and discipline they are putting in now will put them in a better position to succeed in the future,” says Burrell. He goes on to explain that in the event that a student is not able to meet the new requirement, an action plan for success has already been put in place. “A student that does not reach this benchmark will be put on academic probation. While on probation, students are visited at school by their program specialist and a plan is set up to improve the student’s grades,” he says.

Burrell says that the current program requirements for school and meeting attendance will remain the same in the 2010-2011 school year, but he doesn’t rule out a change in the future. “We are always looking to raise the bar as our students achieve and surpass the benchmarks of our program.”

Partnership Student Receives Ak-Sar-Ben/Horatio Alger Scholarship Award

2010-08-11T11:58:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Partnership high school graduate, Ceci Menjivar, for receiving the 2010 Ak-Sar-Ben/Horatio Alger Scholarship Award. Ceci is one of only 50 local students selected to receive this prestigious award. The mission of the Horatio Alger Association is “to provide scholarship assistance to deserving young people who have demonstrated integrity and determination in overcoming adversity in their lives and who have shown the academic potential and personal aspiration to make a unique contribution to society.”

Ceci exemplifies this mission in every aspect of her life. As a child, Ceci and her parents immigrated to the United States from war-torn El Salvador. After arriving in the U.S., Ceci ambitiously learned fluent English in an astonishingly short amount of time. With that same sense of determination, Ceci graduated from Bryan High School this past spring with an impressive 4.55 GPA and the distinction of senior class vice president.

This fall, Ceci will attend Creighton University, where she will study business administration. Ceci says she not only plans to obtain her Bachelor’s degree, but will acquire her Master’s degree as well. After completing her education, Ceci intends to give back to her community and especially to those who have helped her in achieving her success so far.

We are so proud of you Ceci and we look forward to the amazing things you will accomplish in the future!

Today's Lesson: Goal Setting

2010-08-04T07:21:00.000-07:00

It’s back to school for Winners Circle teachers and the lesson of the day is goal-setting! More than 250 teachers will take part in the goal setting review sessions that Winners Circle staff has begun hosting this week. “Obviously teachers already know how to write goals as part of their professional training,” says Goal Development Coordinator, Sue Lipsey. “Our trainings cover the standards Winners Circle requires.” These requirements include ensuring that the goal is appropriate for the student, that there is a means of measuring the goal, the goal is understandable for the student, parent and Goal Buddy and the goal is individualized based on student ability.
Trainings not only serve as a Winners Circle refresher course for classroom teachers, but have actually improved program effectiveness. “ Interestingly enough, the schools that have allotted the most time for Winners Circle training are the schools with the strongest goals for students, when considering both measurement and individualization,” says Lipsey.

In addition, the Winners Circle trainings provide another method of strengthening the relationships between Winners Circle program staff and classroom teachers, allowing the teachers an open forum to ask questions and discuss the program. “Training is also a communications method for the Winners Circle staff to announce updates and promote goal-setting as a means of teaching students the skill of self-management,” adds Lipsey.

New this year, each training session will be tailored to every individual school based on that school’s biggest need. “If a school has had a number of goals written without including measurements, the training might focus on writing strong measurements for goals,” Lipsey explains. Lipsey adds that this is crucial because of the connections between the skill of goal setting and academic success of students. According to The 2009 Gallup Student Poll, goal setting instills hope in students and as measured by Gallup, hope is a stronger indicator of academic success than traditional measures of standardized tests.

Winners Circle training sessions will continue through the week of August 15th. If you would like more information on the Winners Circle training schedule call 557-6380 or email slipsey@winners-circle.org

Fun With Finances

2010-07-30T06:14:00.000-07:00

They say “A penny saved is a penny earned,” and earlier this month the Partnership tenth graders put this old adage to practice. Students learned basic money management skills during a three day financial workshop hosted by the UNO student group, Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization, (CEO). CEO utilized a unique board game, which walked the students through many basic financial exercises. “Students had to simulate working for a paycheck, paying bills, balancing a checkbook and purchasing businesses, stocks and real estate,” explains Program Specialist, Amanda Burton.

The group had an opportunity to hear UNO college students speak about their experiences with preparing financially for college and also had a chance to listen to Union Pacific’s Chief Financial Officer, Robert Knight, talk about what it takes to manage finances for a large corporation. “This group will soon be joining the workforce and are also preparing for college. They need to be aware of these kinds of financial responsibilities,” says Burton.

The students seemed receptive to all of the financial tips and advice they were given. Adan, a Central High School tenth-grader, is now planning to open a savings account so that he can start putting away money for college. Adan says taking part in this workshop has helped him to be more conscious of what he chooses to spend his money on. “You have to always think ahead and plan how you are going to use it,” he says. Now that’s advice you can take to the bank!

MeLitta Wilson, In a Class Of Her Own

2010-07-22T06:34:00.000-07:00

“Do as much as you can, even if you don’t “feel” like it,” advises All Our Kids alum, MeLitta Wilson. At the young age of 23, she has accomplished quite a lot, and according to Wilson, she has only just begun. Armed with an undergraduate degree in elementary education and a Master’s degree focusing on literacy, Wilson is making strides to implement her own writing program for students. “I hope to really grow the program locally, statewide and who knows after that,” she says.

As a dedicated teacher, she works to inspire others to join in her passion for helping more kids. “I absolutely adore my job,” says Wilson. “I am not saying that it is easy by any means, but it is one of the most internally satisfying things I have ever done.” She credits All Our Kids for a lot of what she has achieved. “I am very appreciative because the program has opened many doors and it continues to contribute to my success,” she says.

In 2001, Wilson joined The Partnership’s All Our Kids program as a seventh grader at McMillan Middle School. Since that time, Wilson has stayed connected to the program as a scholarship recipient, a tutor, a volunteer and a walking testament to what youth organizations like the Partnership can do for kids. “All Our Kids has allowed me to be MeLitta,” she says. “Knowing who I am and what my aspirations are makes life enjoyable. I owe much of that internal satisfaction to All Our Kids.”

Wilson will return to school in the fall as a third grade teacher at Walnut Hill Elementary. In addition to teaching, Wilson says she will continue to tutor and also plans to become a mentor for the All Our Kids program. Eventually she would like to work in educational administration. She says she will continue working towards her goal and encourages others to do the same. “Find something you love and make it happen,” Wilson says. “Its not always easy, but it is worth it. You owe it to yourself and your future.”

A Day In The Life Of An All Our Kids Program Specialist

2010-07-15T06:21:00.000-07:00

While most of the 8a.m.-5p.m. working world is day-dreaming about escaping from the copy-machine and computer screen to spend a little time outside this summer, All Our Kids Program Specialists are running off to exciting field trips at the Zoo, museums,and the Humane Society. It is fair to say that most of us might be a little jealous of such a luxury. Who wouldn’t prefer ice-cream and a trip to the museum over a day at the office?

Although any Program Specialist will admit that summer outings are a major perk, they will also say that field trips are only a small part of the job. “Preparation for meetings is very important,” says All Our Kids Program Specialist, Ronna Fritz. “We are also busy going to other Program Specialists’ meetings and assisting with transportation almost every day we are not leading a meeting,” she continues. In addition to the preparation for each student meeting , there is also the dreaded post-meeting paperwork. “Filing and data entry are constants after a meeting.” Fritz adds.

Perhaps the most important aspect of the Program Specialist position is connecting with the students. “Planning and facilitating quality meetings and outings that engage, inspire and educate our students is the biggest of our responsibilities,” says Specialist, Nick Sasada. “Really our day is directed by asking ourselves, what can we accomplish to support our students in their academic and life skills goals.” For those students who struggle academically, the Program Specialists provide them with Intensive Case Management. “We meet with the student on a weekly basis to help them create a personalized plan to reach their goals.” Sasada says.

Most Program Specialists will say that the students are why they choose to do what they do. “Watching as a student sets their own goal and then achieves this goal is the most rewarding part of the job,” Sasada says. Fritz agrees, “The kiddos for sure! Seeing them achieve is why I’m here.”

Summer Service

2010-07-08T09:29:00.000-07:00

Throughout the entire school year students everywhere count down the days until the most coveted time of year arrives-SUMMER! However, by this point in the season the novelty of no homework and spending all day at the pool is wearing a little thin and kids all over the city are sighing the same two words, “I’m bored!” The staff and students of The Partnership For Our Kids are vanquishing these sighs of monotony and replacing them with shovels and sacks of service!

In early June, middle school students in the Partnership’s All Our Kids program brightened up the entrance to the Salvation Army North Corp with some sturdy shrubs. “It was great to see the kids working so hard,” says All Our Kids Program Specialist, Ronna Fritz. “They were very proud of their work and never complained once!”

Program Specialist, Christina Penka believes these projects not only make a difference in the community, but also help to give the student participants a feeling of purpose. “Often we hear from the students that they do not feel as if the community values them or provides them with useful roles,” she explains. This summer Penka and a group of sixth grade students are assisting the staff and students at Kellom Elementary in the cultivation of a school-wide garden. Kellom Elementary Principal, Eric Nelson is grateful for the help and hopes that the garden will touch the whole neighborhood. “If the students begin to appreciate the outdoors, hopefully they will discuss this with their families and friends, therefore, bringing about a healthier community,” he says.

Late last month, Partnership middle school students took their service projects one step further by helping Heart Ministries with a mobile pantry. Students assisted in packing more than 300 bags of food that are given away to area families in need. Fritz explains that many of the students who helped with these summer service projects have experienced being on the receiving end of service and were so excited to have the opportunity to give back. “At the end of the day you could see such pride in their eyes,” says Fritz.

Check back for more updates on summer student projects coming soon!

Fourth Of July Fun!

2010-06-29T14:01:00.000-07:00

Looking for some free 4th of July fireworks entertainment? Below is a list of the brightest and best displays happening around the Omaha metro this weekend:

FRIDAY EVENTS (JULY 2, 2010)
Omaha Royals Baseball Club (Omaha, Nebraska)
Rosenblatt Stadium, 1202 Bert Murphy Avenue
Fireworks at 10:00PM

Memorial Park (Omaha, Nebraska)
A free concert will be held, sponsored by the Bank of the West, and will include musical entertainment from Foreigner, Styx and Kansas on stage. Music will start at 6:00pm with the fireworks display kicking off at 10:00pm after the music.
Fireworks at 10:00PM

SATURDAY EVENTS (JULY 3rd, 2010)
Straley Family c/o Bob Newell (Springfield, Nebraska)
Field near 112th and Buffalo Road
Fireworks at 9:00PM

Big Sandy Homeowners (Ashland, Nebraska)
SE Corner Lake
Fireworks at 10:00PM

Jim Howe (Beaver Lake, Nebraska)
Beaver Lake Area, 1214 Murphy Pt
Fireworks at 10:00PM

World Baseball Village (Bellevue, Nebraska)
World Baseball Village
Fireworks at 10:00PM

Stonebridge Christian Church (Omaha, Nebraska)
15801 Butler Avenue in Omaha, Nebraska Evening festivities begin at 5:00 p.m. and include inflatables, live musical entertainments, games. All activities are free.
Fireworks at 10:00 p.m.

Omaha Royals Baseball Club (Omaha, Nebraska)
Rosenblatt Stadium
Fireworks at 10:00 p.m.

SUNDAY EVENTS (JULY 4, 2010)
City of Ralston (Ralston, Nebraska)
Old Lakeview Golf Course
Lots of Independence Day events, including a parade, food, and tons of family fun! An Omaha favorite!
Fireworks at 10:00 p.m.

Willow Point Homeowners Association (Ashland, Nebraska)
Island Middle of Lake—Willow Point
Fireworks at 10:00 p.m.

Village of Boystown (Omaha, Nebraska)
13600 Farm Road
Fireworks at 10:00 p.m.

Tiburon Golf Course (Gretna, Nebraska)
Tiburon Golf Course
Fireworks at 10:00 p.m.

MONDAY EVENTS (JULY 5th, 2010) Midtown Neighborhood Alliance (Omaha, Nebraska)
Field Club Golf Course at 35th Street and Woolworth Avenue, fun family event including a parade! Fireworks at 10:00 p.m.

Thank You Greenstreet Cycles!

2010-06-29T11:09:00.000-07:00

Thanks to a generous donation of youth-sized bikes worth $2,400 from Greenstreet Cycles, six All Our Kids Mentoring Program students and their families will have shiny new bikes to ride this summer. “I called hoping for a small donation of a helmet, but they really went beyond our wildest dreams,” said All Our Kids Program Specialist, Christina Penka.

The Greenstreet Bikes were given away as part of a parent-involvement incentive program and were awarded to the families of All Our Kids students who have maintained a G.P.A of 3.0 or higher and who had a parent attend all parent-teacher conferences for the school year. “It really takes the involvement of the whole family in order for these students to be truly successful and we just want to recognize these families’ efforts in helping their students to succeed,” said Penka.

Greenstreet Cycles staff personally presented the bikes to the students and their families during the All Our Kids Family Summer Picnic, which took place June 25th at the Cooper Memorial Farm Picnic Pavilion, 8602 Mormon Bridge Rd.

Greenstreet Owner, Ben Swan, hopes that in addition to rewarding academic performance and parent involvement, the donated bikes will also encourage the students and their families to live more active lifestyles. “Greenstreet is dedicated to putting everyone on a bike and making cycling safer for the Omaha community. Working with All Our Kids and outfitting deserving youth with bikes is a privilege,” Swan said.

For more information about Greenstreet Cycles, contact Ben Swan at 402-505-8002 or email ben@greenstreet cycles.com. If you would like to volunteer or make a donation to The Partnership For Our Kids, call 402-930-3000 or visit www.thepartnershipforourkids.org

We Want You!

2010-06-29T09:03:00.000-07:00

Statistics are common-place in the game of baseball and as home to the Omaha Royals and the College World Series for the past 60 years, Omaha’s Rosenblatt Stadium has flashed countless player stats on the score board. However, one set of Omaha statistics that has never been displayed on the stadium screen is perhaps the most shocking. “ There are enough Omaha children living in poverty to completely fill every seat in Rosenblatt Stadium and still have a line of 1,000 more stretching outside the front gate,” says Partnership Recruitment Specialist, Phil Jarrett. Phil goes on to say that these kids are six times more likely than their peers to drop out of school.

While this data is alarming, The Partnership For Our Kids is working to help more of these students to stay on track and beat the odds. “Our organization has the tools and support to keep these kids in school, but we can’t do it without help,” Jarrett says. As many non-profit organizations do, the Partnership relies on the help of community volunteers to keep its programs running smoothly. “Unfortunately, the recession has really taken a toll on the number of hours people are willing to volunteer,” says Jarrett. The Partnership is currently looking to fill volunteer spots for 30 Winners Circle goal buddies and 100 All Our Kids group mentors by the start of school this August.

In order to meet this goal, the Partnership needs your help! If you are 21 or older and would like to make a difference in the lives of Omaha youth, call 402-930-3095 or email mentor@allourkids.org to see how you can join The Partnership For Our Kids as a volunteer.