Omaha, Neb. – (June 7, 2010) Mutual of Omaha’s The Mutual of Omaha Foundation has announced nearly $280,000 in grants for the second quarter of 2010. The grants will assist twelve non-profit organizations in addressing critical issues that families in Omaha and surrounding communities face.
"The Mutual of Omaha Foundation gives priority to fund programs that address specific issues we have identified as obstacles for those looking to make positive change. We hope that through the Foundation's support, families will be connected to the resources they need to achieve and maintain a higher quality of life," said Christine Johnson, president of the Mutual of Omaha Foundation.
These critical issues include: behavioral health, youth violence, domestic abuse, childhood obesity, early childhood education, preparedness for graduation, literacy/language, financial literacy, food and shelter.
As an example of the Foundation's second quarter funding, Johnson highlighted a $50,000 grant to the Hope Center to be used for its Higher Learning Academy, which addresses the critical issue of preparedness for graduation
According to Ty Schenzel, executive director of the Hope Center, the program empowers at-risk youth to succeed academically through disciplined study, ACT preparation and college visits. Eight-five percent of the youth they serve are at or below the poverty level and 82 percent perform below grade level.
"The support of the Mutual of Omaha Foundation allows the Hope Center to change these statistics," Schenzel said. "Last year 92 percent of the youth at the Hope Center graduated high school and 69 percent went on to college. Thanks to the Mutual of Omaha Foundation, we are transforming the lives of the youth we serve and preparing them to be the future scholars and leaders of our community." Schenzel said.
In addition to Hope Center, the Mutual of Omaha Foundation provided funding in the first quarter to the following organizations:
| Organization | Amount | Project/Program |
|---|---|---|
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands | $10,000 | Community-Based Mentoring |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands | $25,000 | General Operating Support |
| Boy Scouts | $10,000 | 2010 Friends of Scouting Fitness Initiative and Career Exploring |
| Brookside Church | $9,000 | Matching grant for the Royal Family Kids' Camp and Mentoring Program for Abused Children and Teens |
| Camp Fire USA | $25,000 | General Operating Support |
| Girls Incorporated in Omaha | $25,000 | GirlSTART: Literacy Programming |
| Goodwill Industries | $50,000 | YouthBuild Program |
| St. Augustine Indian Mission School | $20,000 | Sponsor-a-Child Program |
| Together Inc of Metropolitan Omaha | $20,000 | General Support for Families in Need |
| United Methodist Ministries | $5,000 | Big Garden Project |
| Youth Emergency Services | $20,000 | Matching Grant for their Maternity Group Home and Transitional Living Program |
This list along with descriptions of each project can be found on the Foundation's Web site at www.mutualofomahafoundation.org.
Requests for applications for the fourthquarter of 2010 will be accepted online through Aug. 15. The application deadline for the third quarter has passed. To apply for funding or for more information, including and explanation of each critical issue and funding requirements, organizations may visit the Foundation's Web site.
The Mutual of Omaha Foundation was established in 2005 to continue the company's longstanding tradition of supporting efforts that impact individuals and families throughout the community.
Mutual of Omaha is a full-service, multi-line organization providing insurance and financial services products for individuals, businesses and groups throughout the United States. For more information about Mutual of Omaha, visit www.mutualofomaha.com.
