#GivingEveryTuesday: Health & Wellness
Each Tuesday, SHARE Omaha features a unique cause theme for #GivingEveryTuesday and encourages our community to give and support in any way we can! This week's #GivingEveryTuesday theme is Health and Wellness. Help improve local health and wellness with a gift to the nonprofits of your choice today!
DEAR Diabetes
Lorie Lewis of DEAR Diabetes shares, "More than 10% of individuals in our community have diabetes and shockingly, many are pre-diabetic and are unaware of the long-term effects of diabetes. The cost to individuals, families, and society as a whole, continues to skyrocket, not just financially, but also emotionally. The average annual medical cost for someone with diabetes is $12,000 or nearly two and half times that of others without diabetes."
DEAR Diabetes is providing educational events, awareness, and grants. Through collaboration with others, they are helping to improve the quality of life for those with diabetes.
"The most important thing we can use, like most start up nonprofits, is funding to help raise awareness to a broader audience and to provide grants to those who are struggling," says Lorie.
Omaha Sports Commission
Emily Winckler of the Omaha Sports Commission (OSC) shares, "OSC believes it is important to donate to nonprofits that improve health and wellness because we assist in providing a great place to live and work. Health and wellness nonprofits aid in quality of life and longevity."
Omaha Sports Commission draws sporting events from across the world into our community, and these events become both a driver for economic impact in the community and also fun events to participate or spectate for. They have also expanded their events to host events that are meant just for the community to make the Omaha metro a more fun place to live and work. With every event that they support, they strive to make it an event that your whole family can enjoy, as well as make them economically friendly to attend.
"Nonprofits always need donations and OSC depends on those to continue in our mission, but our biggest need for most of our events is willing and energetic people who want to come volunteer at these once-in-a-lifetime events," says Emily.
Donate to Omaha Sports Commission
Lifestyle Health Alliance
Ken Beckman of the Lifestyle Health Alliance shares, "Without health, it is difficult to concentrate on anything else and much time is spent worrying about the next doctor appointment, potential side effects from certain medications or the worsening of a present condition."
Lifestyle Health Alliance is providing valuable information and programming that no other local organization offers. They bring world-class physicians, researchers and others to speak to the public on "the hopeful message that chronic health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, obesity, autoimmune conditions can be prevented, treated, and often reversed without drugs, surgery, or any negative side effects." They have had many individuals comment how important this message is and how they have personally improved their health.
"The one thing we need from the community is for individuals who are already familiar with our organization to tell their friends, neighbors, and colleagues about our programs and invite them to attend so that others may have the opportunity to benefit from the information provided," says Ken.
Donate to Lifestyle Health Alliance
Victory Boxing Club & Community Center
Servando of Victory Boxing Club & Community Center (VBCCC) shares, "It is important to donate to nonprofits that improve health and wellness because it helps out youth with their physical and mental health which leads to a healthier lifestyle."
VBCCC is making the metro a better place by keeping youth out of trouble and off the streets of Omaha.
"Like all nonprofits, funding and volunteers to keep our program running," says Servando.
Donate to Victor Boxing Club & Community Center
First Responders Foundation
Nicole Bonifas of First Responders Foundation shares, "Health and wellness are crucial components to living your best life. Nonprofits that promote health and wellness are contributing to the greater good of making our world a healthier place. Specifically, the First Responders Foundation believes that health and wellness should be a multifaceted approach that addresses the whole person. We offer programs such as jiu-jitsu and yoga to improve physical health. We have clinicians on staff that are licensed mental health practitioners, as well as offering support groups for first responders. We also partner with local spiritual organizations to help people connect with a faith leader or organization if they choose."
The First Responders Foundation is always looking for ways to improve the health and wellness of our community, including for first responders, veterans, and their families. In addition to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu® adult classes held at the Omaha headquarters, they also offer Women Empowered® Classes, that address ways in which women are commonly attacked. They hold Gracie Bullyproof® classes, that help kids learn to set healthy boundaries and defend themselves physically if necessary. Their physical health director is trained in Gracie Survival Tactics, a cutting edge program for police officers to learn to verbally and physically deescalate while humanly prevailing resistant and/or aggressive subjects. "We are the only nonprofit we know of with this distinction. We place an emphasis on programs that the community needs and ways in which to bring first responders and civilians together in shared camaraderie and health."
"The First Responders Foundation operates on grants and donations from our community, as well as the work of our employees and volunteers. We hold several large events throughout the year including Guns & Hoses Hockey and 9/11 Luncheon of Honor. Sponsoring these events, following our social media, donating monetarily and getting the word out about what we do means the world to us and the first responders we serve," says Nicole.
Donate to First Responders Foundation
City Sprouts
Emily Ramelb of City Sprouts shares, "Access to healthy local foods is a basic human right. For many communities, and within our own, this information can be difficult to access and/or understand. Nonprofits (like City Sprouts) working in public health and food systems help connect the community to information and resources, and assist in educating folks on best practices to become more sustainable and self-sufficient."
City Sprouts helps provide collective knowledge and transferable skills so folks may grow their own food, regardless of the amount of growing space available. The ability to grow or source nutritious, whole foods helps individuals lead healthier lifestyles and feel empowered to make educated decisions for themselves and their community.
"City Sprouts is ever-grateful for the community support and love we receive! Folks can engage by attending a City Sprouts class or community event, volunteering their time, or giving a gift to help support our efforts! We want to learn more about you and why you support food equity," says Emily.
Mode Shift Omaha
Avery Wallace of Mode Shift Omaha shares, "Nonprofits that promote health and wellness improve the quality of life in our community. Everyone in the metro can benefit from active residents, safer sidewalks, and cleaner air."
Mode Shift Omaha encourages, empowers, and enables our community to confidently utilize multimodal transportation including walking, biking, running, and busing to move about the city. These options help individuals get out of their cars, and into more dynamic ways to move about the city.
Mode Shift is asking for "a willingness and curiosity to 'mode shift', utilizing a variety of transportation methods and encouraging our community to support infrastructure that can maximize options for movement," says Avery.
QLI
Julia Bailey of QLI shares, "A thriving community requires a stable foundation of healthy people. Omaha has always had a strong medical community, but all providers have been and continue to be challenged by catastrophic events in recent years. In order to keep Omaha healthy and thriving, nonprofits who are effectively impacting the health of our community need your support."
QLI is a nationally recognized healthcare provider serving individuals with uniquely complex injuries from all over the country. In addition to their healthcare services and economic contributions, they are supporting Omaha as a fantastic employer and through their healthcare-specific workforce development efforts.
"To maximize our clients’ opportunity in their recovery journey, QLI allocates approximately $1.5million annually in scholarships for those whose insurance coverage has depleted. Consequently, our greatest need from our community is financial support. This crucial support significantly enhances the lives of the individuals QLI serves," says Julia.
MilkWorks
Holly Principe of MilkWorks shares, “It is so important to invest in nonprofits that are supporting the health of our community as a whole. When mothers and babies are healthy and happy, so is the rest of our community.”
MilkWorks supports our community by ensuring that all families get the lactation support and education needed for their unique feeding journey.
“Funding from our community supports our free support services, like our Community Breastfeeding Center, that are vital for new moms. The Community Breastfeeding Center at MilkWorks allows families to find support and encouragement through informal lactation resources and education," says Holly.
Methodist Hospital Foundation
Courtney Gatzemeyer of Methodist Hospital Foundation shares, "Methodist Hospital Foundation is working to address some of the region’s most significant health needs, including improved access to care and screenings. It’s natural to assume health systems have plenty of money to fund new projects and programs. In actuality, operating margins are razor thin. Almost all revenue is used to support staff and day-to-day operations. Philanthropy is critical to funding life-changing innovations and expansions that support wellness and make our communities healthier places to live."
At Methodist Hospital Foundation, they are making health care easier and more accessible—for everyone. Thanks to generous donors, they touch the lives of more than 54,000 people each year through charitable care, cancer care, community services and scholarships to train future health care providers. A full 100 percent of every dollar donated to Methodist Hospital Foundation goes toward the intended project or program.
"Donors can make a significant impact in the lives of cancer survivors by supporting Inner Beauty, a specialty salon at Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center. Services, including makeup and skin care, wig fittings, and post-mastectomy garment fittings, are provided to cancer survivors regardless of where they receive treatment. Every gift – any size – makes a difference and ensures that no one is ever turned away due to an inability to pay," says Courtney.
Donate to Methodist Hospital Foundation
Choose your ways to donate today and support Health & Wellness in the greater Omaha/Council Bluffs metro!