People Helping People

Papillion, Nebraska - February 2019

South West Omaha Aerie and Auxiliary #4029 was able to donate a $6,200 check to the Nebraska State’s Exoskeleton charity. They raised the money through a combination of dinner and a live auction.

Bellevue, Nebraska - November 2018

Alliance, Nebraska - May 2018

During a dinner honoring Nebraska State Madam President Nadean Rhodes, Alliance Eagles #136 donated $2,575 that will be split between the Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center and the Munroe-Meyer Institute for Autism Outreach Clinics. An additional $680 was raised during #136’s casino night, which will also go to the cancer center and clinic.

North Platte, Nebraska - March 2018

North Platte Aerie #2839 has donated $1,000 to the North Platte Area Ready to Serve Volunteer Program to help offset the cost of books. Now in its tenth year, the books purchased are distributed to the North Platte public preschools and elementary schools, McDaid, Head Start and Our Redeemer Lutheran School each year. All students will receive two age-appropriate books.

York, Nebraska - October 2017

York Eagles #3990 presented a check for $5,000 to Chris Blanke of Four Corners Health Department. The FCHD serves Butler, Polk, Seward and York Counties and hosts the research directory used by the four counties. The intent of this online resource directory is to help those battling diabetes or other diseases to find resources and service providers in the area. The grant will support educational materials and supplies for the newly created Diabetes Referral Network – a healthcare access task group, working under the umbrella of the York County Health Coalition. Presenting the check are: front row – Sheila Kulhanek, Claudia Braden, Secretary Liz Scott, Chris Blanke, President Paula Volker, Mary Melby, Ruth McIlravy, Tami Norquest and Brenda Johnson.  Back row – Pat Huffman, Jenny Gibbs and Delores Pflueger.

Bellevue, Nebraska - October 2017

Nebraska State Aerie President Hoyt Williams, State Madam President Nadean Rhoads and Grand Madam Trustee Becky Wilson rode in style in 2018 Jeep Wrangler Convertibles as part of the annual Arrows to Aerospace Parade. They then attended a fundraiser at Aerie #3912, raising more than $1,300 for their state charities, Breast Cancer and Autism.

Bellevue, Nebraska - April 2017

Bellevue Aerie & Auxiliary #3912 raised #5,793.42 for the purchase of three pediatric heart monitors that will allow patients at Omaha Children’s Hospital a chance to go home and have a normal life. Pictured are Auxiliary President Barb Romero, Auxiliary Heart Fund Chairman Connie Hodges, Children’s Hospital Representative Tom Kerfoot, Aerie Heart Fund Chairman Dave Hodges and Aerie President Patrick O’Connor.

Columbus, Nebraska - January 2017

This year, the Auxiliary of Columbus #1834 voted to make the Inclusive Playground their special project. For more than three years, Jeri Furby has served as the Auxiliary’s Jimmy Durante Children’s Fund chairman and has been raising money for the project. During a recent meeting, the Auxiliary discussed the option of making this their local project for the year. With the help of the Auxiliary’s bingo event, Karen Penington, Bingo Chairman, recommended a $1,000 donation. The vote was unanimous.

Teachers and Para’s led by Megan Johnson, an Autism teacher at Lost Creek School, started working on this dream to build an inclusive play environment that would serve the physical, social, sensory, cognitive and emotional needs of all children in the community, regardless of disability. After lots of work, the dream is becoming a reality. A place where children with special needs can spin, swing, slide and roll alongside their friends – a place where they are not defined by their disability but by the joy, laughter and play of childhood. It will be housed at Lost Creek Elementary.