VNA 2021-22 Annual Report

Letter from James C. Summerfelt President & CEO

The easy way to care for clients is to categorize them according to age, disease, illness, or socioeconomic status. Far more impactful, however, is recognizing people’s unique needs and individualizing their care plans so meaningful change can happen.

Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) serves adults, children, and families in our community who are uninsured, under resourced, and struggling to access healthcare and supportive services on their own. We meet our clients wherever they call home. And in those homes, our expert staff is trained to recognize personal and environmental factors that healthcare professionals would never observe in a clinical setting. Identifying food insecurity, interpersonal violence, inadequate resources and living conditions, and co-occurring physical and mental health issues makes a difference in our approach to care.

VNA embraces the opportunity to go where others won’t and serve who others don’t. Honestly, there isn’t a rush of organizations vying to compete with our unique business model that has stood the test of time for more than 126 years. Your support has helped us be dynamic and adaptable — putting clients at the center of our attention and delivering compassionate care on a level some clients didn’t even know they needed.

Our staff are extraordinary and achieve exceptional outcomes. They share VNA’s values and embrace an approach to care that is not formulaic, but flexible. Together, we anticipate challenges and alter course based on the needs of those we serve. In doing so, we provide compassionate care to people in our community who are too often pushed to the margins.

As you read VNA’s 2022 in review, we are grateful for the support you have given and continue to give.

Inherent in compassionate care is the ability to recognize the uniqueness of individuals.

The impact of compassionate care

In 2022, VNA served clients with greater needs and less access to care. Our team never turns away someone due to age, income, or ability, helping all those we care for live more healthy, stable, and independent lives. When we help our clients overcome obstacles, they go on to deliver compassionate care to others.

40,884 Clients served agency-wide

We see this compassion in the shelter chefs who graciously donated their skills at our 2022 Art & Soup event. Chefs Ken, Robert, and MisTyesha, all who have been shelter clients themselves, now are paying that care forward serving food at Open Door Mission, Stephen Center, and Siena Francis House shelters.

We also see compassion from Willa’s mother, a Parenting Support client who gave back to VNA during 2022’s Giving Tuesday fundraiser. Willa was born premature, and due to her fragile state, her family enrolled in VNA’s Physician-Ordered Family Home Visitation program to manage her weight and other vitals from the comfort of home. During a routine visit, Willa’s nurse noticed that her temperature was low, which turned out to be the first sign of RSV. After a two-week-long battle, Willa was able to graduate from the NICU and return home.

6,216 Clients served through donor-supported services

These are only a few examples of the compounding acts of compassion that we see every day. In 2022, we were proud to deliver empowering, expert, accessible, and most importantly, compassionate care to more than 40,000 clients.

Parenting Support

Delivering empowering education

VNA offers five home visitation programs for under-resourced families with infants or small children: Healthy Families America, Love & Learn, Nurse-Family Partnership, Physician-Ordered Family Home Visitation, and Project WIN. Our goal is to empower parents to maintain self-sufficient, healthy, happy families.

Families participating in any of the programs can also access services and resources for lactation support, car seats and cribs, childbirth education classes, and community referrals.

In September 2022, VNA hosted its first-ever Golf Fore the Cause tournament to raise funds for our Parenting Support services. Attendees gathered at Quarry Oaks Golf Club for a fun-filled day with good company and a great cause. Together, we raised more than $21,000 to support young families in Omaha and western Iowa.

3,500 Parenting Support clients

“The most meaningful thing that VNA has taught me is to use my resources and to rely on my support group.”

— Emily, Love & Learn program participant

Empower young families.

Shelter Nursing

Delivering resilient futures

VNA is the primary provider of public health nursing services in Omaha and Council Bluffs homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, and group maternity homes. In 2022, our shelter nurses served an additional 515 clients compared to the previous year and expanded support to three local maternity homes: Bethlehem House, Mater Filius, and Carole’s House of Hope.

1,979 Shelter Nursing clients

VNA shelter nurses help clients on their journey to independent living through health screenings and assessments, treatments of illnesses and injuries, preventative healthcare, education on positive coping skills, chronic disease monitoring, nutritional assessments, prenatal and childbirth education, lactation support, postpartum and infant assessments, and positive parenting education.

Our 25th anniversary Art & Soup event, which raised funds for VNA Shelter Nursing services, was a huge success at its new location, the Omaha Design Center. We raised $163,553, ensuring that we can continue putting VNA nurses in every shelter and maternity home in Omaha and Council Bluffs. We are thankful for the artists, chefs, and attendees who continue to support this event year after year.

Support resilient futures for shelter clients.

“I don’t know where I would be without Nurse Lesa’s help. She is very special to those of us in the shelter. She doesn’t isolate herself; she’s among us. Nurse Lesa is on top of things and makes me feel worthy.”

— Marcia, shelter client

Flu & Immunization

Delivering community protection

As a part of our long-term commitment to community wellness, VNA provides drive-thru and workplace immunization clinics every fall. All proceeds from our annual flu shot clinics are reinvested into services for uninsured and under-resourced clients.

In 2022, continuing VNA’s long tradition of stepping up during public health crises, we partnered with the Douglas County Health Department to administer COVID-19 and MPOX vaccines to people who could not easily leave their homes.

10,885* Flu & Immunization clients

* COVID-19 and MPOX vaccinations provided in conjunction with Douglas County Health Department are not included in this number.

Protect the health of our community.

Infusion Pharmacy

Delivering comfort at home

VNA Infusion Pharmacy is an independent pharmacy headquartered in Omaha that provides IV therapies in the Nebraska/western Iowa region. Our services enable clients to receive their prescribed infusion medications in the comfort and privacy of their homes.

The pharmacy has more than 35 years of expertise in hospice and home infusion care. We are also proud to have a BoardCertified Nutrition Support Pharmacist as our pharmacy director, which is considered a gold standard in the field. Only 406 pharmacies in the United States hold this prestigious certification, and our director is one of only two pharmacists in Nebraska to hold this credential.

845 Infusion Pharmacy clients

Get expert hospice and infusion care.

“Dealing with Dysautonomia is no picnic. I am so thankful for the personalized, quality care my pharmacists provide. They help me know what to expect, like changes and side effects I might experience. Pharmacists help me streamline and normalize my medication administration, including setting me up for infusions in the comfort of my own home.”

— Jenna, VNA Infusion Pharmacy client

Home Health Aide

Delivering peace of mind

Personal care, bathing, and light housekeeping can become overwhelming to older adults, people who have disabilities, or people who have chronic health conditions. VNA’s Home Health Aide services help individuals maintain their safety and independence while helping delay or prevent the need to transition into a higher level of care, such as a skilled nursing facility. Our team serves those with or without family support and those who may have limited financial resources.

117 Home Health Aide clients

Provide peace of mind at home.

School Health

Delivering expert guidance

VNA contracts with various schools in the metro area to provide nurses as part of our commitment to a healthier community. Nurses in schools promote wellness, provide physical and mental health screenings, and help ensure the overall well-being of students and staff.

In 2022, VNA contracted with seven new schools, supporting the health of an additional 630 students in our community.

No two schools are alike — VNA nurses personalize the services they provide based on the needs of the students, the resources available from the school, and the priorities of the administration and parents. Available services include health evaluations and screenings, wellness education, care for students who are sick, disease prevention and control, and staff training.

21,613 Students served

55 Participating schools

Easterseals

Delivering accessible support

For nearly a century, Easterseals Nebraska has provided lifechanging disability and community services to Nebraskans. With merged operations and resources, VNA and Easterseals Nebraska bring greater impact to those within the communities we serve, working in tandem to foster a community where everyone can access the care and support they need to thrive, regardless of ability.

An alliance dedicated to enhancing the health and lives of those we ser ve

Easterseals Nebraska services include job training and employment; camp and recreation; financial services including low-interest rate and longer-term loans; and agriculture rehabilitation services to Nebraska farmers and ranchers.

1,325 Easterseals

Nebraska clients

Reduce barriers for clients with disabilities.

“It is very rewarding to be able to help a farmer get back into the business that they want to be in. Because in agriculture, you’re not only looking at the farmstead as a workplace, it’s also their home, and they don’t want to give that up.”

— Rod, AgrAbility rural rehabilitation specialist

4.3 out of 5 Employee satisfaction score

* COVID-19 and MPOX vaccinations provided in conjunction with Douglas County Health Department are not included in this number.

$8,294,645

Board of directors

Jason Hansen, Chair

President

American National Bank

Elizebeth Murphy, Vice Chair

President

Emspace + Lovgren

Richard Secor, Secretary

Partner

The Lund Company

Sean Winekauf, Treasurer

Director/Operational Risk Management

Mutual of Omaha

Fawn Bottolfson

Community Outreach Coordinator/ Corporate Charity

Omaha Track

Kate Bruzzano

Senior Vice President/ Head of IT Service Delivery

Bank of the West

Kelly Butts-Elston

CEO

Connections/Southwest 8 Senior Services

Joseph Castellanos

Associate I/Customer Care Trainer

First National Bank of Omaha

Taina Evans

Owner

Business Consulting Specialists, Inc.

Jessie Fechner

Director of Nursing

Methodist Women’s Hospital

Craig Flanagan

Chief Financial Officer

WesleyLife

William (Bill) Foley

Attorney/Shareholder/President

Erickson Sederstrom P.C., L.L.O.

Harris A. Frankel, M.D.

Senior Vice President/Chief Medical Officer

Nebraska Medicine

Jenny Jacobsen

Senior Advisor

HUB International

Roger H. Kobayashi, M.D.

Clinical Professor

UCLA School of Medicine

David Lopez

Attorney/Senior Associate

Husch Blackwell

Sue Nuss

Chief Nursing Officer

Nebraska Medicine

Carrie Phillips

Cardiovascular Service Line Executive

Nebraska Methodist Health System

Jeanne Rice

Program Manager HBC

Nebraska Methodist Health System

Marcos Rodriguez

Senior Advisor/Community Banking

First National Bank of Omaha

James Summerfelt

President and CEO

Visiting Nurse Association/ Easterseals Nebraska

Donors

Thank you to our compassionate supporters

We could not deliver compassionate care without the support of our donors, who helped VNA/ESN’s development team exceed our 2022 fundraising goal by 22%.

$100,000+

Douglas County

The Enrichment Foundation

Iowa Department of Public Health

Charles E. Lakin Foundation

The Lozier Foundation

Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative (NECC)

Suzanne and Walter Scott Foundation

William and Ruth Scott Family Foundation

Sherwood Foundation

State of Nebraska

Thriving Families Alliance

United States Department of Agriculture

United States Social Security Adminstration

United Way of the Midlands

$50,000-$99,999

Anonymous

Easterseals National

Hawks Family Philanthropy Fund

Mammel Family Foundation

Mary Ludington McKeen Charitable Trust

Mutual of Omaha Foundation

Help us deliver compassionate care for years to come.

Learn more about how recurring and planned gifts can greatly impact the lives of individuals and families we serve.

Donors

Thank you to our compassionate supporters

We could not deliver compassionate care without the support of our donors, who helped VNA/ESN’s development team exceed our 2022 fundraising goal by 22%.

$25,000-$49,999

Anonymous

Todd & Mary Heistand Family Foundation

Holland Foundation

$10,000-$24,999

Leslie and Ruby Bentley

Ai Lan and Roger Kobayashi

The Adah and Leon Millard Foundation

Edward and Lida Robinson Charitable Trust

Omaha Scheels

$5,000-$9,999

American Charitable Foundation

Baer Foundation

D.A. Davidson & Co

Hanscom Park United Methodist Church

Healing Hands Helping America Inc.

Heider Family Foundation

Knights of Columbus Council 3019

Margaret L. Matthews Trust

Methodist Health Systems

Nebraska Medicine

Omaha Track

Omaha World-Herald

Goodfellows Charity

Norman Sack

James and Margaret Summerfelt

Anne Thorne Weaver Family Foundation, Inc.

Mark Wolf

The Jim and Shirley Young Family Foundation

Help us deliver compassionate care for years to come.

Learn more about how recurring and planned gifts can greatly impact the lives of individuals and families we serve.

Donors

Thank you to our compassionate supporters

We could not deliver compassionate care without the support of our donors, who helped VNA/ESN’s development team exceed our 2022 fundraising goal by 22%.

$1,000-$4,999

Anonymous

Advanced Surgery Center

American National Bank Bank of the West

Steven and Deborah Bartels

Marilyn Beig

The Fred and Sally Bekins Foundation

Bland Cares Foundation

The Briley Team

Harold and Berdine Brunssen

Kate Bruzzano

James and Anne Carroll

Betty and John Cernech

Gary Crouch

Hal and Mary Daub

Eide Bailly

Emspace + Lovgren

Exchange Club of Omaha Foundation

First National Bank of Omaha

Craig Flanagan

William Foley

Harris and Janice Frankel

Lawrence A. Friend

Marissa Garey

Deryl Hamann

Jason and Kayla Hansen

Norma Hinchcliff

Gilbert M. and Martha H. Hitchcock Foundation

John Hoich

HUB International Husch Blackwell LLP

Vern P. and Rose M. Jackson

Charitable Trust

Dean and Maria Jacobsen

Catherine C. Jessen

Kiewit Corporation

Matt and Angela Kleager

George Kleine and Tom Knox

John and Wende Kotouc

A. George and Sandra Lozier

Lund-Ross Constructors

Warren Lynn

Deborah Macdonald

Ian MacLeod

John and Andrea Marshall

Nancy and Michael McCarthy

Medica

Charles Menefee

Metro Omaha Medical Society Foundation

Wesley Meyer

Frank J. Mikkelson Trust

Elaine Montgomery-Baisden

Elizebeth Murphy and Ray Schueneman

Mutual of Omaha

Nebraska Farm Bureau

Sharee and Murray Newman Fund

Carole Patrick

Helen A. Pearson Charitable Trust

PhRMA

Richard and Mary Parrish

Robert and Suzanne Sall

Bryan and Heather Schneider

Scoular Foundation

Richard and Sharon Secor

Karen Stauffer

L.B. and Jann Thomas

Robert and Kathy Townsend

Urban Abbey

Valmont Industries

Diane Watson

Samuel Watson

Bryce Wells

WoodmenLife

Jeffrey and Jamie Ziemba

Help us deliver compassionate care for years to come.

Learn more about how recurring and planned gifts can greatly impact the lives of individuals and families we serve.

Event performance

In addition to our annual Art & Soup fundraiser and new Golf Fore the Cause event, we raised $4,228 during Giving Tuesday, $2,053 during SHARE Omaha’s Do Good Week and give days in Hastings and Lincoln, and closed out 2022 with $47,456 from our year-end campaign, exceeding our year-end goal by nearly $10,000. Our 125th anniversary event, held at Joslyn Castle, welcomed 125 attendees who helped us raise $49,302.

Art & Soup

Anniversary event

$49,302

Give days

$6,281*

*Includes Do Good Days, Give Hastings,Give to Lincoln, and Giving Tuesday

Garage sales

$583

Do Good Days sale

$860

Fall garage sale

Art & Soup

$163,553

Golf Fore the Cause

$22,417

Year-end giving

$47,456

Delivering an unmatched camp experience

In 2022, VNA and Easterseals Nebraska purchased land in Blair, Nebraska, that was formerly part of the Dana College campus, to transform it into the most accessible camp in our state.

For more than 50 years, Camp Easterseals Nebraska has continued to be the only overnight recreational camp in our state that accepts everyone, regardless of ability or age. But the camp has leased facilities for too long that cannot fully accommodate wheelchairs or other mobility and medical needs. Once completed, the entire camp will be fully accessible to everyone without the barriers of a typical camp environment but with the magic of a true camp experience.

With your support, we can build a place that welcomes everyone, fosters growth and skill development, and leaves a lasting legacy for generations of campers to come.

18+ Unique disabilities served

Donate to our Camp for All capital campaign.