Dear Friends: In the future, when we think back on all that was (and wasn’t) in 2020, no doubt the word that will come to mind is pandemic. But to pare the year down to one word is actually unfair and inaccurate. Twenty-twenty was much more than a single word — and we did our best to include everything that proved pivotal and important in the words on the cover of this impact report.
ON THE COVER While 2020 will be remembered as the Year of COVID, the YES Impact Report reflects all the words and events that impacted us and shaped the year as we knew it.
Board of Directors Jeff Ziemba
Lynece Daiker
President D.A. Davidson & Company
Kent Circle Partners
Kellie Harry Vice President Mutual of Omaha
Matt Hruska Treasurer Intrado
Casey Dyer Union Pacific
Precious Lesley C&A IndustriesCelebrity Staff
David Ortman First National Bank of Omaha
Kelly Staup
Matthew Snyder
Secretary Lindsay Corporation
Omaha Door & Window
Bryan Peterson
Omaha Police Department
Past President ACI Worldwide
Ashley Brooks Arbor Bank
Sherie Thomas
Board of Trustees Rex Beck Steve Beckwith Angel Carl Cindy Hadsell Marlene Hansen-Kaplan Victor Kensler Robert Michelic William Ricketts Mark Treinen William Wakefield
Ultimately, however, people will associate this year with COVID and how it affected all of us. Last spring when it became more widespread in the United States, very few of us were prepared for what was to come. As we “pivoted” and found our bearings to continue to serve youth experiencing homelessness and near-homelessness in our community, we saw something happen that we’ve always seen: our amazing family of donors, supporters and community partners stepped up. Our staff stepped up. Our board came through. We survived.
When we REALLY needed help this year due to down revenues, canceled fundraising events and continuous actions to keep our young people and staff safe during the ongoing pandemic — OUR COMMUNITY STEPPED UP! We’re looking forward to an auspicious 2021 for many reasons – widespread vaccinations, a slow but promising resumption of interactions and gatherings and a return to some level of normalcy. And while we’re not quite sure how all of this will look and play out, we are prepared because we know we can always count on our community to support us. We know this year is going to be special, and we always know we can COUNT ON YOU! Sincerely,
Andy Wilson Carlson & Burnett, LLO
Mary Fraser Meints Executive Director
Jeff Ziemba Board President
FINANCIALS AT A GLANCE OUR MISSION Youth Emergency Services assists youth experiencing homelessness and near homelessness by providing critically-needed resources which support them in their desire to be self-sufficient.
OUR PROGRAMS & SERVICES No matter a youth’s situation, Youth Emergency Services (YES) offers a continuum of programs and services. We believe all youth, no matter where they come from or who they are, should feel safe and welcome. Throughout our programs, YES offers specialized case management services, the opportunity for youth to be paired with a community mentor and regular support groups to help youth build life skills, make connections and strengthen relationships.
Street Outreach Emergency Shelter Transitional Living Maternity Group Home
Rapid Rehousing Mentoring Human Trafficking
HOW WE ADAPTED When the pandemic hit in March, YES went into action immediately to continue providing services and make sure youth and staff had everything they needed to be safe — and we’ve made it a point to continue adapting. In addition to moving administration staff to remote working conditions, we have taken the necessary steps to make sure our residential facilities and Street Outreach Center are safe. We’ve reduced hours and the number of youth allowed at Street Outreach at a given time, and we quickly started Mobile Pantry services to bring much-needed food and personal items to youth.
Street Outreach staff prepare mobile pantry bags to take to youth.
Throughout the year, we have continued to serve our youth — keeping them and staff safe — and we are succeeding. We haven’t stopped!
WHAT WE LEARNED As an organization, we learned many things during the Year of COVID — most notably that we can overcome most challenges. We followed the COVID protocols of social distancing and mask-wearing, postponed our biggest fundraising event — Dance for a Chance — and moved our golf fundraiser sponsored by Union Pacific from the spring to summer, but ultimately, we adapted. We took care of our youth with no cases of COVID.
Staff delivered meals to youth for Thanksgiving
COVID made it necessary to postpone Dance for a Chance.
We saw a tremendous outpouring of community support over the course of the year — corporate, foundation, business and individual. When we reached out to our supporters for help, they responded BIG TIME. We made it work, and we continue to make it work with only a few small hiccups along the way.
HOW WE’RE MOVING FORWARD Living and working through COVID has given all of us tremendous drive and determination to be successful moving forward — however that might look. We now know that we can persevere no matter what life throws at us. We Will Never Stop!
Community and All-Staff meetings have been held virtually since March.
YES IMPACT BY THE NUMBERS Youth Served through Street Outreach Program
29
1,122
Youth Served by Mentoring Program
1,322.5
Average Stay at Emergency Shelter
Volunteer Hours Contributed
21 Days
Mothers/Expectant Mothers Discharged into Safe/Stable Housing
100%
60
Youth Assisted through Emergency Shelter
238 Number of Youth Served through Job Readiness Program Mothers/Expectant Mothers Who Attained High School Diploma or Equivalency
100%
Youth Turned Away from Emergency Shelter due to Lack of Space
83 32 Youth Served through Transitional Living Program Youth Who Received Utility and Rent Assistance through Housing Prevention Funds
105
74
Youth Between 18 and 24 Served through Street Outreach
4,338 Meals (Hot, Pantry and Mobile Pantry) Provided by Street Outreach Center
TLP Youth Who Secured Safe Housing Upon Discharge
65%
19 Average Age of Youth Served by YES TLP Youth Discharged to Safe/Stable Housing
80%
Thank You to everyone who supports YES and our youth! Listed below are donors who provided generous monetary gifts in support of homeless youth. Not included here are the countless individuals, groups and companies as well as anonymous donors who supported YES with in-kind donations throughout the year.
FOUNDATIONS & TRUSTS American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation Astre Foundation Baer Foundation Fricke Episcopal Food Ministry Dillon Foundation Dixon Family Foundation Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Memorial Foundation Edward and Lida Robinson Charitable Trust Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Firespring Foundation Gilbert M. and Martha H. Hitchcock Foundation Hack Zweiback Charitable Fund
Harold & Dorothy Madison Foundation Holling-Karas Family Foundation James Semerad Foundation Kathy and Bob Binderup Charitable Fund Kavich Family Charitable Foundation Lewis & Winifred Pinch Charitable Fund Lincoln Financial Foundation, Inc. Lori & David Scott Foundation Lozier Foundation M & M Foundation Manota E. Simon Foundation Mutual of Omaha Foundation Nebraska Children and Families Foundation
Oliver and Ferrol Barklage Foundation Omaha Community Foundation Omaha Schools Foundation Parker Family Foundation Renaissance Charitable Foundation Richard Brooke Foundation Robert B. Daugherty Foundation Rupert Dunklau Foundation, Inc. Schwab Charitable aka A.K. Porter Charitable Fund Sharee and Murray Newman Fund Sherwood Foundation Sokolof Foundation Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation The GoodCoin Foundation The Hawks Foundation
Lindsay Corporation Mainline Services Miner Enterprises, Inc. MPL Innovations, Inc. New York Air Brake LLC PPG Players Club at Deer Creek Progress Rail Railway Supply Group
RJ Corman Railroad Group Strato, Inc. The Greenbrier Companies The Timken Corporation Trinity Rail Union Pacific Railroad Wabtec Williams Hayward
Todd & Mary Heistand Family Foundation Trimble Charitable Fund Tulsa Community Foundation Tyler Too Charitable Fund Union Pacific Foundation United Way of the Midlands Wasmoen Charitable Fund William and Ruth Scott Foundation
EVENT PARTNERS A Stucki Company Amsted Rail Arbor Bank B&P Enterprises D.A. Davidson Harbor Rail Services Hulcher ILJIN USA Presented by Lejak & Associates, Inc.
Union Pacific Railroad has been a pivotal, longtime title sponsor of YES’ annual golf fundraiser.
BUSINESS PARTNERS 4 Wizards A To Z Group LLC Access Bank Artifact Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate Big O! Bears Blackstone Meatball Cheeseburgers...A Takeout Joint Christian Women’s Fellowship Colliers International ConAgra Foods Cornerstone Restoration Services Craft Salon DMSi Software Do Good, Runner Dodge Cares, Inc. Dr. San Guinary’s Creature Feature DTN, LLC DSW
Dundee Bank Farm Credit Services FBG Service Corporation Feed Back Omaha Fervent LLC Clothing First National Bank of Omaha Fiserv Flywheel Frontstream GLBT Sports League Inc. Greater Horizons Green Cross LLC Hands, Hearts and Paws Hearthside Candles & Curios Hyatt Corporation Kendra Scott Kroger Kutak Rock, LLP McCarthy Capital
Mom’s Club of Southwest Omaha Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Mortgage Association Network for Good New Friends Club Orange County United Way Patricia Catering & Cocktails PayPal Physicians Mutual Insurance Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe Reruns R Fun Smitty’s Garage T.S. Spears Rail Service Target Corporation The Lerner Company The Signatry Thone Animal Hospital Tip Top Thrift Shop U.S. Bank c/o Frontstream
Union Pacific EASE Union Pacific Fund for Effective Government Union Pacific GivePlus Program United Way of Greater Kansas City UNUM UP Bridges Valmont Industries, Inc. Wistar Group
Lutheran Family Services Mentor Nebraska Metro Area Continuum of Care for the Homeless (MACCH) Metropolitan Community Church of Omaha MICAH House Nebraska AIDS Project Nebraska Realty Sarpy Office One Omaha One World Teen and Young Adult Health Center Pacific Hills Lutheran Church Pater Noster Secular Franciscans Prairie Hills Community of Christ Promise Partners Youth and Families Committee
Ralston United Church of Christ Rockbrook United Methodist Church SHARE Omaha St. Paul’s United Methodist Church St. Thomas Lutheran Church St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church St. Mary’s Guild All Saints Episcopal Church The Junior Catholic Daughters at Mary Our Queen Catholic Church Visiting Nurses Association Women’s Center for Advancement (WCA) YouTurn
COMMUNITY PARTNERS Assistance League Augustana Lutheran Church Bethany Lutheran Church Women Brownell-Talbot School Catholic Daughters of the Americas-Mary Our Queen Catholic Daughters-St. Mary’s Catholic Church Charles Drew Health Center Children and Families Coalition of Nebraska (CAFCON) Child Support Services of Nebraska City of Omaha Countryside Community Church Creighton Medical School Student Advocates
Danish Brotherhood Lodge #1 Elkhorn Hills United Methodist Church Emanuel Lutheran Church Faith Christian Church Faithful Shepard First Presbyterian Church First Unitarian Church Food Bank of the Heartland Hanscom Park United Methodist Church Heartland Family Service Heartland Workforce Solutions Holy Cross Lutheran Church Junior League of Omaha Legal Aid of Nebraska
All proceeds from the sale of clothing, home goods and other items at Tip Top Thrift Shop support YES’ mission.
INDIVIDUALS* (*Donations of $1,000 and above and donors who make six or more donations per year are included in this list.) Aaron & Robin Shaddy Abby Esparza Adam & Stacy DeMuth Adam Zaitz Alajia Mckizia Alan & Cyndi Robertson Alexander Foreman Alice Mauer Alice Pauley Alisha Cook Allan Stamler Alta A. Sharp Alyssa Brunswick Amanda Cvitak Amanda Iwansky Amber Sklenar Amy & Michael Emmons Amy Bones Amy Cerra Andrea Storz Andrew & Patricia Romshek Andrew Gobel Andy Hawekotte Angel & Dave Carl Angela Drobish Ann Donaldson Ann Rowe Ann Van Hoff Anne & Jeff Lieben Anne Guinan Annette Lyman April Buschelman April Nelson Aron Filbert Ashley Brooks
Ashley Hollenbeck Audrey Morton Barbara A. Anderson Barbara Fitzgerald Barbara Wilson Becky Schnabel Belinda Fellows Bernard Bockelmann Bernice Yates Beth Eliason Beth Jorns Bill & Suellen Willett Bill Lewis Bob & Karen Michelic Bob & Trisha Newell Bob Koneck-Wilcox Bobette MacCaffrey Brandon Zalesky Brian & Heidi Zaversnik Brian Donohoe Brian Gilligan & Steve Pospisil Brit Gunther-Lehman Britt Theriot Britta Dosland C. William Joe Caitlin Adams Carly Minor Carol Anderson Carol Gilbert Carolyn & David Diamond Carolyn Annette Carolyn Boynton Carolyn Duncan Carrie Spencer Catherine Depriest
Cathy Blake Charles & Linda Duckworth Charles Stevens Charney Taub Rosinsky Cheryl Adamson Cheryl Adrines Cheryl Goodrich Chris & Jane Phillips Chris Arena Chris Larkin Chris Maxeiner Christian Otwell Christine Hughey Christine Van Rhee Christopher Beaton Christopher Gourley Cindy Morrisey Cindy Vazquez Cody Phillips Colin Moriarty Connie Duckert Corey Kinnan Corinne Reynoso Craig & Kay Olson Cynthia Calhoun Cynthia Hadsell Cynthia Stewart Dale & Darla Langendorfer Dany Bleyhl Daniel & Nancy Pridal Dave & Christy Sutton David & Melinda Brandenburg David & Susan Hollman David Kucirek David McInnis
David Mumm David Wellsandt Deann Nichelson Debbra Landolt Deborah Israel Deborah Walsh Debra Knight Debra Ralston Dee Ann Bowen Dennis & Pamela Maxeiner Diana Graham Diane Zech-Munch Donald & Barbra Bredhouer Donald Ida Donna Bresley Donna Simpson Dorothy Kasinger Dorothy Neill Doug McCombs Douglas & Vicki Palank Douglas Hemsley Douglas Wilwerding Drew Braun Drew Dillon Dylan Bryant Edward George Elizabeth Elliot-Meisel Ellen Archer Ellen Dasher Ellen Mezzacappa Ellen Wright Ellie Welk Erica Heiden Erika Boesen Erika Kozel
INDIVIDUALS Erika Sudyka Erin Andersen Eugene & Janice Goodin Farrah Grant Fran Hoover Frank Miratsky Gail Noble Gail Yanney Garry & Loraine Johnson Gary & Patsy Franke Gayle Duda Gerald Rathouz Gerry & Dee Rathouz-Ebel Gerry Sullivan Gina Christofferson Gordon Peterson Greg Brand Hannah Snow Harold Obrist Heather Ropes Heidi Lynam Helen Lovell Hogan Jacobs Ilka Oberst Jacob Throwe James & Garcia Morton James & Sara Welbourn James Blachnik James Moeller Jamie Sass Jamie Stewart Jane Dambrosia Jane Ellsworth Jane Sommers Jane Teeter
Janet & Clark Osborn Janet Diggins Janet Walker Janet Wunderlich Jean M. Tosoni Jeanne Pfeifer Jeff Eske Jeff Funke Jeff Graves Jeffrey & Jamie Ziemba Jen Homman Jennifer Magilton Jennifer Peters Jennifer Smith Jennifer Young Jenny & Todd Barnett Jenny Nichols Jim & Barb Farho Jim & Pat Phalen Jim Grier J.M. Buen Joan Hanson Joan Miles Joel Vanderveen John Flor John Henning John M. Dennison John Wallingford Joni Wheeler Jose Glomb Jose Zambrano Joseph & Catherine Dorenbach Joseph & Jean Wreshnig Judith Dye Judy Haug
Julia Maguire Julie Bartholomew Julie Dierberger Juliet Brown Justin & Gianna Schomer Kaitlyn Hodges Karen Hawkins Karen Kaiser Karen Levin Karol Purdham Kate & Ethan Jones Kate Stoelting Kathleen Lute Kathy Mainelli Kathy Rose Katie Martikainen Kayla Cumerford Keith Scott Kelley Grubb Kellie Hall Kelly & Nathan Buffington Kelsey Blake Kelsey Steffes Kenneth Deborah Kenneth Slack Kent & Tonja Brown Kent & Linda Tyler Kevin & Cheryl Holloway Kevin Weiler Kimberly Arkfeld Kristine Walkley Kurt Johnson Laberita Ball Lana Clarke Lanae Pierson
Laura Barrett Laura Croom Laura Horan-Fortina Lawrence Uebner Lawson Connell Lea Coffman Lea Farho Lexx Chaplin Linda Bannister Linda Cathorall Linda Hammer Linda Walters Linder Adam Lisa Couillard Lori Greckel Lori Lines Lori Pinkerton Lori Smith Lucas Wilson-Stepan Lucile Wood Lya Gilloti Lyndsey Thompson Lynee Liermann Lynn Williams Maggie Blazek Malinda Stanley Mandy Barkhaus Manuel Pubillones Margaret Franklin Margaret McGlade Margaret Sandlier Margaret Tigges Maria Vazquez Marian Leary Mark & Teresa Dagostino
INDIVIDUALS Mark Bresley Mark Neill Mark Ringsdorf Mark Schulze Marla Udesen Marlene Kaplan Mary & John Couture Mary Ann Kirchner Mary Dhingra Mary Fraser Meints Mary Pat & Laurence Raynor Mary Sorrell Matt Hruska Matt Jaeckel Matt Koenig Matthew Feller Maureen Ries Megan Griffiths Melissa Wacker Melody Galvan Meredith A. Fuller & Jim Luyten Michael & Patricia Curry Michael & Joan Bull Michael & Linda Everts Michael McGrath Michael Shada Michael Vaughn Michael Watkins Michaela Reilly Michele Zadalis Mick Pahl Mike & Joyce Glaser Mike Korner Mike Lorenz Miles Hunke
Miriam Zambrano Misty Pocwierz-Gaines Moises Acevedo Nancy & Randall Schmailzl Nancy Bertacini Nathan & Missy Croom Nichole Turgeon Nikki Emily Nora Keenan Oksana King Oliver Bantam Olivia Stine OReilly Rodwig Pam Beall Hill Pam Hession Pam Walsh Pamela Phillippe Patricia & Robert Hoisington Patricia Packard Patricia Rae Callone Patricia Solko Patricia Wicht Patrick Wyman Paul & Diane Kratz Paul & Gwen Campbell Philip & Barbara Bauer Phillip & Jane Ward Phyllis Brill Priscilla Israel Rachael Smith Rachel Yamamoto Rae Robertson Rafael & Jamie Valdez Randall Derrig Randy Beeler
Rebecca Bigelow Rebecca Brown Rebecca Killian Rebecca N. Sandiland Rebecca Snyder Regina Ross Rehwinkel Dougherty Rehwinkel Eason Renae Magill Rene Garvey Rhonda Stuberg Richard & Laura Ulrich Richard & Nancy Krajewski Richard & Joanne Kelley Richard Clark Rick Darrell Riley Sobczak Rita Margaret Rita Scheibeler Robert & Kathleen Binderup Robert Hogan Robert Schartz Rod & Linda Jones Rodger Moroney Rodney Carlson Roger & Roxie Kelly Ron & Pam Garofolo Ronald & Jane Moore Ronald Knudson Rosemary Shawna Rouse Theriot Russell & Janette Burton Ruth Baker Ruth Bradshaw Ruth Keene
Ryan Royse Sal & Mary Kay Carta Sally Bernhardt Samantha Johnson Sandy Ham Sandy Lozier Sara & Daniel Hendricks Sarah Brown Sarah Jensen Scott Schumacher Scullin Eason Seif Nasir Shairlyn Hulett Shari Dalton Sharon Conlon Sharon Ingram Shayla Newell Sheryl Overby Shuntel Blecker Silvana Cassek Sinjhen Campbell Staci Dudley Stacy Keene Stacy Kozisek Stefani Forster Stembie Dube Stephanie Beneda Stephane Domanski Stephanie Songster Stephen & Jayne Schlosser Stephen Ashmore Stephen Heideman Steve & Pamela Bottorff Steve Burnham Steve Smith
INDIVIDUALS Steve Spillman Steven & Diane Weihe Susan Greene Susan Stewart Susan Taylor Susie Fredericks Suzanne Mendlik Suzanne Winter Sydney Rogers T. Valla Ted Bolamperti Teddi Kenndey Tegwin Maxwell Teresa Henley Teresa Peyrot Terri Briest Terri Zacharia Terry Johnson Thomas & Jade Cole Thomas & Patricia Peterson Thomas & Kathryn Diesing Thomas & Ruth Frank Thompson Rogers Timothy White Todd & Michelle Pernicek Tony Myers Tory Estlund Ursula Marxsen Vallery Stewart Verla Hamilton Verna Whitfield Victor & Jan Kensler Vipul Malik Virginia & Dale Inglis Vivki Melvin
Upcoming YES Events in 2021 Wendy Buchholz Wendy Chapman Wendy Walgrave William & Charlotte Lewis William & Janis Dwyer William Borgmann William Ricketts William Willett Wynston Nowak Zac Baer Zach Randolph Zach Willett
United Way Day of Action (April 8) Individuals will be invited to support agencies like YES that are on the frontlines of COVID-19 by making an online gift on April 8 or signing up for a volunteer project that will take place in April.
Do Good Week (April 19-24) Sponsored by SHARE Omaha (in place of Omaha Gives!), YES is planning a week of events to connect with the community and raise awareness and money to positively impact youth homelessness.
YES Golf Fundraiser (August 30) Sponsored by Union Pacific Railroad, YES” annual golf event (held at the majestic Players Club at Deer Creek) is a great way to play golf and raise money for homeless youth.
Dance for a Chance: The Roaring Twenty-Twenties (October 7) After having to cancel YES’ biggest fundraiser due to COVID in 2020, we are excited to welcome back a new crew of dancers from the community to learn a dance and perform with an instructor to raise money and awareness.
Giving Tuesday (November 30) This year’s annual Worldwide Day of Giving is Tuesday, Nov. 30. Please watch YES social media, website and media for more details about these events and other opportunities to support YES in 2021 and beyond.
Youth Emergency Services 2679 Farnam Street, Suite 205 Omaha, NE 68131 402-345-5187 (p) 402-345-6704 (f) info@yesomaha.org
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