1. Healthcare

Metro
maha
Medical Society
Foundation
2014 Annual Report
ABOUT THE FOUNDATION:
The Metro Omaha Medical Society Foundation was
formed in 1981 when Dr. Charles Bressman was President of
Metro Omaha Medical Society. After Dr. Bressman’s death
in 1994, the Foundation received a gift of $5,000 from the
Bressman Family to help fund the community goals of this
program. Since then, physicians have had the opportunity to
donate to the Foundation along with their dues. Foundation
funds have grown over the years because of the generous
support of Metro Omaha Medical Society members. In 2002,
the Foundation began awarding community grants to various
organizations in the Metro Omaha area.
For the last decade, the MOMS Foundation has also
supported a number of organizations through our Match
Grant Program: Hope Medical Outreach Coalition, Lasting
Hope Recovery Center, Josie Harper Hospice House,
Food Bank for the Heartland, Omaha Street School, and
Metropolitan Community College Single Parent Homemaker
Services. MOMS Foundation matches the first $5,000 in
donations for this grant.
The MOMS Medical MESS Club Event, which features
a silent auction and musical theater performance is another
opportunity for members to donate. All proceeds from this
event benefits MOMS Foundation.
The Metro Omaha Medical Society Foundation is proud
to award thousands of dollars each year to organizations
supporting Metro Omaha Medical Society’s primary mission
of advocating for patients and public health. Since 2002,
that’s totaled more than $230,000! We thank you for your
commitment in serving our community and ask that you join
us in making an even greater impact in this coming year.
OUR MISSION:
The Metro Omaha Medical Society Foundation
identifies and provides support to community
priorities where physician involvement
can make a difference in improving the health
of the Metro Omaha Community.
2014 FOUNDATION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Michelle Knolla, M.D.
President
William Palmer, M.D.
Secretary/Treasurer
Deb Esser, M.D.
MOMS President
Paul Esposito, M.D.
Polly Haiar
Lee Handke
Jack Lewis, M.D.
Jeanie Owen
John Sage, M.D.
Thomas Tonniges, M.D.
Maria Michaelis, M.D.
2014 COMMUNITY GRANT RECIPIENTS
ALS ASSOCIATION - $5,000
ALS Association aims to lead the fight to
treat and cure ALS through global research
and nationwide advocacy, as well as, empower people with
Lou Gehrig ’s disease and their families to live fuller lives.
Grant money will be used to purchase equipment for Augmentative Communication Kits and Assisted Daily Living
Kits to aid individuals with ALS with the daily loss of fine
motor function. Approximately 100 Assisted Daily Living Kits
and Augmentative/Communication Kits will be purchased.
CHILD SAVING INSTITUTE - $ 1,500
Child saving Institute provides a
safe haven and healing for thousands
of innocent young victims of family crisis, neglect and
abuse. They offer several services including early childhood
education, foster care, adoption, an emergency shelter,
parenting classes,
“With your help, the kids are considering and therapy. Grant
all kinds of possibilities, but for many of
money will be used
our kids what they need most is to know to purchase toys and
somebody cares – today you are that
supplies targeting all
somebody. Thank you!”
-Dawn Hovey, Child Saving Institute areas of the sensory
experience for a
sensory therapy room. CSI therapists and shelter staff will
be able to treat the effects of trauma from a therapeutic
sensory approach in conjunction with more conventional
trauma therapies. Approximately 200 children will have
access to the room.
CHILDREN’S RESPITE CARE - $5,000
Children’s Respite Care Center
provides comprehensive services and family support for
children with special medical, developmental, and cognitive
needs. Services offered include a safe, fun, and educationally
stimulating environment, low adult-to-child ratio, and
parent training and resources. Grant money will be used
to purchase a SureHands Ceiling Mounted Track and
Lifting System to aid in the safe and comfortable transfer
experience of non-weight-bearing individuals. 58 clients will
immediately benefit by having this system in place.
Metro
maha
Medical Society
Foundation
COMPLETELY KIDS - $1,550
Completely Kids is devoted to
educating and empowering kids and families to create a
safe, healthy, successful, and connected community. Grant
money will be used to purchase materials for therapists
to aid children with their varying goals and needs, such
as play therapy supplies, sensory/tactile toys, and rewards
and incentives. The money will also be used to purchase
relevant books to aid therapists with growth of knowledge
in the field. 20-25 children will be served by the new
materials.
GIRLS INC. - $1,933
Girls Inc. aims to inspire girls to be strong,
smart and bold, providing girls across the U.S.
and Canada with life-changing experiences and real
solutions to the unique issues girls face. Grant money will
be used to purchase six biofeedback machines to be used
as educational tools to teach children about how stress and
aggression affect their bodies, and how to self-soothe with
immediate visual feedback. 982 individuals will be served
by the new machines.
HETRA - $2,970
Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding
Academy aims to improve the health and
development of children and adults with
disabilities. Grant money will be
“Thank you for supporting
used to fund 66 hippotherapy
HETRA, as we change lives
student sessions, which are
one ride at a time!”
one-on-one therapy sessions
-Jodi Teal, HETRA
with a student and therapist,
using the movement of the horse as a tool to improve
student’s overall independence. This funding will support
33 students for 2 hippotherapy sessions each.
NEBRASKA CHILDREN’S HOME SOCIETY - $3,500
Nebraska Children’s Home Society serves
children and families by providing programs
such as Pregnancy, Parenting, and Adoption services,
a Foster Care Program, an Early Childhood Program,
and a Children and Family Center. Grant money will be
used to aid the Foster Parent Recruitment program in
providing community outreach and recruitment services
to reach families who would be interested in becoming
foster parents for children with special healthcare needs.
Expected outcomes include the addition of 20 new foster
homes licensed and available to be matched with a child
with special medical needs.
ONE WORLD COMMUNITY
HEALTH CENTER - $3,000
and underserved populations by offering quality health
and social services. Grant money will be used to support
One World in providing
“Thank you for supporting our
nutritional and physical
essential work of providing
activity education to
culturally respectful, quality
children, day care providers, health care to the underserved.”
and parents to fight obesity
– Andrea Skolkin, OneWorld
in South Omaha. 800
children and 200 adults will benefit from the educational
programs.
One World Community Health Center focuses on
meeting the primary health care needs of the community
MATCH PROGRAM RECIPIENTS
2014: OMAHA STREET SCHOOL - $12,300 (Presented January 2014)
Teachers and students from Omaha Street School have professed
enthusiasm for the content and delivery of information by MOMS physicians
in their classes. These students have extraordinary health issues, and giving
them an opportunity to interact with a health professional has drastically
changed their experience with health care. Students have been able to ask
questions, participate, and listen to helpful suggestions about healthcare
issues that concern themselves and their families. It is clear that students
enjoy these classes and really absorb the information presented. This is an
ongoing program. If you are interested in volunteering in the classroom,
contact the Metro Omaha Medical Society office.
MOMS doctors share knowledge with our students
they would not get anywhere else. Many students
are excited to go home and share the information
they learned. For example, they would talk about
diabetes to their grandmother with diabetes. Sadly
many of our students live in an environment where
there are many health issues like heart attacks,
diabetes and high cholesterol. MOMS is playing
a big part in trying to address those issues by
educating our students.
- Aryka Nasiatka, Omaha Street School
2015: METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE SINGLE PARENT HOMEMAKER SERVICES - $12,200 (Presented January 2015)
This program supports low income single parents who are first
generation college students with diminished marketable skills but need to
return to the workforce. The Mission of MCC’s Single Parent Homemaker
Services program is to “facilitate student learning, self-sufficiency, and
personal and professional growth”.
As more MCC courses are offered and supported by on-line resources,
ensuring student access to a working computer off-campus has become an
urgent need among SPH program participants.
This grant will support MCC’s SPH program by funding the purchase
of laptop and tablet devices for participants to use off-campus to complete
homework online from home. The generosity of MOMS members will go
a long way in supporting the retention and success of single parents who are uniquely dedicated and committed to
achieving their education goals. Anyone who would like to donate a used laptop or tablet less than 3 years old to the
program, please contact the Metro Omaha Medical Society office.
I feel that [laptops to use] would benefit myself
and other students tremendously…When I go
to the Academic Resources Center on campus
I have to find extra sitters just to do my work
because they do not allow children under sixteen
in the center…I feel that if we were issued laptops
I could do my studies outside of class at home
and would benefit not only me but my children
as well.
- Jennie, MCC Student
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR 2014 DONORS
The donors listed below made contributions the Metro Omaha Medical Society Foundation
either to the general grant fund, as a memorial or through the Match Program.
We thank each and every donor for their generosity and for enabling the
MOMS Foundation to make a positive impact in the community.
$1,000 AND ABOVE
Dr. Alan Thorson
Dr. Rowen and Mrs. Emily Joan Zetterman
$200 TO $500
Dr. Jane Bailey
Dr. John and Janis Haggstrom*
Dr. William Ingram
Dr. Michelle Knolla
Dr. Michele Marsh
Dr. Richard O’Brien
Dr. William and Mrs. Leslie Palmer
Dr. Neal and Mrs. Deb Ratzlaff
Dr. Gerard and Mrs. Mary Ries
Dr. and Mrs. John Sage*
Dr. Judith Stern*
Dr. James Tracy
Dr. Stanley and Dorothy Truhlsen
Mr. Shane and Dr. Asha Wurdeman
UP TO $200
Dr. Haysam Akkad
Mr. Tracy and Dr. Claire Baker
Dr. Richard Belatti*
Dr. Marvin J. Bittner
Mr. David and Mrs. Erin Buelt*
Dr. Naresh and Dr. Meera Dewan
Dr. Mark Domet
Mr. and Mrs. H.A. Engdahl*
Dr. Cynthia Ferris
Dr. Linda Ford
Dr. C. Thomas Frank
Dr. John and Mrs. Kay Lynn Goldner*
Dr. R. Michael Gross
Dr. and Mrs. Denham Harman*
Dr. Linda Head
Mr. Edward and Mrs. Amanda Herlein*
Mr. Gary and Dr. Kristen Hoffman
Dr. David Ingvoldstad
Dr. Jane Ann Kugler
Mr. Randy and Mrs. Nancy Long*
Dr. Dennis and Mrs. Carol Lower*
Dr. and Mrs. Edward Malashock*
Mr. Russ Manners*
Dr. Daniel and Mrs. Dorothy McKinney*
Dr. Annamarie Nagy
Dr. Kevin Nohner
Dr. Robert Penn
Mr. Vince and Mrs. Cynthia Pille*
Mr. Ray and Mrs. Gayle Preston*
Dr. Jill S. Reel
Dr. Debra Romberger
Mr. Leon Rottmann*
Ms. Tamara Smith*
Dr. Marcus Snow*
Dr. Paul Tomich
Dr. Frederick and Mrs. Charlotte Ware*
Dr. Ron Wax
Dr. Robert Wigton
Mr. Hugh Williams*
Dr. Laurence Zacharia
MEMORIALS RECEIVED IN MEMORY OF:
Dr. Frederick Paustian
Dr. Daniel Wagner
*Indicates donors whose contributions included memorials.
Donor listing represents donations received between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014.