As part of Thrasher Gives Back Day, which celebrated the company’s 50th anniversary, two major repair projects were completed on July 7. The repairs totaled $120,000 in donated services and involved 170 employees.
- Abide Omaha received $75,000 in repairs to one of its Lighthouse Homes in north Omaha. The Lighthouse model places local leaders in renovated homes to help reduce crime and foster stronger neighborhoods. This was Thrasher’s largest project of the day and included major structural work, concrete leveling, gutter installation and block-wide yard cleanup, with 105 employees on-site.
- Good News Church received $45,000 in repairs to restore the Joseph House, a transitional housing space provided rent-free to individuals in crisis, including foster families, traveling nurses and domestic violence victims. The basement was previously uninhabitable due to water damage. Thrasher completed foundation repair, waterproofing, drainage improvements, and yardwork, with 65 employees participating.
On Deck Housing is preparing to sell five affordable homes in East Omaha. The newly constructed 3-bed, 2-bath ranches are being sold for $200,000 and eligible for owner occupancy only. On Deck Housing plans to build 40 similar homes in the next 12 months.
The Kiewit Luminarium is hosting guest educators from the Bee Lab at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and The Mushroom Block as part of its latest traveling exhibit, “Creatividad silvestre | Wild Creativity.” The educators will be presenting hands-on learning opportunities at workshops exploring biomimicry.
Omaha Community Foundation has reported its 2024 giving results. Highlights include:
- $235.8 million granted through nearly 18,000 grants – 80 percent of those dollars stayed in the Omaha metro
- Top giving areas: Education (21%), Human Services (13%), Philanthropy (10%)
- The Pathways Community HUB was launched, serving 103 pregnant women
- More than $1 million was raised for tornado recovery, with the first grants going out within a week
Henry Winkler, a prominent actor, who played The Fonz on Happy Days, is coming to Omaha August 7 to help raise funds for the Nebraska Childhood Brain Tumor Program. He’ll be delivering a keynote address with humorous anecdotes, inspirational life lessons, stories from his career on screen and more. Purchase tickets HERE.
The Omaha STEM Ecosystem, a local nonprofit, which coordinates education, government, nonprofit and business entities to maximize science, technology, engineering and mathematics learning initiatives for students and adults, is hosting the STEM Connect Series event, “Connecting Pathways: The Evolution of AI,” on Tuesday, July 15 at 4:30 p.m. at MCL Construction. The event will explore how artificial intelligence is transforming industries and how Omaha is responding to ensure a future-ready STEM workforce.
Community supporters who use SHARE Omaha to donate to one of 500+ local nonprofits or find a new volunteer opportunity between now and July 18 will be entered for a chance to win two Omaha Storm Chasers tickets and a collectable bobblehead.
City Sprouts, a nonprofit led by former Senator Carol Blood, which works in urban farming, gardening and sustainability education, and youth empowerment, is raising $3,150 to provide 35 meals to seniors five days a week for a month. They are also actively seeking volunteer members of their Garden Crew.