Pacific Life Foundation Grants $282,000 To Local Community Organizations In Greater Omaha

The Pacific Life Foundation announced today that 19 nonprofit agencies and 10 K-12 schools serving the Greater Omaha, Nebraska area will receive a total of $282,000 in grants.

2013 grants will be awarded to the following organizations:
Arts and Culture
Omaha Area Youth Orchestra: A $7,500 grant to help underwrite the 2013 “Side-by-Side” Concert Program for high school musicians from the Youth Symphony and professional musicians from the Omaha Symphony.

Omaha Community Playhouse: A $7,500 grant to support the organization’s core programs including 10 annual theater productions, in addition to education and outreach programs for students and adults.

Omaha Film Festival: A $10,000 grant to support the 8th Annual Omaha Film Festival and Conference which provides networking, classes, lectures, and workshops related to all aspects of filmmaking.

Omaha Performing Arts Society: A $10,000 grant to support arts programming and services for a diverse audience, including the underserved populations in Omaha.

Omaha Theater Company: A $50,000 capital grant to support the restoration and refurbishment of the roof, domes, and exterior facades of the historic Rose Theater.

WhyArts?: A $5,000 grant to support the Arts for Special Populations Program which consists of workshops in music, visual arts, and storytelling for mentally challenged or physically disabled individuals and their families.
Civic, Community, and Environment
Nebraska Community Foundation: A $10,000 grant to support “Leadership Nebraska,” a program that fosters leadership development to help local citizens become involved in the issues and opportunities facing Nebraska.
Education
Boys & Girls Clubs of Council Bluffs: A $10,000 grant to support the Readers to Learners Program which emphasizes parental involvement and collaboration between the club and school administrators to ensure an optimal after-school learning experience for the club members.

Omaha Children’s Museum: A $10,000 grant to support the museum’s interactive educational programs that engage children in science, art, and health.

Omaha Zoo Foundation: A $10,000 grant to support the zoo’s K-12 Education Programs which are utilized both in and out of the classroom and have an emphasis on conservation.

In addition to the educational grants above, the Foundation’s 3T’s of Education program will contribute the following grants to K-12 schools where there are concentrations of children or grandchildren of Pacific Life employees. A 3T’s of Education grant must be designated in one of the following areas: Teacher Training, Textbooks, or Technology.

Assistance League of Omaha: A $5,000 grant to support Operation School Bell which annually provides new clothing to 3,400 school-aged children in need.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands: A $10,000 grant to support the Community-Based Mentoring Program in Douglas County. The program matches adult mentors with vulnerable children to establish a one-to-one relationship that changes the lives of the children for the better.

Child Saving Institute, Inc.: A $7,500 grant for the Bridging the Gap Program which assists low-income families that qualify for government childcare subsidies with gap funding to cover the “out of pocket” monthly program expenses.

Habitat for Humanity of Omaha: A $10,000 grant to support the building of new homes for low-income families in struggling neighborhoods.

HELP Adult Services: A $7,500 grant to support the Health & Medical Equipment Loan Program which provides low-income residents access to free medical equipment prescribed by their physicians or medical facilities.
NorthStar Foundation: A $25,000 capital grant to support the construction of a facility and athletic field in North Omaha. The new facility will provide before and after school programs for local males 10-18 years old.

OneWorld Community Health Centers, Inc.: A $50,000 capital grant to support the construction of a primary healthcare center, day care center, and an expanded urgent care clinic for low-income residents in downtown Omaha, as well as build 32 affordable apartments for low-income seniors.

Youth Care and Beyond, Inc.: A $10,000 grant for housing and support services for developmentally disabled youth and adults.

Youth Emergency Services, Inc.: A $7,500 grant to support outreach, emergency shelter, and transitional housing for homeless youth.

The Pacific Life Foundation also announced a pledge to contribute a total of $560,000 toward marine mammal education, conservation, and research efforts throughout 2013. In addition, the Pacific Life Foundation continues to provide a robust matching gift program for Pacific Life employees, matching donations up to $5,000 per employee to their local United Way, up to $2,000 per employee to institutions of higher education, and up to $500 per employee to nonprofit organizations.

Annual funding of grants allows the Pacific Life Foundation to support a broad spectrum of community needs by partnering with nonprofit agencies that serve a large geographic area. Contributions are made primarily in areas with large concentrations of Pacific Life employees. Currently, Pacific Life has 285 employees working in its regional business center in Omaha, Nebraska. The Pacific Life Good Guys, an employee volunteer group, worked at 10 events with Greater Omaha area nonprofits during 2012.

The Pacific Life Foundation was established in 1984. Together with Pacific Life, the Foundation has contributed donations totaling over $72.2 million to thousands of nonprofit organizations across the country. The Foundation plans to contribute a total of $5.6 million in grants to nonprofit organizations throughout 2013.