Every day, our staff works tirelessly to support our mission: Connecting companies and causes to raise funds for Nebraska’s leading health agencies. We raise funds from across the state so that our agencies can empower all Nebraskans affected by chronic disease, disabilities and end-of-life issues. Here are some of their achievements.
Agency Successes
Combined, our agencies invested $604,596,413 on medical research to fund new treatment options and ultimately find a cure for chronic health conditions.
The ALS Association provided 181 Quality of Life Grants to people living with ALS and their families in the past year assisting with the challenges they face every day, including needs in respite, communication, home modification, access to medical care and for special circumstances.
Over 3200 people have been served by the Alzheimer’s Association Nebraska Chapter in 2022. This includes calling the Helpline, attending an education program in person, on-demand or virtually, attending a support group or receiving a care consultation.
Since 2021, AFSP Nebraska has distributed 200 grief kits to newly bereaved community members and in 2023 AFSP provided 164 education events to 35,417 participants.
More than 20 million individuals each year are helped by American Lung Association programs and initiatives, and we support everyone in this country through education, advocacy and research. https://www.lung.org/about-us/our-impact
Over 1,000 individuals received autism training in 2023 through Autism Action Partnership’s training program, COMPASS.
Since 2016, 1,000+ clients have been served by Brain Injury Alliance resource facilitation specialists who assist in building personalized support teams providing information resources, and referral services to individuals and their families.
Over 40 patients and family members attended the Camp Oasis/ MyIBD Family pediatric event at Platte River State Park held by the Nebraska Chapter Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. The event is a day of fun and fellowship for youth going through similar challenges due to IBD.
For the first time, because of the groundbreaking research and medication made available for those living with Cystic Fibrosis, the life expectancy has increased to 53 years old!
Through Epilepsy Foundation programming, 20,918 people have become trained our Seizure First Aid Programs, 291 people participated in the Purple Pumpkin Project in 2023 and 15,313 people received assistance via our 24/7 Helpline: 1-800-332-1000.
Heart Heroes served over 500 CHD families in 2023 through family support events, Nebraska outreach initiatives, the totes of hope (surgery care kits) program, inpatient support, and Camp Brave Heart.
In several JDRF-supported clinical trials, disease-modifying therapies—treatments that can slow, halt, or reverse the course of the disease—demonstrated that they could slow progression in new-onset T1D. Also, JDRF and partners are supporting nonprofit pharmaceutical company Civica, which will launch three biosimilar insulins. Civica plans to file for FDA approval of the first of these insulins in 2024. JDRF will not stop until everyone has access to insulin at a predictable, affordable price.
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society – Nebraska provided $3,227,500 in co-pay assistance to 338 Nebraska patients this past fiscal year.
The March of Dimes NICU Family Support Program provided information to families prior to taking their baby home to prevent disease. March of Dimes supports immunizations to prevent disease and distributes information through written materials and social media.
This past year, through the National MS Society’s Navigator Program: 196 constituents in Nebraska received assistance through the MS Navigator Program through 1,631 interactions and 58 constituents in Nebraska received $75,664 in direct financial assistance.
Nebraska AIDS Project (NAP) provides always-free, always-confidential HIV case management services to more than 1,000 people across the state of Nebraska. Individuals case managed by NAP exceed national trends for viral suppression and health outcomes.
More than 75 families were served by the Nebraska Chapter of the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation through the expansion of enhanced programming opportunities to underserved populations such as women, teens, and those in our rural areas.
Nebraska Community Blood Bank awarded $16,750 in scholarships and collected blood and plasma donations from 17,433 volunteer donors to supply over 20 healthcare facilities.
Nebraska Health Care Foundation awarded 75 educational scholarships and 4 patient lift systems. In addition, NHCF supported 2 additional dementia-related TV and in-service programs; the translation of 1 medication aide training manual to Spanish; the development of 1 healthcare-themed curriculum for afterschool programs and summer camps; 1 year-long leadership program; and 1 behavioral health training simulcast for 47 long-term care professionals.
Nebraska Hospice and Palliative Care Association and CHAD Nebraska have partnered to provide certification prep training to more than 90 hospice professionals in the past 3 years. Nebraska now has 64 registered nurses and 27 advanced practice registered nurses nationally certified in hospice and palliative care. Nebraska has 13 nationally certified hospice and palliative care nursing assistants. NHPCA offered 9 scholarships to the annual conference, 125 webinars and 8 live and virtual training events.
The Nebraska Kidney Association granted 613 Emergency Assistance Grants for financial aid to help with food, transportation, medicine, utility bills and miscellaneous special requests. This was close to triple from the previous fiscal year.
Komen Financial Assistance Program provided Nebraska residents over $80,000 in financial assistance for the expenses of daily living for people in breast cancer treatment or living with MBC. Worked with local partners to deliver over 400 Chemotherapy Kits to those currently going through treatments. Brought together nearly 3000 individuals across the community to honor, celebrate and pay tribute to those impacted by breast cancer through the Nebraska MORE THAN PINK Walk.
Team Jack has pledged and additional $5 million to fund the Childhood Brain Tumor Program at UNMC and Children’s Hospital & Medical Center. The program is called the POWER 5 Childhood Brain Tumor Initiative and supports several key areas of focus: laboratory research, clinical research, pain management and education.
United Cerebral Palsy of Nebraska offered 8 Family Focus events designed for the entire family unit bringing families facing similar challenges together and providing the opportunity to draw strength and knowledge as well as relax and socialize. More than 1,973 people participated in 2023.